Jun 16, 2026 City Council

[00:00:01]

RECORDING IN PROGRESS. GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 16TH AT 9:30 A.M. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE AND WATCHING US KNOW THAT YOU CAN JOIN BY TELEPHONIC AND OR BY VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE, AND YOU CAN DO SO BY DIALING 877853, 524 7 OR 8 887880099. ONCE YOU DIAL THE NUMBER, YOU MAY ENTER OUR PASSCODE. I'M SORRY, OUR MEETING ID OF 89314108836, AND THEN ENTER THE PASSCODE OF 949258. ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND IN ORDER TO DO SO, YOU MAY CALL INTO OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND DIAL 94099838115.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE YOUR CELL PHONES OR YOUR MOBILE DEVICES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE, AND OUR ROLL CALL. AND I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER KINLAW TO LEAD US IN INVOCATION. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGE AND OUR ROLL CALL. YEAH, SURE. MAYOR. WILL YOU STAND? OH, HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DWELL IN YOUR HOUSE. WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS MEETING THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR, THE STAFF. WE ASK TO ENSURE THAT THIS MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN YOUR YOUR NAME. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE. THE PLEDGE OF 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, ESTABLISH A QUORUM, PLEASE. YES, MAYOR. MAYOR MOSES HERE. MAYOR PRO TEM KINLAW HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER.

LEWIS. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER. JONES. COUNCIL MEMBER. BECKHAM. COUNCIL MEMBER. DOUCETTE HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. FRANK. HERE YOU HAVE A QUORUM. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO

[II. PROCLAMATIONS]

OKAY. OH, TOM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST. IT SAYS, WHEREAS THE GULF COAST IS DEFINING NATURAL RESOURCES OF PORT ARTHUR AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS, PROVIDING ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS LOCAL COASTAL RESOURCES SUCH AS SABINE LAKE, SEA RIM STATE PARK AND PLEASURE ISLAND PROVIDE VITAL ACCESS TO COASTAL FISHING, BOATING, WILDLIFE OBSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION. AND WHEREAS THESE WATERS SUPPORT IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES INCLUDING COMMERCIAL SHRIMPING AND CRABBING, AS WELL AS STRONG TRADITION OF RECREATIONAL FISHING THAT IS CENTRAL TO THE REGION'S HERITAGE. AND WHEREAS, THE GULF OF MEXICO SUPPORTS A RICH DIVERSITY OF MARINE LIFE AND CONTINUED CONSERVATION, RESEARCH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAINING THESE ECOSYSTEMS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, GROWING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF GULF MARINE SPECIES, INCLUDING LARGE COASTAL SHARK SUCH AS THE GREAT WHITE SHARK HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCED CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS. AND WHEREAS THE MUSEUM OF THE GULF COAST IN PORT ARTHUR IS HOSTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING, INCLUDING GREAT THE GREAT WHITE SHARK AND THE GULF DAY, OFFERING FREE ADMISSION AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE

[00:05:05]

THIS IS YOUR PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. WE WANT YOU GUYS TO HAVE SOME WORK, SOME. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THE RECOGNITION THAT WE ENJOY SHRIMP AROUND HERE. WE ALWAYS FOCUS ON SHRIMP AND CRAB, BUT THE WHOLE, WHOLE ECONOMICAL, WHOLE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM IS VERY VALUABLE TO US AND WAS CONTINGENT UPON THE OTHER WHEN MEETING CHESTER MOORE, WHO'S BEEN HERE ALL HIS LIFE, FOCUSED ON GREAT WHITES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. IT GOT MY ATTENTION. ABOUT THAT TIME I STARTED SWIMMING IN HOLIDAY INN SWIMMING POOL INSTEAD OF OUT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ANYWAY. AND IN FACT, THERE ARE 92 ATLANTIC GREAT WHITE SHARKS THAT WE SEE ON TELEVISION ALL THE TIME. THEY'RE TAGGED. THEY'RE OUT THERE. 92 OF THESE SHARKS ARE TAGGED. 58 OF THEM HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO IN THE LAST YEAR. THEY'RE COMING BACK TO THE GULF OF MEXICO. WE WANT THERE TO BE AN APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING THIS. AND BY THE WAY, THIS YEAR, THIS OUGHT TO BRING BACK A FEW MEMORIES. IT'S A 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOVIE JAWS COMING OUT ON THE 20TH. SO WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT. SO THAT THAT RUNS A LITTLE CHILL THROUGH AS YOU REMEMBER THAT MOVIE. BUT I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHESTER. HE IS PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ALL THIS WEEK FOR KIDS, AND IT'S GOING TO CULMINATE WITH A BIG EVENT. WE HAVE ON SATURDAY FROM 10 TO 1. CHESTER MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.

AND WHEN I SAW JAWS ON TV WHEN I WAS LIKE SIX, IF YOU TOLD ME I'D BE AT THE PORT ARTHUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING GETTING A PROCLAMATION READ ABOUT GREAT WHITES, I'D HAVE SAID, YOU'RE CRAZY. THIS IS SUCH A COOL THING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE GULF IN OUR REGION, IF YOU SEE IT IN MAINSTREAM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, IT'S EITHER A HURRICANE OR AN OIL SPILL. BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS ECOLOGICAL COMEBACK OF THE GREAT WHITE, WHICH IS, BY THE WAY, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MAINLY IN THE WINTER WHEN NO ONE'S AT THE BEACH AND WAY OFFSHORE, IT'S BRINGING SOME WONDERFUL SPOTLIGHT TO OUR FISHERIES, TO OUR COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S REACHING KIDS. I MEAN, THERE'S NOT A MOOSE WEEK OR A DUCK WEEK, BUT THERE'S A SHARK WEEK ON TV AND I WORK WITH KIDS. ME AND MY WIFE HAVE A CHRIST CENTERED MINISTRY THAT WORKS WITH CHILDREN. WE GIVE THEM WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS IF THEY'RE IN FOSTER SYSTEM, TERMINALLY ILL CHILDREN, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SHARKS ARE SUCH A GREAT GATEWAY TO REACH KIDS ABOUT THE OCEAN. AND MAYBE ONE DAY A KID THAT WATCHES SHARK WEEK OR LIKE ME, SEES JAWS WILL OR COME TO THE MUSEUM TO OUR EVENT ONE DAY. MAYBE THEY WON'T FOLLOW SHARK CONSERVATION. THEY'LL GET INTO CRABBING OR SHRIMPING, OR THEY'LL WANT TO BE SOMEONE WHO TAKES CARE OF WATER QUALITY AND SABINE LAKE. SO IT'S A VERY BIG POSITIVE AND IT'S PART OF OUR AWESOME HERITAGE HERE. AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS MY WHOLE LIFE, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE THING. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH.

[III.A.(1) Richard Long Regarding Individual Development And The Hurdles Present By Council And The City.]

[00:10:04]

GUIDELINES THAT THE STAFF GIVE YOUR COMMITTEE ON JUNE THE 4TH AT THAT MEETING TO GO BY. THESE GUIDELINES STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CITY. HOW DO YOU FUNCTION? ON GUIDELINES WHEN YOUR COMMITTEE THAT YOU JUST THROW TOGETHER WITHIN THE LAST MONTH DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO GO BY AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADOPTED? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NOW, I UNDERSTAND BEING IN A HISTORIC COMMISSION DISTRICT, YOU'VE GOT GUIDELINES AND STUFF TO GO BY. IF THERE'S AN ESTABLISHMENT. BUT I FEEL IT'S SHOULDN'T BE. I GO THROUGH A WHOLE PROCESS OF DOING EVERYTHING THE CITY ASKS AND REQUIRES OF ME. AND THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE, AT THE LAST HOUR, I'M TOLD, WELL, NOW I'VE GOT TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH AND A HALF SO THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A COMMISSION SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH THESE GUIDELINES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MET.

WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ADOPTED ANY GUIDELINES. SO THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH ME. NOW, THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF IT IS THAT. BUT THEN I ALSO LOOK AROUND IN WHAT'S CONSIDERED THE LAKESHORE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND YOU FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO UNIFORM DESIGN IN THE LAKESHORE AREA. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IF YOU LOOK ON THIS PAPERWORK HERE THAT YOU GOT FOR GUIDELINES AS YOU DRIVE DOWN LAKESHORE DRIVE, THERE IS NO STANDARD WINDOW. THERE IS NO STANDARD DOOR. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE THE DOORS ON MY PROJECT TO A SOLID DOOR.

WELL, I JUST DROVE ON MY WAY HERE DOWN LAKESHORE DRIVE AND I COUNTED THREE SOLID DOORS THROUGHOUT LAKESHORE DRIVE. EVEN THE POMPEII VILLA DOES NOT HAVE A SOLID WOOD DOOR ON IT.

IT'S A GLASS DOOR, SO. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET WITH YOUR HISTORIC COMMISSION, AND YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO IMPLEMENT, WHICH YOUR CHAIR. THE NIGHT THAT WE HAD THE MEETING, HE SHOWS UP WITH A LIST OF GUIDELINES THAT HE WANTS MET. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW UP WITH A LIST OF GUIDELINES YOU WON'T MET, AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE GUIDELINES TO GO BY. AND SO THIS GETS AGGRAVATING. THIS GETS FRUSTRATING. I WANT TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY. I WANT I'M I'M ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING THE LOT NEXT DOOR SO THAT I CAN DEVELOP IT. AND I WANT TO HELP GROW PORT ARTHUR AND GET THE POPULATION BACK HERE. BUT Y'ALL GOT TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER SO THAT WE AS DEVELOPERS HAVE GUIDELINES TO GO BY THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND NOT JUST THROW SOMETHING

[00:15:03]

COUNCILMEMBER DOUCETTE YES, THE FIRST QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS YOU MISSED IT. HE MENTIONED A HISTORICAL COMMITTEE. FIRST OF ALL, ANY COMMITTEES WE HAVE, THEY ARE ESTABLISHED AND THEY ARE SANCTIONED BY COUNCIL. AND IF IT'S A COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN SANCTIONED BY COUNCIL, YOU WILL FIND IT IN OUR CHARTER UNDER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, AND YOU WILL ALSO FIND THEIR DUTIES, THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, HOW THEY ARE APPOINTED AND WHAT THEIR FUNCTIONS ARE. SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IS PAM. HOW IS IT THAT WE HAVE A HISTORIC COMMITTEE? BUT WHEN WE HAVE TO REFER TO IT, WE HAVE TO GET IT TOGETHER. THE OTHER THING IS THE MEMBERS ARE WE WHO APPOINTED MEMBERS, THE MEMBERS OF THE HISTORICAL LANDMARK COMMISSION ARE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL. THIS IS THE MEMBER BODY IN WHICH THERE ARE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS TO SERVE.

YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORIC DISTRICT. SO INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE A BACKGROUND IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. OKAY. YOU MUST BE A LICENSED ARCHITECT, AN ATTORNEY, A REALTOR. SO ALL OF THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ACTUALLY BY ORDINANCE. AND THERE ARE GUIDELINES IN REGARDS TO HOW THIS COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS. WHAT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT HAS BEEN DESIGN STANDARDS FOR THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. WE DID HAVE A COMPANY TO COME OUT AND ASSIST WITH ESTABLISHING THESE DESIGN STANDARDS, LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, PERIOD IDENTIFICATION, SUCH AS PAINT MATERIALS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THERE ARE NEW MEMBERS TO THAT COMMISSION, SO WE HAVE THEM REVIEWING THOSE DESIGN STANDARDS AGAIN SO WE CAN BRING THEM FORWARD AND OFFICIALLY GET THOSE STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE HISTORIC COMMISSION AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL. BUT IN TERMS OF GUIDELINES ON HOW THEY FUNCTION IN THE THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT THEY LOOK AT THAT WAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE, I BELIEVE, IN 1998.

AND I CAN'T PROVIDE COUNCIL WITH THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE? WHY IS WHY, WHY, WHY ARE WE HEARING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT? SO, SO, SO KIND OF LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT. I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MR. LONG. I'VE NEVER HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM TO KNOW WHAT ISSUES THAT HE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD WITH THE PROCESS. MY ASSUMPTION IS, IS THAT HIS COMMUNICATION, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN WITH STAFF.

THE PAPER THAT HE'S SHOWING IS JUST A COMBINATION OF ORDINANCES THAT MISS MILO ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER. JUST ONE SINGLE SET OF RULES TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMISSION DURING THE MEETING, JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. BUT THAT INFORMATION COMES FROM THE ALREADY ESTABLISHED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS FOR THE HISTORIC COMMISSION. OKAY, SO BASICALLY WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT THIS COULD BE THIS MATTER COULD BE ABSOLUTELY OKAY. AND WE CAN ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS THAT. MR. OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. OKAY. I HAVE A FEW MORE LIGHTS. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. YES. HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS MORNING? YOU KNOW, YOU MET WITH ME AND I'M I'M SORRY YOU'RE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS, BUT I LIKE YOUR DESIGN WITH YOU. YOUR RENDERS THAT YOU SHOWED ME, IT'S NICE. AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO THAT. TO THAT. BLEDSOE. OKAY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I KNEW THE NEXT STEP WAS TO AND I HAVEN'T TALKED WITH YOU. THE NEXT STEP WAS TO GET WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND AND I'M I'M FINDING OUT THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE IT A FUNCTIONING HISTORICAL COMMISSION. SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK PAM JUST SAID WE DO HAVE A FUNCTION THAT IS CORRECT. AND THERE WAS A MEETING THAT WAS CONDUCTED ON JUNE THE 4TH WITH THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION. YES. AND THAT WAS THE MEETING I CAME TO. JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I'M GOING TO CALL EVERYBODY ONE AT A TIME.

WHEN I WHEN WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION, WE WAS VISITING. IT WAS IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL.

NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME JUNE 4TH. YES. IT HAVE I'M GLAD IT IT'S UP AND FUNCTIONING AGAIN. OKAY.

THIS IS FULLY STAFFED. IT. YES, SIR. IT IS. OKAY. GOOD, GOOD. NOW MAYBE WE CAN GET PAST THESE

[00:20:06]

[00:25:04]

[III.A.(2) Michael Huye Regarding RampartXYZ Desires to Establish A Drone Monitoring Center In The Press Building For The Monitoring Of Drones.]

YOU REALLY HOPE THAT YOU'RE JUST NOT WASTING YOUR TIME. AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE VERY BUILDING WE WANT TO PLACE THIS IN WAS CREATED THROUGH A GRANT FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. AND IN THE SECOND FLOOR, THERE LITERALLY IS A CONTROL CENTER ALREADY BUILT. AND SO WE WERE WE JUST FOUND THAT TO BE VERY POSITIVE. AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH MR. BURTON AND MOVING THAT FORWARD IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THAT PROJECT. ME AND MR. TAN HAVE WORKED ON OTHER PROJECTS FOR THE CITY, AND WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A BINDER FOR YOU THIS MORNING THAT TALKS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS. ALL OF THIS FALLS UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AT YOUR LEISURE WHEN YOU HAVE TIME TO MEET WITH US, TO DISCUSS THE ITEMS IN THIS PLAN AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO FOR THE CITY.

BECAUSE AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE GREAT DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING WITH GULF COPPER AND OTHER SHIPBUILDERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR OUR AREA, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY REAL PROBLEM. AND IT'S A CALAMITY THAT'S HEADING OUR WAY. AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS THIS MORNING, THAT AS WE WORK ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FOR OUR PEOPLE, THERE'S A $21.7 MILLION GRANT FOR GULF COPPER THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WITH LSCPA TO TRAIN WELDERS, THEY NEED 700 WELDERS AT GULF COPPER. THAT MEANS THEY NEED 2100 STUDENTS BECAUSE THERE'S A 66% DROPOUT RATE. AND THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP LOOKING AT US RIGHT NOW FOR ANOTHER SHIP BUILDING THAT HASN'T BEEN IT'S UNDER NDA. WE DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THEM YET. AND SO WE'VE GOT TO START DEVELOPING THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT YOU SEE IN THIS BINDER. AND THINK OF IT AS SPOKES IN THE WHEEL. YOU GOT TO HAVE ALL THE SPOKES, AND THEY HAVE TO ALL BE PUT TOGETHER IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER TO MAKE A WHEEL SO THAT IT CAN ACTUALLY ROLL AND BRING YOU SOMEPLACE.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE CHAMBER IS COME UP WITH COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN NOT BE ONE OFF, BUT ALL COME TOGETHER LIKE A FLOWER BLOOMS. AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME AND MEET WITH YOU ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES YOU SEE IN THAT BINDER AND GIVE YOU FURTHER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE SEE THAT WE CAN MEET. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CALAMITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO ATTRACT FROM A NATIONAL AUDIENCE THESE PEOPLE COMING HERE WHO WANT TO TRAIN AND THEN STAY HERE AND BE A PART OF THIS GREAT RENAISSANCE, THIS NEXT GREAT RENAISSANCE. FIRST IT WAS PETROCHEMICAL. SHIPBUILDING IS COMING NOW. AND SO WE'VE GOT TO REDEVELOP THE VARIOUS ENTITIES THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE, COME BACK INTO SOMETHING THAT WORKS SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S WHERE THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN WORKING ON. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT QUIETLY BEHIND THE SCENES, AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO INVITE YOU ONE AT A TIME, TWO, THREE, HOWEVER YOU LIKE TO DO THIS, TO COME TO THE CHAMBER AND TALK TO YOU AND WE'LL GIVE YOU IN-DEPTH PLANS AND PROCEDURES ON HOW WE LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING THE CITY BACK TO PROSPERITY. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:30:03]

IT'S ABOUT THE TRAINING PART. YEAH. YOU CAN'T SPEAK INTO THE MIC. JOE. SORRY. IT KNOCKED THE PART THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT. IT HATCHES THE MAMA SIDE THAT THEY'RE USING FOR TRAINING.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT THE COMMAND CENTER. OKAY. SO SO STILL ON THE SECOND FLOOR, BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HALLWAY WHERE LAMAR IS. OKAY. WELL, HE MENTIONED THE OPERATION AND TACTICAL. SO I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE AN OPERATIONS CENTER THERE. SO THAT'S WHY MY QUESTION WAS ASKED. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU JOE, I UNDERSTAND. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION. IT'S 42,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AND I JUST KNOW OF IT AS THE CORNER. THAT'S OKAY. YOU GOT EXCITED. YES, MA'AM. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[III.B.(1) A Presentation For The Water Meter Replacement Project Update By City Staff And Ferguson Waterworks.]

YES, MA'AM. AND I'M HERE. HERE. I'M HERE TODAY FOR UPDATING BRIEFING UPDATE FOR THE METER REPLACEMENT PROJECT. OKAY. AND I WANT TO GIVE COUNCIL A OVERALL REVIEW AND SUMMARIZE.

THANK YOU. SO YOU SEE THE METER MANUFACTURER IS FROM CENTRAL AND FERGUSON IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR METER CONTRACT. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING. AND THEY ALSO DOING THE CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR US. OH WOW. OKAY, SO THIS PROJECT AS WE KNOW THE EXISTING WATER METER HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES, INCLUDING LIKE THE COMMUNICATION FAILURE, THE THEY ARE AGE MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD. AND THEN THEY ARE READING ACCURACY HAVE SOME PROBLEM THAT CAUSED A LOT OF REVENUE LOSS FOR US. SO WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE AS BASICALLY BETWEEN CALVIN MATTHEW, THE WATER UTILITY DIRECTOR, ME AND DOCTOR HAYNIE. WE DESIGNED THIS PROJECT AND HAVE THIS BIG PROJECT BUILT OUT IN END OF AWARDED, END OF LAST YEAR. THIS PROJECT GOAL INCLUDING REPLACE A TOTAL OF 19,000 WATER METERS WITH A NEW SYSTEM THAT'S A NEW COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. AND THEY'RE GOING TO INVENTORY AND VERIFY ALL THE METER SIZE WITH ACTUALLY WHAT IN OUR SYSTEM, THE ACCOUNT, THE BILLING ACCOUNTS, AND GPS, ALL THE METER LOCATION. AND THEY ALSO WORK WITH THE EJS FOR THE WATERLINE INVENTORY. THEY'RE GOING TO REPLACE ALL THE BROKEN METER BOX. AND IF THERE'S ANY MISSING LEG AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT ONE, THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE A NEW CUSTOMER PORTAL FOR THE CUSTOMER RESIDENTIAL BENEFIT. FOR THIS PROJECT. OVERALL, WE ACTUALLY START INSTALLATION FROM MARCH 16TH, 2026. UNTIL LAST FRIDAY, WE TOTAL INSTALLED OF 3745M.

IT'S IN THREE MONTH PERIOD. AND SO IT'S AVERAGE ABOUT 300 METER PER WEEK. IT'S BASED ON THE WEATHER. SO LIKE TODAY'S WEATHER THEY CANNOT WALK ON SITE. IT'S ABOUT 20% COMPLETE.

[00:35:08]

AND WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THE NEXT ROW TO START IT. WE KIND OF MANAGE THAT PART. SO AS I CANNOT SHOW A MAP LATER TO WHERE WE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE NEXT. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE INSTALLED. THIS IS CANCER METER, WHICH IS ULTRASONIC.

THERE'S NO MOVING PART. AND THEY PROVIDE FIVE EIGHT INCH UP TO FOR THE CITY. WE. THE BIGGEST METER IS TEN. SO FOR NOW. AND WE MIGHT INSTALL A BIGGER SIZE LIKE 12 INCH TO JUST MONITOR THE SYSTEM. BUT THAT WILL BE A DIFFERENT PROJECT. THIS METER ALSO PROVIDE WATER LEAK DETECTION FUNCTION. SO THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT FOR THIS MAJOR. AND THE METER REPORTED THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THE RADIO SYSTEM. SO WE DON'T NEED TO PAY CELLULAR MONTHLY FEE. SO THAT'S A SET PLAN. FOR THE NEXT PART WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THEY PROCESS IN THE FIELD WORK AND HOW THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER AND HOW WHAT'S THE PROCESS. AND I WILL LET THEM TALK ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.

JENNIFER. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ZEB, RIGHT. I'M WITH FERGUSON WATERWORKS METER AND AUTOMATION GROUP, AND I'M HERE WITH A COUPLE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS HERE THAT ARE ALL PART OF INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. SO AS JESS WAS SAYING, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT, NOT ONLY SUPPLYING THE METERS, BUT ALSO INSTALLING THEM, FIXING THINGS ALONG THE WAY, AS WELL AS RECORDING A LOT OF INFORMATION, INFORMATION THAT'S REQUIRED BY T, C, Q, SUCH AS THE LINE SERVICE, AS WELL AS INFORMATION. THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE UTILITY LONG TERM. SO WHEN IF WE'RE DOING A RESIDENTIAL REGULAR RESIDENTIAL METER CHANGE OUT, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY SIMPLE.

FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS OUR CREW IS GOING TO ROLL UP TO THAT RESIDENCE, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY'S HOME. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NO WATER IS BEING USED BY BEING ABLE TO POP THE LID, THE METER BOX, BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THE METER, SEEING IF THERE'S ANY WATER USAGE, IF THERE IS WATER USAGE GOING ON SOMEBODY'S HOME. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN THE WATER OFF. WE'RE GOING TO SKIP IT AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE. IF THE WATER IS NOT ON, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT CHANGE OUT. CHANGE OUT SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN 1015 MINUTES. IT'S GOING TO BE BASICALLY A PROCESS OF TURNING THE WATER OFF, CHANGING THE WATER METER OUT WHEN THAT'S COMPLETED, THEN GATHERING ALL THE CORRECT INFORMATION. EVERYTHING IS DIGITALLY GATHERED VIA OUR WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. OKAY, SO THERE'S NO PEN AND PAPER. THERE'S NO GUESSING, THERE'S NO WRITING IT DOWN LATER. IT HAPPENS THE MOMENT THAT THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE THAT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, INCLUDING GPS COORDINATES AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, IS THEN PROVIDED TO THE CITY. SO THEY'VE GOT ALL THAT DOCUMENTATION. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND THEY'VE GOT AT LEAST FIVE PICTURES OF PROOF OF WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHEN IT HAPPENED, HOW IT HAPPENED, AND WHAT THE OLD READING WAS AND WHAT THE NEW READING IS GOING TO BE. THEY ALSO VERIFY AND TEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONNECTION IS THERE WITH OUR RADIO FREQUENCY SYSTEM, OUR AMI SYSTEM, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY. NOW, IF THIS IS A COMMERCIAL METER CHANGE OUT THAT'S GOING TO BE SCHEDULED, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WHETHER IT'S A BUSINESS OWNER OR WHETHER IT'S A HOSPITAL OR WHETHER IT'S ANY KIND OF LARGE WATER USAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO, THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND WE'RE GOING TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. SOMETIMES WE EVEN HAVE TO SCHEDULE THE STUFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SO JUST KNOW THAT WE DO SCHEDULE THOSE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT ANYONE IN A BAD SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE WATER, RIGHT? SO AS WE'RE DOING THAT, AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING WITH EJES TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT EVERY SINGLE SERVICE LINE IS MADE OF. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN EVERY CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT, TO REPORT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LEAD LINES, LEAD SERVICE LINES WITHIN THEIR UTILITY. SO WE'RE LITERALLY TESTING AND TAKING PICTURES OF EVERY SINGLE ONE. SO WE ARE RUNNING INTO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FIX ALONG THE WAY. NOW, THANK GOODNESS CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS VERY SMART AND PUT A CONTINGENCY FUND IN THE OVERALL PROJECT FUNDS THE OVERALL PROJECT AMOUNT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. SO THAT'S A GREAT THING. SO SO FAR, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE 1275 METER BOXES. THERE'S A LOT OF BROKEN METER BOXES OUT THERE, ABOUT 35% OF WHAT WE'VE CHANGED OUT SO FAR. WE'RE NOT SHOCKED ABOUT THAT.

WE KNEW THAT COMING IN. OUR TEAM HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF STAYING ON TOP OF IT, MAKING

[00:40:03]

AND SURE ENOUGH, I WAS. I WAS WATERING EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NOT THE DAYS I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

AND I QUICKLY GOT THAT FIXED. SO THIS GIVES THAT PUTS THAT ABILITY TO KNOW AND TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS INSIDE THE INDIVIDUAL'S HANDS. IT ALSO CREATES TOTAL TRANSPARENCY FOR THE UTILITY. THAT'S BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER WHO HAS WATER IN THE CITY CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR WATER USAGE IS DOWN TO AN HOURLY BASIS. SO WHEN THEY GET AN ALERT, HEY, YOU MIGHT HAVE A LEAK AT YOUR HOUSE, YOU'VE GOT 24 HOURS OF NON OF NONSTOP USAGE. THEY CAN GO NO WAY AND LOOK IT UP THEMSELVES. THAT ALSO FREES UP CUSTOMER SERVICE. IT ALSO ANSWERS JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT'S JUST MORE INFORMATION. SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY, NOT ONLY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, BUT ALSO THE CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVE HERE. SO AT THAT POINT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST. GREAT. I HAVE TWO LIGHTS SO FAR. COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, HE JUST ANSWERED MY QUESTION. I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PORTAL. YEP. OH, ONE THING I FORGOT TO MENTION ON THAT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO ROLL THAT OUT. DID YOU NOTICE ON THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ROLL IT OUT AT ABOUT 75% COMPLETION? THE REASON WHY WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IS, IS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT Y'ALL HALF OVER HERE TO HAVE IT, AND Y'ALL HAVE NOT TO HAVE IT.

RIGHT. OKAY. SO BY HITTING THAT, WHAT WE'VE SEEN CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT THESE PROJECTS IS YOU HIT THAT 75% COMPLETION MARK, YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH IN THE GROUND WHERE IT'S GOING TO HIT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR END USERS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT. THE BIG THING THERE THAT'S IMPORTANT ON THE CUSTOMER PORTAL IS EVERYBODY SIGNING UP FOR IT AND USING IT BECAUSE IT'S CALLED ADOPTION RATE. THE MORE PEOPLE USE IT, THE MORE INFORMATION THEY HAVE AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

SO WE'LL TRY TO HELP OUT WITH SOME KIND OF A CAMPAIGN TO BE ABLE TO HELP THAT OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. AND SO I SAW THAT YOUR THAT'S ON THE WATER LEAK, 75%.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE 50% COMPLETION. YOU'LL HAVE ACOUSTIC LEAK DETECTION AT 50%.

[00:45:06]

DEGRADATION. THERE WE GO. THE RIGHT WORD, SOME DEGRADATION TESTS ON METERS THAT WE'VE INSTALLED HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND THEY'VE LASTED AS LONG AS 26 YEARS. AND YOU SAID THAT IN MY LAST QUESTION. YOU SAID IN A 24 HOUR YOU CAN DETECT SOME TYPE OF CHANGE IN THE READINGS. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY? SO WE WE THE WAY THE PACKET WORKS IS YOU'LL GET HOURLY READS. AND IT'S A COMMUNICATION OF EVERY THREE HOURS THAT COMMUNICATES A SIX HOUR PACKAGE DATA PACKAGE. SO THAT WAY YOU'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING UPDATES ON ALL OF YOUR ON ALL YOUR INFORMATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. NOW, AS FAR AS LEAKS ARE CONCERNED, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIND THOSE LEAKS? THAT'S WHAT THAT ACOUSTIC LEAK DETECTION WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S FOR. SO BASICALLY IT TURNS EVERY WHERE'S WHERE AM I AT HERE. THERE WE GO. I WAS POINTING IT THE WRONG WAY. I'LL GET IT EVENTUALLY. HOLD ON.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. SO ON THE ACOUSTIC LEAK DETECTION, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS FOR.

BASICALLY IT TURNS 19,000. HOW MANY? 219,200M. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR METERS. TWO INCHES AND DOWN. SO 5/8 BY THREE QUARTER. THAT'S EVERY RESIDENTIAL, EVERY ONE INCH, EVERY INCH AND A HALF. AND EVERY TWO INCH METER IS GOING TO BE LISTENING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF THERE'S LEAKS IN YOUR SYSTEM. OKAY. AND, AND WHEN IS YOUR LAST OKAY. WHEN, WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO HAVE ALL THESE METERS INSTALLED? DO YOU GUYS HAVE 2026 OR 2026? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I, I CALLED THE WATER DEPARTMENT A LOT. I KNOW GETTING THIS INFORMATION AND CITIZENS WANT TO KNOW THE EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS TYPE OF YEAH, WE'RE SHOOTING FOR JULY 2027. AND THE REASON BEING IS, IS, IS WE'VE, WE'VE LOOKED INTO DOING IT FASTER AND WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ASK FOR THAT. WE JUST DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT OUR QUALITY TO GO DOWN BECAUSE

[00:50:05]

THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE. OUR CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. OH, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LIGHTS. WE NEED A CHANGE, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. I'M SORRY. YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER JONES NAME. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS GO. GO FIRST AND THEN OKAY. CAL JONES WILL BE NEXT. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WE GOT A LOT OF WATER LOSS AND THIS IS GOING TO BE 100% REPLACEMENT ON EVERYTHING OR JUST A PORTION.

IT'S GOING TO BE 100% COMPLETE. OKAY. YES, SIR. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE AS MUCH AS 30% WATER LOSS. OKAY. SO AND YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYTHING COMPLETE. THE NEW METERS ARE IN PLACE BY COMPLETED BY JULY, JULY 2027. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. SO ONCE WE GET GET ALL THE LEAKS AND EVERYTHING DETECTED, AND THEN WE GET THEM START GETTING THEM REPAIRED, TWO THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE WATER LOSS IS GOING TO TREAT, IT'S GOING TO DROP OFF. AND THE BIG THING IS OUR CHEMICALS. IT'S GOING TO DROP PURCHASES OF CHEMICALS. WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON, ON CHEMICALS TO TREAT THE WATER. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A SURPLUS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A RESERVE. YES, SIR. AND THAT WE WE CAN SAVE THAT MONEY IN, IN THE BUDGETS. SO I APPRECIATE IT. Y'ALL GET IT IN PLACE SO WE CAN GET THESE LEAKS DETECTED AND AND GET THEM REPAIRED. OKAY. YES, SIR. YES YOU DO, COUNCILMEMBER JONES. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WELL NEEDED. LONG OVERDUE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUR WATER DEPARTMENT BEEN TAKEN TO TO LACKING AND THE COUNCIL ABOUT THIS METERS, WATER BILLS AND WATER PROBLEMS. SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOUR PRESENTATION. LIKE I SAY, LONG, LONG, LONG OVERDUE. AND WE DON'T THE COUNCIL DON'T MAKE THE METERS. NOT NOT NOT NEITHER DOES THE WATER DEPARTMENT. WE GET THE BLAME FOR A LOT OF STUFF FROM THE CITIZENS BUSINESS COMMERCIAL. SO IT'S WHAT WE DO. AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND I THINK WE FINALLY HAVE CLOSURE ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER FRANK, ONE MORE QUESTION. WE WERE WE WERE KIND OF DIALOGING BETWEEN MYSELF AND COUNCILMAN KINLAW. YOU KNOW, YOU SAID THAT THE ANTENNAS WERE GOING TO BE PUT ON TOP IF NEEDED. WE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, WE'RE BELOW SEA LEVEL. WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO BE. I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE AND HAVE ALL THE METERS PUT ON TOP. OR WHY? WHY WOULDN'T WE EVEN CONSIDER THAT? I SEE CALVIN SHAKING HIS HEAD. SO HELP ME WITH THAT. DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT, SIR? I'M SHAKING MY HEAD. IS KEVIN, COME ON, YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MIC. HE KNOWS. WHEN I ARRIVED HERE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WAS CUT CABLES. I THINK Y'ALL HEARD THAT TERM PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN US. THEIR BASIC DESIGN.

THERE IS NO CABLE. IT'S A DIRECT CONNECT. IT'S WATERPROOF. SO IF THAT WORKS, THERE'S NO WIRE TO BE CUT. AND IF SOMEBODY TAMPERS WITH THE METER, YOU IMMEDIATELY KNOW IT. IF THEY RAISE THE ANTENNA, THEN YOU HAVE A CABLE BECAUSE THEY THEY CLICK A CABLE IN AND IT GOES UP TO THE ANTENNA. SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING GETTING CUT. SO I WOULDN'T SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT. THEY PROBABLY LISTENING. I'LL BE CAREFUL. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. JUST KEEP THAT THING RIGHT THERE. YEAH. BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEBODY TRYING TO RAISE ANTENNAS AND JUST TO, TO MAKE Y'ALL FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THERE'S A LOT OF REPORTS OTHER THAN JUST LEAKS. THERE'S ALSO TAMPER. THERE'S ALSO DRY ALARM. THERE'S ALSO LEAK, HIGH LEAK, LOW LEAK, CONTINUOUS USAGE, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. NOW, THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS, IS UNFORTUNATELY, IN EVERY UTILITY THAT WE WORK WITH, PEOPLE STEAL WATER. AND WHENEVER THEY TAKE THOSE METERS OUT TO LIKE, LET'S SAY STRAIGHT PIPE OR SOMETHING ELSE, YOU'RE HIT WITH AN IMMEDIATE ALARM. SO THEY'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THAT HAPPENS. IF THEY DECIDE TO HIT IT WITH A HAMMER AND BREAK IT, IT IMMEDIATELY SENDS AN ALARM.

WOW. SO THERE'S A LOT BUILT IN HERE TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR. AND HOPEFULLY WE THAT WILL STOP A LOT OF THAT AND IT WON'T HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD. SAY THAT A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JUST ONE QUESTION. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER. METER TAMPERING.

WHEN YOU REMOVE THE METER, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SOMETHING THAT YOU GOT ANYTHING THAT'S TAMPER PROOF FROM FROM THE THE FIT ON THE INPUT SIDE, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN YOU REMOVE THE METER.

YEAH. SO IF THE UTILITY EVER DECIDES TO REMOVE A METER DUE TO NON PAYMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY CAN LOCK IT OFF. THERE'S BARREL LOCKS AND LOCKS OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN PUT ON

[00:55:04]

AND THEN THERE'S A HIGH PRIORITY. HIGH PRIORITY IS A DRY PIPE ALARM. AND THAT SIGNIFIES WHENEVER SOMEBODY TAKES THAT OUT AND IT GETS DRY, IT IMMEDIATELY SENDS THAT SIGNAL. AWESOME. I NEED TO CUT IT DOWN. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I THINK THAT'S I HAVE NO MORE LIGHTS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPGRADE.

[III.B.(2) A Presentation By The Port Arthur Public Library Staff Regarding The Annual Celebration Of Black Music Month Honoring Zachary Breaux.]

[III.C.(1) Code Enforcement Report On Red Tag Properties (Requested By Councilmember Frank)]

[01:00:17]

AND IT'S HOW MANY PROPERTIES ARE CURRENTLY RED TAGGED. AND THUS FAR WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 300 RED TAG STRUCTURES, 180 RESIDENTIAL, 37 COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. WE HAVE 80 IN THE WORK PLAN PROGRAM. AND ALSO WE BIDDED OUT 14 TRANSIT PROPERTIES LAST WEEK ON JUNETEENTH. AND TOMORROW WE WILL BE BIDDING OUT THE REMAINING 37 PROPERTIES. THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHEN DO PROPERTIES RECEIVE A RED TAG THAT CAN GO EITHER WAY? IT COULD BE BY OUR INSPECTORS PATROLLING, BEING PROACTIVE, MYSELF OR MISS DARLENE RYAN CALLING IN A COMPLAINT, RESIDENTS COMPLAINING. IT JUST CAN BE A VARIETY OF REASONS WHY WE WOULD PLACE IT. A TAG ON IT. IT HAS TO BE LISTED AND LEAN. I MEAN JUST REALLY IN BAD SHAPE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY PLACE A TAG ON IT. THE THIRD QUESTION IS WHEN DO RED TAG PROPERTIES GET DEMOLISHED? THAT WOULD. THE FIRST. THE PROCESS TO THAT IS WE HAVE TO BRING IT BEFORE THE BOARD. THE CBOAA BOARD TO CONDEMN IT FIRST. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH. IF THE OWNERS ARE HAVING CHANGED. WE HAD SOME CONCERNS WITH CORMS FLOWER BOARD. WE COULDN'T GET A QUORUM, SO WE HAD TO PUSH A LOT OF OUR MEETINGS BACK, WHICH WE HAVE SINCE RECTIFIED THAT CONCERN.

WE DO HAVE A STRONG BOARD NOW, SO WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. WE HAVE TO CONDEMN THEM FIRST AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEMOLITION PROCESS. THE FOURTH QUESTION IS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR RED TAG PROPERTY TO BE DEMOLISHED? AND AGAIN, AS LONG AS THE OWNER HASN'T CHANGED AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY CONDEMN IT THROUGH THE C, B, O, A, AND NO LEGAL MATTERS ARE IN HAND, WE ARE ABLE TO WE CAN'T REALLY DEFINITIVELY GIVE A TIME FRAME ON THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER IT. THE FIFTH QUESTION IS WHY HAVE EXISTING RED TAG PROPERTIES NOT YET BEEN DEMOLISHED? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? AND AGAIN, IT COULD VARY. IT'S A LOT OF REASONS THAT COULD PROLONG THE PROCESS OF DEMOLISHING A PROPERTY, BUT ONE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LEGAL GROUNDS TO DEMOLISH IT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OWNER IS THE ACTUAL OWNER OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE FOLLOWED PROPER PROTOCOL, SENDING OUT CERTIFIED MAIL LETTERS, RECEIVING THAT MAIL BACK. IF OWNERS DECIDE TO WORK ON IT, WE SOMETIMES WE ALLOW THEM, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE. ALSO, THE BIGGEST THING IS IF THE OWNER HASN'T. IT HASN'T CHANGED. IF THE OWNER HAS CHANGED, IT GOES BACK INTO OUR PROCESS AND THE PROCESS STARTS OVER AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE DID GIVE YOU, IT'S BASICALLY JUST DESCRIBING THE PROCESS OF US PLACING RED TAGS. WE HAVE A A PAMPHLET IN THERE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE HOW OUR DEMOLITION PROCESS WORKS, AND JUST THE CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. SHARON. I'M GOING TO HAVE A FEW LIGHTS AND I'M GOING TO CALL THEM FIRST. COUNCILMEMBER DOUCETTE, I THINK. YEAH. THANK. PUT IT ON, PUT IT ON. OKAY.

WELL I'M GOING I WAS GOING BY LIGHTS, BUT WHOEVER PUT IT ON, PUT IT ON COUNCILMEMBER FRANK.

OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LET HIM GO AHEAD AND START AND THEN I'LL CALL WITH THE. I WAS JUST GOING IN ORDER. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS FLANAGAN. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUSED THIS TO COME TO LIGHT FOR ME WAS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF IS WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, LIVE AND WHERE THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ALL OF THAT. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES CONTINUES TO BE IS THE ELONGATED PROCESS OF GETTING THESE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS TORN DOWN. AND I DID DIALOG WITH MISS DARLENE PIERRE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT AND YOU SUBSTANTIATED IT, WAS THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES THE PROPERTIES ARE GOING THROUGH AIR DIFFICULTIES AND AND CHANGES OF OWNERSHIP. AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES THE COUNTY IN THE SHERIFF'S SALE PER SE, THEY CHANGE OWNERS. SO THEN YOU GOT TO KIND OF START THE PROCESS

[01:05:02]

SO THERE'S THERE'S AUCTIONS GOING ALL, ALL THE TIME. AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE BEING SOLD. IT'S CONSTANT. PEOPLE ARE BUYING PROPERTY IN PORT ARTHUR CONSTANTLY. AND SO THEY'RE BUYING THESE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS ON THEM. AND, AND SO, SO WHY? SO LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION. AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD. WHEN A PERSON BUYS A PROPERTY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAYBE WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON IS THAT WHEN SOMEONE BUYS A PROPERTY WITH A DILAPIDATED BUILDING ON IT. WHY DON'T THEY JUST INHERENTLY, YOU KNOW, RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, THAT TIME THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CHANGE OWNERSHIP, YOU CHANGE. I MEAN, YOU GET ALL THE TAXES AND THE STUFF THAT CAME WITH THE PROPERTY, RIGHT? WELL, YOU, THE, THE CONDEMNATION ORDER IS AGAINST THE PROPERTY OWNER. AND OUR ORDINANCE DOES SPEAK TO THAT. HOWEVER, WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS SHOW UP IN COURT AND YOU'VE TORN DOWN SOMETHING.

IF YOU'VE NEVER NOTICED THAT NEW OWNER, YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM DUE PROCESS. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS, IS THERE A IS THERE SOME WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE A CHARTER CHANGE OR IS THERE SOME OR IS THAT A LAW? THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF FILING. LIS PENDENS EVERY TIME WE DO A, A BOARD MEETING, BUT IT DOES COST MONEY AND IT DOES TAKE AWAY FROM THE DOLLARS THAT WE USE FOR OUR DEMOLITION ACTIVITY. SO THERE'S, THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES OF DOING THINGS LIKE THAT. HOWEVER, IF SOMEONE PURCHASES A PROPERTY, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM DUE PROCESS. SO THE BEST AND THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE WORKED WITH THAT PERSON. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN COURT ON DEMOLITION CASES AND I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM DUE PROCESS, BUT THE ONLY THING THAT I'M ASKING IS SAYING IS, IS THAT IF IF I BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS AUTOMATIC, THAT HAS A DILAPIDATED BUILDING ON IT, I NEED TO BUY IT, I WANT TO, I NEED THEM TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THAT ON ON THAT BUILDING BEING TORN DOWN. YES, SIR. YOU DON'T GET TO RESET THE CLOCK. WELL, WE DO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM. HOWEVER, DUE PROCESS FOR THAT PERSON IS TANTAMOUNT. YOU WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, NOTICED THEM AND GIVEN THEM THAT LETTER TELLS YOU LIKE YOU HAVE SO MANY DAYS. SO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THAT TIME ONCE WE NOTICE THEM, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY PURCHASE THOSE PROPERTIES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S BEEN CONDEMNED OR RED TAGGED BECAUSE THEY'LL TAKE THEM OFF. SO BUT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TO FILE IS PENDING. BUT AGAIN, IT TAKES IT IT IMPACTS OUR BUDGET. DIDN'T WE USED TO PUT A RED DIDN'T WE USED TO WE SPRAYED. WE SPRAYED A RED SQUARE. YEAH, WE STARTED DOING THAT. BUT YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED. PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS REALIZE WHAT THE RED IS. YEAH, I SOLD SERIOUSLY? YEAH. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE. OKAY, LET'S GO BACK NOW, COUNCILMEMBER DOUCETTE. OKAY. I GOT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH DEMOLITION.

RIGHT, DARLING? YES. OKAY. THE FIRST THING TO ANSWER, COUNCILMAN FRANK QUESTION IS,

[01:10:07]

YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY TO TEAR THEM DOWN. YOU ALWAYS GOT BUILDINGS. THE PROBLEM IS YOU ONLY GET SO MUCH MONEY A YEAR TO DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS. YOU GET MORE MONEY, YOU TEAR DOWN MORE BUILDINGS. THAT'S THE BUILDING PORTION OF IT. SO THE DRIVING FORCE TO HOW FAST WE GET THEM TORE DOWN IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE GOT, HOW MUCH MONEY WE WILLING TO PUT IN. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SELLING A HOME THAT HAS BEEN. TAGGED. OKAY? WE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. IF WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, WE NEED TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET. WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW NOBODY TO SELL PROPERTY. YEAH, THAT WE'VE ALREADY READ TAXED UNLESS I KNOW WHEN I WAS ON A BOARD, IF SOMEONE IF SOMEONE CHOSE TO DO THAT, THEY HAD TO GO TO THE DEMOLITION DEPARTMENT. THEY HAD TO HAVE A PLAN ON RENOVATION IN A TIME FRAME. AND IF YOU ALL AGREE, THEN THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THAT PROPERTY AND START. BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES BEFORE THE BOARD AND THE BOARD GIVES THEM AN EXTENSION TO RENOVATE IS ALSO A TIME, AND THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN AND THEY ARE TOLD IF THEY ARE GIVEN EXTENSION. IF YOU FAIL TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THAT PROPERTY, THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO COME IN AND RAISE IT. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THEY'RE TOLD THAT UP FRONT. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO ONCE WE TAG IT, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO AS A CITY, WE NEED TO DO IT. THAT'S PART OF THE MONEY. WE GOTTA SPEND IT. BUT WE SHOULDN'T LET PEOPLE SELL THE HOUSE IF IT'S CONDEMNED BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOU. AND THAT'S A PROCESS. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH US TO SELL IT. THEY CAN SELL THEIR PROPERTY AT ANY TIME. WHAT? THEY DON'T NEED OUR PERMISSION. OKAY. WHAT I'M SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE. YEAH. PRIVATELY OWNED WHAT I'M SAYING. PRIVATE PROPERTY. YEAH. GO AHEAD. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT YOU ALL SAID. I'M LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAID. OKAY. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT US DOING WHAT? WHERE IT COSTS MONEY. WE CAN FILE SOMETHING AGAINST THE PROPERTY, THE CONDEMNATION, OR AGAINST THE PROPERTY. OKAY, THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. OKAY, SO EXCUSE ME, BUT THEN EVERYBODY DOESN'T GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, A TITLE PROCESS SO THEY WON'T KNOW. SO IT DOES HAPPEN. THEY CAN STILL SLIP THROUGH. BUT WHEN PEOPLE BUY PROPERTY NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE MAYOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S UNDERSTAND BY PURCHASING PROPERTY. IF YOU DO NOT GO THROUGH A TITLE SEARCH AND YOU BUY A PROPERTY, IT'S ON YOU. YEAH. NO NO, NO NO, NO, SEE, NO, THAT'S BASIC. WE AIN'T GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES. THERE YOU GO. IF YOU PURCHASE PROPERTY AND YOU DON'T DO A TITLE SEARCH AND THERE'S A LEAD, YOU CAN'T CRY WOLF. I'M NOT THE TITLE COMPANY. YOU SEE THAT? I'M THE REALTOR, YOU SEE, AND I'M GOING TO SELL IT. OKAY? IT'S UP TO THEM TO FIGURE IT OUT IF IT'S RED TAG. SO. WELL, MY POINT IS, THERE YOU GO. IF WE DO THIS PROCESS AND WE PUT A LIEN ON IT. YEAH. IF THEY WANT TO DO IT, FINE. BUT IF THE LEAD IS ON IT, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET CAUGHT. THAT'S THE WAY WE DO IT. WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THE CITY TAKING STEPS THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS IN PLACE. NOBODY GETS AROUND WHAT WE HAVE. WE JUST HAVE TO FIND WAYS. AND I'M LISTENING TO ALL THIS DISCUSSION AND UNDERSTANDING DEMOLITION AFTER SIX YEARS. I UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY GET TAGGED, IT'S TAGGED.

THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD AVOID GETTING THAT HOUSE TORN DOWN WHENEVER YOU SCHEDULED IT FOR TO BE DEMOLISHED, IS THAT THAT BOARD HAS TO GIVE THEM AN EXTENSION. AND THAT EXTENSION COMES WITH A CONDITION. THE CONDITION IS YOU WILL BRING ME A PLAN. YOU WILL SHOW ME WHERE YOU GOT THE MONEY TO DO IT, AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT. AND IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW IT, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO COME IN AND DEMOLISH IT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUT INTO IT. NOW,

[01:15:04]

I MEAN, INTO THE CITY. I'M TALKING GULFWAY DRIVE PEOPLE COMING IN TO OUR CITY TO COME IN ON GULFWAY DRIVE. THEY COME IN ON SIX AND NINE. THAT'S A MEMORIAL BOULEVARD. I THINK THAT OUR STREETS, THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL A LOT OF TRAVEL THROUGH OUR CITY. I THINK WHEN WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MARKED FOR DEMOLITION, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY BECAUSE IF YOU KEEP THOSE PLACES, RAISING OUT OUR CITY DOESN'T LOOK RAGGED BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO ENTER EVERY CITY ON MAJOR AVENUES OF APPROACH, YOU KNOW? SO WE HAVE WE HAVE PRIORITY LISTS. WE WE PRIORITIZE CERTAIN STRUCTURES AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE PRIORITY LISTS. YEAH. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIALS. IF YOU GOT COMMERCIALS ON THESE MAIN AVENUES AND ENTRANCE AND EXIT TO OUR CITY, WE REALLY NEED TO PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GOING TO REALLY COME IN, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE WHEN I'M TRAVELING THROUGH CITIES, WHEN I GO THROUGH CITIES ON MAIN, ON MAJOR ROADS, OKAY, IF I SEE THEM, I CALL IT OKAY, OKAY. YOU DONE? OKAY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I GOT TIME BEING KEPT ON EVERYBODY. OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM KINLAW. THANK YOU. MAYOR. HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE THIS ITEMIZED LIKE THIS. SO MY ONLY CONCERN, WELL, TO A REAL PROPERTY RED TAG REGISTRY, CAN YOU CAN WE PUT THAT ON THE WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THOSE ADDRESSES? THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN RED TAGGED WHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SPRAY WITH THE RED PAINT AND SOMEBODY COME AND TAKE THE RED TAG OFF. AND YOU, LIKE THE MAYOR STATED EARLIER, SOMEBODY BUY THE PROPERTY THAT THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE RED TAG. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. CAN WE DO THAT LEGALLY? WE WE HAVE PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE. IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED RIGHT NOW, I THINK. SO WE'LL UPDATE IT AND, AND REPOST IT. BUT WE DO HAVE IT ON THE WEBSITE AND PEOPLE WILL BUY IT REGARDLESS. WE CAN'T STOP THEM. IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. WELL, MY, MY THING IS, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THEY BUY IT, THEY ARE STILL GOING TO THEY CAN COME TO PORT ARTHUR WEBSITE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. TRUST ME, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. WE DO. WE GOTTA DEAL WITH PRESSURE ON THEM. YES. AND THIS LAST PAGE THAT YOU HAVE, I THINK THIS IS SO AMAZING THAT CITIZENS COULD ACTUALLY SEE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITERIAS THAT CONSIDERED RED TAG HOUSING OR RESIDENTIAL OR BUSINESSES, IF WE CAN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSTED ON THE WEBSITE EITHER, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE ON OUR SITE WHERE THAT BECAUSE WE GET THOSE CALLS, THE COHORTS UP HERE, WE GET THE, HEY, MAN, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS HOUSE NEXT TO ME. IT'S BEEN PEOPLE IN AND OUT. IT'S RED TAG GOT A HOLE IN THE ROOF. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GUYS CAN DO SOMETHING. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE PAST ABOUT HOW SOON WE CAN GET TO THOSE PROPERTIES. AND I KNOW YOU JUST SAID EARLIER YOU HAVE A PRIORITY LIST. YEAH. BUT WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO. AND I THINK MONEY IS THE KEY FACTOR.

AND IF IF WE CAN TEAR DOWN MORE HOUSES. SO IF WE CAN PUT THAT ON THE WEBSITE, THIS LAST PAGE, SO PEOPLE CAN SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO REPORT THAT. AND YOU HAVE AT THE VERY FIRST LINE, HELP US HELP YOU. YES, I LIKE THAT. WE CAN PUT IT ON THERE. WE'VE HAD IT IN THE WATER BILL BEFORE, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY PUT IT ON OUR WEB PAGE FOR DEMOLITION. WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO GET IT UP THERE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES, SIR. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THAT WEBSITE WOULD HELP TO HAVE THAT PROPERTY THERE. AND WHEN I SAID I SOLD IT BECAUSE ACTUALLY I SOLD ABOUT 3 OR 4 HOMES THAT WERE RED TAGGED, BUT OF COURSE THEY WERE GIVEN THE ONE ON 19TH STREET WAS. AND I SAID, HEY, THIS HOUSE IS TAGGED. SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTACT DEMOLITION. THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE RULES ON WHERE YOU ARE WITH IT. AND OF COURSE, I REMEMBER THEY MET WITH YOU, DARLENE, AND THEY GET THE STEPS TO RE GETTING IT EITHER BACK IN SHAPE AND THE TIME FRAME THEY HAD TO HAVE. BUT OF COURSE, AS A REALTOR, YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT MOVING IT. AND BUT, BUT I DID AS A CONCERN FOR PORT ARTHUR. I CONNECTED THE THE BUYER, YES, WITH DEMOLITION AND SAID, HEY, YOU NEED TO GET THE GUIDELINES BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN RED TAGGED. SO YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW, FEW STEPS. EVERYBODY'S NOT GOING TO DO THAT, BUT. RIGHT. YEAH. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER

[01:20:03]

I RECALL ONE TIME YOU HAD SOMETHING LIKE 700 OR OUTSTANDING OR DILAPIDATED STRUCTURE STORM HIT THAT DOUBLE. SO IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE, BUT CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN, BUT DO NOT START OVER. OKAY? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMEMBER FRANK HAS A QUESTION. TWO MINUTES, TWO MINUTES. COUNCILMEMBER, I'M GOING TO TAKE 30S MAYOR. OKAY. LYNN, WHEN WE WHEN WE GET READY FOR BUDGET, LET'S TALK ABOUT PUTTING MORE MONEY IN FIXING THIS SITUATION AND DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS. AND CITY ATTORNEY, LET'S LOOK AT THE LAWS THAT WE CAN HANDLE. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF HELPING THEM DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN AN EXPEDITED FASHION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FRANK. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NOW NUMBER TWO, UNDER PETITIONS

[III.C.(2) Department of Human Resources Employment Report and Status Update (Requested By Councilmember Frank) ]

ALL RIGHT. YES. OKAY, DOCTOR ALBERT, IF YOU'LL GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND MOVE ON. MY NAME IS AL THIGPEN. I AM THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATION AND MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, MADAM MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY SECRETARY.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A REPORT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, IN PARTICULAR THE HIRING PROCESS, EMPLOYMENT AND A STATUS UPDATE. WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ABSENCE OF THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, MISS CHANEL PERKINS, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE. AND SO AT THIS TIME, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW HER, MISS DORA GARCIA, WHO IS ONE OF THE CITY'S HR ANALYSTS, AND SHE IS EXCITED TO BE HERE. ALRIGHT, NICE TO MEET YOU. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE INTEREST AND AND THE HUMAN RESOURCES PROCESS. IT'S LITERALLY MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE GO ABOUT IT, AND OF COURSE, ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER. AND IF I CAN, I'M I'M GLAD THAT DOC IS HERE TO HELP US WITH THAT. AGAIN, MY NAME IS DORA GARCIA. I AM THE HR ANALYST WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, AND I HAVE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO

[01:25:06]

NOW, ONCE THESE PREREQUISITES ARE FOUND TO BE ACCURATE, IT IS TAKEN TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THE CITY MANAGER, IN TURN, WILL REVIEW THE REQUISITION AND THEY WILL APPROVE THE REQUEST VIA SIGNATURE. IT IS SIGNED AND IT IS READY FOR US TO BEGIN TO TAKE IT INTO A NEXT LEVEL. OUR CITY POLICY. WE POST THE POSITIONS NORMALLY FOR SEVEN DAYS, AND THE SEVEN DAY INTERNAL POSTING PERIOD IS REQUIRED, AND I REALLY SHOULD BE MOVING THIS ALONG WITH YOU. THERE WE GO. SO THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AND I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. SO THE SEVEN DAY INTERNAL POSTING PERIOD IS REQUIRED BY THE PERSONNEL POLICY.

OFTENTIMES THERE ARE POSITIONS THAT SERVE AS INTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR OWN EMPLOYEES. AS SUCH, THE INTERNAL THE POSITION WILL BE ONLY POSTED INTERNALLY. AND THIS HELPS SOME OF OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES BID FOR THIS POSITION, FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE QUALIFIED TO MOVE UPWARDS. THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL POSTING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY DO. OF COURSE, THESE ARE ONLY POSTED UPON DEPARTMENT REQUEST. NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE APPLICATION SCREENING FROM THERE ONCE THE POSTINGS ARE MADE, WHETHER IT'S AN EXTERNAL POSTING OR AN INTERNAL POSTING, THEN IT IS THE HR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT THE APPLICATION SCREENING.

THE APPLICATION SCREENING, DEPENDING ON THE POSITION, IT CAN ATTRACT A LOT OF APPLICANTS OR IT MAY NOT ATTRACT A WHOLE LOT OF APPLICANTS. IT VARIES BETWEEN THE POSTING. I CAN THINK OF ONE POSTING TO GIVE YOU THE AN EXAMPLE. ONE OF THE. YOU CAN DO STREETS DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'LL ATTRACT A LOT OF POSTINGS VERSUS DOING, FOR EXAMPLE, A HIGH POSITION WITHIN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT THAT WILL NOT ATTRACT A LOT OF POSTINGS. SO IT VARIES ON OUR TIME AS FAR AS VETTING THOSE POSITIONS, THOSE APPLICATIONS, HOWEVER, SO WE VERIFY THE

[01:30:06]

BEFORE I STARTED WORKING WITH THE CITY. I BELIEVE THAT HR WAS GOING TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS LOCATIONS TO HAVE INTERVIEWS THERE. THE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLING THE APPLICANTS, SETTING UP THE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN HR WAS LITERALLY GOING TO THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AS OF LATTER PART OF LAST YEAR, WE HAVE MOVED THAT SITUATION TO TAKE PLACE HERE AT CITY HALL ON THE THIRD FLOOR. AND AGAIN, WE DO THE THE INTERVIEWS ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. WE ACCOMMODATE THE DEPARTMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THE INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. THEY'RE SCHEDULED BASED ON CANDIDATE AVAILABILITY, INTERVIEW PANEL AVAILABILITY, AND ANY REQUIRED TESTING OR ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS. WE JUST HAD A LARGE POOL OF PEOPLE THAT WE INTERVIEWED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE GAVE THEM ALMOST A HUNDRED, IF NOT MORE APPLICATIONS OUT OF THOSE APPLICATIONS. THEY HAD TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS THEY CHOSE TO TEST EVERY APPLICANT.

SO THEN WE SCHEDULE THE APPLICANTS TO COME IN AND BE TESTED. AND THEN WE GAVE THE RESULTS BACK TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND FROM THOSE RESULTS, THEY CHOSE WHO TO INTERVIEW. IT'S A PROCESS, BUT IT'S A CONTROLLED PROCESS. IT HAS NOT FALLEN APART IN THE MIDST. SO WE APPRECIATE THIS. LET ME GO OVER THE INTERVIEW PROCESS VERY SHORTLY. SO THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THAT THEY SELECT THE INTERVIEW PANEL MEMBERS. THEY COME WITH TWO PEOPLE OR THREE PEOPLE. THEY DEVELOP THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. THEY SUBMIT THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO HUMAN RESOURCES. WE HELP THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE QUESTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE. AND THEY ALSO ESTABLISH THE SCORING CRITERIA. THEY COME IN WITH THEIR MATRIX.

ONCE WE CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS, THE PANEL INTERVIEWS, THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WITHIN HR TEAM MEMBER PRESENT, THE CANDIDATES ARE EVALUATED AND SCORED, AND HIRING RECOMMENDATION IS SUBMITTED TO HR WITHIN ONE WEEK. SOMETIMES IT DEPENDS HOW BUSY THE DEPARTMENT IS. SOMETIMES IT DOES TAKE THE DEPARTMENT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY LET US KNOW ABOUT A PERSONNEL ACTION. NOW, I CAN ASSURE YOU AND TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT INCLUDE IN THE NOTES THAT SINCE JANUARY TO THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAVE HELD 219 APPLICANTS FOR

[01:35:06]

I HAVE HAD, I THINK DOC LEFT ALREADY, BUT DOC HAS HAD I MEAN, NOT DOC. I'M SORRY. MR. SUHAIL HAS HAD EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE COME IN TO WORK WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I HAVE PLACED SEVERAL

[01:40:02]

AND THESE ARE THESE ARE NOT ALL, BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. WELL, THERE WE GO.

INSUFFICIENT APPLICANT POOL. THERE ARE APPLICATIONS THAT WE POST. IN FACT, I HAVE ONE FOR THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW THAT HAS BEEN POSTED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. AND THEY HAVE ONE APPLICANT. AND THAT THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. NO APPLICANTS APPLY OR THERE ARE NO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS AVAILABLE TO FILL THE POSITION REQUIRING THE POSITION TO BE POSTED. WE HAVE A POSITION FOR THE LIBRARY THAT REQUIRES A MASTER'S DEGREE. I HAVE OVER A DOZEN APPLICANTS IN THERE, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE. SO WE DO. IT TAKES US TIME TO GO OVER THOSE APPLICATIONS, AND THEN I HAVE TO LET THE DEPARTMENT KNOW WE CAN'T SEND YOU ANY APPLICATIONS, BECAUSE WHAT WE DO HAVE ARE NOT QUALIFIED. DIFFICULTY CONTACTING APPLICANTS. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE APPLICANTS CHANGED THEIR PHONE NUMBER OR THEY PUT THEIR MOM'S PHONE NUMBER, AND WHEN I CALL, IT IS NO LONGER THE APPLICANTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THEY DON'T RESPOND TO THEIR EMAILS. IT'S A VARIOUS THINGS OR THEIR VOICEMAIL IS FULL AND I CAN'T LEAVE MESSAGES. LOTS OF APPLICANT INTEREST. THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. I WILL CALL THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN INTERVIEWING THEM AND THEY WILL SAY, WELL, I ALREADY GOT ANOTHER JOB. THANK YOU FOR CALLING ME. I'M DECLINING. SO WE GET VARIOUS OF THOSE INTERVIEW NO SHOWS AND CANCELLATIONS WHEN WE HAVE SCHEDULED THIS 200 OR SO INTERVIEWS THAT WE HAVE HELD FROM THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO THE CURRENT TO THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE, WE CALL THEM THE DAY BEFORE OUR SCHEDULE THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE PEOPLE ALREADY SCHEDULED THEIR THIRD WEEK OF THIS MONTH AND I WILL CALL THEM THE DAY BEFORE ME PERSONALLY. WE'LL CALL THEM AND I WILL TELL THEM, HEY, THIS IS DORA WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THIS IS A JUST A FRIENDLY PHONE CALL TO REMIND YOU TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW AND THEY STILL WON'T SHOW UP. THERE WAS A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES THAT HAD AN INTERVIEW AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING, OR 830 IN THE MORNING.

THEY SHOWED UP AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT I CAN DO BY THAT TIME, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY LEFT. ALL THE INTERVIEWS TOOK PLACE, AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO. AND THEN THEY CALL AND THEY COMPLAIN THAT WE REFUSE TO INTERVIEW THEM. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT I CAN DO AS FAR AS ASSISTING THEM TO BE HERE WHEN THEY ARE SCHEDULED FOR AN INTERVIEW. OUT OF STATE SCREENING CHALLENGES. WE HAVE HIRED SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM MINNESOTA, FROM TENNESSEE, TO COME AND TAKE JOBS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WHICH SPEAKS VERY WELL OF THEM WANTING TO COME TO PORT ARTHUR.

I THINK IT GIVES PORT ARTHUR A VERY GOOD WORD ON THAT, AND A COMPLIMENT TO BE AN EMPLOYER ASSESSABLE EMPLOYER FOR OTHER PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE. BUT IT DOES PRESENT CHALLENGE TO LOCATE VENDORS IN TENNESSEE THAT WOULD DO DRUG TESTING AND PHYSICALS, ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR'S POLICY. SO THAT TAKES US A LITTLE BIT TO USUALLY THOSE TYPE OF

[01:45:02]

WE FOLLOW THE STRUCTURE ON THE APPLICATION. AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO HIRING THEM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS. SO THAT OFTENTIMES SETS US BACK AGAIN IN OUR PROCESS. THERE HAVE BEEN WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT IS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS. IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS, AND IT'S A GOOD PROCESS TO GO THROUGH. THEY GET TO THE POSITION AND THEY SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO WORK HERE. THEY LIVE. WITHIN A WEEK, WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT WENT THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING AND THE TROUBLE OF GETTING SOMEBODY THERE, AND THEY HAD SOMEBODY JUST WALK OFF THE JOB BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE. SO WITH THAT, THERE'S A RECAP ON MY LAST PAGE OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS. AND AGAIN, IT LOOKS COMPLICATED, BUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS RIGHT THERE, IF THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT EMPLOYED, WE CAN GET THEM ONBOARDED WITHIN 2 TO 3 WEEKS AT MOST. IF THEY ARE EMPLOYED, IT WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TO GIVE THEIR THEIR NOTICE. WE HAVE THINGS ON THE HORIZON FOR HR THAT ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD, AND WE'RE EXCITED. WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND RECRUITMENT. WE ARE REGISTERING TO ATTEND SEVERAL UPCOMING JOB FAIRS, WHICH IS VERY GOOD FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. WE'RE FINALIZING PLANS TO HOST TARGETED ON JOB FAIRS FOR WHICH WE NEED TO MEET WITH SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS IN ORDER TO HAVE ON SITE FAIRS. WE NEED THE COOPERATION OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND MANAGERS BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO ON SITE INTERVIEWS AND BE PREPARED TO HIRE ON THE SPOT.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE WOULD HAVE PENDING AFTER THAT WOULD BE THE DRUG SCREENING, THE PHYSICAL AND THE BACKGROUND CHECK. BUT FOR THAT, WE NEED AN ENTIRE TEAM COOPERATION, AND THAT'S ON THE HORIZON. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THAT AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

LEVERAGE NEWLY ADOPTED WAGE AND COMPENSATION PLAN AND RECRUITMENT, PROCEED WITH CONDITIONAL OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT PROCESS AS WELL. AND WITH THAT, I LEAVE YOU FOR I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. I'M HERE TO ANSWER SOME IF I CAN. THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING US AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU.

IF I CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, I WILL. AND IF NOT, I WILL DEFER TO DOC. I HAVE A COUPLE OF LIGHTS. DOOR, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU KNOW, KIND OF PASSIONATE. YOU'RE DOING MY JOB. THAT WAS VERY PASSIONATE. YOU KNOW IT VERY WELL. I'M IMPRESSED THAT THEY THAT YOU'RE HERE PRESENTING BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE OF WHAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, FROM THE START TO THE FINISH. SO YES, AGAIN, I THANK COUNCILMEMBER FRANK FOR PUTTING THIS ON BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HIRING PROCESS THAT IT TAKES IN HR. AND YOU JUST YOU DID AN EXPLICIT JOB. SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ON GIVING US INFORMATION. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. STAND THERE AND JUST IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT. JUST TAKE IT. OKAY. WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER.

FRANK? YEAH. JUST HUNKER DOWN. YES. YOU GOT THIS. YOU DID A GOOD JOB. READY? YES, SIR. WHAT PRECIPITATED THIS? WHAT CAUSED THIS TO TO HAPPEN WAS THAT OUR NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR, JT, POSTED ON FACEBOOK THAT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WAS HIRING IN ALL ITS GRANDEUR. AND WE GOT WAYLAID. I MEAN, WE GOT TORE UP FROM THE FLOOR UP. OKAY. ARE YOU AWARE THAT THAT STATEMENT, I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE POST, BUT I AWARE OF IT. YES. YEAH. THEY TOLD THEY TORE US UP. FOR SO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, PERCEPTION IS REALITY. AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY. AND SO WHEN THEY SAY YOU GOTTA BE, YOU GOTTA BE KIN TO GET IN. WHEN THEY SAY, I HAVE PUT IN APPLICATIONS, NOBODY CALLED ME BACK. WHEN THEY SAY I HAVE PERPETUALLY BEEN PUTTING IN APPLICATIONS AND I CAN'T GET HIRED. YOU GOTTA KNOW SOMEBODY. ALL OF THESE THINGS. I MEAN, I COULD JUST GO DOWN THE LIST. I GOT IT RIGHT HERE. I APPLIED THREE TIMES FOR A POSITION AS A DISPATCHER AND WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CHANCE. JUST I COULD JUST

[01:50:05]

ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S JOB IS THE PUBLIC. THAT'S ALL WE GOT. AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GOTTA TRY TO ALLEVIATE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CREATING THOSE PERCEPTIONS AND THOSE REALITIES, AND TRY TO DO THE BEST ALL OF US CAN TO DO THAT. SO I'M GRATEFUL TO HEAR ABOUT THE ON SITE, YOU KNOW, AND SO THE NEXT JOB FAIR THAT HAS GET THE DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER. I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGERS AND AND TO EVERYBODY. IT OUGHT TO BE ON SITE. AND, AND JUST THAT JUST DOING IT THAT WAY WILL HELP TO, TO DO THAT. SO THAT THAT'S WHERE I AM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM KINLAW. THANK YOU MAYOR. HUNKER DOWN. IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL. JUST JUST FOR A SERIOUS. MY THING IS THIS. I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT HIRING PROCESS. WE HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. I GO TO MISS WILLIAMS BACK THERE, AND SHE GIVES ME A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN DO IT BETTER. TALKING WITH JT AND SOME OF THE EXPERTS HERE AT THE CITY AND THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, THE WEBSITE ACCOUNTABILITY, I'M LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE HERE NOW AND WE GOT ABOUT 30 SOMETHING POSITIONS.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THE POSITIONS I DON'T SEE ON THE WEBSITE, LIKE WE GOT CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS, RIGHT? WELL, I KNOW WE NEED POLICE OFFICERS. I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. I KNOW THAT WE ARE WE IMPROVED ON OUR BUDGET FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE. ADDITIONAL JOBS. I DON'T SEE THAT HERE, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK TO ABOUT THREE YEARS WITH. COUNCILMAN DOUCET STATED EARLIER, OUR ESSENTIAL JOBS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UTILITY OPERATIONS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOLID WASTE AND TRASH, PUBLIC WORKS. THOSE ARE THE JOBS I'M TALKING ABOUT. YOU DON'T NEED A MASTER'S DEGREE. YOU KNOW, WHY CAN'T WE FILL THOSE JOBS? AND I'VE TALKED TO MISS WILLIAMS IN THE PAST. SHE HAD A REGISTRY ABOUT THE ONES THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. WE HAD A REGISTRY. SO WHAT HAPPENED? I MEAN, THOSE THINGS WE CAN DO. I MEAN, I'M GLAD YOU SAID IT JUST TAKES FOUR WEEKS NOW TO HIRE SOMEBODY IF THEY'RE EMPLOYED, AND I KNOW WE CAN DO IT, BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MASTER'S DEGREES JOBS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO THREE YEARS PAST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN THREE YEARS PAST. BUT I CAN SPEAK TO YOU NOW. OKAY. WHAT'S NOW ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET, A LOOK AT THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TWO, WHICH REQUIRES A CDL. THEY HAVE A BUDGET FOR EIGHT EQUIPMENT OPERATORS. TWO. AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ONLY MISSING.

WE HAVE A POSITION OPEN FOR ONE OPERATOR RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENOUGH OPERATORS EXCEPT FOR ONE WITHIN THE BUDGET. AND SO WHEN YOU SEE IT POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING FOR ONE TO FILL ONE MORE POSITION BECAUSE THEY ARE STAFFED ENOUGH TO FILL TO THE NEED. ONE POSITION AT THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT. YOU LOOK AT THE TRAINING AT THE TRAINEE, THE OPERATOR TRAINEE, THEY HAVE ALL THEIR SPOTS FILLED, BUT YOU SEE IT ON THE WEBSITE, BUT WE ONLY NEED ONE. AND SO AND YOU HAVE TO DO THE THE CORRELATION AS TO WHAT THEY HAVE IN THAT DEPARTMENT AND HOW MUCH MORE STAFF THE BUDGET ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE. AND YOU SEE ALL THESE POSTINGS ONLINE. AND SO THE OTHER QUESTION THAT OR THE ANSWER THAT YOU NEED FOR YOUR

[01:55:04]

WE COULD TAKE IT OFF, BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THEM TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION TO SAY, OKAY, SEND ME THE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE WE DO NEED SOMEONE RIGHT NOW, THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO SEND THE APPLICATIONS FROM THAT CURRENT POSITION THAT YOU SEE POSTED AND YOU'RE THINKING, WHY IS IT STILL POSTED? OKAY, WELL, GIVE ME GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION. AND I KNOW DOC GOING TO GO, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. I KNOW WE HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS IN THESE AREAS, THESE DEPARTMENTS. SO WHY DIDN'T WE LIST THOSE KNOWING THAT WE, WE BUDGET, WE CONTROL THE BUDGET. OKAY, SO WE KNOW WHAT WE ADD TO THE BUDGET, WHAT WE TAKE AWAY, WHAT, WHAT A, WHAT JOBS THAT YOU GUYS ASK FOR AND THE COUNCIL CONSIDER OR DENY. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT. I'M SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE A HIGH TURNOVER, I THINK THAT YOU SAID 49 EMPLOYEES WERE EITHER SEPARATED, RETIRED OR TERMINATED. I UNDERSTAND THAT APPROXIMATELY. OKAY. I KNOW THAT EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TURNOVER, BUT YOU SAID THAT WE HAD 219 INTERVIEWS. WE HIRED 55. SO THAT NEGATES THAT THAT 49 RIGHT THERE. SO WE STILL AT THAT GROUND ZERO. SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCILMAN FRANK STATED EARLIER ON SITE HIRING PROCESS. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. I THINK MISS WILLIAMS THOUGHT ABOUT THAT YEARS AGO WHEN I TALKED WITH HER. AND I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WITH HIRING BECAUSE IF WE CAN CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, PUTTING JOBS ON THE LINE, ON ON LINES, AND YOU GUYS NOT HIRING OR WHATEVER REASON, WHATEVER CHALLENGES YOU HAVE, WE'RE STILL NOT HIRING THE PEOPLE.

AND LET ME SAY SOMETHING. OKAY, MAYOR PRO TEM, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE. WE ARE HIRING LOTS OF PEOPLE. AND SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT, THAT PROCESS OF BRINGING PEOPLE ON.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT FOR THE CITY, THE VERY ACT OF HIRING PEOPLE CREATES ADDITIONAL VACANCIES. AS WE PROMOTE PEOPLE, AS WE TRANSFER PEOPLE, AS WE MOVE PEOPLE, WE CREATE VACANCIES. SO WE ARE FILLING THOSE POSITIONS. THE WORK THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING IS INCREDIBLE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT. SO THEY AND THEY COULDN'T DO THAT IF THEY WERE NOT STAFFED. RIGHT. IF YOU RECALL, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THE COUNCIL GAVE TO US IS THEY BROUGHT IN 21 POSITIONS INTO SOLID WASTE, AND THEY CHALLENGED HR TO FILL THEM. WE DID. WE DID. SO WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE, BUT ALL AND WE'RE NOT ALONE. I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER THING. THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IS NOT ALONE IN FACING HIRING CHALLENGES. WE'RE IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET. WE'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS.

BUT ALL IN ALL, THE CITY IS HOLDING ITS OWN. AND I APPRECIATE IT. I'M LOOKING AT ONE ONE OPPORTUNITY HERE. I THINK IT'S WHAT TRANSIT THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS IN THAT AREA.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE WANTING TO GET THE CDLS AND THEY GET THE CDLS.

WE TRAIN THEM AND THEN THEY GO TO REFINERIES. THAT PAYS A LOT MORE. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. BUT WE STILL GOT TO DO SOMETHING. EITHER WE HAVE TO RAISE THE PAY, GET COMPETITIVE. AND I SHARED THAT WITH MISS WILLIAMS TWO YEARS AGO. I UNDERSTAND WE WE'RE UP AGAINST A BLACK WALL.

THANK YOU. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO DO IT BETTER AND FASTER? WE GOT SOME ESSENTIAL JOBS THAT'S ON HERE THAT WE NEED TO BE EFFECTIVE. AND I, COUNCILMAN DOUCET AND I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE EFFECTIVE IN HIRING INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY? I MEAN, COME TO THE COUNCIL, TALK WITH THE COUNCIL, FIND OUT IF WE GOT INCREASE OR IF WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. INCENTIVE PACKAGE, HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, DOC, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN. I'M HAPPY NOW. I'M LOOKING AT YOUR LIST AND I CAN SMILE A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT HIRING PROCESS THAT YOU'VE DONE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE 21 HIRES THAT WE DID BECAUSE WE CHALLENGE YOU GUYS. AND WE LOOKED AT IT, FRANK AND I, WE LOOKED AT THESE NUMBERS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING BETTER, MORE. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. JT IS OUT THERE. WE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING IT ON THE WEBSITE. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BOMBARDED WITH THE INTERVIEWS, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. THE LEDGER ABOUT APPLICANTS THAT ARE NOT GETTING HIRED KEEP A REGISTRY OR SOMETHING. SO THAT'S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU, DOC. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. OH, YES. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPORT.

[02:00:01]

AND THEN WITH THE EXIT POLLS, PEOPLE WILL WRITE AND TELL YOU WHAT'S WHAT'S REALLY WHY THEY'RE LEAVING. THEY MAY BE LEAVING FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT THERE MAY BE LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE CITY POLICY. EXIT POLLS WILL TELL YOU THESE THINGS NOW. YES, SIR. I GOT THE ANSWER. YES, BUT LET'S GO BACK TO THE SECOND CHANCE I. I ASKED THAT QUESTION FOR A REASON, ■AND I'M GLAD YOU RESPONDED VERY WELL. AT LEAST. AT LEAST YOU KNOW. OKAY. BUT THE SECOND CHANCE CAME ABOUT. A YOUNG MAN HAD WORKED 16 YEARS, 16 YEARS. AND THE THE, THE. THE PERSONNEL POLICY WAS EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER. THE PERSONNEL POLICY. HE HAD TO LEAVE THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE PERSONNEL POLICY. SO THEY COME. SO HE CALLED ME AND I WENT OVER HIS PROCESS AND I SAID, HUMAN RESOURCES. RIGHT. I SAID, IT'S PERSONNEL POLICY CAUGHT YOU.

IT'S. NOTHING CAN BE DONE, HE SAID. I SAID, WELL, BY THE WAY, WHO SENT YOU TO ME? HE SAID, HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR. I SAID. AND I SAID, WELL. HE SAID, HE ASKED ME. HE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW. I SAID, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. I GOT ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. ARE YOU AND YOUR WIFE? THEY BOTH ARE STANDING BEFORE ME. I SAID, ARE Y'ALL CHRISTIANS? THEY SAID YES. I SAID, WELL, Y'ALL START PRAYING BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I WAS GOING TO WORK ONE MORNING. I GOT IN TERMINAL ROAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH. IT HIT ME HOW TO DO IT. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN PRAYING. IT HIT ME. I CALLED TO THE SECRETARY OFFICE, DICTATED THE LETTER TO HER, AND WE BROUGHT HIM BACK AFTER ONE YEAR, BUT BEFORE I WE IMPLEMENTED, I PUT IT ON THE ON THE AGENDA TO BE IMPLEMENTED. I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM HUMAN RESOURCE. I SAID, WHAT YOU WANT. HE SAID, I GOT SOME. SOME GOOD PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS UNDER THE POLICY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ADD TO YOUR INITIATIVE OF BRINGING. BRING THEM BACK. I SAID, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I SAID, WHAT ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS? HE SAID, NO, FIVE YEARS. SO AFTER FIVE YEARS, A LOT OF CITY EMPLOYEES

[02:05:03]

THEY'RE DOING GREAT. SO WE BROUGHT IT TO THE COUNCIL, UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IT. SO THAT'S WHY, YOU SEE, AFTER FIVE YEARS, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD ISSUES ARE BACK WITH THE CITY AND THEY'RE DOING WELL. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER DOUCET. I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING ANYBODY SPOKE ABOUT. I'M GONNA GET DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS. I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SO LONG. OKAY. FIRST THING IS COMMUNICATIONS. ALL RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAD THEM, THAT'S PART OF THE REPORT. HR NUMBER OF VACANCIES, WHAT DEPARTMENTS. AND THEREFORE COUNCIL WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME UP AND TELL US, OKAY. BUT YOU BRIEF US ON THIS. WHAT YOU BRIEFING US ON WHAT COUNCILMAN FRANK TALKED ABOUT WAS THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING, AND WE SITTING HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF COUNCIL PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD WE BELIEVE? SO YOU ALL NEED TO START COMING UP WITH SOME TYPE OF METHOD TO UPDATE THIS COUNCIL SO THAT THE COUNCIL DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER WHAT CITIZENS ARE SAYING IS CORRECT OR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS CORRECT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT YOUR SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT NEEDS AND VACANCIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR SOMEBODY TELL ME ABOUT YOU HAVE A VACANCY, BUT THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE JOB AND IT'S NOT URGENT. I DON'T BUY THAT. BECAUSE WHEN YOU BRING A BUDGET BEFORE COUNCIL, AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY YEAR, YOU TELL US THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE WE NEED TO OPERATE IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. AND THIS IS THE SALARY.

AND WHEN WE APPROVE IT, YOU NEED TO FILL IT. NO ONE SHOULD BE SITTING UP HERE DETERMINING WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A NEED. NO, WE GAVE YOU THE MONEY AND WE GAVE YOU THE POSITION, FILLED IT. YOU DON'T GET THE OPTION TO SAY, WELL, WE DON'T NEED IT RIGHT NOW. IF YOU DON'T NEED IT RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT IT TO US TO APPROVE IT. THAT'S THE WAY HR SHOULD RUN.

SO WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE. COMING IN WITH THEIR OWN METHOD. IT'S SIMPLE. OKAY, PROMOTE CREATE A VACANCIES. DOES IT? I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. AND I GUESS YOU MEANT BECAUSE YOU PROMOTE SOMEBODY, THEY LEAVE THAT POSITION SO THEY POSITION IT. BUT OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP ALL THOSE THINGS IN MIND. I SEE HERE, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE EVERYTHING. BY PROCEDURES. YOU TALK POLICY ALL THE TIME. WE'LL FOLLOW THE POLICIES. IF WE APPROVE A POSITION, FILL IT. DON'T COME UP WITH NO EXCUSES OR YOUR INTERPRETATION OF IT. THAT'S WHAT WE TALK ABOUT. SO LET'S GET RID OF THESE DIFFERENT. LISTEN TO CITIZENS AND LISTEN TO OUR STAFF. OUR STAFF NEED TO PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WE CAN ANSWER TO CITIZENS. WE CAN TELL CITIZENS TO NOT QUALIFY. IF A PERSON APPLIED FOR A JOB. IF THEY'RE NOT SELECTED, SEND THEM A LETTER SAYING YOU WERE NOT SELECTED. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

THEY KNOW YOU'RE NOT SELECTED. DON'T. DON'T OPEN A JOB AND THE JOB BE OPEN FOR 4 OR 5 MONTHS.

WE CAN'T FEEL IT. WELL, IF YOU CAN'T FEEL IT, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION. SO WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS GO AND ASK YOU ABOUT IT, YOU SAY, HEY, AIN'T NOBODY HAD THIS QUALIFICATION, THIS COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH COMMUNICATIONS. AND IN REFERENCE TO THE REHIRE, THE SECOND CHANCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXIT POLL. WHY PEOPLE LEAVING? WE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM. WHY PEOPLE LEAVING THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, NEED TO ADDRESS. WE NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY LEAVING PROVIDE COUNCIL

[02:10:06]

GIVE COUNCIL THE INFORMATION SO COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN LOOK AT IT SO THEY WILL KNOW. Y'ALL NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SO YOU ALL NEED TO START GIVING US INFORMATION SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US IS THE REASON WHY WHAT THE CITIZENS ARE SAYING ARE NOT TRUE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO REPRESENT CITIZENS. AND THE ONLY WAY WE COULD TELL THEM, AS IF WE GOT THE INFORMATION. THAT'S ALL. MAYOR. YOU DONE? OH, YES. OKAY. COUNCIL. CITY MANAGER. OKAY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL THAT WE HEAR YOU. WE HEAR YOU EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. AND WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AS WELL AS COMMUNICATION WITH POTENTIAL APPLICANTS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THERE WERE POINTS THAT WERE MADE, SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT COUNCIL ALREADY HIT ON AND STAFF DID AS WELL. I DO WANT TO THANK MISS DORA FOR DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB IN PRESENTING TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, BECAUSE IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING AT THAT PODIUM. ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS MADE ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND I'M I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN IN BEING ACCOUNTABLE, DEFINITELY WITH STAFF AND HOW WE DO THINGS. BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OUT THERE KIND OF PUTTING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I CAN SAY PERSONALLY THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR POSITIONS WITH THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR THAT HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THESE POSITIONS THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR THAT DON'T MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. AND IN TERMS OF THE JOBS THAT THEY SEEK AND SPEAKING TO THEM AND ASKING THEM ABOUT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SPEAKING TO SPEAKING ABOUT EVERYONE, JUST INDIVIDUALS I'VE SPOKEN TO. THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC IN WHAT THEY WANTED.

THEY MAY HAVE A CDL AND DO QUALIFY FOR POSITIONS AS EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT. WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO BE AN ACCOUNTANT WITHOUT THE EXPERIENCE. EDUCATION OR KNOWLEDGE TO DO THOSE THINGS. AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I HAVE SEEN COMMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA QUITE OFTEN ABOUT THE CITY'S INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS TO HIRE THEM. SO I THINK WITH ACCOUNTABILITY, WE ALL HAVE TO BE WE ALL HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND WE ALL HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE POSITION THAT WE ARE PUT IN. A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT PASSED DRUG TESTS. THEY HAVEN'T. IT'S THE SAME ISSUES THAT THE REFINERIES AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN REASONS THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN, OF WHY THESE INDIVIDUALS COULD NOT BE HIRED. WE WILL DEFINITELY STRIVE TO CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST AND ALWAYS IMPROVE THE SERVICE DELIVERY THAT WE PROVIDE AS THE CITY. THERE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE GONE ON. WE DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK FROM BRINGING SOME SUGGESTIONS JUST RECENTLY TO STAFF ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR HIRING PROCESSES AND GETTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY QUALIFIED, QUALIFIED. THE KEY IS QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS INTO THESE POSITIONS, BUT I AM ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I BELIEVE, WITH PART OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WE ALL HAVE TO BE AND WE ALL HAVE TO TELL OUR TRUTHS. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR THAT I ALWAYS USE AS AN EXAMPLE. THAT IS A LICENSED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST AND WAS LOOKING FOR A POSITION WITH THE CITY BECAUSE THEY JUST NEEDED MORE MONEY.

WITH THAT TYPE OF BACKGROUND, YOU WOULD THINK THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROBABLY WOULD BE THE IDEAL DEPARTMENT FOR THEM TO WORK IN. HOWEVER, THEY MADE IT AS A RELATIVE OF MINE. THEY MADE THE COMMENT, THE CITY HAS 70 VACANCIES AND I HAVE A RELATIVE IN A TOP POSITION OF THE CITY, WHICH LETS YOU KNOW THAT I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT PEOPLE GET HIRED IN BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY RELATED TO YOU, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WORK FOR THE CITY. AND I CAN'T THINK OF A RELATIVE I HAVE THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY. BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET A JOB. AND SO I WAS STANDING IN TARGET IN THE SECTION WITH DOG FOOD AND I SAID, OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. WE HAVE 70 VACANCIES. ONE OF THOSE VACANCIES I'M AWARE OF IS THAT WE NEED AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY. DO YOU HAVE A LAW DEGREE? AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A LAW DEGREE. I'LL SAY. I SAID, OKAY, SO NOW WE GOT 69 TO TALK ABOUT.

WE NEED 20 POLICE OFFICERS. ARE YOU A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER, OR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO THE ACADEMY AND GET THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY? THEY SAID, WELL, NO, I'M NOT DOING THAT. I SAID, OKAY, LET'S BREAK IT DOWN. WE GOT 59, 49 TO TALK ABOUT.

[02:15:03]

YOU READY? THEY SAID, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. I SAID, THEN DON'T TALK TO ME. BECAUSE WHAT YOU QUALIFY FOR IS NOT WHAT YOU SEEK. I CAN'T PULL YOU INTO A JOB PAYING YOU $89,000 A YEAR BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DEGREE, BUT IT'S NOT A DEGREE IN ANYTHING THAT WE NEED. THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WHEN THINGS ARE PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT AREN'T TOLD. AND SO WE DO HAVE TO TAKE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION. WHEN WE SEE A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S PUT OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SPEAKING TO EVERYONE. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR POSITIONS THAT EVEN OURSELVES, WE LOOK AT THOSE APPLICATIONS AND WONDER, WHY HAVEN'T WE PULLED THEM IN? YOU KNOW, WHY HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN IDEAL CANDIDATE, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS POSITION. BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, IN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSIONS AND TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PUT THAT OUT THERE IN TERMS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE. ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING. CITY MANAGER. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DID A GREAT JOB BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT WE DO HAVE. AND IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A SERIOUS ONE. AND WHEN A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE READ, BECAUSE I READ ALL OF THEM, A LOT OF THEM THAT SAID, I DIDN'T GET A REGRET LETTER. AND THAT WAS NUMBER ONE JOB IN MY HUMAN RESOURCE ANALYST JOB THAT TO IMMEDIATELY SEND OUT A REGRET LETTER TO THOSE PERSONS THAT WERE NOT SELECTED. AND I THINK THE QUICKER WE SEND THAT LETTER OUT, THE BETTER THAT THEY DIDN'T.

WHEN WE KNOW THOSE TOP TWO CANDIDATES, THE QUICKER WE GET THAT REGRET LETTER OUT TO SAY YOU WERE NOT SELECTED THE FAST. BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING AND IT'S MOVING. I'VE BEEN THERE, SO I KNOW IT'S MOVING ALL THE TIME. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE 90S BECAUSE I SEE THE PROCESS MAY HAVE BEEN QUICKENED, BUT I SEE YOUR STEPS ARE STILL THE SAME.

THE POSTING TIME, THE TIME TO GET THE JOB OUT, THE TIME TO GET TO DEPARTMENT SIMULTANEOUSLY POSTING AND THEN GETTING IT TO THE DEPARTMENT AT THE SAME TIME. SO I SEE THAT AS STILL QUITE THE SAME. BUT I DO THINK IN THE GENERATION THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, IN THIS AI GENERATION, AS I SHARED WITH DOC AND ON SITE JOB FAIR SHOULD BE IN THE GENERATION AND TIME WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE FASTER. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU CAN DO A I'M A REAL I HAVE ON THIS PHONE RIGHT NOW, I CAN PUT SOMEBODY'S PHONE NUMBER. IF I'M GOING TO GO SHOW A PROPERTY, I CAN PUT THAT PHONE NUMBER IN A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND THAT COMES WITH MY MY REAL ESTATE, WHERE I, WHERE I'M ACTUALLY A MEMBER. SO I CAN PUT THAT PHONE NUMBER IN BEFORE I GO SHOW THEM THAT PROPERTY. I CAN LOOK THEM UP AND SEE IF THEY'RE CRIMINAL WITHIN SECONDS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY IS MORE MORE ADVANCED THAN EVEN I AM. AND THERE SHOULD BE SOME PROGRAM IN THIS GENERATION WHEREBY WE CAN DO FASTER CDL CHECKS AND DO FASTER DRIVING CHECKS. I'M NOT CDL CHECKS, BUT DRIVING CHECKS, AND THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING FASTER THAT WE CAN DO. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS THAT CAN AT LEAST GIVE US A PRELIMINARY CONDITION UPON HIRING TO MOVE THAT PROCESS FASTER. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY. BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A MORE DETAILED IN DEPTH. AND BASED UPON THAT, WE CAN TELL THEM WHETHER WE CAN GIVE THEM A JOB OF CONDITION AND THEN COME BACK AND DO A MORE THOROUGH BACKGROUND. AND THEN WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING MORE THOROUGH THAN, OF COURSE WE CAN REJECT THEM OR MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. SO IN THIS GENERATION, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER FRANK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HIRE QUICKER. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WAIT. I DON'T WANT TO CALL SOMEBODY OUT THE AUDIENCE AND SAY, WELL, JT, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET HIRED FROM POINT A TO A HIGHER DATE? BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 4 TO 6 WEEKS. I GOT HIRED ON IN APRIL. I GOT INTERVIEWED IN APRIL OF 88. I DIDN'T START UNTIL OCTOBER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT TOOK THAT.

THAT PROCESS AT THAT TIME TOOK THAT LONG. BUT WE ARE NOT IN THAT TYPE OF GENERATION ANYMORE.

WE'RE FASTER, WE'RE MORE EFFICIENT, SYSTEMS MOVE FASTER, AND I PRAY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FAST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. IT ENLIGHTENED US AND THE COUNCIL AND THE PROCESS BECAUSE, AS DOC SAID, YOU HAVE MOVING VACANCIES ALL THE TIME. SOMEBODY IF THEY IF THAT PERSON GETS THE JOB, NOW YOU CREATE ANOTHER VACANCY. SO YOU STILL GOT THE SAME NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT ARE OUT. YOU GET A PROMOTION, YOU GET A RETIREMENT, YOU GET ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE MOVEMENTS THAT TAKE PLACE THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND AS TO WHY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A VACANCY, SOMEBODY BEING PROMOTED, SOMEBODY RETIRING, SOMEBODY IS MOVING. IT'S ALL IT'S CONSTANT AND IT DOESN'T STOP. BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE MORE LIGHTS AND THEN WE'LL LET THIS TOPIC GO SO WE CAN GO ON TO OUR AGENDA. COUNCIL MEMBER JONES THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD PRESENTATION. VERY EXCITED. BUT I HEARD A THOUSAND PRESENTATIONS IN MY LIFETIME. OKAY. I HEARD A THOUSAND OF THEM. SOUNDS GOOD, BUT I'M FROM BRAZIL. I WANT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT. YOU KNOW,

[02:20:04]

LET'S GET THEM HIRED. I'M RIDING AROUND LAST NIGHT ON TWIN CITY HIGHWAY. LOOK AT THAT.

MCDONALD'S AND BURGER KING. ALL THESE BUSINESSES. I DON'T WANT TO LIVE HERE. OKAY? BUT PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE NEED JOBS TO THE TO PAY BACK DOWN, TO BUY SCHOOL CLOTHES, TO GET THINGS FOR THEIR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS. YOU GOT THE SAME. YOU GOT THE SAME PROBLEM, DIFFERENT FACES. TAMIKA WILLIAMS I BEAT HER UP THREE YEARS AGO BY THE SAME THING WE BEAT UP. OKAY, NOW WE'RE FACING THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW HER BY OURSELF. NOW WE GOT THREE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT'S GOING ON? STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

LET'S GET PEOPLE HIRED. YOU HR SUPPOSED TO HAVE PEOPLE GO BACK DOWNSTAIRS AND DO YOUR JOBS.

LET'S GET PEOPLE HIRED. YOU KNOW, WE NEED JOBS, OKAY? WE NEED JOBS. STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. LET'S STOP KICKING, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. LET'S GET PEOPLE WORKING, OUR PEOPLE WORKING AND PORT ARTHUR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I APOLOGIZE TO ME. GOT BEAT UP REAL BAD. SHE'S UP THERE BY HERSELF NOW. WE GOT THREE OF Y'ALL THERE, AND THEY PUT THE SAME THING WE FACING AGAIN. LET'S DO IT, GUYS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. THIS I THINK THIS. YEAH.

BRIEF. I'LL BE BRIEF. SECOND TIME. THE LAST TIME. OKAY. A LOT OF TIMES. I'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT COME TO ME IN THE PAST WITH DEGREES COULDN'T GET HIRED. WHAT I WOULD TELL THEM, YES, YOU GOT A DEGREE IN BIOLOGY, OKAY. BUT YOU WANT TO GET IN THE WATER TREATMENT AND AND GOT OPENINGS THERE, BUT THEY WON'T HIRE US. I SAID, TAKE SOMETHING LESS. GET INSIDE, TAKE SOMETHING LESS. AND THE YOUNG MAN, NEXT THING HE CALLED ME AND SAY, I GOT A JOB. I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? HE SAID, I'M, I'M, I'M ON THE GARBAGE TRUCK PICKING UP GARBAGE. VERY SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE WAS ABLE TO USE HIS DEGREE TO GET INTO WATER TREATMENT. OKAY. AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST CAME ON AS A COUNCILMAN. STAFF DON'T, I CAN I'LL SAY THIS THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR DID NOT LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. AND WHAT'S EVEN WORSE, THERE WAS NOT A BLACK ABOVE THE RANK OF SERGEANT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THE MORE EDUCATION AN APPLICANT HAD, IF THEY HIRED THEM, THEY DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. THEY'LL GET THEM. THEY KNOW THEY'LL SEND THEM IN TRAINING. YOU GET A RECOMMENDATION AND YOU COMPLAIN YOU THEY'LL TRANSFER YOU TO ANOTHER TRAINING, A TRAINING CAMP, A TRAINEE. OKAY. YEAH.

AND IF YOU GET A, A BAD RECOMMENDATION, THEY'LL, THEY'LL TRANSFER YOU TO YOUR FINAL. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU EXIT OR I CAUGHT A LOT OF THEM. IT WAS SIX. IT WAS SIX POLICE OFFICERS. SIX OF THEM IN TRAINING WAS DOING THIS. AND I WENT AFTER THEM. ALL SIX OF THEM LOST THEIR JOB. AND AND ADD INSULT TO INJURY, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAD POSTED UP ON THE ON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAD POSTED UP THERE? AND I PRESENTED IT AT THIS COUNCIL. THEY HAD A BLACK. COUNCILMAN. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. TARGET. TARGET WITH AN AFRO ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE REPORT. APPRECIATE APPRECIATE YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA ]

[02:25:03]

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. DID YOU WANT TO REMOVE NUMBER NINE OR DID YOU WANT TO PULL THAT. THEY ASKED ME TO. DID YOU WANT TO PULL IT? PULL IT. I GOT A NOTE TO PULL. OKAY. PULL IT. OKAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. WE DID RIGHT. OKAY. IT'S BEEN. YEAH, SHE GOT IT RIGHT HERE. ALL RIGHT. IT PASSES. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE

[VII.C.(5) P.R. No. 24973 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Change Order No. 1 To The Highway 365 Sewer Force Main Replacement Project (Project No. WS0012-CON) With Allco, LLC. Of Beaumont, Texas, Extending The Contract Time By 108 Days To The New Total Contract Time Of 473 Days; Providing That Change Order No. 1 Has No Budgetary Impact. ]

WE DID. I PULLED IT WHEN YOU PULLED THE REST OF THEM. OH OH I DID, I DID, I PULLED IT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PAGE FIVE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PR NUMBER 24973. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE HIGHWAY. 365 SEWER FORCE MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT PROJECT NUMBER WS0012-CON WITH ALCO LLC OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, EXTENDING THE CONTRACT TIME BY 108 DAYS TO THE NEW TOTAL CONTRACT TIME OF 473 DAYS.

PROVIDING THAT CHANGE, ORDER NUMBER ONE HAS NO BUDGETARY IMPACT. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER. YES.

DO. SAID. YES. KEVIN. IN THE FUTURE THE THE WHOEVER MANAGED THESE PROJECTS, THEY'RE THE ONES SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE DAILY REPORTS. WHOEVER MANAGE THE PROJECTS. OKAY. I THINK COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE SHOULD START HAVING THESE DAILY REPORTS SUBMITTED AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND LOOK AT THEM BECAUSE ALCOHOL IS DOING A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THE CITY WITH DRAINAGE. AND THERE'S DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD AND THEY AIN'T WORKING OKAY. AND. IT'S JUST ALL THESE CONTRACTS AND ALWAYS EXTENSIONS, EXTENSIONS AND SANCTIONS, BUT WE DON'T EVER SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A TIME WHEN WE RECEIVED REPORTS FOR EXTENSIONS. THEY HAD ACTUALLY THE SUMMARY OF THE ALL OF THE DAYS WHEN SOMEBODY GO OUT THERE TODAY, OKAY, IS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S JUST LIKE SUSPENSION. IF YOU ASK ME FOR SUSPENSION FOR DAILY REPORT, WELL, TELL ME EXACTLY HOW MANY DAYS THAT. THIS SUSPENSION WAS IN PLACE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF IT WAS SUSPENDED FOR 45 DAYS, OKAY, WE GIVE YOU 45 DAYS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE DETAIL AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO LOOK AT FOR THESE EXTENSIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING RIDICULOUS.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR PRO TEM KINLAW. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'M LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. KEVIN. YES. AND IT OTHER THAN WHAT EXHIBIT A, I'M SORRY. YEAH. EXHIBIT A 180 DAYS.

WHO'S THE PERSON ON THE CITY SIDE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR TRACKING THOSE DAYS WHEN THEY WORK? WHO WHO WAS OVER THIS PROJECT? JUST I DON'T KNOW IF THE, THE REASON FOR THE, THE DELAY WAS BASICALLY THIS SEWER LINE. IF YOU GO BACK AND WHEN IT STARTED, THERE WAS A SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT ENTERED INTO WITH T-C-E-Q BECAUSE IN 2019, THERE WAS MASSIVE OVERFLOWS IN A COW FIELD BECAUSE OF THE WORST PAIN. AND THEN IN 20, THE BEGINNING OF

[02:30:02]

THERE'S SOME PAPERWORK SENT TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT NOW BECAUSE KINDER MORGAN, THERE WERE SOME CHANGES. WE THOUGHT WE HAD THE EASEMENT. NEW PEOPLE CAME IN. THEY WANT SOME A DIFFERENT PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED. SO THAT'S STARTING TODAY. WE HOPE WE'LL GET THAT THROUGH. THERE WAS THERE'S A MEETING GOING ON RIGHT NOW KINDER MORGAN, THAT JUST WENT TO. SO THIS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS WAS SHUT THE JOB DOWN FOR EASEMENTS. WE WE RAN INTO AN AREA WE JUST COULDN'T WORK. BUT WE HAD TO START THE JOB EARLY BECAUSE WE HAD TC AGREEMENT. PLUS WE HAD OTHER EASEMENTS THAT WERE. WE NEEDED TO GET THE CONTRACTOR TO SIGN OFF ON. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS KIND OF A WEIRD JOB. IT'S NOT THROWING ME OFF ON. WHEN YOU SAY EASEMENT EASEMENTS GOING TO BE THERE ANYWAY. YEAH, THERE'S EASEMENTS DID THAT IN THE DESIGN. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU. IT'S NOT AN EASEMENT. IT'S A CALL AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT. YEAH. I THINK IT'S WHAT WE'RE WE IT MAY BE ENCROACHMENT, ENCROACHMENT. THERE'S EASEMENTS AND THERE'S ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO WORK THROUGH WITH THESE PEOPLE. OKAY. NOW AND AGAIN, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE IN THE CITY SIDE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE DOING THE WORK ON A DAILY BASIS? WELL, WE HAVE SCHAUMBURG AND POLK AS THE CONSTRUCTION. OKAY. YOU KNOW, INSPECTION AND MANAGEMENT ON THE CITY SIDE, ON THE CITY SIDE. AND THERE'S ME, JESS AND CHRISTIAN, AND WE AND WE GET HANEY TO HELP US SOMETIMES. WELL, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IT'S A SMALL STAFF FOR WE'LL GET TOGETHER. THANK YOU MAYOR, WE'LL GET TOGETHER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL. YEAH, YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER DOUCETTE. YES. CALVIN. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

BUT MY POINT IS THESE CONTRACTORS MAKING ALL THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS CITY AND THEY'RE ON JOBS AND THEY SIGN A CONTRACT THAT SAYS X AMOUNT OF DAYS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, STATE AND FEDERAL INCLUDE. THAT'S CALENDAR DAYS. THEY SIGN THIS CONTRACT FOR CALENDAR DAYS. WE DON'T TELL THEM TO WORK ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS OR HOLIDAYS, BUT THE CONTRACT SAYS THOSE ARE THE DAYS THAT THEY ARE COUNTED. YES, SIR. THEY SIGN THESE CONTRACTS AND THEN THEY COME TO US WITH ALL KIND OF REASONING TO EXTEND IT. BUT A LOT OF TIMES, LIKE THEY SAY, RAINY DAYS, THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS RAINY DAYS. IT'S CALENDAR DAYS.

IF THEY WILL WORK ON DAYS WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE, THEN THEY WON'T HAVE TO WORK. IF THEY GET BEHIND TIME, IT'S UP TO THEM TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES OVERTIME AND WORK ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS. IS MONEY GONE IN THEIR POCKET? I'M JUST GETTING TIRED OF THIS CITY.

KEEP GIVING CONTRACTORS EXTENSIONS WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING. ON DAYS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING. WE DON'T TELL THEM, BUT WE NEED TO TRACK IT. I'M LEAVING COUNCIL.

[02:35:01]

I HAVE NO IDEA. WHAT ABOUT WATER, UTILITIES, WATER UTILITIES? NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. WE HAVEN'T. HAD A DIRECT LINK TO A COST. OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER FRANK, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. CALVIN. IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE TIME THAT I'VE SAT HERE, WE HAVE NEVER CAUSED ANY INDIVIDUALS TO USE THEIR INSURANCE OR SAID, HEY, THEY WERE WRONG AND ELONGATING THE PROCESS OR THEY MADE A MISTAKE. IT'S ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE. AND, AND THEY HAVE, THEY, THEY TAKE INSURANCE OUT FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL MISTAKES AND THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR, THEIR ISSUES. BUT WE NEVER PRESSED THE ISSUE ON THEM. AND IT CAN'T BE US ALL THE TIME. IT JUST CAN'T BE. THANK YOU CAL. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY KNOWS THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION

[VII.C.(6) P.R. No. 24980 – A Resolution Approving The Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) Contract Amendment Between The City Of Port Arthur And Tender Loving Care DBA Legacy Community Development Corporation For The Rehabilitation Of Nineteen Rental Units. Amendment #2 Will Extend The Contract Expiration Date From July 09, 2026, To July 08, 2028. No Additional Funding Is Requested Or Required For Completion Of The Project Or Administration Of The Program. Account #108-13 033-5470-00-40-000; Project #HMEARP3.]

[02:40:01]

OKAY. BUT WE HAD THAT GRANT WAS FOR FOR HOUSING WAS WHAT, 200? WELL, THIS ONE IS 260,000.

NUMBER FIVE. YES, SIR. 80 IT WAS THE GRANT WAS 260 000 CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND ACCORDING TO THE BACKGROUND YOU SAID IT WAS FOR 17 UNITS. AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU ONLY HAVE TWO UNITS LEFT TO DO FROM THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. BUT EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOUSING IN THIS CITY. OH WE NEED HOUSING. WE GOT TO GET HOUSING. AND I KEEP SAYING ALL THE TIME, YOU NEED HOUSING, BUT PEOPLE ARE QUALIFIED. BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE MONEY IS FOR. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE'VE ALREADY EXTENDED THIS BEFORE. YES. AND WE EXTENDED IT FROM 2024 TO 25. NOW WE WANT TO EXTEND IT FROM 26 TO 28. THAT'S TWO MORE YEARS.

YES, SIR. OKAY. SO FROM THE TIME WE FIRST. APPROPRIATED IT UNTIL NOW, WE SPENT 204,000 AND WE ONLY HAD LIKE 56,000 LEFT. YES, SIR. SO WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT FOR TWO YEARS TO SPEND 50, $56,000. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TWO TWO YEARS TO SPEND $50,000 TO HELP PEOPLE IN HOUSING. WELL, THIS HOUSING IS TO HELP HOMELESS PERSONS OR PERSONS ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS. SO THE THE DELAY IS REALLY IN THE DOCUMENTATION. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS HOME. AARP IT'S NOT JUST BASED ON LOW INCOME, BUT WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT THAT THEY ARE HOMELESS. WE HAVE TO DOCUMENT THAT THEY MEET ALL THE INCOME CRITERIA. AND WITH THIS ONE, WE HAVE TO ALSO DOCUMENT THE UNITS ARE OCCUPIED BY ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. SO IT TAKES A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO GET ALL THE DOCUMENTATION IN PLACE.

WELL, I WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE THIS PARTICULAR ONE ITEM NUMBER SIX, THE 80, THAT ONE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE UNITS. YES, SIR. OKAY. UNITS. YES, SIR. AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING SO.

YOU DON'T HAVE A TWO UNITS LEFT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO FINISH THE THE ACTUAL WORK AS WELL AS OCCUPY THE UNITS AND FIND SOME ELIGIBLE CLIENTS TO GET INTO UNITS. OKAY. SO AND WE MAY FINISH EARLY. WE JUST GIVE AN EXTRA TIME SO WE CAN CLOSE OUT THE. YEAH. SO WE YEAH. AND THAT'S MY HOPE. THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT HERE. WE DO 17 IN 1 YEAR. WE ONLY GOT TWO UNITS LEFT FOR WHICH WE HAVE FUNDING FOR BECAUSE YOU SAID IT IN THERE. YEAH. BUT WE WANT TO EXTEND IT FOR TWO YEARS. YOU SEE I'M ALWAYS QUESTIONING THESE GRANTS IN THIS CITY BECAUSE WE GET ALL THIS MONEY, WE GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS, AND FOR SOME REASON WE JUST HAVE IT. AND THEN JUST AROUND DEADLINE TIME, PEOPLE COME RUNNING TO THE COUNCIL SAYING, WE GOTTA GET THIS RENT BY THIS PERIOD OF TIME, ARE WE GOING TO LOSE IT? AND I'M LIKE, I LOOK AROUND OUR CITY AND I'M SAYING, IF WE GET GRANTS, YOU GIVE ME 50, GIVE ME A THOUSAND, 50,000, $1 MILLION.

I LOOK AT THE CITY. I COULD SPEND THAT IN A DAY. WELL, IT TAKES TIME TO GET IT'S A BRAND NEW GRANT. OKAY. THIS ONE IS A NEW GRANT. THE HOME ARP WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CITY RECEIVED IT OR RECEIVED IT. SO HUD HAD DIFFERENT STIPULATIONS AND DOCUMENTATION. SO IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET GOING. AND NOW THAT WE'RE INTO IT WITH THIS ONE AS WELL AS THE OTHER ONES, THEY'RE NEARING COMPLETION, BUT THEY JUST NEED ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET THE CLIENTS IN THERE AND TO DOCUMENT THE GRANT. AND WE CAN CLOSE IT OUT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LEGACY IS HERE. I THINK THEY THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE WHO ARE THE, THE CARE THAT DOING BUSINESS AS LEGACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER. AND SO SHE CAN SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. NO I'M NOT. IT'S REALLY ABOUT NOT EITHER ONE OF THESE THINGS. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE HANDLE THE GRANTS IN A TIME FRAME. THAT'S THE ONLY THAT'S WHY I'M DOING IT WITH THIS FIRST ONE. AND I WON'T DO IT THE OTHER ONE, BECAUSE I WILL POINT OUT THE DIFFERENCES. OKAY. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S A TREND I SEE, NOT WITH THIS PARTICULAR. AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THIS ONE. IT'S

[02:45:06]

[VII.C.(7) P.R. No. 24981 – A Resolution Approving The Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) Contract Amendment #3 Between The City Of Port Arthur And Family Services Of Southeast Texas. The Amendment Will Extend The Contract Expiration Date From July 09, 2026, To July 08, 2028. No Additional Funding Is Requested Or Required For Completion Of The Project Or Administration Of The Program. Account# 108-13-033-5470-00-40 000; Project #HMEARP5. ]

ACCOUNT NUMBER 108-13-033-5470-00-40-000. PROJECT NUMBER HMEARP5. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND QUESTIONS. OKAY. ONCE AGAIN, THESE FUNDS WAS. THE TOTAL WAS 50,000 AND WE ONLY HAVE. 22 K LEFT ON THAT ONE. YES SIR. SO OKAY, SO ONCE AGAIN THAT WAS MY QUESTION. I'VE ALREADY STATED IT. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT. IT'S ABOUT TIME. OKAY, THAT'S ON THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, YOU'RE MY LIGHTS ON. ALL THREE OF THEM, YOU SEE, REQUESTING THE SAME EXTENSION. THE SAME EXTENSION APPLIES TO THEM. MY POINT IS THIS. THIS IS ONLY ONE TIME. IF WE COULD HAVE SPENT THIS MONEY EARLY, COULDN'T WE APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY? TALKING ABOUT $5 BILLION? NO, NO, JUST ONE, ONE TIME. ONE TIME. OKAY, OKAY. AND WE WENT OUT FOR BIDS AND THEY WERE SELECTED TO THE BIDS, BUT IT JUST TOOK A WHILE TO GET THE GRANT GOING AND DOCUMENTATION. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THIS, I DON'T NEED TO KNOW. SO YEAH, I'M DONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION

[VII.C.(8) P.R. No. 24982 – A Resolution Approving The Home Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) Contract Amendment #3 Between The City Of Port Arthur And The Salvation Army. The Amendment Will Extend The Contract Expiration Date From July 09, 2026, To July 08, 2028. No Additional Funding Is Requested Or Required For Completion Of The Project Or Administration Of The Program. Account#108-13-033-5470-00-40 000; Project# HMEARP1.]

OKAY. HAVE WE TALKED WITH THEM AND DO THEY UNDERSTAND REIMBURSING BECAUSE THEY COULD JUST WE COULD HAVE TEN PEOPLE GO UP THERE FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY COULD JUST HELP THEM. AND THEN THEY JUST BILL US, BUT THEY COULD SPEND $50,000 IN A DAY. BUT THIS ONE HERE, GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. THIS ONE HERE BEEN SINCE 2024. AND OF THE $50,000 THEY'VE ONLY SPENT 20. WHAT? THERE'S ONLY THREE K LEFT. YES. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THEY'RE CLOSE TO.

YEAH. SO I'M LIKE. AND NOW WE WANT TO EXTEND THIS PARTICULAR ONE. TWO MORE YEARS AND ONLY

[02:50:01]

I JUST WANTED TO SAY LIKE HOUSING, ANYTHING DEALING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY. SAME WITH ALL OF THESE. OKAY. ANYTIME THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. IT'S JUST THAT WHEN I SEE MONEY LIKE THIS DEALING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY AND THEY TALK ABOUT, WE GOT $3,000 AND WE'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT FOR TWO YEARS, I COULD SEND SOMEBODY UP THERE TO GET IT TODAY. YOU KNOW, IF WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE JUST GOT MONEY HANGING AROUND. THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT I'M MAKING TO THESE THINGS. THAT'S WHY I SAID I WOULD SAY ONE. AND I JUST POINTED OUT I'M DONE WITH IT.

YES. I THINK IT'S THE DOCUMENTATION. WE CAN'T YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO MEET THE THEY HAVE TO BE HOMELESS. THEY HAVE TO SHOW THE HOMELESSNESS SPEAK IN THE MIC. MAYBE IT'S THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S REALLY HOLDING UP A LOT OF THEM WITH THE HOMELESSNESS. SOME PEOPLE, THEY'RE HOMELESS. YOU MAY HAVE TO HELP THEM GET, YOU KNOW, IDS AND JUST BRING THEM TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THEIR RENT. YEAH, I, I REALLY READ THE REQUIREMENT FOR AARP. I ACTUALLY KNOW THAT WHEN THEY ISSUED THIS TO US, WE COULD HAVE DONE LIKE LIGHT BILLS AND WE COULD HAVE DONE STUFF. IT, WE COULD HAVE ACTUALLY ATE THE CITY COULD HAVE ACTUALLY USE THIS MONEY. WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEM. THAT MONEY WAS ISSUED TO HELP IN THESE AREAS. I KNOW ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, YES SIR, WE COULD HAVE DONE IT. AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF THAT WASN'T IN THIS PACKAGE WHEN IT FIRST WAS GIVEN TO US, WHEN IT WAS FIRST GIVEN TO US, THERE WAS A LIST OF THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE AS A CITY, BUT WE HAD IT BROKEN DOWN BECAUSE I WAS ON COUNCIL. IT WAS BROKEN DOWN THAT THIS SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR THIS GROUP.

THIS GROUP. THAT'S WHERE WE GET THE YES, WE WANT A HOME REVITALIZATION. THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE A FAMILY SERVICES. THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE SALVATION ARMY. BUT WHEN THE GRANT WAS ISSUED TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, WE HAD ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CHARGE OF AND DISTRIBUTED THE MONEY. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE NONPROFIT. YEAH. BUT YES, WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE DONE THAT. AND IF COUNCIL PULL UP AARP AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR SPENDING WHEN WE GOT THE MONEY, YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED AT WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE WITH IT. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTION, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES.

[VII.C.(12) P.R. No. 24987 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With City Fence Of Port Arthur, Texas, For The Replacement Of The Perimeter Fence At The Armory Building Located at 3451 57th Street With A Commercial-Grade Galvanized Chain Link Fence, Razor Wire Security Features, And An Electrically Operated Gate System In The Amount Of $41,200.00. Funding Available In The Parks And Recreation Capital Improvement Account Number 307-25-065-8512-00-10-000 Project Code BU0024.]

[VII.C.(9) P.R. No. 24984 – A Resolution Calling For A Public Hearing To Consider A Zoning Map Amendment For 89.334 Acres Of Land Out Of And A Part Of Lot 5, Block 7, Range Q, Part Lot 3 & 4, Block 8, Range Q, Part Lot 6 & 7, Block 9, Range Q, Part Lot 4-8, Block 7, Range PT, Lot 1 & 8, Block 7, Range S Palco & Block 37-43, ABD Lakeside Park, Jefferson County, Texas (Located South Of Hwy 73 And North Of Taylors Bayou).]

[02:55:07]

[VIII.A.(1) P.R. No. 24924 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With AOS Treatment Solutions, LLC Of Cypress, Texas For The Purchase Of Sole Source Polymers And Delineating Procedures For The Purchase Of Other Chemicals, With A Total Projected Budgetary Impact Of $1,860,000.00. Funding Is Available In The Water Utilities Department Treatment Chemicals, $1,725,000.00 In Account No. 410-40-210-5217-00-00-000 ($300,000.00 For FY26 And $1,425,000.00 For FY27), And $135,000.00 In Account No. 410-40-225-5217-00-00-000 ($35,000.00 For FY26 And $100,000.00 For FY27), Subject To City Council's Annual Appropriation And Approval Of The Budget.]

NUMBER ONE PR NUMBER 24924. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH AOS TREATMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC OF CYPRESS, TEXAS, FOR THE PURCHASE OF SOLE SOURCE POLYMERS AND DELINEATING PROCEDURES FOR THE PURCHASE OF OTHER CHEMICALS WITH A TOTAL PROJECTED BUDGETARY IMPACT, $1,860,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. TREATMENT CHEMICALS 1 MILLION 725 $1,000 IN AN ACCOUNT NUMBER 410402105217-00-00-000 300,000 FOR FY 26 AND 1 MILLION 425 $425,000 FOR FY 2027 AND 135,000 IN ACCOUNT NUMBER 41040225-5217-00-00-000 $35,000 FOR FY 26, $100,000 FOR FY 27, SUBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATION AND APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SO MOVED. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? MAYOR, I HAVE CORRECTION. HOLD ON. COUNCIL MEMBER JONES, YOU SAID FY 2027 THIS FY 27. THAT'S IT'S 2027. IT'S THE SAME. IT'S 27. IT'S A YEAR. OKAY. WE'LL SAY IT'S 78. 2027. YEAH. 2027.

YES, SIR. FY 27. OKAY. IT'S THE SAME. IT'S A YEAR. IT'S NEXT YEAR. YEAH. SO OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NO'S. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. LET'S GO TO NUMBER TWO.

[VIII.A.(2) P.R. No. 24952 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Contracts For The Purchase Of Water And Wastewater Treatment Chemicals For The Water Utilities Department With PVS DX, Inc. Of Houston, TX; Brenntag Southwest, Inc. Of Lancaster, TX; Solenis LLC Of Wilmington, DE; And Pencco, Inc Of San Felipe, TX. The Total Projected Budgetary Impact For These Chemicals Is $1,078,759.00, With Funding Allocated From Various Water Utilities Accounts: $641,469.00 In Water Purification Account No. 410-40 210-5217-00-00-000 ($300,000.00 For FY26 And $341,469.00 For FY27); And $437,290.00 In Wastewater Treatment Account No. 410 40-225-5217-00-00-000 ($37,290.00 For FY26 And $400,000.00 For FY27), Subject To City Council’s Annual Appropriation And Approval Of The Budget. ]

[VIII.A.(3) P.R. No. 24955 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With King Solutions, Inc. Of Houston, Texas, For The City-Wide Sanitary Sewer Line Rehabilitation Project No. 2, With A Total Budgetary Amount Of $1,391,213.00. Funds Are Available In The Water Utilities Capital Improvements Projects Account No. 405 40-000-8516-00-00-000, Project No. WS0016.CON.]

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? IT'S BEEN MOTIONED. AND SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NO'S? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. PR NUMBER NUMBER FOUR. PR

[VIII.A.(4) P.R. No. 24961 – A Resolution Authorizing A Non-Exclusive Agreement With Crowder Gulf Of Theodore, Alabama For Debris Removal & Emergency Services For The City Of Port Arthur In The Event Of An Emergency Or Disaster In An Amount Not To Exceed $13,000,000.00. Funding Is Subject To Emergency Appropriations.]

[03:00:03]

[VIII.A.(5) P.R. No. 24963 – A Resolution Authorizing A Non-Exclusive Agreement With SLSCO, Ltd Of Galveston, Texas, For The Provision Of Emergency Food Services In The Event Of An Emergency Or Disaster In An Amount Not To Exceed $1,000,000. Funding Is Subject To Emergency Appropriations. ]

[VIII.A.(6) P.R. No. 24965 – A Resolution Appointing A Member To The Port Arthur Library Board.]

YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO US? IT WAS IN HIS DOCUMENTS. I DON'T REMEMBER IT ON TOP OF MY HEAD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD MORNING. NO MORE LIBRARY DIRECTOR STEVEN WILLIAMS, JONATHAN SANCHEZ, JONATHAN SANCHEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. YES. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. NUMBER PAGE NUMBER NINE. NUMBER SEVEN. PR NUMBER 24976.

[VIII.A.(7) P.R. No. 24976 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Two-Year Agreement With Greenberg Traurig, LLP Of Austin, Texas, For The Provision Of State Legislative Consulting And Government Relations Services For The City Of Port Arthur For $8,000.00 Per Month, For A Total Amount Not To Exceed $192,000.00. Funding For Fiscal Year 2025-2026 In The Amount Of $24,000.00 Is Available In The Law Department Professional Services Account No. 001-05-013-5420-00-10-00, Project No. LD0001.OTH.LEG. The Remaining Contract Amount Is Subject To Annual Appropriation And Approval Of The 2026-2027 Budget By The City Council. ]

PROJECT NUMBER LD000 ONE DOT 0TH DOT LEG. THE REMAINING CONTRACT AMOUNT IS SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION AND APPROVAL OF THE 2026 2027 BUDGET BY THE CITY COUNCIL. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN

[VIII.A.(8) P.R. No. 24977 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Port Arthur Police Chief Advisory Committee (Requested By Councilmembers Jones And Lewis). ]

[VIII.A.(9) P.R. No. 24978 – A Resolution Appointing A Member Or Members To The Pleasure Island Advisory Commission (Requested By Councilmember Jones).]

[VIII.A.(10) P.R. No. 24979 – A Resolution Appointing A Member To The Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council (YAC) (Requested By Councilmember Cal Jones)]

[03:05:03]

[VIII.A.(11) P.R. No. 24989 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Donations, Sponsorships, And In-Kind Contributions Of Goods, Services, And Funds From Industry Partners, Commercial Sponsors, Community Organizations, And Private Contributors In Support Of The City Of Port Arthur's 2026 Winter Event To Be Held On December 12, 2026; Authorizing The Deposit Of All Monetary Contributions Into Account No. 001-00-000-4740-00-00-000]

[VIII.A.(12) P.R. No. 25000 – A Resolution Appointing And/Or Reappointing A Member Or Members To The Beautification Commission (Requested By Mayor Moses)]

[VIII.A.(13) P.R. No. 25001 – A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract With Electrical Specialties, Inc. Of Beaumont, Texas, For The Installation Of Standby Generators At The Utility Service Center And Pleasure Island Lift Station In A Total Amount Not To Exceed $326,500.00. Funding Is Available In Account No. 154-40-000-8522-00-00-000, Project No. HMGP1.GRE.EQU, With $164,872.50 To Be Funded Through The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program And $161,627.50 To Be Funded From Water Utilities Funds, Contingent Upon Approval Of The Budget Amendment Set Forth In Proposed Ordinance No. 7434. ]

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN AN ACCOUNT NUMBER 154-40-000-8522-00-00-000.

PROJECT NUMBER HMGP1 DOT GRE DOT EQU, WITH $164,872.50 TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL AGENCY, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, AND $161,627.50 TO BE FUNDED FROM WATER UTILITY FUNDS. CONTINGENT UPON APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT SET FORTH IN PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 7434. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THAT WAS 13, RIGHT? THAT'S I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER.

I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER? YEAH. THIS IS A 2020 ITEM 13.

NUMBER 13. RIGHT. OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. AND MY FOOT GOT CAUGHT. MY ATTENTION WAS TO STANDBY GENERATORS. YOU GOT SOMEBODY STANDING BY? MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE CONSTANTLY MAINTAINING AND RUNNING AND MAKE SURE THESE THIS EQUIPMENT IS GOING TO BE READY IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS? YES, SIR. WE WE HAVE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AND WE ROUTINELY MAINTAIN THEM AND THEY'RE ROUTINELY SWITCH THEM OUT AND START THEM UP. OR THEY AUTOMATICALLY START AND RUN ON A WEEKLY BASIS. MY POINT IS STANDBY GENERATOR YOU USE, JUST MAKE SURE THEY'RE RUNNING.

THE TURBINE IS RUNNING OR YOU PUT A, PUT THEM ON THE LOAD AND TEST THEM. BECAUSE GENERALLY DURING THE WEEK, DURING THE ON THE REGULAR RUN, THEY'RE RUN WITHOUT LOAD WITHOUT. BUT YEAH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU ALL DO PUT A LOAD ON IT. BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN WE NEED THEM, WE RUN THEM ON LOAD AND WE HAVE TESTED THE LARGER ONES BY BRINGING IN LOAD BANKS, BUT GENERALLY THE SMALLER ONES, WELL, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THIS AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT AND YOU TEST IT DRY AND YOU PUT IT ON THE LOAD, IT FAILS. I UNDERSTAND, SIR. IT'S JUST IT'S A COST. SO IT'S WHERE YOU SPEND THE MONEY THERE. EVERYTHING'S A COST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY KNOWS? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION PASSES. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE DOWN TO B

[VIII.B.(1) P.O. No. 7410 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Sale Of Surplus Furniture, Technology, And Minor Equipment By A Public Online Auction Through Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc & Technology Equipment Through Global Asset, LLC.]

[03:10:07]

YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT WE CAN'T AUCTION, WE JUST NEED TO SCRAP THOSE. YOU EVER BEEN TO THE OPERATION CENTER? IT LOOKED LIKE A SALVAGE YARD INSTEAD OF AN OPERATION CENTER. IT IS RIDICULOUS. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO AUCTION THE THE VEHICLES THAT ARE OPERATIONAL, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT. DISPOSING THOSE THAT ARE NOT SCRAP IRON. YOU GOT ENOUGH SCRAP IRON THERE.

THAT'S THAT'S REVENUE. YEAH. IT'S SITTING UP THERE LICKING THE PLATES LOOK LIKE A A SALVAGE YARD. AND IT'S DISGUSTING. WE ACTUALLY DO. AND HONESTLY, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT. SO I'VE GOTTEN WITH JESSE AT THE PUBLIC WORKS.

SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF THOSE VEHICLES BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON THE LIST.

I CAN'T AUCTION OFF, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN HIM TO GO THROUGH AND WE'RE GOING TO WALK AND LOOK AT EVERY VEHICLE AND WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN IT UP. IT'S IT'S ALREADY IN THE PROCESS. OKAY, OKAY. OH, COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM KINLAW CLIFF, ARE WE LEGALLY BINDED BY KEEPING THOSE VEHICLES THERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME? I MEAN, I THAT'S MY QUESTION. I KNOW YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING WITH SOMEONE, BUT LEGALLY BINDED ARE WE BECAUSE IT'S TAXPAYER FUNDED VEHICLES OR WHATEVER? ARE WE LEGALLY BINDING BY HOLDING THEM IN THE. NO WE'RE NOT. NO. GOOD ANSWER. THANK YOU. OKAY, OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE THE ORDINANCE PASSES PO NUMBER

[VIII.B.(2) P.O. No. 7428 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Conveyance Of Five (5) City-Owned Vacant Tracts Of Land By Special Warranty Deed(s) To Tender Loving Care Center For Children D/B/A Legacy Community Development Corporation (“Legacy CDC”) For The Purpose Of The Development And Construction Of New Homes For Low- And Moderate-Income Persons And Families.]

THIS IS HOW THIS IS. THIS UMBRELLA IS USED. IT'S JUST A BRANCH UNDER. ON AN EXISTING CORPORATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED A COUPLE OF TIMES. OKAY, MISS BELLA, IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM AND EXPLAIN, I THINK, KIND OF WHAT WE KIND OF ALL HERE UNDERSTAND. YEAH, THIS IS AN EXISTING CORPORATION, BUT IT IS NOT A IT'S NOT A CHILD CARE THING. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT'S BEING BEING INTERPRETED. NO TENDER LOVING CARE CENTER FOR CHILDREN WAS THE ORIGINAL NONPROFIT. BACK IN 2006, WE HAD CREATED AN ENTITY TO WORK WITH AT RISK KIDS. AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A CHURCH GROUP THAT WAS MENTORING AT RISK YOUTH. AND WE WANTED TO CREATE SOME TYPE OF CENTER SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. BUT AS WE WORKED WITH THE CHILDREN, WE REALIZED THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY WERE FACING RELATED TO THEIR HOUSING SITUATIONS OR INSTABILITY IN THE FAMILY. SO IN 2009, WE TOOK ON LEGACY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS A DBA UNDER TENDER LOVING CARE CENTER FOR CHILDREN, THE UMBRELLA LEGALLY TO, TO BECOME THAT ENTITY, TO BE ABLE TO DO HOUSING. WE PROVIDED THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WITH A LEGAL OPINION ON THE STRUCTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE'RE ABLE TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE CITY. AND AS A TOTO. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY NOS. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE ORDINANCE PASSES PO NUMBER 7429. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE

[VIII.B.(3) P.O. No. 7429 – An Ordinance Authorizing The Retirement Of Police Canine "Jago" From Service With The Port Arthur Police Department.]

[03:15:02]

[VIII.B.(4) P.O. No. 7434 – An Appropriation Ordinance Amending The City Of Port Arthur Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2025 And Ending September 30, 2026, By Transferring $161,628.00 From The Water And Sewer Capital Fund (Fund 405) To The Hazard Mitigation Fund (Fund 154). ]

[IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION)]