Feb 08, 2022 City Council

[00:00:01]

AND WELCOME TO THE CITY

[CALL TO ORDER]

TODAY'S TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE EIGHTH.

AND GIVEN OUR INVOCATION WILL BE DR.

HOWARD CAMERON OF TRINITY CHURCH.

IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE JOIN US, REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND I WILL ASK THAT YOU PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES.

THANK YOU.

HEAVENLY FATHER.

WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GREAT HUMILITY, LORD REPRESENTING A CITY THAT HAS MANY, MANY MORE ARE MUCH, MUCH DIVERSITY, LORD, MANY PEOPLE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE WISDOM FOR THIS COUNCIL, LORD, TO DO THE WORK, TO, TO RUN THIS CITY, LORD GOD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORK AND YOUR PLAN AND YOUR WORD THAT THAT ALL WILL BE REPRESENTED AND ALL WILL BE REPRESENTED.

FAIRLY FATHER WE'VE ELECTED THEM.

WE TRUST THEM.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THEM.

AND UPON THIS MEETING, WE ASK IT IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD.

JESUS.

AMEN.

AMEN, PLEASE.

JOHN IS OUR NATION SLAG.

I PLAYED THE LEAD THROUGH THE BLOG FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE AT THE CLOSE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO CONTEMPLATE OR PENDING LITIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION FIVE, FIVE, ONE.ZERO SEVEN, ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE BEAUMONT VERSUS NET LICKS, HULU AND DISNEY.

I HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

MAY OR MAY TOM PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM SAMUEL COUNCIL MEMBER DOREO COUNCIL MEMBER GETS COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER COUNCIL MEMBER, PHIL SHAW AND COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS TODAY, BUT NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN WHO WISH TO SPEAK OR MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, AGENDAS ITEMS. NUMBER ONE, THREE, AND FOUR, PLEASE COMPLETE THE GREEN SLIP.

THE BACK OF THE ROOM HANDED TO THE CLERK TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE ROOM.

THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU KEEP YOUR MINUTES, KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE BEGINNING AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

ARE THERE ANY, I DON'T HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME.

MA'AM THANK YOU AT THIS TIME.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, MR. MANAGER? UH, ITEM B I NOTICED IS SOME GRANT FUNDING AND IT SAYS 83,000 DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY FOR IMPLEMENTING TARGET HEART.

ANY, CAN YOU KINDA EXPLAIN TARGET HEART ANY? SO THE FIRST PHASE, THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT UTILIZE THE MONEY, UM, TO PUT GATES, OR WE WILL PUT GATES HERE AT MAIN STREET AND, UH, PEARL OFF OF COLLEGE.

AND SO IF WE RECEIVED THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING, IT WILL BE USED FOR FENCING AROUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES? MAY I HAVE THE READING OF

[1. Consider appointing an Interim City Manager effective March 31, 2022]

AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL A PERMANENT SELECTION IS MADE.

UH, THE DUTIES OF THE CITY MANAGER ARE OUTLINED IN THE CITY CHARTER AND THIS ADAM WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA BY MAYOR ROBIN MOUTON.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPOINT CHRIS BOON AS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE MARCH 31ST, 2022.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND

[00:05:01]

UM, AND THE MAYOR, MAYBE YOU'VE DONE IT PROPERLY.

I JUST WANT THE COUNCIL TO KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER, THIS IS ACCORDING TO THE CITY CHARTER AND IT WOULD BE PART OF THE RESOLUTION PART OF WHAT YOU WOULD VOTE ON TODAY.

SO THE CITY ATTORNEY COULD PUT IT IN THE RESOLUTION.

THE CHARTER SAYS THE CITY MANAGERS SHALL RECEIVE SUCH COMPENSATION AS MAY BE FIXED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO JUST TO BE PREPARED TODAY, UM, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TODD SEMINO, AND I HAVE, UM, LOOKED AT THIS AND WOULD PROPOSE TO YOU THAT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UH, BE PAID THE EQUIVALENT OF $200,000 A YEAR, UH, WHICH IS $16,666 AND 67 CENTS PER MONTH.

WE THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER.

THAT'S JUST OUR RECOMMENDATION AND THAT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER BE PAID $500 A MONTH.

THEIR CAR ALLOWANCE, $500 CAR ALLOWANCE A MONTH.

EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.

AND, UM, HE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT.

AND SO WOULD YOU TOO, IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT AT ANOTHER TIME, YOU COULD TALK ABOUT IT WHENEVER EITHER PARTY WANTED TO, BUT THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION.

SO MARCH THE 31ST, UM, HE WOULD RECEIVE THAT COMPENSATION.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

SO I BRING THAT UP CAUSE IT'D BE PART OF THE VOTE AND THEN PART OF WHAT MRS. REED WOULD PREPARE IN THE RESOLUTION.

SO DOES IT NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MOTION? YES, MA'AM IT WOULD NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MOTION SIMILAR.

OKAY.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE IN MY MOTION, THE COMPENSATION OF $200,000 PAY FOR THE INTERIM POSITION BEGINNING, MARCH 31ST, 2022.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I CONTINUE TO THAT.

IT DOES.

THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE OUTS ALSO THE CAR ALLOWANCE.

OKAY.

I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS AN OTHER BENEFITS AS YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS HAD RECEIVED AN ADMIN ALLOWANCE.

SO IF YOU COULD JUST SAY OTHER BENEFITS AND OTHER BENEFITS.

OKAY, PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER, NEIL, YOU SURE YOU WANT TO WRITE THAT UP AS $200,000 AND NOT LIST THE MONTHLY AMOUNT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT POSITION.

I WOULD SAY THE MONTHLY AMOUNT, LIKE YOU SAID, THE MAYOR, I THINK SHE WAS SAYING THE EQUIVALENT OF $200,000 A YEAR, BUT WHAT WE WOULD PUT IN THERE $16,666 AND 67 CENTS PER MONTH BASED SALARY, $500 CAR ALLOWANCE PER MONTH.

AND THEN ALL THE OTHER BENEFITS THAT THEY CURRENTLY RECEIVE.

THE CONTINUED, UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION THERE.

SO THE SALARY HAS TO BE VOTED ON TODAY.

THE WITNESS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO COME BACK AND DO IT AT ANOTHER TIME.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER, THE ONLY QUESTION FOR CLARITY AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA THAT WAS USED IN DETERMINING WHAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SOUND? WE LOOKED, UM, NOT KNOWING WHO WOULD BE APPOINTED TODAY.

WE LOOKED AT THE FOUR, UM, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT WERE CONSIDERED AND WE LOOKED AT THEIR SALARIES AND WHAT WE THOUGHT THE POSITION WAS, WAS WORTH COMING IN WITHOUT HAVING ANY CITY MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, UH, W WHAT WE THOUGHT THE MARKET, UM, DEMANDS.

AND WE ALSO LOOKED AT, UM, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, SALARY, CITY ATTORNEY SALARY, AND FELT THE $200,000 DIVIDED UP PER MONTH WAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT.

SO IT WASN'T JUST AN ARBITRARY FIGURE THAT WAS CHOSEN.

IT WAS SOME CRITERIA.

YEAH.

WE, WE KNOW WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT, WHAT I MAKE.

WE KNOW WHAT CITY MANAGER, TYLER, WACO, BAYTOWN CITIES, OUR SIZE MAKE.

AND, UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON WHAT'S THE MARKET DEMAND.

AND THEN WHAT'S THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE OR SHE BRINGING IN WITH THAT POSITION.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER TERM THOUGH, HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED THAT CHRIS BOONE SERVES AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO MOVE ME PERSONALLY, I WOULD SUPPORT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

I LIKE CURRENTLY EARL WHITE BEING CONSIDERED.

[00:10:02]

HE MANAGES HIS ONCE IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.

I LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT HE MANAGES IS ONE OF THE THIRD BIGGEST BUDGETS IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.

AND ALSO LOOK AT THE ASPECT OF MR. WHITE HAS WENT INTO THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MADE SOME HUGE STRIDES TO MOVE IT INTO A POSITIVE DIRECTION, WHATEVER THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS TODAY, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT JUST ME TECHNICALLY SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD.

MY SUPPORT FIRST OPTION WOULD BE TO EARL DUE TO SOME OF THE THINGS I MENTIONED WITH THIS.

EVEN WITH THIS NEGOTIATIONS, WITH SOME OF THESE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP, LIKE THE POLICE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT WITH EXXON MOBILE, SOME OF THE CONTRACTS WE HAVE GOING ON WITH OUR CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I JUST THINK THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD MATTER.

AND I JUST THINK THAT MAY BE WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DOES.

I'M A SUPPORT IT 100%.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER FAILED, SHAW HUMIRA? UH, I, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN TURNER AND HIS COMMENTS.

I, THE FACT IS, IS WE HAD FOUR INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR THIS TEMPORARY POSITION AND EACH ONE WAS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED.

EACH ONE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, UH, SOMETHING, UH, A STRENGTH AND A SKILLSET THAT WOULD, WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY.

BUT THE FACT IS TODAY, THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE ONE CHOICE, ONE DECISION.

AND SO, UH, THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE.

AND THEN THIS COUNCIL WILL NEED TO TURN ITS ATTENTION, UH, TO THE PERMANENT POSITION AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND UNITY.

AND, AND WITH STRENGTH, I SAY THAT JUST TO SAY THAT THESE FOUR PEOPLE THAT APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION, WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU APPLIED.

AND AS I SAID, EACH ONE IS UNIQUELY QUALIFIED AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY DECISION, BUT ONE CHOICE MUST BE MADE AND THAT CHOICE IS GOING TO BE MADE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO JUST ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS TO HOLD ON AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, THIS WAS NOT AN EASY CHOICE.

UH, WE HAD FOUR GREAT APPLICANTS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER FAILED CHARGES SAID, EVERYONE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE A DIFFERENT SKILLSET, UH, THAT WAS UNIQUE IN ITS OWN WAY, ALL VERY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION.

BUT OF COURSE, WE HAD TO LOOK AT WHERE WAS CITY WAS MOVING, UM, WITHOUT THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE'VE HAD FOR 19 YEARS, WE HAD TO CONSIDER THAT, UM, WHERE WE'RE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND CONSIDER EVERY ASPECT OF A CITY MANAGER.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM, NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? YAY.

WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF ABSTENTION COUNCIL MEMBERS A NIGHT COUNCIL MEMBER, THE MOTION, CARRIE CONGRATULATION.

CHRIS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MAY I HAVE THE RATING OF

[2. Consider a request to abandon a portion of the Sawyer Street right-of-way]

I, NUMBER TWO IS AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE VACATING AND ABANDONING A PORTION OF THE SAWYER STREET, UH, RIGHT AWAY LOCATED AT THE REAR OF 1 95 NORTH 11TH STREET, CITY OF BEAUMONT, UH, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND RETAINING A GENERAL UTILITY EASEMENT.

UH, MARK FERTITTA, UH, IS REQUESTING THE ABANDONMENT OF THIS PORTION OF SAWYERS STREET AT A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON JANUARY THE 24TH.

UH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED SEVEN TO ZERO WITH ONE ABSTENTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

THANK YOU.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF THE VITAMIN NUMBER TWO.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM, NUMBER TWO, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OPPOSE THE MOTION.

CARRIE, MAY I HAVE THE ITEM,

[3. Consider approving the award of one year contracts with both Core & Main LP and Coburn's of Beaumont for the purchase of inventory materials to be used in the Water Utilities Department]

NUMBER THREE IS TO CONSIDER APPROVING THE AWARD OF ONE YEAR CONTRACTS WITH BOTH CORE AND MAIN LP.

AND COBURN'S BOTH THE BEAUMONT, UH, FOR THE PURCHASE OF INVENTORY MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE WATER

[00:15:01]

UH, SO THE CITY MAINTAINS AN ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR PIPE FITTINGS, VALVES, FIRE HYDRANTS, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS FOR USE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.

UH, BIDS WERE EVALUATED UPON THE LOWEST TOTAL PRICE PER SECTION ON AN ALL OR NONE BASIS, WHICH PROVIDES THE BEST VALUE TO THE CITY.

UH, PRICING IS TO REMAIN FIRM FOR THE TERM OF THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS.

THE ADMINISTRATION, AGAIN, REQ RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

UM, THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT WITH BOTH CORN MAIN AND COBURNS OF BEAUMONT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE WATER UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.

THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

THANK YOU.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM.

NUMBER THREE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OF COURSE, COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL, UH, MR. MANAGER, SECTION 14, UH, WHERE WE'RE GIVEN THAT ONE OUT ON THE COBURN'S VERSUS CORE AND MAIN THERE'S A $275 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO ITEMS. IS IT COST EFFICIENT TO WRITE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONTRACT FOR A $200 SEGMENTS? WELL, THE WAY WE BID IT IS PER SECTION.

SO THE WAY IT WAS ALL SPECKED OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T KNOW ONLY, YOU KNOW, COBURN'S WOULD BE THE LOW BIDDER ON JUST ONE OF THE 15 SECTIONS.

BUT, UM, SO WE MAY, WE MAY BUY END UP BUYING A LOT OF POLYETHYLENE TUBING.

YOU NEVER KNOW THIS IS JUST THE, THE ESTIMATES.

SO, BUT IF WE KNEW THEY'D ONLY GET ONE, BUT THE WAY WE SPECKED IT, THIS IS THE PROPER WAY TO DO IT.

YOU AWARD IT TO EACH POTENTIAL VENDOR BY THE NUMBER OF SECTIONS THAT THEY WERE THE LOW QUALIFIED BIDDER.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, MR. MANAGER.

I NOTICED THAT IT SAYS AFTER 45 DAYS, IT WOULD BE $1,143 PER WORKING DAY.

UH, OH, I'M MOVING TOO FAST.

ALL RIGHT, COOL.

DID YOU HAVE NOTHING? NOTHING ON THIS ONE.

OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR OF PROVEN ITEM, NUMBER THREE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OPPOSE THE MOTION CARRIED AND HAVE THE READING

[4. Consider approving a proposal submitted by Honesty Environmental Services, Inc. to provide on-site asbestos consulting and air monitoring services at the property located at 555 Main Street]

ADAM NUMBER FOUR IS TO CONSIDER APPROVING A PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY HONESTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE ONSITE ASBESTOS CONSULTING AND THEIR MONITORING SERVICES AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5 55 MAIN STREET, THE, AS BESTOS, A CONSULTING AND AIR MONITORING SERVICES, THEY'RE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, BUT COST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, UM, IS ESTIMATED TO BE $47,935.

AND THAT TOTAL COST IS BASED ON THE ABATEMENT CONTRACTORS ESTIMATE OF 45.

WORKING DAYS IN THE EVENT, THE CONTRACTOR WORKS MORE OR LESS THAN 35 WORKING DAYS.

UH, THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WOULD BE INCREASED OR REDUCED BY $1,143.

HER WORKING DAY, UH, FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.

THANK YOU.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM.

NUMBER FOUR.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE MOVE TO APPROVE, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER.

SO I NOTICED IT SAYS $1,143 PER WORKING DOOR PER WORKING DAY INCREASE OR DECREASE.

UH, AND I KNOW LAST WEEK WE VOTED ON THE ROUGHLY $250,000 TO ACTUALLY DO THAT BABY.

IS THAT THE REASON THESE TWO, THESE TWO ITEMS WERE SEPARATE? CAN WE KIND OF LIKE EXPLAIN IT TO THE COMMUNITY? I'LL ASK MR. FOLSOM TO COME FORWARD.

HE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THIS WORK.

YES, SIR.

HONESTY.

YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY TOOK PROPOSALS FOR THE SURVEY AND THE PREPARATION OF THE ABATEMENT DOCUMENTS FOR US TO GO OUT FOR BID HONESTY.

ONE THAT'LL THAT CONTRACT ON THAT.

SO IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO UTILIZE HONESTY FOR THE CONSULTING AND AIR MONITORING DURING THE ABATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE PRODUCT, THE PROJECT THEY DONE THE SURVEY.

AND THEN WE DON'T END UP WITH, FINGER-POINTING NOT TRYING TO GO WITH ANOTHER CONSULTING FIRM, MISSED INTEREST TO STAY WITH HONESTY.

AND THE ONE WE VOTED ON, IS IT A PROJECTED TIMELINE THAT THIS CAN POSSIBLY NOT EXCEED 45 DAYS? IT WAS A POSSIBILITY TO ACTUALLY CAN'T GO OVER 45 DAYS.

WELL, THEY, THEY ACTUALLY IN THEIR CONTRACT HAVE 60 CALENDAR DAYS

[00:20:01]

SO WHAT HONESTY IS BASED ON THAT, ON HIS, HIS AMOUNT, HIS ACTUAL WORKING DAYS, WHICH WOULD BE, I THINK THEY'RE WORKING PROBABLY FIVE TENS IS WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THERE'LL BE DOING.

SO THAT'D BE LIKE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND, BUT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE 60 DAYS TO COMPLETE IT IF HE DECIDED TO WORK ON THE WEEKEND.

SO THAT NUMBER, IF, IF THEY DO WORK, HONESTLY COULD HAVE ACTUALLY PROPOSED IT FOR 60 CALENDAR DAYS FOR THE WHOLE JOB THAT HE'S WORKING IN.

ALL RIGHT NOW, UH, WORKING DAYS THAT THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE WORKING NOW THAT COULD SUBJECT TO CHANGE, BUT I MEAN, IT COULD GO TO THE 60 DAYS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER GETS I'VE CONSISTENTLY MADE MY POSITION KNOWN ON THIS.

IT HASN'T CHANGED.

I CANNOT SUPPORT THE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DEMOLISH ONE OF THE MOST STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN SAW BE VOTING.

NO.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU, KEITH.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM, NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NO ONE KNOWS SO MUCH TO CARRY.

NOW'S THE TIME FOR

[COMMENTS]

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE COMPLETE THE GREEN SLIP AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM, HANDED TO THE CLERK, TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

SHE WILL CALL YOUR NAME.

THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR THREE MINUTES AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE END.

OH, I'M SORRY.

TONY RENFRO 61, 10 BANKSTON LANE BY MY TEXAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR RIGHT BACK THERE HAD A DREAM ABOUT THIS COUNCILMAN TURNER DREAM, THAT DREAM THAT YOU PLAYED ON A BASKETBALL TEAM LAST NIGHT FOR A LITTLE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, YOU WAS WEARING A THREE-PIECE GOLD SUIT, RIPPED BROW HOT TOP WINGTIP SHOES.

HE HAD A DOUBLE DOUBLE.

WOW.

HEY, IT WAS WILD.

I GUESS WHO THE COACH WAS.

YOU MIGHT GUESS IT'S GETTING WILDAIR TO SPEAK.

UH, FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AND, UM, IT WAS, I, THIS HAS BEEN ON MY MIND FOR A WHILE AND IT COULDN'T BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO DO THIS AT THIS MOMENT.

I WANT TO ASK THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO CONSIDER, UH, MY PROPOSAL BY PUTTING IT ON PLACING THIS ITEM ON A GENDER I IN 1917, BEAUMONT, THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ELECTED THE FIRST BLACK CITY COUNCILMAN KEVIN WILLIAMS, SENIOR.

HE WAS ELECTED AS THE BOMBER CITY FOR HIS BLACK CITY COUNCILMAN.

MR. WILLIAMS WAS A GOVERNMENT TEACHER AT THE BEAUMONT CHARLTON PILOT HIGH SCHOOL.

WHEN HE DECIDED TO PURSUE HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE, HE PACED THE STREET ASSESSMENT PAVEMENT PROGRAM HERE IN, IN THE SOUTH END OF TOWN, WHICH BROUGHT PAVEMENT TO STREETS THROUGHOUT BEAUMONT, SPECIFICALLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THEM BEFORE WE HAD STREETS AND DITCHES.

MY PURPOSE TODAY IS TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER MY PROPOSALS, TO ASK THE CITY TO LET'S RECOGNIZE THIS HERO IS THE BLACK MAN FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS, UH, AND OPPOSABLE TO APPROXIMATION OR IN ONE OF THOSE STREETS NAMED AT THEM IN HIS HONOR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ERIC WILLS, 7 45 EAST URBAN STREET.

MY TEXAS.

I'M NOT USED TO A PUBLIC SPEAKER HERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UM, BUT I WAS, UM, BORN IN BEAUMONT.

I'M A NATIVE SON, UM, AND, UH, I'VE LIVED, UH, AT THAT HOUSE ON IRBY STREET FOR, FOR 20 YEARS.

AND I'M SCHEDULED FOR DEMOLITION.

THEY'RE GOING TO, UM, IT'S GOING TO DEVASTATE ME, IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME HOMELESS.

UM, SO I WAS, UM, I ACTUALLY, UM, I THINK I TRIED TO CONTACT MR. HIS CHURCH AT ONE POINT ASKING FOR

[00:25:01]

UM, AND, UH, I CALLED, UM, CITY COUNCILMAN DARIO, CAUSE HE'S THE COUNCILMAN OF MY WARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

UM, AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK AND I NEVER FOUND OUT THAT, UM, UM, LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE Y'ALL HAD, UM, UH, SOME KIND OF HEARING ON DISTRESSED HOMES AND, UM, GRANTED A LOT OF PEOPLE EXTENSIONS.

SO I'M HOPING THAT Y'ALL COULD DO THE SAME FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT, UH, THAT THAT WAS GOING ON.

UH, SOMEBODY TOLD ME THEY SAW IT ON THE NEWS OR WHATEVER.

UM, ALSO I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CONTRACTOR.

UH, WE, WE FIXED THE ROOF ACTUALLY, BUT, UH, FOR SOME REASON MY CONTRACTOR HAD NEVER GOT A, UM, A PERMIT.

SO WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GO TO FIX THE NEXT THING, I DON'T KNOW, SHE COULDN'T, THEY COULDN'T, AND THEY STOLE MONEY FROM ME TOO.

SO THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I GOT HELD UP, UH, FROM FIXING.

THE NEXT THING IS LIKE I HAD A BAD CONTRACTOR, UM, BUT I'M KINDA POOR.

SO, UM, UH, I WAS HOPING MAYBE TO GET ON SOME KIND OF PROGRAM, LIKE INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE MONEY TO TEAR DOWN MY HOUSE, YOU COULD SPEND MONEY TO, TO, TO, TO FIX IT AND BUILD IT.

AND MAYBE I COULD, YOU KNOW, PAY IT BACK ON THE TAXES.

I'VE BEEN PAYING TAXES THERE SINCE 2008.

I'VE LIVED THERE SINCE 2002.

UM, BUT, UH, MY PREVIOUS, THE LADY I BOUGHT IT FROM WAS KIND OF A SLUM LORD.

SHE NEVER FIXED ANYTHING UP, SO THAT'S WHY IT FELL APART ON ME.

UH, SO THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO FIX IS THE OUTSIDE, UM, STRUCTURE, WHICH IS THE MAIN THING THAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

BESIDES THE EXTRA STIPULATIONS, THE CITY IN ITS WISDOM GAVE ME THAT I HAVE TO UPDATE THE UPDATE, EVERYTHING, UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I'LL DO THAT TOO.

UH, IF, UH, IF I CAN, IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, AND THE GUESTS THAT'S HERE, THERE ALSO, IF, UM, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY I COULD BOARD SOME OF IT UP TEMPORARILY TO, UH, OH, OKAY.

WELL, HOLD ON, SIR.

THE OTHER THING I WAS GOING TO ASK IS, UH, DON'T HAVE, UH, HAVE TO GET AN EVICTION NOTICE CAUSE I'M LIVING IN TERROR.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO TEAR ME DOWN ANY MOMENT.

SO IF THEY DO TEAR ME DOWN, CAN'T THEY GIVE ME AN EVICTION NOTICE.

LIKE MOST PLACES, IF YOU GET EVICTED, THEY GIVE YOU 30 DAYS OR SOMETHING.

SO IT HASN'T GIVEN ME MORE TIME TO PACK UP MY STUFF, BUT I HOPE YOU ALL THE SCRAP ME AN EXTENSION.

SO I'M NOT HOMELESS.

UH, ONE MOMENT, SIR.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GO IN AND TEAR YOUR HOUSE DOWN.

I'M GOING TO REFER YOU TO CHRIS.

BOOM.

AND THAT'S MR. BOONE, YOU COULD SPEAK TO HIM AT THE END OF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEETING.

OKAY.

COULD YOU STATE HIS NAME AND ADDRESS AGAIN, YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AGAIN, PLEASE? UH, ERIC WILLS, UH, 7 45 EAST EASTERBY, UM, UH, SLASH 7 47 BECAUSE IT'S A DUPLEX, SO, OKAY.

BUT IF YOU'LL SEE MR. BOONE AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

UM, AND ALSO SINCE IT'S A DUPLEX, I'D LIKE TO LIKE WORK ON ONE SIDE OF THE TIME, THAT WOULD BE MORE DOABLE.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WORK THAT OUT WITH MR. BOON.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE MAYOR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR COUNCIL MEMBER AT COMMENTS, AND I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU THIS TIME, MR. NEIL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER SAMUEL.

I JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE, UH, CHRIS BOON ON THE APPOINTMENT, UH, AND EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT PUT THEIR NAME IN TO BECOME INTERIM CITY MANAGERS.

UM, I RECEIVE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS ABOUT THE ISSUE ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT, AND AS I EXPLAINED TO EVERYONE THAT CALLED, UM, I FEEL THIS IS, THIS PROCESS IS ONE THAT, UH, NONE OF US TAKE LIGHTLY.

UM, I KNOW MY DECISION WAS BASED ON OBJECTIVE INFORMATION GIVEN TO MAKE A DECISION FOR THIS TIME IN THIS PLACE.

UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT POPULARITY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT, UH, WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WANTS.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT,

[00:30:01]

SO FOR THAT, I JUST THINK ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, UH, THAT STEPPED UP TO SERVE THE CITY AND IT'S APPRECIATED.

AND, UH, NOW WE MOVE ON TO, UH, HIRING A FULL-TIME CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU.

MA'AM THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHELLS, SHOW AND AGREEMENT WITH COUNTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, SAMUEL.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS, I HAVE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU HAVE ENJOYED IT AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TO YOU, WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT THE, UH, LOCAL PASTORS, UH, LEADERS OF HOUSEHOLDS OF FAITH WOULD PAY ATTENTION HERE IN JUST A MOMENT TO THE COMMENTS OF COUNCILMAN GOETZ.

AND I'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN WITH ME AND PRAYING WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY OVER A SITUATION THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH THAT HE'LL SHARE WITH YOU HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT I WOULD ASK ALL THE PASTORS AND THE, UM, SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN WITH US IN PRAYER FOR THIS FAMILY.

THANK YOU, BEAR COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER.

UH, OF COURSE, BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

WE ARE CELEBRATING THE MUD AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOME ICONS AND LEGENDS THAT CAME BEFORE US.

WE WANT TO PAY HOMAGE TO, UH, THE BLOOD.

THE BEAUMONT PANTS HAS HAD THEIR FIRST SCRIMMAGE AT FORD ARENA ON THE 30TH.

THAT'S THE LAST DAY, LAST SATURDAY, THIS MONTH, THE COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT AND CELEBRATE AND SUPPORT THEM.

AS A PROFESSIONAL TEAM BROUGHT DOWN BY OUR NBA CHAMPION, KENDRICK PERKINS.

HE'S AN NBA ANALYST RIGHT NOW, ESPN HE'S RANKED TOP THREE AND SPEAKING ON ESPN.

SO IF THE COMMUNITY CAN GET OUT AND SUPPORT, IT'D BE DEAF.

THAT GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT WOULD BE A BLACK, IT WILL BE A BLACK BUSINESS EXPO, SOMEWHAT OF A MARKET THAT WILL BE HELD ON THE 20TH AND MORE DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED.

BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE IF YOU, UH, NO OF A BLACK BUSINESS THAT WANTS SOME EXPOSURE WITH THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT'S GOING ON, THE MARKET WOULD OPEN IT UP AND IT WILL BE COMPLETELY FREE TO ALL VENDORS.

SO ALL VENDORS COULD COME OUT, SELL YOUR PRODUCTS.

IT WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'RE DOING TO GET TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND CHRIS, BOOM, I RESPECT YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, I GOT YOUR BACK A HUNDRED PERCENT, LIKE I SAID, THE MAJORITY HAS SPOKE TODAY AND LET'S GET TO WORK.

I'M READY TO GET TO WORK.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN BRIQUETTES, CHRIS, CONGRATULATIONS.

WE HAD FOUR EXCELLENT, UH, INDIVIDUALS STEP UP THERE ON OUR CURRENT, UH, STAFF AND, UH, ANY OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN SELECTED.

UH, WE, UH, HAD TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION.

UM, I BELIEVE YOU ARE EXTREMELY WELL QUALIFIED AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS THE INTERIM CITY DIRECTOR.

UH, THE, UH, DALEN WEST NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WILL NOT BE MEETING THIS MONTH.

MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW MY WIFE, ALISON.

SHE IS OUR, UH, ELECTED COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.

SHE'S A LOVING WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER.

SHE'S FACING SOME SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES AND IS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY, UH, BRAIN SURGERY THIS WEEK, THIRSTY, UH, AT HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL.

SO I WILL BE ASKING THAT YOU KEEP HER IN YOUR PRAYERS AND, UH, WE'RE JUST, UH, ALL MINDFUL OF OUR TIME ON EARTH AS BEING FLEETING AND LET'S SLIP OUR DAYS BULLYING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

THANK YOU.

BEAR KRISTA RIO.

OH YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS.

UH, THIS DECISION FOR CITY MANAGERS, PROBABLY ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I'VE MADE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE I KNOW ALL YOU GUYS AND YOU ALL UNIQUELY QUALIFIED, BUT LIKE THEY SAID, IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO TO WORK AND, UH, I'M READY TO, WELL, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU COULD PROBABLY GET TIRED OF ME CALLING HIM, BUT PEOPLE HAVE WALKED FOR A VERY DEMANDING ALSO.

UM, MY MOTHER IS STILL IN THE ICU.

UH, SHE'S REALLY NOT IMPROVING.

SO JUST KEEP PRAYING.

I SURE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

UM, AGAIN, CHRIS, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, YOU AND I WILL BE WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER AND TO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, UM, AS COUNCIL MEMBER GETS SAID, ANYONE COULD HAVE HAD THIS JOB.

IT WAS A TOUGH, TOUGH DECISION, NOT MY TOUGHEST CRISP, BUT IT WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DECISIONS I'VE HAD TO MAKE.

AND I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY, UM, WITH ALL THINGS BEING CONSIDERED.

UM, IT WAS, IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION

[00:35:01]

YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO NARROW IT DOWN TO, UH, JUST, UH, FIND MY NUDE OF HOW EACH PERSON CAN JUST WORK WITH, UM, THE VISION OF WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

AND SO AGAIN, CHRIS, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE APPLICANTS.

THANK YOU, CHRIS.

THANK YOU, BART, UH, FOR YOUR COMMENTS OF SAYING THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK HOME EVER GOT THE JOB AND IN THE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT BELMONT MOVES FORWARD, THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT ATTITUDE.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, CHRIS, YOUR MOTHER ILLNESS, AND ALSO ALL OF A SUDDEN I WILL BE PRAYING FOR ABOUT THE FUTURE.

WE DO.

WE TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES, AND IT'S JUST A BLINK AWAY.

SO I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP BOTH OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS AND ALSO MR. RENFRO, UH, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE MR. CALVIN WILLIAMS, WHO WAS THE FIRST ELECTED, UH, BLACK COUNCIL MEMBER TO THIS COUNCIL AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR.

SO IT WOULD BE MY HONOR AND MY PLEASURE TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

YOU'RE SO WELCOME.

AND AGAIN, IT IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT YOU PARTICIPATE AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US.

AND I WANT TO THANK LAUREN.

WHO'S SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE IS PART OF OUR COMMUNICATION FOR THE BEAUTIFUL, UM, INTERVIEW THAT IT'S SHOWING NOW, UH, OF MYSELF ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

SO LAUREN, THANK YOU.

AND THE REST OF YOUR STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK.

ALSO LIKE TO SAY, THERE IS A FREE COVID 19 VACCINATION OF PFIZER.

YOU MUST REGISTER IN PERSON AT THE EVENT WALK-INS ARE WELCOME.

AND IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE BEAUMONT HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

IT WILL BE FEBRUARY THE 18TH, BETWEEN NINE AND FOUR AT THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT 33 95 HARRISON AVENUE.

SO IT'S A FREE EVENT.

NO INSURANCES REQUIRED.

IT'S FAST.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU MAY CALL 8 3 3 8 3 2 7 0 6 7.

IT IS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, YOU CAN WALK IN, BUT THEY WOULD PREFER IF YOU WOULD REGISTER AND YOU CAN DO REGISTRATION ONLINE.

SO THIS CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

WE ARE ADJOURNED INTO

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

THANK YOU.