Oct 18, 2022 City Council

UH, NOW'S THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.

MAY I HAVE THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR MUON.

PRESENT, MAYOR PRO, TIM DIO, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER GIZ PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL HAW, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER SAMUEL PRESENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL.

ABSENT, COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL IS RUNNING LATE TODAY.

HE WILL BE JOINING US.

HE IS RUNNING A LITTLE LIGHT WELL TODAY.

WE HAVE NO PRESENTATIONS, NO PROCLAMATIONS OR RECOGNITIONS.

UH, WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON TODAY.

UM, BUT AT THIS TIME,

[Public Comment]

AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE FILL OUT THE GREEN SLIP TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM, HAND IT TO THE CLERK AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

SHE WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK.

UH, WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT COMES ON, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.

AT THE END OF YOUR THREE MINUTES, THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON.

PLEASE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, UM, FOLLOW THE RULES OF, UH, THE RED LIGHT.

IN A CITY FACILITY CURRENTLY PAYING A MONTHLY RENT.

AMANDA YARBOROUGH, UH, WITH THE BELMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, UH, SPEAKING ON ITEM C ON THE AGENDA.

GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER WELCOME.

AFTER SEVEN YEARS WITH A HOME KINDLY PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, BEAUMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HAS IMPACTED MORE THAN 250,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HIGHWAY TRAVELERS, FAMILY MEMBERS OF SOUTHEAST TEXANS AND TOURS TO OUR AREA.

OUR PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS CONTRIBUTE TO THE LEARNING THAT IS HAPPENING IN OVER 200 SCHOOLS THAT VISIT FROM OUR REGION, BUT ALSO FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AND WEST LOUISIANA.

AREAS IN 2021 PROVIDED 40,000 OPPORTUNITIES FOR IGNITING GROWTH AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.

THIS YEAR, THE MUSEUM IS PROJECTING OVER 55,000 VISITORS WITH AN AVERAGE OF ONE FOURTH OF THOSE BEING TRAVELERS OUTSIDE OF THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS EIGHT COUNTY REGION OUTTA STATE AND OUTTA COUNTRY.

THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE WELCOMED FOUR, 4,000 GUESTS, JOINED US AT THE 11TH ANNUAL TOUCH, A TRUCK AND STEAM FAIR.

THIS PAST SUMMER, WE PARTNERED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT RAMA VENTURES TO START THE FISHING RAMMA FISHING TOURNAMENT AND DINNER, A TWO DAY EVENT WITH OVER 170 FISHING TEAMS, A THOUSANDS GUESTS AT THE DINNER AND 50 HOTEL ROOMS BOOKED FOR THAT OVERNIGHT EVENT.

THESE ARE FACTS ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM THAT CANNOT BE DENIED OR OVERLOOKED.

AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, A MEMBER ASKED ABOUT THE TOTALS OF WHAT BCM REQUESTED THROUGH THE HOT TECHS AND GENERAL FUNDS APPLICATIONS, THE CROWD AND A COUNCIL MEMBERS REACTED WITH SURPRISE.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT THIS IS NOT A SURPRISING REQUEST COMPARED TO THE GROUP OF DESIGNATED ORGANIZATIONS AMOUNTS REGULARLY GIVEN OUT.

HERE'S A REMINDER, ART MUSEUM OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, $80,000 HOT TAX AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND GENERAL FUNDS.

TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM, 95,000 HOT TECHS MAIN STREET, 75,000 GENERAL FUNDS, HERITAGE SOCIETY, 47,000 HOT TECHS, ART COUNCIL, 30,000 HOT TECHS CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT, 30,000 HOT TECHS, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, A HUNDRED THOUSAND GENERAL FUNDS.

AND THE GLADYS CITY BOOM TOWN 10,000, BUT BCM IS THE ONLY MUSEUM

[00:05:01]

BCM WAS SHUT DOWN DURING THE REOPENING OF COVID BECAUSE WE ARE HOUSED IN A CITY BUILDING, BUT NO OTHER MUSEUM IN A CITY BUILDING WAS ASKED TO STOP OPERATIONS.

BCM WAS PROMISED THE COST OF BILLBOARDS AND THE COST COVERED BY THE CITY IN 2021 AFTER THE HOT TAX IN GENERAL FUNDS, APPLICATIONS WERE DENIED, BUT WERE TOLD QUOTE THAT FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE NATURE CENTER, SO THE FUNDS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

I ASKED ABOUT, I ASKED PREVIOUS CITY PERSONNEL ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS FOR HOT TAX AND GENERAL FUNDS APPLICATIONS WORKED AND WAS LAUGHED AT AND THEN TOLD AMANDA IT'S POLITICAL AND THEN FOR NO REASON GIVEN NO RESPONSE IN 2021, I REQUESTED THE ADDITION OF SECURITY CAMERAS OUTSIDE OUR DOORS AND AT THE OWN, AT OUR OWN COST FOR INCREASED SECURITY SUGGESTED BY YOUR BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WERE DENIED BECAUSE THIS WAS AN INVASION OF PRIVACY TO THE GUESTS TO RENT AND HOST PARTIES AT THE CIVIC CENTER AND THAT WE WERE MORE THAN WELCOME TO FILE ANY REPORT THAT WE NEED TO WITH THE BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ASKED AGAIN A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAVE YET TO FINISH.

CAN I FINISH? I'M ALMOST DONE.

GO AHEAD, FINISH.

UM, AND HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A REQUEST, UH, ANSWER BACK AND THEY ARE MORE STORIES THAT I COULD SHARE.

THE MUSEUM, UH, IS A NEIGHBOR TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.

WE ARE PHYSICALLY AND FIGURATIVELY WE WILL AND HAVE CONTINUE TO HELP.

AT ANY EVENT THAT YOU ASK US TO SUPPORT OR PARTICIPATE, WE WILL ASSIST ANY TIME A CITIZEN WALKS INTO OUR MUSEUM ASKING QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY THINK WE ARE A CITY OF BEAUMONT DEPARTMENT, WE WILL HELP ANYTIME THE CIVIC CENTER RENTER COMES TO US BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY AND EASE OF ACCESS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD STEWARD.

THE FACILITY THAT WE ARE HOUSED, WE THANK THE CITY FOR THE PROPOSED FUNDS ON TODAY'S A AGENDA.

THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL.

THANK YOU TO CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND LEADERSHIP FOR LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, A FUTURE OF CHANGE AND FOR THE BETTER.

WE HOPE THE BEAUMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CAN BE A PARTNER IN THAT CHANGE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

AT THIS TIME MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, A MOVE TO, UH, APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA EXCLUDING ITEM E TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECUSAL.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT MOTION? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND EXCLUDING ITEM E FOR RECUSAL OF COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL.

SHOT.

ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAY AND AYE.

I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER E? I SO MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM E.

ANY OPPOSE? THE MOTION CARRIES.

MAY

[E. Approve a contract with Gulf Coast Electric Company, Inc. for electrical services]

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

UH, ANY WE DIDN'T, DIDN'T.

ONE.

ABS STITCHING .

WE HAVE ONE, ONE ABSTI EXTENSION WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FELLOW SHAW.

UM, ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

I AM SO SORRY.

MAY I HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE? YES, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

[1. Consider an ordinance to abandon a portion of the alleyway located in Block 6 of the Booker Heights Addition also known as 2745 Washington Boulevard]

COUNSEL CONSIDERING ORDINANCE TO ABANDON A PORTION OF THE ALLEYWAY LOCATED IN BLOCK SIX OF THE BOOK OF HEIGHTS TRADITION, ALSO KNOWN AS 27 45 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, UH, THOMAS ESCROW.

MARK W. WHITLEY, AN ASSOCIATE INC.

IS REQUESTING THE ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF THE ALLEYWAY AND THE BLOCK SURROUNDED BY WASHINGTON BOULEVARD, ETTE ROAD, EUCLID, AND GOAD STREETS FOR MANY YEARS.

THEM COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 27 45 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD HAS ENCROACHED INTO THE ALLEYWAY BY 4.46 FEET.

APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST FOR A LOT OF PROPERTY TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE AND BE READY TO SELL AND, AND THERE'S A CONDITION, UH, IF APPROVED, THE APPLICANT SHALL OBTAIN AN APPRAISAL AND TITLE COMMITMENT FOR THE PROPERTY TO BE ABANDONED AT THEIR EXPENSE.

APPRAISAL AND TITLE COMMITMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING OFFICE ALONG WITH PROOF THAT PAYMENT HAS BEEN ARRANGED PRIOR TO THE ITEM BEING PLACED ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA.

THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE TO APPROVE WITH CONDITION? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR WITH CONDITIONS.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

UH, ANY OPPOSE THE MOTION? CARRIE, MAY I HAVE THE READING

[2. Consider approving the purchase of six garbage trucks and one dump truck for use in the Solid Waste and Public Works Divisions]

[00:10:01]

COUNSEL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF SIX GARBAGE TRUCKS AND ONE DUMP TRUCK FOR USE IN THE SOLID WASTE IN PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION.

UH, SIX IDENTICAL 2 20 24 WESTERN STAR GOVERNMENT TRUCKS WILL BE PURCHASED IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION 1 78 378.

UH, TOTAL PRICING FOR ALL OF THESE VEHICLES IS THE B, UM, IS, UH, 2 MILLION 3 53 3 90.

UH, THIS IS WILL BE PURCHASED THROUGH A BOB CONTRACT AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

I HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF PROVING THE PURCHASE OF 28 VEHICLES FOR USE IN VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, CAN, CAN STAFF KIND EXPLAIN THE BY BOARD, UH, PROCESS? I HAD A CITIZEN REACH OUT TO ME AND ASK ME AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD THE ACT WITH INFORMATION AND I WANTED TO ASK, GET IT? OKAY.

YEAH, EITHER ONE.

UM, YOU WANT ME TO, SO BY BOARD IS A, UM, IT'S A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE, UM, AND MANY CITIES AND COUNTIES, UM, COOPERATE, UM, THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF, UM, EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES.

UM, SO ESSENTIALLY IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PURCHASING, BUT IT'S DONE THROUGH A, A, A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE.

SO BASICALLY THEY HANDLE A LOT OF THE PAPERWORK AND ALSO YOU GET THE, UM, THE BUYING POWER WITH, UM, WITH THE LARGE ORDERS AND OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

ALSO, HOW MANY TRUCKS, UM, GARBAGE TRUCKS WILL BE PHASED OUT BECAUSE OF THE NEW PURCHASE.

SO RIGHT NOW, SOLID WASTE, UM, THEY HAVE 10 ROUTES, SO THEY NEED 10 GARBAGE TRUCKS ON THE STREETS AT ALL TIMES.

USUALLY WE HAVE 12 GARBAGE TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, WITH TWO IN RESERVE.

BUT SINCE, YOU KNOW, SINCE OF, UH, THE PRESSURES OF C AND SUPPLY CHAIN, YOU KNOW, DELAYS AND ALL THAT, SO IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET PARTS.

SO NOW WE HAVE, UM, I THINK 15 TRUCKS TOTAL, BUT THESE SIX THAT ARE, THAT ARE GOING TO BE REPLACED WILL PROBABLY GO OUT FOR AUCTION.

WE'RE JUST KEEPING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12 TO 15 TRUCKS.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME RESERVES IN CASE AND ONE OF THE 10 THAT OPERATE DAILY GO DOWN.

GREAT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAY AND I, UH, ANY OPPOS THE MOTION.

CARRIE, MAY

[3. Consider approving the purchase of 28 vehicles for use in various City departments]

THESE ARE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES, WHICH WERE REQUESTED THROUGH THE CI CITY'S BUDGET PROCESS.

THE FLEET MANAGER REVIEWS THE REQUEST AND EVALUATES THE VEHICLES TO BE REPLACED BASED ON HIS EVALUATION OR RECOMMENDATION IS MADE TO REPLACE ONE IN OBSOLETE VEHICLES THAT ARE NO LONGER COST EFFECTIVE TO OPERATE.

THE VEHICLES TO BE PURCHASED ARE REPLACING MODELS, RANGES FROM 2009 TO 2017.

THESE VEHICLES WILL BE PURCHASED, UH, FROM SALES FORD AND THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION 6 34 883 AND IT'S THROUGH THE GOODBYE PURCHASING CARPENTER GROUP.

TO FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH THIS GOODBYE CO-OPS AND FOLLOW UP.

YOU'VE HEARD THE ITEM, THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO WHO TO APPROVE? SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER? I NOTICE WITH THE GOODBYE ADMINISTRATION FEE IS $300 PER ORDER.

UH, DO WE, DO WE NECESSARILY, LIKE YOU SAID, IS IT JUST A STANDARD PRACTICE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH? B GOODBYE? I'M JUST ASKING TO GET CLARITY.

SO NORMALLY WE GO THROUGH THESE CO-OPS, THESE PURCHASING CONTRACTS.

AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE, AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANYTIME WE BUY SOMETHING OVER $50,000, IT HAS TO BE COMPETITIVELY BID.

SO THESE CO-OPS, THESE BUY BOARDS ALREADY GO THROUGH THAT CONTRACTUAL PROCESS FOR US, ENSURING THAT WE GET THE LOWEST DOLLARS FOR THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE PURCHASING.

SO, YEAH, IT'S WORTH THE $300 EVERY TIME WE USE THEM BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THESE DISCOUNT PRICES THAT ARE ALREADY COMPETITIVELY BID.

IT SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS FOR US AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE ROLLING STOCK VEHICLES.

SOMETIMES WE ONLY HAVE A WINDOW OF MAYBE FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS TO ORDER THESE VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

AND IF WE MISS THESE WINDOWS BECAUSE HAVE A SIX TO EIGHT WEEK PROCESS OF BIDDING OUT, WE MIGHT MISS THESE WINDOWS.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE CO-OPS AND BUY BOARDS.

OKAY, JUST

[00:15:01]

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COMPANIES IN BEAUMONT AND ALSO WELCOME TO THIS, I KNOW THIS, WE JUST AWARDED TWO DIFFERENT FROM OUTSIDE.

I KNOW SILSBY'S A NEIGHBORING CITY, BUT OUR COMPANIES FROM BEAUMONT ALSO IN THIS, ANY COMPANY IN ANY LOCATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE.

AND THEY MAY HAVE, THEY JUST DIDN'T WIN THE CONTRACT.

OKAY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

I HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE? MISS CITY MANAGER? YES.

ANY OPPOSE? THE MOTION CARRIES.

MAY

[4. Consider approving multiple contracts for mowing privately owned, developed and vacant property]

YES MA'AM.

COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVED MULTIPLE CONTRACTS FOR MOWING, PRIVATELY OWNED, DEVELOPED, AND VACANT PROPERTY.

UH, PROPERTY OWNED PROPERTIES ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE CITY'S SUITE ORDINANCE.

WHEN ON CULTIVATED GROWTH EXCEEDS 12 INCHES, PROPERTY OWNERS WILL NOTIFY THE VIOLATION AND GIVEN A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME TO BRING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE.

THE PROPERTY OWNERS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ORDINANCE CITY'S MODE, MOLD THE PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS FINE.

BIDS WERE REQUESTED FROM 17 VENDORS AND FOUR RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.

THE BID SPECIFICATION DIVIDE THE CITY INTO THREE SECTIONS.

CITY STAFF DETERMINES WHAT SECTION WILL BE AWARDED TO A VENDOR ACCORDING TO PRICING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND ABILITY.

A MAP OF THE SECTIONS IS PROVIDED AND, UH, RECOMMENDATION IS BY STEPH'S APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? WHO TO APPROVE? I HAVE A MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A COMMENT.

UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE BID AND IT WENT FROM 117,000 TO $183,000.

IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, A BIG JUMP.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF THEY'RE BIDDING THE JOB, AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LOWEST COMPETITIVE BID, BUT IT WENT FROM ONE 17 TO 180 3 TO TWO 12.

THAT'S A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? SO IF YOU LOOK AT TABLE TWO IN, IN YOUR PACKAGE, PROBABLY THE LAST PAGE FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE SECTIONS ARE DIFFERENT SIZES.

SO THERE'S AMOUNT OF CUTS THAT ARE REQUIRED.

THE SIZE IS VERY DIFFERENT AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A BIG RANGE BETWEEN THE THREE SECTIONS.

THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE NOT ALL IDENTICAL AND JUST, JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS IT'S ONLY A 4% INCREASE AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR'S CONTRACT.

AND WE'RE USING THE SAME THREE VENDORS, UM, THAT WE HAD SECURED LAST YEAR FOR THIS YEAR.

SO GIVEN THE, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE, THE, BASICALLY THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WITH INFLATION AND EVERYTHING, FOUR PERCENT'S NOT MUCH AT ALL AS FAR AS AN INCREASE, BUT, BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SECTIONS IS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND THE AMOUNT OF AMOUNT OF CUTS THEY HAVE TO DO A YEAR.

QUESTIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, WE, WE HAVE QUITE A, A BIT OF, BIT OF VACANT LOTS IN BEAUMONT AND I NOTICED IT SAYS ONE CONTRACT SAYS 200 CUTTINGS AND IT GETS PRETTY SPECIFIC.

HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THOSE NUMBERS AND ARE THOSE NUMBERS MATCHING AMOUNT OF VACANT LOTS? WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN BEAUMONT, SO WE BREAK OUR, BASICALLY WE BREAK THESE VACANT LOTS THAT NEED TO BE MOWED INTO TWO CATEGORIES.

ONE IS CITY AND ABANDONED, WHICH BASICALLY WE CANNOT FIND AN OWNER.

THEY'RE USUALLY YOUR BACK TAXES BEING OWED.

AND AS THE, THE TAX COLLECTOR ASSESSOR GETS TO THEM, THEY WILL PUT THEM OUT FOR AUCTION.

UM, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET BOUGHT AND THEY'LL START BEING MAINTAINED BY THE NEW PROPERTY.

THE OTHER CATEGORY IS PRIVATE LOTS.

SO THIS IS A CASE WHERE WE MAY HAVE A PROPERTY OWNER THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO.

UM, BUT I WILL SAY UNDER BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES, WE HAVE, UM, CURRENTLY WE ARE MAINTAINING 7,199 OF THESE LOTS CITYWIDE.

NOW THAT REPRESENTS CITYWIDE WE PROBABLY HAVE 50 TO 60,000 LOTS.

UM, SO IT DOES REPRESENT A PRETTY HIGH, PRETTY HIGH NUMBER.

AND I THINK CHRIS, THAT KIND OF HELPED ME GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING IS THE AMOUNT OF COOKS DO THIS SUFFICE? THE AMOUNT OF YOURS WE MAINTAIN? IT LOOKS LIKE IT DOESN'T.

WELL IF, IF AGAIN, IT TAKES TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO GET HIGH ENOUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, AS MENTIONED IN THE MEMO IT'S 12 INCHES

[00:20:01]

OR HIGHER.

SO WE DON'T REALLY NECESSARILY MAINTAIN 'EM TO MAYBE THE, UH, STANDARDS THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN OUR LOTS, BUT, UM, BUT WE DO GET TO THEM.

SO I I DO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM ARE BEING ADDRESSED, BUT IT IS A PROCESS.

IT DOES TAKE TIME.

UM, THE OTHER THING IS SOME OF THEM, AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A PERSON, UM, THAT'S RELATED TO THE PROPERTY AND SO WE TRY TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS INTO MUNICIPAL COURT, UH, SO THAT, AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY MAINTAIN THE LOTS.

BUT, UM, UH, I DO THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING IT MAINTAINED.

IT'S JUST, AS I MENTIONED, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY GREATER THAN 10% OF ALL OF OUR LOTS NEED ATTENTION.

EXACTLY.

AND MAYOR, IF I COULD REAL QUICKLY, JUST TO TOUCH ON YOUR QUESTION AS, AS TODD POINTED OUT, THE, THE NUMBER DIFFERENCE WAS IS HE LOOKED IN THAT, EXCUSE ME, THAT, THAT PER LOT, YOU KNOW, COST PER CUTTING PER LOT.

I THINK YARD BOY WAS AT $78 FOR A SMALLER LOT.

DMJ WAS AT 80, UH, FOR A SMALL LOT, AND THEN SMO WAS AT 70 FOR A SMALL LOT.

BUT AGAIN, THE QU THE COST PER UNIT IS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME.

IT'S JUST THE, THE NUMBER OF LOTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS ARE VERY, UH, VERY DIFFERENT.

SO THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS WERE SO DIFFERENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER GETZ THAN MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, DIO.

CHRIS, I JUST WANT CONFIRM I HEARD CORRECTLY, DID YOU SAY THE CITY WAS CURRENTLY MAINTAINING NEARLY 7,200 LOTS? YES, SIR.

THAT IS NUMBER, WELL EXCUSE ME, NUMBER OF LOT CUTS.

7,199.

UM, WE RAN THE COST ON THAT IS, IS THAT CUTTING? THAT'S MULTIPLE CUTS.

I SHOULD MULTIPLE AT THE SAME LOT.

YES, I SHOULD.

SO IT'S NOT 7,200 LOTS WERE MAINTAINING THAT'S 7,200 CUTS.

YES.

I APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT LAST YEAR WE DID TOTAL IT UP, WE EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY $640,000 IN MOWING.

SAY THAT AGAIN? 644,000, UH, TO MOW.

WOW, THAT'S A LOT.

YES MA'AM.

CHRIS, YOU MENTIONED, UM, TAKING THESE OWNERS TO MUNICIPAL COURT.

ARE THEY FINED IN MUNICIPAL COURT? SO A LOT OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE, AS I MENTIONED IS FINDING AN OWNER, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH A LOT.

I DID RUN, UM, A RECENT REPORT GOING BACK TO AUGUST.

AND THIS IS FOR ALL CASES, NOT JUST, NOT JUST WEEDS, BUT, UM, WE HAD 140 CASES ON THE DOCKET.

FORTUNATELY AS WE SEE FROM TIME TO TIME, WE JUST DON'T HAVE FOLKS SHOWING UP FOR THEIR, UH, DOCKET CASE.

AND SO ONLY 20 OF THOSE 140 APPEARED AND UM, A HUNDRED DOLLARS IN FINES WERE ASSESSED JUST A HUNDRED DOLLARS IN FINES.

YES SIR.

SO, SO IS IT CHEAPER FOR THEM TO JUST LET US KEEP CUTTING THAN IT IS TO TAKE PAY THE FINE.

SO, AND JUST IF I CAN JUST JUMP IN FOR CHRIS.

HE IS CORRECT.

MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE, ARE NOT, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT RESIDENTS HERE.

SOME OF THEM ARE JUST NOT COMPLIANT.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THEY DO FILE CHARGES IN MUNICIPAL COURT, THE REMEDY IS FOR THEM TO CUT THE YARD.

AND SO YOU DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO WAIT TILL THEY GET THE FINE AND THEY SHOW UP AND SAY THE YARD IS CUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T, THEY SHOW UP AFTER THE FACT.

RIGHT? AND WE'VE CUT THE YARD AND, AND THEY STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, THAT FINE.

SOMETIMES THE REMEDIES WILL, INSTEAD OF PAYING THE FINE, GO PAY YOUR CUTTING COSTS BECAUSE THEY DO ASSESS THAT CUTTING COSTS.

THEY FOLLOW THE FINE IN MUNICIPAL COURT.

BUT THEN THEY ALSO, OUR BILLING DEPARTMENT ALSO SENDS THEM A, A NOTICE THAT THEY OWE THE CITY MONEY FOR THE COST OF THE, UM, SOME PEOPLE WILL GO DOWN AND PAY THE CUTTING COSTS AND THEN COME TO THE CITY AND SAY, I PAY THE CUTTING COSTS.

I I MISSED, I DIDN'T CUT THE GRASS.

SO I TELL THE PAY FINE.

AND THAT'S BETWEEN THE JUDGE AND THE PROSECUTOR AT THAT, AT THAT TIME.

BUT THE REMEDY IS TO SOMETIMES ALLOW THEM TO JUST PAY THE CUTTING COSTS BECAUSE IN MOST CASES THE CUTTING COSTS AND THE FINE ARE EITHER EQUIVALENT OR THE CUTTING COSTS IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE FINE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THEIR LOT.

ALSO, I THINK YOU'VE TOLD ME IN THE PAST THAT WE, FOR PEOPLE THAT OWE THE CITY FOR THEM CUTTING THEIR GRASS, WE DO NOT PUT LIENS ON THAT PROPERTY.

WE DO NOT.

WE WELL WE SHOULD AT $500.

SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE DON'T FOR DEMOLITION? NO.

THE ONES WHO ARE NOT MAINTAINING THEIR YARDS AND ARE NOT PAYING THE CUTTING COSTS AND ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO MUNICIPAL COURT.

NOT FOR THEM.

WELL, FOR THE GRASS CUTTING IF IT'S OVER, IF IT'S OVER $500.

SO PEOPLE WHO RACK UP LIKE SEVERAL CUTS, RIGHT? SO WE CUT THEIR PROPERTY EVERY TIME WE CUT THEIR PROPERTY IS AT A FIVE, IT'S A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THEY NEVER GO PAY THAT CUTTING COST.

ONCE IT EXCEEDS THE $500 RANGE, WHICH HAPPENS, WE CAN, OKAY, WE MAKE THAT A PRACTICE TO FILE THE LIENS OVER $500 IF THEY'RE CURRENT ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES TO, IF THEY'RE NOT CURRENT ON PROPERTY TAXES IMMEDIATELY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE CUZ PROPERTY TAXES ALONE WOULD SURPASS THE COST OF THE LIEN.

IN MOST CASES, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ARE

[00:25:01]

HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNSEL, CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF WARRANT FIRE TRUCK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAY AND I, AYE.

ANY OPPOSE THE MOTION? CARRIE, MAY I

[5. Consider approving the purchase of one fire truck]

UH, 20 23 3 PURSE CUSTOM ENFORCER PUMPER TRUCK WILL BE PURCHASED FROM SIT-INS MARTIN EMERGENCY GROUP OF DENTON, TEXAS, AND THE AMOUNT OF 808,000 9 58 DESIGNATED TO BE ENGINE SIX.

THE NEW TRUCK WILL BE HOUSED AT STATION SIX.

THIS WILL REPLACE UNIT 70 69 AND 1993 KM E RENEGADE PUMPER TRUCK WITH 81,477 MILES.

IT HAS EXCEEDED THE EXPECTED SERVICE.

LIFE WILL BE DISPOSED OF ACCORDING TO CITY SURPLUS POLICY.

THIS PRICING WAS OBTAINED THROUGH THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, HCA COOPERATIVE PURCHASE AND ASSOCIATION PROVIDING CITIES OF POLI POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS WITH THE, WITH THE MEANS TO PURCHASE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE MOVE TO APPROVE.

I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

MAY I HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE? YES, COUNSEL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF PROVING THE PURCHASE OF THREE NEW AMBULANCE BOXES.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

ANY OPPOSE THE MOTION CARRIES.

[6. Consider approving the purchase of three new ambulance boxes]

THAT BOXES WILL BE PURCHASED FROM FRASER FRASER LIMITED OF HOUSTON AND THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN 6,684.

THE NEW BOXES WILL BE MOUNTED ON NEW CHASSIS REPLACING UNITS 71 70, 71 71 AND 71 73, WHICH HAVE EXCEEDED THE EXPECTED SERVICE LIFE LIFE ALL UNITS WILL BE DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY SURPLUS EQUIPMENT POLICY.

AND THIS PRICING WAS OBTAINED THROUGH THE H GUY COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT AND, UH, STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION.

YOU'VE HEARD THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER SIX.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE MOVE TO APPROVE.

I HAVE A MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I APPROACH TIM DURING, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, I SEE YOU WHERE WE HAVE THE, UH, PURCHASE OF THE THREE AMBULANCES BOXES ON THIS, UM, RESIDE RESOLUTION, BUT I DON'T SEE THE CHAS ACTUAL CHASSIS ON HERE.

ARE THEY ALREADY PURCHASED? WE ALWAYS DO THAT SEPARATELY.

WE FOUND IT TO BE A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE CITY IF WE DO THE BOXES SEPARATE THAN THE CHASSIS.

SO WE HAVEN'T PURCHASED THE CHASSIS YET.

I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE HAVE BEEN TO COUNCIL YET.

NO, SIR.

NO.

THOSE CHANCES ARE IN THAT SEAL REPORT.

Y'ALL JUST APPROVE.

THEY'RE OKAY.

GOOD THING TO FLEET MANAGERS HERE TODAY.

ARE THEY CHIEF? OKAY.

SO AIR PRO TIM DEO, YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER? YEP.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER SIX.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.

ANY OPPOSE? THE MOTION CARRIES.

NOW IS THE

[COMMENTS]

TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE FILL OUT THE GREEN SLIP TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM HANDED TO THE CLERK TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON AT THE BEGINNING, YOUR THREE MINUTES AND THE RED LIGHT WILL BE YOUR INDICATION THAT YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNSEL.

UH, CORAN SHARP, 51 50 PLANT ROAD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

I'M HERE TO, UH, GET CLARITY ON THE CITY'S PROCESS CONCERNING THE, THE SALE OR LEASE OF CITY PROPERTIES.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF WE FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURE FOR EVERY PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S THE AT AND T OR ANY OTHER PROPERTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC, UM, LEASE, PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE.

SO IF THE

[00:30:01]

COUNCIL CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH ITS POLICY ON LEASING, PURCHASING, OR EXCHANGE OF VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 51 0 7 2 0 72 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE LAND ON BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, UH, THAT WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BECAUSE THERE ARE INTERESTED PARTIES IN PUBLIC PROPERTY, UH, THAT MAY NOT BE AT THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION AT THIS MOMENT, BUT IF THE PROCESS IS FOLLOWED, WHATEVER THAT PROCESS IS FOR THE CITY, THEN THOSE WHO MAY BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS CAN HAVE THAT TIME TO DO SO.

CHARLES KRA, 9 28 EAST DRIVE BY MY TEXAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR.

COUNCIL STAFF.

UH, I GUESS I'VE, I'VE BEEN, UH, HEARING THE, UH, THE HEARINGS ON THE, UH, BATTLESHIP TEXAS AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT PREGNANT TO BEAUMONT BECAUSE OF THE COST AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND WHETHER BEAUMONT CAN REALLY SUPPORT IT.

AND EVEN, EVEN IF THE, UH, THE, UH, THE VIEW FROM, UH, HIGHWAY, UH, 10 BRIDGE IS REALLY ADEQUATE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF VEGETATION AND WHAT HAVE YOU BETWEEN THE BRIDGE AND WHERE THE, UH, SHIP WILL LAND.

I MEAN, BE DOCK ANYWAY.

IT'D BE A GREAT THING FOR, UH, BEAUMONT AND TEXAS IF WE CAN SUPPORT IT.

IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE IT BROUGHT HERE AND, UH, AND SET UP AND HAVE, UH, PEOPLE ENJOY VISITING.

I GUESS I GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SEVENTH GRADE WHEN I FIRST VISITED THE, UH, BATTLESHIP TEXAS OVER AT THE SAN JINA MONUMENT.

UH, AND, UH, I GUESS I'VE, I'VE WATCHED THE, UH, CITY, UH, VIDEO, UH, UH, TV CHANNEL QUITE A BIT.

AND I, I ENJOY SEEING THE, UH, INTERVIEWS OF THE MAYOR AND THE ATTORNEY AND THE CITY CLERK.

AND THEY'RE ENJOYABLE TO HEAR THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES AS THEY, UH, THEY, UH, GO INTO THEIR CURRENT JOBS AND THEIR PATHWAY.

AND ALSO LIKE THE, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT, UH, EXPLAIN THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

I REALLY LIKE THE, THE SEWER MAN THAT TELLS YOU DON'T, UH, FLUSH , UH, WET WIPES IN CERTAIN PRODUCTS BECAUSE, UH, I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT AS, AS BEING A LANDLORD.

AND, UH, AND ALSO, UH, JUST SEEING THE HEARING THE SEWER PLANT, UH, UH, OPERATION IN THE WETLANDS.

I'VE SURE ENJOYED THE CATTAIL MARSH, UH, GOING OUT AND SEEING THE BIRDS DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR AND EVEN TAKING PEOPLE OUT THERE.

SO, UH, BEAUMONT HAS BEEN MY HOME ALL MY LIFE.

SO I'VE, I'VE ENJOYED THE ACTIVITIES AND I'M STILL ENJOYING IT.

AND SO, UH, Y'ALL TAKE CARE OF THE, THE BUSINESS AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW THANK YOU IF I WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.

APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.

UH, KENNETH EARLS 1265 CONDO BY MY TEXAS.

I'M GONNA SAY THIS TO YOU.

THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

HISTORY, BATTLESHIP, TEXAS, TEXAS, THE HERE AND NOW.

THE NEW FIRE ENGINE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE AMBULANCE AND THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE

[00:35:01]

TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE A UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER.

WE DON'T BRING LAMAR HERE TO CREATE NO TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE IF WE DON'T INCREASE OUR LEVEL OF EDUCATION HERE IN THIS CITY.

UH, BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE JUNIOR HIGH AND ELEMENTARY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE IN THE FUTURE.

I, I LOVE THE ABOUT THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS, BUT IT IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON.

WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON THE FUTURE OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING, HAPPENING IN THIS STATE IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

REMEMBER, THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH HIGH SPEED RAIL.

DOES BEAUMONT WANT TO BE PART OF THAT? IF WE DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.

UH, NUMBER TWO, THERE'S GONNA BE THREE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS BUILT IN THIS STATE IN THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE TO LAND AND THE, AND THE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE WE GET ONE OF THOSE.

TO ME, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE TO BE READY AND PREPARED TO MOVE WITH THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE READY FOR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE COMING.

AND IF WE'RE NOT, BEAUMONT WILL BE LIKE PORT ARTHUR.

MY HEART BREAKS FOR PORT ARTHUR, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.

UM, MOBILE OIL, FOR EXAMPLE.

MOBILE OIL IS INVESTING THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THAT PLANT AND PUTTING WIND TURBINES UP IN WEST TEXAS.

DO YOU NOT KNOW OR REALIZE THAT FOR GENERAL MOTORS AND ALL THE CAR DEALERS ARE NOW MOVING TOWARD THAT THING CALLED ELECTRIC CARS? WE'RE GOING TO, THAT PLANT MAY BE HERE FOR THE NEXT 10, 15 YEARS, BUT SLOWLY IT'S GOING TO LEAVE HERE.

AND OUR THIS, JUST FINISH YOUR SENTENCE.

IF WE DON'T LOOK AT THE FUTURE, DON'T PUT NO RESOURCES AND MAKE LAMAR DO ITS JOB ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE END OF THIS CITY.

LIKE I SAID, I LOVE THE IDEAL BATTLESHIP TEXAS, BUT CAN WE TRULY AFFORD IT IN COMPARISON TO WHAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE, THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.

UM, AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENT AND I WILL START WITH MAYOR PRO, TIM DOO.

UH, JUST A FEW COMMENTS.

UH, ATTENDED THE, UH, OLD TOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING LAST NIGHT.

VERY INFORMATIVE.

I DID GIVE OUT SOME, UH, INFORMATION ON THE NEW WARD LINES THAT WAS NOT CORRECT.

SO I JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THE NEW WARD LINES DO NOT HAVE TO BE VOTED ON BY THE FOLKS.

IT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL AND THEY WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE MAY ELECTION.

I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT.

ALSO, A LITTLE BAD NEWS, THE BRIDGE ON ETTE ROAD THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NOVEMBER.

I WAS INFORMED YESTERDAY BY TEXT DOT THAT IT'D BE TOWARDS THE END OF JANUARY.

THEY'VE RAN INTO SOME PROBLEMS DOING THAT.

UM, ALSO, I ATTENDED COUNCILMAN TURNER'S CHILDREN'S TALENT SHOW THIS SATURDAY AND IT WAS OUTSTANDING, MAN.

I REALLY THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY ALWAYS WANT US TO DO THINGS FOR THE CITY, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING NICE.

THERE ARE SOME VERY TALENTED KIDS THERE.

SOME OF US WAS EVEN SINGING OLD SCHOOL.

I, I HAD ME TAPPING MY FOOT AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

UM, LET ME SEE.

I ATTENDED MR. HARRIS HALL, HAD A HUNDRED YEAR OLD, UH, BIRTHDAY PARTY THIS PAST WEEKEND.

AND I WENT AND READ A PROCLAMATION.

UH, MR. HALL'S BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY, THE 19TH.

HE MADE 100.

MR. HALL HAS SEVEN KIDS, 34 GRANDKIDS, AND 34

[00:40:01]

GREAT GRANDKIDS.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY WERE ALL AT THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.

I WAS GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT ALSO.

UM, I ATTENDED THE NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS EVENT AT L I T WHEN THEY AWARDED SOME FOLKS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A ROUGH TIME.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD SOME TYPE OF DISABILITY, BUT THEY'VE SUCCEEDED.

THEY'VE ALL GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND THEY'RE VERY, AND THEY'RE WORKING.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, PRO THIS ORGANIZATION RIGHT HERE.

AND ALSO WHENEVER WE GET A CHANCE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GIVE SOME CLARITY ON THE PURCHASE OF CITY PROPERTY.

CAUSE I'VE HAD, I'VE BEEN APPROACHED BY MANY CITIZENS ABOUT SEEING, BUYING PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY.

AND EVERY TIME THEY, UH, APPROACH THE CITY ABOUT IT, THEY'RE TOLD SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SO WE, WE DO NEED SOME TYPE OF CLARITY ON THAT.

CAUSE THEY HAVE FOLKS THAT'S INTERESTED IN REDEVELOPING THESE, UH, VACANT LOTS AND RED TAG HOUSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY, THEY'RE HAVING PROBLEMS FIGURING OUT WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THEM TO BUY.

SO WE NEED SOME CLARITY.

WE NEED THAT TO BE PUBLISHED ON OUR, UH, PUBLIC MEDIA AND I MEAN, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AND UH, CITY WEBSITE.

SO, UH, FOLKS WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO DO THAT.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MAYOR.

THAT'S A LOT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GETS THANK YOU MAYOR.

TWO SPEAKERS, UH, COMMENTED ON BATTLESHIP TEXAS.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND THEM THAT AS YET, WE HAVE NOT ALLOCATED AS A COUNCIL ANY FUNDS FOR THE ACQUISITION OR, UH, PLACEMENT OF THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS AND BEAUMONT.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE AUTHORIZED THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO PROCEED IN LEARNING WHAT STEPS WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BRING THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS TO BEAUMONT.

AND WE'VE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO BRING THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS TO BEAUMONT.

OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE CONDITIONED ON FUNDING AND, UH, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.

THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

BUT A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP, AND WE TOOK THAT STEP LAST WEEK.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEBATE AND DISCUSS THAT TOPIC AS WE MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHICH COULD BE LENGTHY.

UH, SO MUCH GOING ON THIS PAST WEEKEND.

UH, THE BEAUMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND TELLING US HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE.

I ATTENDED IT.

UM, PACK, JUST GREAT.

OVER 50 TRUCKS.

HOW MANY, JUST, JUST AN AMAZING THING FOR THE KIDS TO DO.

UH, WE HAD GRANDCHILDREN COME IN FROM HOUSTON JUST FOR THIS.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT CAME IN FOR OUTTA TOWN AS WELL.

AND THAT NIGHT, YOU CAN'T BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONE TIME.

BUT COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, I DID COME BY TO SEE YOUR TALENT SHOW.

IT WAS PACKED AT THE JEFFERSON.

I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT.

I WISH I COULD HAVE STAYED.

AND THE REASON I COULDN'T WAS BECAUSE THE SYMPHONY OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS WITH BOB PHILLIPS AND KELLY PHILLIPS.

KELLY USED TO BE AN ANCHOR WOMAN HERE AT CHANNEL SIX.

THEY'VE BEEN ON A TOUR AROUND THE STATE AND BRINGING WITH THEM MUSIC, UH, FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND A HUGE CROWD AT THE JULIE ROGERS AS WELL.

BUT WAIT, THIS MORE THIS WEEKEND, , THERE'S GONNA BE MUSEUM MADNESS IN WHICH I BELIEVE THE MUSEUMS ARE GONNA BE OPEN FOR FREE WITH ALL KINDS OF EXHIBITIONS FOR THE KIDS, UM, THAN THERE'S A MOVIE THAT NIGHT AT THE JEFFERSON THEATER.

THERE'S GOING TO BE, UH, THE ORGAN BEING PLAYED.

IF, IF YOU CAN'T FIND SOMETHING TO DO IN BEAUMONT, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND, UH, ENJOY THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE AT BEAUMONT.

COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, UH, BEAUMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

CONGRATULATIONS.

BIG ADVOCATE OF YOUTH AND I APPRECIATE YOU DUE FOR OUR KIDS IN THIS AREA.

VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

UH, I JUST WANNA STRESS TO ALL THE SENIORS, IF YOU ABOVE THE AGE OF 65, WE DO HAVE DISCOUNTS FOR YOUR WATER AND SEWER RATES.

I WANNA REMIND Y'ALL WEEKLY, PLEASE, UH, CONTACT THE WATER DEPARTMENT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT.

THEY'LL SEND YOU THE PAPERWORK.

I THINK TO MY UNDERSTANDING, CHRIS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR ID AS WELL SCANNED.

THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M GIVING YOU GUYS ACCURATE INFORMATION.

WE GOT THESE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE.

I WANT OUR SENIORS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

PEOPLE ATTEND, SO WE HAD THE WHOLE BOTTOM FULL.

UH, THE NEXT THING IS LEADERSHIP BEAUMONT.

THEY HAD A GRADUATING CLASS ON YESTERDAY AND THEY DONE A GREAT JOB, UH, MYSELF, COUNCIL MEMBER GET, WE WERE ABLE TO HEAR KENNY WILLIAMS SPEAK, AND I THINK YOU DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE EXCITED.

UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND I'M LETTING YOU KNOW I'M READY TO GET GOING.

SO, AND LASTLY, I JUST WANNA THANK THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR, UH, THE SUPPORT WITH THE YOUTH TALENT SHOW.

UH, THE FINAL NUMBER, WE HAD 998

[00:45:01]

AND WE EVEN HAD PEOPLE IN THE OVERFLOWING A BALCONY.

THIS EVENT WAS COMPLETELY FREE TO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, FIRST PLACE, GOT A THOUSAND DOLLARS, SECOND PLACE, GOT 503RD, GOT TWO 50, AND EVERY KID WHO PARTICIPATED, CUZ WE ALL HAD WINNERS, RECEIVED A TROPHY.

SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN AND REITERATE, YOU KNOW, OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH 'EM.

COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHAW.

THE MIDTERMS, NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH IS COMING UP EARLY.

VOTING STARTS NEXT MONDAY, THE 24TH RUNS THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER THE FOURTH.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT AND VOTE AND BE A PART OF THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AND AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID, UH, GREAT JOB ON THE TALENT WENT BY AND STAYED FOR A WHILE, AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, COUNCILMAN TURNER.

AND IT WAS GOOD FOR THE C UH, FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SAT ME.

YES, .

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I JUST LIKE TO SAY THERE'S, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN BEAUMONT AND THIS WEEKEND, MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY HAS A HOME FOOTBALL GAME PLAYING PRAIRIEVIEW A AND M.

UH, AND THERE'S A, UM, UH, A CEREMONY ON SATURDAY TO HONOR, UH, SOME OF THE PLAYERS THAT PLAYED THERE.

UH, DON UM, DONNY DAVIS IS ONE RECEIVING, UH, AN AWARD.

UH, AND WE ALSO, UH, I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE A WELL LOVED AND WELL RESPECTED, UH, ATHLETE AND ADMINISTRATOR, UH, UH, HAS GONE, UH, GONE ON TO THE OTHER SIDE.

LUKE JACKSON.

HE'S, HE WAS A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE AT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT RAN REC CENTER, AND, UM, SO I'D JUST LIKE TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.

THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER.

JUST ONE NOTE, MAYOR, AS YOU, UH, AS YOU WITNESS, WE HAD BIDS ON VEHICLES, A LOT OF VEHICLES TODAY, AND WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT DUE TO INFLATION AT WHAT WE HAD PLANNED EARLY IN THE YEAR, THOSE PRICES ARE REALLY GOING UP.

SO JUST BE MINDFUL IN THE FUTURE AS WE COME FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE PRICE OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT AS WE GO FORWARD.

AND, AND STAFF IS WORKING TO WORK WITH THAT AND ADJUST AND BRING THINGS FORWARD TO YOU.

BUT DON'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMETHING COMES AND IT SEEMS OVER BUDGET IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU MR. WILLIAMS AND CITY ATTORNEY.

MS. REED, ARE YOU READING MY NAME RIGHT? MM-HMM.

I'M TRYING TO WRITE AND YES, JUST WANNA EXTEND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMAN TURN ON OUR WORLD ATTENDED EVENT.

AND, UH, BART, MR. BOONE, TODD AND TINA.

SO I HAVE THE FINAL SAY SO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ AT THE CLOSE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO THE DELIBERATION, PURCHASE, LEASE EXCHANGE, OUR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 51 0 72 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE TO, WITH LAND OWNED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AT 1 25 MAGNOLIA BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.

ALSO CONSIDER MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION DUTIES OF A PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 51 0 7 4 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

TO WHICH SPECIFICALLY ATTORNEY SHERAY REED CITY CLERK, TINA BRARD, AND CHIEF MAGISTRATE, UH, CRAIG LIVELY.