[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:01:34]
SAFETY AND PROTECTION IN THE WORK THEY DO. GOD WE ASK THAT AS THEIR MEETING TODAY, CONVENING THIS TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND DECISION MAKING. THAT YOU WOULD DO WITH OSAMA SAYS TO INSTRUCT AND TEACH THEM IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD GO. THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THEM WITH YOUR EYES UPON THEM THAT THEY WOULD WALK IN A MANNER THAT IS PLEASING TO YOU. GOT LIT THEIR PLANS BE ORDERED.
UH, IN THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TO GO. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THEM SO AND GIVE THEM YOUR HELP. SO AS THEY SEEK THE WELFARE OF THIS CITY AND THE FLOURISHING OF THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. THEIR PLANS WOULD SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU DESIRE IN THIS PLACE. MAY OUR CITY BE A PLACE OF PEACE. A PLACE WHERE WE DO JUSTICE. WE LOVE MERCY. AND WE WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU, AND WITH ONE ANOTHER. BUT AS WE DO PRAY TODAY, WE CANNOT STOP WITHOUT GIVING THANKS FOR LIFE. YOU'VE GIVEN US THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF LIFE AND EVEN MORE. YOU MADE US FOR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. AND THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS.
IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. WE HAVE LIFE. YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN KING. AND WE SUBMIT OURSELVES TO YOU THIS DAY KNOWING THAT YOU RULE AND REIGN OVER ALL THINGS. WE PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO HE WAS A REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS TO SAY GOD.
MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR WEST PRESENT PRO TIM TURNER COUNCIL MEMBER MERIO COUNCIL MEMBER GETS COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL SHAW, COUNCIL MEMBER SAMUEL AND COUNCIL MEMBER, NEAL.
[PROCLAMATIONS]
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE A BIG DAY. WE ACTUALLY HAVE FIVE PROCLAMATIONS IN ONE PRESENTATION. AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE READING THE PROCLAMATIONS. TODAY HOWEVER, WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED WHERE YOU'RE STILL WELCOME TO COME UP AND BRING THE REST OF YOUR PARTY WITH YOU. AND UH, SHAKE HANDS. RECEIVE YOUR PROCLAMATION, AND WE WILL ALSO TAKE PICTURES AND YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AS WELL. THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. AND JESS PRINCE WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT CBD. G HOUSING MANAGER WILL BE THE ONE RECEIVING THAT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT AFTER THE MEETING AFTER PRIOR BEFORE SINCE WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. NEXT WE HAVE A PROC PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 1ST THROUGH THE 7TH 2024 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK ACCEPTING WILL BE MR KENNETH COLEMAN CITY OF BEAUMONT, PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGER.[00:05:02]
SORRY. I SEE YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS HEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. UH, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL CAN DO. IT PAIN? YEAH YEAH, HE JUST ASKED. I DIDN'T SEE KEVIN. BUT I SEE PAIGE NOW, SO, YEAH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO IT. WE'RE GONNA DO ONE WITH THIS AND ONE WITH THIS, OK, I'LL START WITH ALL RIGHT, 12. RIGHT? 12. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL. GOOD AFTERNOON, UH MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. ON BEHALF OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK. AND THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR IS PROTECTING CONNECTING AND THRIVING. WE ARE ALL PUBLIC HEALTH. PUBLIC HEALTH HAS HAD SOME CHALLENGING TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATION STAFF AS WELL AS CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE SHOWN US THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. BUT WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IN PUBLIC HEALTH. EVERY NUMBER IN A DATA SET REPRESENTS A LIFE. OF FAMILY. AND A STORY AND OUR COMMITMENT AS YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TO TURN THOSE NUMBERS INTO NARRATIVES OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE. EVER STATISTIC. YOU HEAR IN PUBLIC HEALTH IS MORE THAN JUST DATA. IT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF COM. SO I WANNA THANK MY STAFF. I HAVE SOME OF MY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF HERE WITH ME, BUT I LIKE TO THANK MY ENTIRE STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK AND THE COMMITMENT THEY GIVE EVERY DAY AGAIN. WE THANK YOU.THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL AS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH ACCEPTING WILL BE MISKA, MICHAEL. SHAKE AND PUSH.
OF COURSE. WONDERFUL. ALL RIGHT, HERE'S ONE OK? DO YOU THINK? THERE YOU GO.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO SAY THANK YOU. AND UM THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE AT LEAST FOR MY FAMILY, UH, MY SON, TEDDY DOES HAVE AUTISM. UM HE'S FOUR YEARS OLD, AND HE IS JUST A LIGHT OF OUR LIFE. UM BUT WE LIKE TO BRING AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE TO THIS DISABILITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2ND THROUGH THE 14TH AS THE 76TH NATURES RIVER FESTIVAL WEEK, EXCEPTING WILL BE MR JEFF WHEELER AND MRS JULIA MATHENY AND CERTAINLY ANY OF ANYBODY ELSE WITH THE NATURE FOR FESTIVAL. UH, COMMITTEE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.
[00:10:27]
OR A PHONE. YOU GUYS WANT ME TO WE GOT PLENTY OF CAMERAS. MM. ONE MORE ALL RIGHT. 12. THANK YOU. OK, WHO? WHO NEEDS THIS WORDS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF WELCOMING COMMITTEE? THAT WAS AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE. UH, THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MAYOR. UH UH, CITY MANAGER AND, UH, STAFF FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE NATION'S RIVER FESTIVAL. UH AS MAYOR, WE SAID, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 76TH YEAR AND I'M VERY, VERY EXCITED TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. 76 YEARS MAKES THIS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING FESTIVAL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. UM ALSO THIS YEAR AFTER 76 YEARS, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATION RATE FOR 250 YOUNG YOUNG ADULTS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. SO THAT INCLUDES PRINCESSES, ESCORTS, DUCHESSES AND DUCHESS ESCORTS, UH, FROM AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE NATION ALL THE WAY, EVEN FROM NEW YORK, SO EVERY BEAUMONT HIGH SCHOOL IS REPRESENTED. AND MANY SURROUNDING HIGH SCHOOLS ARE REPRESENTED AS WELL. UM YOU KNOW, WE ASK OUR PARTICIPANTS. IT'S NOT JUST THE CULMINATION OF THE CORONATION AND THE BALL AT THE END OF THE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS APRIL 13TH, WE ASK OUR PARTICIPANTS TO WRITE RESUMES, WRITE AN ESSAY PARTICIPATE IN A VERY COMPREHENSIVE INTERVIEW PROCESS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SELECTED FOR EITHER NINE SCHOLARSHIPS OR THE ROYAL COURT. UH, BUT NONE OF THIS WOULD TAKE PLACE WITHOUT THE STEWARDSHIP AND THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION FROM OUR SOCIAL CHAIR. UH JULIA MATHENY, WHO CREATES AN EXCEPTIONAL, UH, EXPERIENCE AND EXCEPTIONAL FESTIVAL FOR ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS, UM, SO THAT THEY REALLY GET THE MOST VALUE. THEY COME AWAY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE COMMUNITY AND NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE PLACES THAT WE LIVE WORK AND RAISE FAMILIES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR OUR DIRECTOR MOLLY MOORE. UM THE OVER 100 COUNCIL, OR, UH UH, CHAIRPEOPLE THAT PUT THIS FESTIVAL ON AND COUNTLESS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS THE BOARD EXECUTIVE BOARD, AND, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. SO CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR TIME AND CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP IN THIS FESTIVAL AND FOR HAVING IT BE ABLE TO SURVIVE 76 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY 76 YEARS MORE. SO THANK YOU APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MHM. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING CHILD ABUSE AND FORENSIC SERVICES. ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS CORDELIA LION. PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR BAPTIST HOSPITAL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS.YOU KNOW IT. YOU DO? THANK YOU GUYS. HOW ARE YOU? I'M GOOD. I BC IS REALLY GOOD. THANK YOU GUYS. SEE YOU. THANK YOU, PASTOR. HOW YOU BEEN? IT'S THE GOOD. OK? I AIN'T COMING. YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE IF YOU WANTED TO. YEAH. LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE RIGHT? RIGHT? JUST KEEP SMILING. LOVE WIDE ANGLE. 123 OK, ONE MORE.
[00:15:12]
THANK YOU GUYS. WE GET ON THIS. AND. I'M BRENDA GARRISON, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF CHILD ABUSE AND FORENSIC SERVICES. AND I WANNA THANK ROY. UH MARY WEST AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS HONOR, AND FOR ALLOWING FOR ME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. UM REALITY IS ONE IN THREE FEMALES AND ONE IN SIX MALES WILL BE AFFECTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT. BY THE TIME THEY REACHED THE AGE OF 18. AND 31 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS APPROACHED TO ASSIST IN LAUNCHING THE FIRST SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAM AT SAINT ELIZABETH LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THREE DECADES LATER, I'D STILL BE AN ACTIVE SAYING IN 1996 WHEN I LEFT SAINT ELIZABETH HOSPITAL. UM, A REALIZATION STRUCK ME. THERE HAD TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO CARING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT MANY SURVIVORS WOULD EITHER DEPART BEFORE RECEIVING CARE OR REFRAIN FROM SEEKING CARE ALTOGETHER. TOGETHER WITH MY SISTER AND A CLOSE FRIEND. THREE NURSES WE FORMED, UH, CHILD ABUSE AND FORENSIC SERVICES, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WE EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY THAT MANY DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE. OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE THEN AND IT REMAINS TODAY WAS TO SECURE A CONFIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.ADDITIONALLY OUR SECONDARY AIM HAS BEEN TO EXTEND SERVICES TO OTHER FACILITIES, ENSURING THAT EVERY PATIENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY SEEK ASSISTANCE, RECEIVES CONSISTENT AND HIGH QUALITY CARE. IT. I MEAN CHILD ABUSE AND FORENSIC SERVICES HAS CONDUCTED OVER 4700 FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND TESTIFIED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS IN COUNTLESS CASES, MULTIPLE COUNTIES AND MULTIPLE STATES AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME TO SUPPORT US TODAY. UM AS WE RECEIVED THIS HONOR, THANK YOU. YOU. LASTLY WE HAVE A CITY OF BEAUMONT COMMUNICATIONS
[PRESENTATIONS]
UPDATE FROM PAGE READ CITY OF BEAUMONT'S CREATIVE MARKETING SPECIALIST. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 2ND. SO BEAUMONT PUBLIC HEALTH IS HOSTING A FREE HEALTH FAIR ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3RD FOR AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK YOU CAN STOP BY FOR ADULT AND CHILD IMMUNIZATIONS, DIABETES ASSESSMENTS, EDUCATION, WIC SERVICES AS WELL AS ST, I HIV AND TB INFORMATION. THE BELMONT, PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND 12 NEWS WILL BE HOSTING AN ECLIPSE WATCH PARTY AT THE DOWNTOWN EVENT CENTER ON MONDAY, APRIL 8TH FROM 12 TO 3:30 P.M. YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THIS RARE PHENOMENON WITH HANDS ON METEOROLOGY ACTIVITIES AND FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT. STUDENTS THIS ONE'S FOR YOU. ARE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE SOME MONEY AND HAVE SOME FUN THIS SUMMER? THE SEAS, THE CITY'S SEASONAL SUMMER JOBS HAVE BEEN POSTED, AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE COMMUNITY. FROM RECREATION TO ANIMAL CARE. YOU CAN FIND ALL THE DETAILS AND APPLY AT GOVERNMENT JOBS.COM/CAREER/BELMONT. PARENTS SUMMER CAMP SIGNUPS ARE HERE JOIN BEAUMONT. REC FOR GAMES, CRAFTS, FIELD TRIPS, SUN AND FUN THIS SUMMER AGES. 5 TO 12 ARE WELCOME WITH TWO SESSIONS OFFERED JUNE 3RD TO 28TH AND JULY 1ST TO 26 REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL FULL AND YOU CAN SIGN UP IN PERSON AT THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER AT 2930 GULF STREET. REGISTRATION IS ALSO NOW OPEN FOR BEAUMONT REX YOUTH SUMMER TRACK PROGRAM PRACTICES ARE MAY TO AUGUST ON MONDAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. AT WESTBROOK.REGISTRATION INCLUDES TAAF CLUB MEMBERSHIP ENTRY TO THE TAAF REGIONAL MEET UNIFORM COACHES AND EQUIPMENT SIGN UP IN PERSON AT THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER AT 2930 GULF STREET THROUGH MAY 6TH. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING DEPARTMENT ASSISTS IN THE CITY'S
[00:20:05]
REVITALIZATION EFFORTS BY PROVIDING GRANTS PRIMARILY TO AT RISK POPULATIONS. WE WANT YOUR INPUT ON WHAT THE BIGGEST NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. TAKE A MINUTE TO TAKE OUR SURVEY AT BEAUMONT TEXAS.GOV/COMMUNITY DASH SURVEY. AND SAVE THE DATE FOR 409 WEEKEND ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH. THERE WILL BE A BLOCK PARTY AT THE FIRE MUSEUM OF TEXAS ON SATURDAY. APRIL 27TH, THERE WILL BE A VARIETY OF FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES OUT AT TERRELL PARK. AND ON SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH. THERE WILL BE A CRAWFISH FEST AND SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL AT THE EVENT CENTER AS A NEW CITY PARTNERSHIP. AND JOIN US ON MAY 4TH FOR THE CITY'S BIANNUAL COMMUNITY CLEANUP, PART OF THE KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN. IF YOU SIGN UP BY APRIL, 21ST, YOU'LL GET A FREE T SHIRT AND BREAKFAST REGISTER AT BEAUMONT TEXAS.GOV/SPRING DASH CLEANUP. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU.THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE FOR PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE. NOW'S THE TIME TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]
IN PUBLIC COMMENTS NOW, SO THIS IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN THAT WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 14 AND FIVE OR ANY OTHER TOPIC.ITEMS TWO AND THREE HAVE ALREADY BEEN HEARD IN PUBLIC HEARING. THEREFORE CITIZENS CANNOT SPEAK ON THESE ITEMS. THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM. PLEASE SAY YOUR ADDRESS, CITY AND STATE. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT, UH, MYSELF OR COUNSELOR CANNOT RESPOND WHENEVER YOU'RE MAKING COMMENTS, BUT SOMEONE FROM THE OFFICE WILL BE CONTACTING.
EMMELINE THOMAS 2235 LILA STREET, BEMA, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL AND ESPECIALLY TO MY NON GENDER DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL. I. I AM IRMA THOMAS 22 3RD FIVE LILA STREET. I'M HERE TO ADJUST, UH, TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE THAT RESIDE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY VERSUS THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE MONEY IN THE TAX BASE. FOR THAT IT IS THE NATURE OF THE BEATS. IT IS WHAT IT IS. UM IT'S NO COMPLAINING. I THINK WE JUST NEED TO FIND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. IT HAS HAPPENED ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVE ROAD MAPS ON WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR GENERAL EMPLOYEES IS TO DO WHAT SAINT LOUIS AND OTHERS HAVE DONE. THEY HAD. WHERE WHEN YOU'RE IN MY CITY, DON'T TALK UP MY STREETS. USING THE TOILET. SHE USING MY WATER, YOU PAY A USER FEE THAT GOES DIRECTLY FROM YOUR EMPLOYER TO THE CITY. OK THAT ONE IS FAIRLY EASY IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND USED TO DO IT TOO, BECAUSE 80% OF THEIR DEPARTMENT HEADS DON'T LIVE HERE AS FAR AS ALL MY GOOD UNION, FRIENDS, POLICE AND THE FIRE PART, UH, DEPARTMENT THAT WE MESS WITH THEM. IT IS A FEDERAL LAW. THEY HAVE LAWYERS WHO WILL BE TIED UP FOR YEARS. TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE AT ONE TIME. THEY DID HAVE TO, BUT THE FEDERAL LAW CHANGE THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE FOR HIM TO BE HERE. WE OFFER SOME KIND OF SERVICE SOME KIND OF PACKAGES. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN AN AREA THAT THEY FEEL IS UNSAFE. WE HAVE AN UNSAFE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME. WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WE WON'T GET ANY INDUSTRY HERE. AS YOU SEE, OUR LAST TWO PLANTS WENT OVER THE ORANGE SO YOU CAN'T FORCE ANYBODY TO LIVE HERE. WANNA MAKE THE WANT TO BE HERE BECAUSE IT'S TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. WE WILL NEVER HAVE COMMUNITY POLICING IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FOR THE POLICE AND OTHERS. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE WITH MAKING THIS PLACE BETTER. PLEASE, BY ALL MEANS. LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I'VE NOTICED A COUPLE OF PHONES. PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY'RE SILENCED. PLEASE.
THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER JONES, TIM 45TH 1045 DEET AVENUE, BEMA, TEXAS.
[00:25:14]
GOOD AFTERNOON. EXCUSE ME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH END CHARLTON POLLARD GREATER HISTORIC COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HERE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS. UH, THE FORTHCOMING C CONSOLIDATION GRANT PROGRAM, PUBLIC HEARING OFFERS A PIVOTAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC NEGLECT FACED BY THIS OUT THERE IN J POLLARD COMMUNITY FOR DECADES, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ENDURED THE CONSEQUENCES. OF URBAN PLANNING DECISIONS THAT HAVE MARGINALIZED OUR RESIDENTS AND ERODED. OUR COMMUNITY FABRIC. THE PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET MUST REFLECT THE COMMITMENT TO RECTIFYING THIS. EXCUSE ME THIS THESE INJUSTICES UH, WE CALL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT INCLUDES THE RESTORATION OF RESIDENTIAL INTEGRITY. SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. THIS PLAN SHOULD ENCOMPASS AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCE PUBLIC FACILITIES. EXCUSE ME AND VIBRANT RECREATIONAL SPACES. ALL AIM AT FOSTERING A THRIVING AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY. IT IS A MATTER OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OUR CITY'S WORKFORCE, INCLUDING THOSE IN PIVOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY ROLES. RESIDE OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT BOUNDARIES TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE 67% OF OUR WORKFORCE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS LIVE ELSEWHERE. THUS CONTRIBUTING TO OTHER JUST JURISDICTIONS. THIS NOT ONLY DEMISES OUR TAX BASE, BUT ALSO RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMITMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, UH, PROVIDED BY INDIVIDUALS WE HIRE ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS. UM WE'VE NOTICED FROM FLOODS WHERE SOME PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN OR GET OUT OF OUR CITY. WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL MANDATES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER THE CURRENT SITUATION IS UNSUSTAINABLE. UH IT DRAINS OUR RESOURCES AND AFFECTS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY FOR CRUCIAL DEPARTMENTS WITH WHICH MAKE UP OVER 60% OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET. WE URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXPLORE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS INCENTIVES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, WHICH COULD BOLSTER OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND FOSTER STRONGER. UH, COMMUNITY BONDS. I DO HAVE MORE TO ADDRESS AND I WILL SUBMIT IT IN WRITING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU. CHARLIE CRAB 928 EAST DRIVE BY MY TEXAS.THE NEW MAYOR COUNCIL. WELCOME BACK, MR WILLIAMS RECOVERY GOOD. MY NAME'S CHARLIE CRABB. I LIVE AT 928 EAST DRIVE. BEAUMONT TEXAS. THOSE ARE A LOT OF GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, MAKING, UH, PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT AND, UH AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR SAFETY AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND UH, LET'S SEE. WOW. WELL WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER GOOD DAY. UH LITTLE, UH, SPRINKLING THIS MORNING AND, UH, AND LET'S SEE. OH, YEAH. CROSS UH, LAUREL AT AT FOURTH, AND THAT'S A REALLY NICE CROSSING. NOW WE NEED TO WORK ON THE, UH, RAILROAD CROSS IN THERE. YEAH, THAT ALWAYS MAKES ME SLOW DOWN. UH, LET'S SEE. OH, YEAH, THERE'S , UH, THERE'S SOME LIMBS THAT LAUREL AND SPARROW AT THE STOP SIGN THAT NEED NEED TO BE REMOVED. AND LET'S SEE. WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT. OH, YEAH. THE UM 5 55 MILLION BUILDING IS ABOUT GONE. THAT'S BEEN QUITE A PROJECT TO SEE THAT THING REMOVED. I NOTICED A BIG CLUB CRAB CLAW WAS, UH, RESTING THIS AFTERNOON. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE . SORRY I DIDN'T USE UP ALL THE TIME. OH YEAH. MAYOR THIS IS A
[00:30:02]
VERY GOOD SYSTEM. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT BACK. DEGREE NOT WE'RE NOT. OUR KIOSK IS JUST DOWN RIGHT NOW. HOW LONG? NOT LONG. THAT MUST BE A CHALLENGE. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU, SIR. HERMAN DAVIS, 3055 ROBIN HOOD LANE, BEMA, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. FIRST OF ALL I WANNA THANK UH OH, YOUR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR CITY OF BEAUMONT. UM, RESIDENT HERE. PROUD, RESIDENT LOVE OUR CITY. AND I KNOW IT'S EASY TO SEE WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING. BUT UM, I SEE YOU GUYS DOING A LOT, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS YOU'RE GIVEN. I DO WANNA TOUCH BASES ON WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT. ABOUT, UM THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS WE RECEIVE BASED OFF OF PEOPLE WHO RESIDE WHO WORK IN BEAUMONT. WE DO NOT RESIDE IN BEAUMONT AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT RESIDE IN BEAUMONT THAT ACTUALLY DON'T EVEN WORK IN BOWMAN ALSO, SO IT'S A COMPLEX PROBLEM WITH, UM IT'S NOT ANY CLEAR SOLUTION. UM I DO KNOW THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE A BETTER CITY, WE NEED FUNDING, AND THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS TO GET FUNDED EITHER INCREASE TAXES OR INCREASED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING TAXES AND SINCE PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF OUR REVENUE, WE GOTTA FIGURE THIS OUT. SO, UM THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE SOME THINGS. I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE SO WE CAN AT LEAST GET AN OUTLINE OF WHAT POSSIBLE? UM I KNOW IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, THEY HAD TO HIRE LOCAL ORDINANCE. UH, WOULD IT REQUIRED CITY CONTRACTORS AND BUSINESSES RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY TO GIVE HIRING PREFERENCES TO QUALIFIED CITY RESIDENTS? IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THEY HAD THE ATLANTA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. WHICH FOCUSED ON CONNECTING CITY RESIDENTS TO JOBS OFFER TRAINING PROGRAMS, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE AND IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, THE CITY OF LAKES WORKS. THESE WERE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO HIRE WITHIN, BUT THEY ALSO HAD PROGRAMS ENCOURAGING RELOCATION FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE OUTSIDE TO COME BACK TO COME IN THE CITY TOLD TO OKLAHOMA HAD TULSA REMOTE. WITH AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OFFERING $10,000 IN RELOCATION INCENTIVES PLUS BENEFITS. UH, HARMONY IN MINNESOTA HAD A PROGRAM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND HAD BUYING INTO BALTIMORE AND LEAVE BALTIMORE. UH, THE RESULTS OF THESE PROGRAMS. SOME OF THEM DID . WELL SOME OF THEM DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY, UH WHAT WE PUT OUT TO DO, BUT THEY PUT OUT TO BE, BUT THE BENEFIT FROM US IS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT, HOW THEY DIDN'T DO WELL AND WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM. WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE THAT DID DO WELL AND WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM SO WE CAN PUT SOME TYPE OF PLAN IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN EXECUTE IT. I DON'T EXPECT FOR THIS TO BE DONE OVERNIGHT. THIS IS A LONG TERM DEAL. BUT EVERY DAY WE DON'T DO.IT'S THE DAY THAT WE LOSE OUT. SO LET'S KEEP GOING. BE GROWING. KEEP THE GREAT JOB AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. CARTER SHARP 5150 PLANT ROAD, BEMA, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL. MR WILLIAMS. WELCOME BACK. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT IMPACTS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITY. AS YOU PREPARE FOR OUR BUDGETARY COMMITMENTS AND STRIVE TO ENHANCE OUR CITY'S PROSPERITY. IT BECOMES IMPERATIVE TO CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF WHERE OUR CITY STAFF RESIDES. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A CASE FOR THE NECESSITY OF HIRING CITY STAFF WHO LIVE WITHIN OUR CITY. LIMITS SUPPORTED BY DATA FROM THE THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS IN THE 2024 BUDGET. OUR CITY FINANCIAL BACKBONE IS STRENGTHENED BY PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES. THE 2024 BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR OUR THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTS 64% OF THE BUDGET. OR AS FOLLOWS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 47 MILLION WITH 327 EMPLOYEES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 43 MILLION PUT 303 EMPLOYEES. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, 14 MILLION WITH 100 AND 35 DEPARTMENTS. NOW THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITY'S SAFETY, HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE. HOWEVER WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE SALARY OPERATIONS AND THE BENEFITS. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, EMPLOYEES RECEIVE 100 AND $43,000 A YEAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT, 100 AND 42,000 A YEAR CITY WORKS DEPARTMENT $102,000 A YEAR AND THAT'S SIMPLE MATH. TAKE THE BUDGET DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND THEY CAN GET YOU YOUR AVERAGE NOW WHEN WE CONSIDER THIS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE 60 IF 60% OF OUR EMPLOYEES FROM THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS LIVE OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY THAT WOULD APPROXIMATELY MEAN THAT $53 MILLION OF OUR TAX BASE REVENUE IS LEAVING OUR CITY
[00:35:03]
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THIS EXODUS OF RESOURCES DIMINISHES OUR ABILITY TO REINVEST IN LOCAL DEPARTMENTS, DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM. THE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS SITUATION ARE MULTIFACETED. FIRSTLY WHEN EMPLOYEES LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, THEIR PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROSPERITY OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, NOT OURS. SECONDLY, LOCAL SPENDING BY RESIDENTS ON GOODS AND SERVICES AND HOUSING STIMULATES OUR ECONOMY, UH, CREATING A MULTIPLIER EFFECT THAT BENEFITS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENHANCES COMMUNITY WELL BEING NOW TO MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM, I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, UH, TO INCENTIVIZE OUR LOCAL, UM, EMPLOYEES. UM THE NEW ONES THAT'S COMING IN ARE INCENTIVIZE THOSE WHO ARE ON OUR CURRENT STAFF TO COME BACK. JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AMY MICHELLE MONICA 3216TH STREET NORTHWEST WASHINGTON DC.GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO CHANGE THE RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. TO HAVE ONE MUNICIPAL TRANSIT. MAKE A TRIP OUT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE. LOCATED. IN NORTHWEST FOREST.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT BEFORE. THE CITY OF BE OAKS. MY PARENTS RESIDE AT 68 $45 DRIVE. MY TEXAS THEY HAVE PAID THEIR SCHOOL TAXES FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. MY MOTHER IS A BRAND NEW TRIPLE AMPUTEE. SHE HAS ONE CARE FOR IT. IT'S WEEK. AND SHE'S RUNNING OUT. OF THE TRANSPORTATION FOR, UM, THAT COMES OUT TO THE HOUSE. FROM INSURANCE. YOU'RE ONLY ALLOTTED SO MANY. AND SHE HAS THE ONE OF THE BEST INSURANCES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE IN NEED OF THE LIFT. BUS VAN FROM BEAUMONT MUNICIPAL TRANSIT. THANK YOU. IT CANNOT HURT TO ASK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM BEVERLY HATCHER SEVEN SANDALWOOD DRIVE, BEMA, TEXAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BEVERLY HATCHER. I RESIDE AS A RESIDENT IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AT SEVEN SANDALWOOD TRAIL. AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE OWN OUR PROPERTY.
I'M SAYING THAT WITH GREAT EMPHASIS BECAUSE WE PAY TAXES. PROPERTY TAXES BECAUSE WE ARE HOMEOWNER. WE PAY TAXES WHEN WE GO TO HEB. WE PAY TAXES WHEN WE GO TO KROGER AND WALMART, SO ON AND SO FORTH, EVEN TO THE CAR WASH. AND SO MANY SPEAKERS BEFORE ME. HAVE SAID. AND WE WANNA CONTINUE TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON. WITH HAVING SO MANY CITY OF BEAUMONT EMPLOYEES.
LIVING OUTSIDE. OF BEAUMONT. SO THEY ARE NOT LIKE MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY, AND I IF THEY OWN A HOME . IT'S NOT HERE. THEY DON'T PAY TAXES. IF THEY GO TO HEB, AND THEY GO TO KROGER, IF THEY GO TO WASH THEIR CAR, THOSE THOSE SALES TAX ARE GOING TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY. IT COMES A TIME IF I
[00:40:04]
BEVERLY HATCHER, DON'T SPEAK UP. THINGS WON'T CHANGE. I'M SPEAKING UP TODAY, GENTLEMEN. I AM SPEAKING UP TODAY, ASKING THAT THEY CHANGE THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN WITHIN YOUR POWER. TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS OR RULES OR POLICY OR PROCLAMATIONS. TRYING TO SEE THAT? THE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO LUMBERTON OR NEEDLE OR PORT NATURES OR VIDOR, ORANGE.THOSE THOSE TAX DOLLARS SHOULD STAY HERE. IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO AT BUDGET TIME WITH MORE TAX DOLLARS. IT'S TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK UP. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HOMEOWNERS AND CITY OF BEAUMONT RESIDENTS FEEL WHEN WE KNOW YOU EMPLOY. A MAJOR PERCENTAGE OF STAFF THAT DO NOT LIVE HERE. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? THANK YOU. LADONNA SHERWOOD, HALEY 5200 AND 65 RICHARD TRIBE. BEMA, TEXAS. DO IT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM STANDING HERE AS A VERY PROUD BEAUMONT NATIVE, UM ARE GRADUATE OF CLIFTON J OZAN HIGH SCHOOL'S FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF 2000. UH, GRADUATE OF LAMAR UNIVERSITY. AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SPEAKERS BEFORE ME AS WELL. AND I WANT TO ECHO THAT SENTIMENT, BUT IT ALSO LIKE TO PUT A LITTLE TWIST ON IT. UM I DON'T WANT TO JUST IMPLORE THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND ITS EMPLOYEES AND WHO THEY EMPLOY, BUT I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO GET WITH ALL OF THE LOCAL REFINERIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LAMAR AND THE HOSPITALS BECAUSE THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF PLACES THAT ARE EMPLOYING PEOPLE HERE IN BEAUMONT. THAT WE DO NOT CHALLENGE SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO COME AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THE CITY JOBS ARE AND WHAT THE CITY CAN REQUIRE A MANDATE OR INCENTIVIZE. I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO BE FOUND PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOCAL COMPANIES AND CONSTITUENT GROUPS AND BISD AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE BEAUMONT IS A GROWING THRIVING, BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO RESIDE AND LIVE AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT. AND MAYBE IF WE INCENTIVIZE SOME THINGS, BEAUMONT IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, LEARN AND GROW, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
PATTY ALLEN. 96 96 95 GRASS BEAR, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR COUNCIL.
CITY OFFICIALS. I AM SHIFTING PAPER BECAUSE I HAVE. MY NAME IS EDDIE ALLEN. I RESIDE LIKE THE SECRETARY SAID IN 9695 GROSS. I'M STANDING HERE BECAUSE MARCH 18TH. IN MY SAGA OF PROTECTING MY HOME WITH 2 6 FT FENCES ON EITHER SIDE AND YOU JUST CAN'T WALK INTO MY BACKYARD. I HAD A GENTLEMAN NON-RESIDENT THAT SHOWS ON THE POLICE REPORT. THE JUMPED MY FENCE. HOW I KNOW BECAUSE THERE WERE WITNESSES. WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT HAS NOTHING ON IT. THAT'S A TRAVESTY. TO COME AND GET A PUBLIC RECORD WITH NOTHING ON IT. IF YOU'VE ALL GONE TO SCHOOL, AND YOU TURN IN A PAPER AND THERE'S NOTHING ON IT, WHAT DO YOU GET? AND I ASKED THIS OFFICER UM WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHEN YOU HAVE A 6 FT FENCE, AND YOU GOT A PADLOCK ON IT? THE GENTLEMAN WAS WILLING TO STAY, BUT HIS EMPLOYER CAME TO THE SCENE AND HAD HIM TO LEAVE.
NOW YOU HAVE A COPY OF A TRESPASSING AFFIDAVIT, SO I HAVE MY PROPERTY PROTECTED. THE POLICE OFFICER IGNORED THAT IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE REPORT. THAT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND THEN
[00:45:02]
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLICE REPORT THAT YOU EACH ONE SHOULD HAVE IT SHARES A RESIDENT STATUS NON-RESIDENT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NON RESIDENCES. THERE IS MORE ISSUES TO THIS. BUT IF ONE OF A PERSON COME TO YOUR YARD, YOUR FAMILY WILL STAND IN IT. STAY IN THE HOUSE. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL I WAS ABLE TO CONFRONT THE MAN GOT A PICTURE OF HIM. BUT ON THIS POLICE REPORT, IT DOESN'T SHOW ITS NAME BECAUSE HIS EMPLOYER INTERFERED WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. ALTHOUGH CRIME IS ELEVATED HERE, AND THEN I WENT ONLINE, AND THEN IT SAID FOR PROTECTION IN EACH ONE OF YOU CAN GOOGLE IT? WHERE IS THE SAFEST PLACE TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT? AND IT SAYS WEST END CALLED A TERRORIST, ET CETERA. AND I HEARD A YOUNG MAN FROM CHARLESTON POLICY. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PARITY HERE THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.I AM DEVASTATED. I'M NOT CRYING, BUT I'M DEVASTATED BECAUSE I HAD MY HOUSE PROTECTED. AND THEN THE POLICE DID NOT EVEN PURSUE GETTING THAT GUY BECAUSE HIS EMPLOYER IS THERE AND TOLD HIM TO LEAVE. SHOULDN'T HAPPEN SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. SO THE REPORT . YOU SEE HE HAS HIS NAME DOWN HERE, BUT WORSE, HIS SUPERVISOR WROTE OFF ON IT. THANK YOU. WELL, SEAN PROCTOR 4680 I'M SORRY. I CAN'T MAKE OUT THE STREET. HUH JANE? CAR SORRY, 4680 JAN CAR BY MY TEXAS GOOD AFTERNOON PROTOCOL IS ALREADY BEEN SET. UM THANK YOU GUYS, FOR WHAT YOU DO AS EVERYONE ELSE, JUST KIND OF STANDING ON. I GUESS LIVING IN THE CITY AND THOSE THINGS, UM, ONE THING THAT I FIND IN LIVING IN THE CITY I THINK THAT AS AN EMPLOYEE, YOU KNOW PEOPLE CAN LIVE WHERE THEY WANNA LIVE. THAT'S JUST THE THING IS THIS HAPPENS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. BUT I THINK WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT PERSONS THAT'S RUNNING YOUR CITY JUST AS A COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY IN ORDER TO RUN. CITY MANAGER. I'M SURE YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY TO BE HERE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT'S RUNNING THE CITY THAT DOES NOT LIVE HERE. SOMETIMES TO ME. IT SAYS A LITTLE BIT EITHER. YOU DON'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE CITY. WHO LIVE HERE. YOU DON'T THINK ENOUGH OF THE CITY. TO LIVE HERE AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO MAYBE THE MANDATES.
MAYBE THE CHARTER. MAYBE IT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT TO WHERE? WHAT DOES THE CHARTER SAY ABOUT THOSE THAT'S RUN OUR CITY? WHERE DO THEY HAVE TO RESIDE? BECAUSE WE ALL TALK ABOUT TAX BASE, AND WE KNOW THAT TAX BASE IS THE THING THAT MAKE US MAKE OUR CITY RUN AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY. WE TALK ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE DON'T LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO THEY LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY WANT TO GO TO HARDIN COUNTY, ALTHOUGH BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A BETTER SYSTEM, AND WE UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE MOVE DIFFERENT PLACES. BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CITY LEADERS, WHETHER IT'S OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, ALL THOSE PRETTY IT UP, RUN OUR DEPARTMENTS. WHY AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE CITY? UM AND AGAIN, THEY THEIR SALARIES, SIX FIGURE SALARIES AND THOSE THINGS THAT IT IS AND I. I APPLAUD PASTOR SHARPE. HE DID A GOOD THING ON NUMBERS, SO WE DON'T NEED TO GO OVER THE NUMBERS BECAUSE HE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT PART OF IT. BUT JUST WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHO LIVES HERE IF OUR LEADERS DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE CITY. THEN WHY COULD WE HOLD ANYBODY ELSE? I MEAN, IN EMPLOYEES AGAIN. THEY'RE JUST EMPLOYEES. PEOPLE WORK SOMEWHERE AND LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT WHEN YOUR LEADERS DON'T LIVE HERE, THEN I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHETHER WE HAVE TO BE OUR LEADERS OR OR OUR LEADERS ARE SAYING A LOT ABOUT THE CITY THAT THEY LIVE IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MAYOR ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR
[CONSENT AGENDA]
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? BOTH TO APPROVE. SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL. THAT CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION. QUESTION AS COUNCILMAN TURNER. UH, ANYONE WITH STAFF, CAN WE SPEAK TO I ZIP BUS LINE AND IS IT ONLY WITHIN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? OR YOU KNOW, CAN I GET SOME MORE CLARITY ON HOW WE OPERATE? SO THE ZIP TRANSIT SYSTEM ONLY OPERATES WITHIN THE CITY OF BOMA. OK, THANK YOU AND IN CERTAIN AREAS LIKE NORTHWEST FOREST AND BEVE LOS IS THAT CONSIDERED OUTSIDE? YES, SIR. OK, I JUST WANTED CLARITY ON THAT. YES, SIR. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YES COUNCILOR GATS, MR BEN. ARE YOU AWARE OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A, UH, TRANSPORT PROGRAM FOR? UH RESIDENTS OF HARDIN COUNTY THAT WOULD BRING[00:50:05]
PEOPLE IN HARDIN COUNTY INTO BEAUMONT. SO THERE IS A RURAL TRANSIT PROGRAM AND I BELIEVE DEMI INGMAN, OUR PLANNING MANAGER, HAS ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT SYSTEM, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY RELAY THAT ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL. THANK YOU. YES. AND ANOTHER OPTION IS RISE. WHICH SERVICES? UH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR[REGULAR AGENDA]
CITY MANAGER. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU, MAN, AND IT'S GOOD TO BE SEEN AND IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK. AND IF I STAND FOR A MOMENT, THERE'S NO DISRESPECT FOR THE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC. IT'S JUST I'M STRETCHING, OK. UH, COUNCIL CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF REMOTE FUEL LEVEL MONITORS AND RELATED CONTROL PANELS FOR WATER PRODUCTION GENERATORS. AND THIS ITEM. THIS ITEM COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE OF THE RESOLUTION BY STAFF.IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE TO APPROVE? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. ANY DISCUSSION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE.
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MISTER CITY MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. COUNCIL CONSIDER REQUESTS FOR REZONING FROM RS RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO GC MD COMMERCIAL GENERAL COMMERCIAL, MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3060, NORTH DARLING ROAD AND AT A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON MARCH 1820 24. THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED 80 TO APPROVE AND THIS COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL BY STAFF. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? MOVE TO APPROVE. SO. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TWO. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR CITY MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE. COUNCIL CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR REZONING FROM RS RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO L I WHICH IS SLIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT OR A MORE RESTRICTIVE DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5895 LIFE AND DRIVE AND AT A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 1820 24, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED 80 TO APPROVE THE REQUEST, AND IT ALSO COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF OUR STAFF. THERE ARE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE. MOVE TO APPROVE. THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER THREE. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, I. I ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION IS CARRIED MISTER CITY MANAGER, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE US INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES MAYOR.
[PUBLIC HEARING]
PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION TO RECEIVE PARTIAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR THE ZIP. I DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN. IS THERE ANYBODY THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE. OK? UH, ANY OTHER. UH THERE'S NO DISCUSSION. WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. UH, MISTER CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE. WE HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE TWO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER TWO PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC SERVICES, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS LINE ITEMS OF THE CONSOLIDATED GRANT PROGRAMS 2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. MAY WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? I DON'T HAVE ANY ONE MAYOR. OK, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME. NOW MR CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE[REGULAR AGENDA]
READING? OF ITEM NUMBER. FOR ITEM FOUR COUNCIL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION AND[00:55:05]
EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FTA TO RECEIVE PARTIAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR THE ZIP IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND THERE IS A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I AND HE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. MR CITY MANAGER. WILL YOU TAKE US INTO THE WORK SESSION? UH YES, MAYOR. WE HAVE[WORK SESSION]
A WORK SESSION COUNSEL TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE CHAMBER COMMERCE ECONOMIC REPORT AND THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNSEL.COUNCIL THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S BEEN ONGOING. UH I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE WILL HAVE THE, UH CONSULTANTS ECONOMIC, UH, ANGELO ECONOMICS IN TOWN ON APRIL 17TH TO WORK WITH, UH, MR KENNETH WILLIAMS TO SCHEDULE A ONE ON ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH EACH OF YOU WITH A CONSULTANT SO YOU CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM. ABOUT THE PROPOSED STRATEGIC PLAN. I THINK IT'S PRETTY BROAD REACHING, UH, WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THEY WORKED WITHIN WHERE OUR STRENGTHS ARE AS A COMMUNITY. WITH THE IDEA. THAT IT CAN BE THE NEXT LEVEL. RIGHT SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT.
UH IT TYPE DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT I CALL OIL AND GAS 2.0. PROCESSING CHEMICAL PROCESSING THOSE TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT BEAUMONT HAS A LOT OF THE STRENGTH IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO. AND SO, UH, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT THEY HAVE GONE ABOUT IN TERMS OF MEETING WITH INDIVIDUALS. FOCUS GROUPS SURVEYS TRYING TO GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT INPUTS INTO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WOULD WORK IN BEAUMONT, AND THERE'S REALLY FOUR STOOLS TO THIS PROPOSAL. ONE IS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. SECOND IS INTENSIVE BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE SERVICES. THIRD IS WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION AND FOR AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EACH ONE OF THOSE, UH, PRESENTS SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AND ALSO RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO PARTNER NOT ONLY WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT WITH LIT AND LAMAR UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THESE THINGS. AND SO WHEN I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, UH, SO FAR, YOU KNOW, I WAS, YOU KNOW, SHOWING KIND OF THE MARKET ASSESSMENT, FEASIBILITY IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY IDENTIFIED AND I THINK IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE HEARING TODAY, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH AND ADD SOME SOME INSIGHT IN TERMS OF WHAT INDUSTRY AND BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR. BUT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE. YES, SIR, ARE WE ABLE TO SO WHAT? WHAT YOU HAVE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE FIRST PAGE THAT I GAVE HERE IS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND HAVING AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS A CRITICAL ADVANTAGE FOR A COMMUNITY. AND YOU CAN SEE THE 2017 NUMBERS VERSUS 2023 NUMBERS. UH, SOME OF THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT. SOME OF THEM HAD CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. PART OF THAT IS LOSS OF POPULATION. UH AS WE'VE DEALT WITH NATURAL DISASTERS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS PEOPLE HAVE MOVED AND NOT AND RELOCATED AND NOT COME BACK. A COUPLE OF KEY THINGS THAT ARE REAL STRENGTHS. IF YOU LOOK AT ASSOCIATES DEGREE , UH, WE HAVE OVER 25,500 FOLKS WHO HAVE ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER 35,000 THAT HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN OVER 14,000. 891 THAT HAVE A GRADUATE DEGREE OR HIGHER THAT THAT SPEAKS WELL TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE A WELL EDUCATED WORKFORCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES AND WE HAVE A DEEP BENCH IN TERMS OF THE SKILL SETS FOR INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, OIL AND GAS PROCESSING AND THOSE TYPE OF INDUSTRIES WHERE WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, AND THERE'S A LOT A LOT OF, UH GUESS MOMENTUM THAT IS HAPPENING. ON THE SECOND PAGE , YOU WILL SEE THE INFLOW AND OUTFLOW WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF A LEAKAGE REPORT RIGHT WHERE, UH, WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN BEAUMONT AND WORKING OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT AND WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT AND WORK INSIDE BEAUMONT. AND THEN YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN BEAUMONT. AND SO YOU ALWAYS WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AS A COMMUNITY
[01:00:03]
BECAUSE THAT BECOMES OUR BASELINE IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE GO ABOUT CREATING A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE? PAY TAXES, SPEND MONEY AND REINVEST IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF OUR KEY BASE POINTS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT . UH IT TAKES 5 TO 10 YEARS TO TURN THE BATTLESHIP. AND SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I WANTED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO IS START WITH A BASELINE, SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. AND SO YOU HAVE THAT MAJOR COMPONENT TO IT.AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE. IS REALLY THIS CIRCLE, RIGHT? HEY, STEVE. I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THAT MAJOR COMPONENT BUT IT'S NOT ON THE SCREEN AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT'S IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, WATCHING FROM AFAR THAT MIGHT NOT BE PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE NUMBERS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFLOW AND OUTFLOW? YES SO, UH, THERE'S ABOUT ALMOST 40,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN BEAUMONT THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT. THERE ARE 23,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BEAUMONT AND EMPLOYED OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT, AND THERE'S CLOSE TO 20,000 EMPLOYED AND LIVE IN BEAUMONT. SO THAT GIVES YOU KIND OF A BASELINE IN TERMS, OK, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GROW? BECAUSE WHAT WE WANNA SEE JUST LIKE SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS TALK ABOUT YOU WANT TO SEE THE ECONOMY GROW. YOU WANT TO SEE PEOPLE INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY BE SUCCESSFUL. AND SO THAT HELPS US GET A BASELINE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S COMING. THE NEXT KEY ELEMENT, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR INDUSTRIES. IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE BEAUMONT MS A. YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT ALMOST 400,000 PEOPLE RIGHT? AND SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH. UH, WE HAVE FOUND THAT UP TO ABOUT 75 MINUTES. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL IN ORDER TO GET A GOOD PAYING JOB. THAT'S TRAVELING 75 MINUTES ONE WAY, SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY'RE SPENDING A GOOD PART, UH, HOUR HOUR, ALMOST TWO HOURS, COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO JOBS. I WAS RECENTLY AT PORT ARTHUR FOR THE PORT ARTHUR LNG GROUNDBREAKING. HAD A CHANCE TO SIT AT A TABLE WITH THREE GENTLEMEN WHO ARE FROM LOUISIANA WHO WORK AT THE PORT ARTHUR LNG, AND THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT THEY ARE COMMUTING OVER TWO HOURS A DAY, UH, GOING TO AND COMING BACK IN ORDER TO WORK THERE AT PORT BECAUSE THEY'RE A GOOD PAYING JOBS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AFTER. WE WANT TO CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS, AND WE WANT TO SEE THOSE FOLKS BE SUCCESSFUL AND LIVE HERE. AND LIKE SO MANY FOLKS HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE INVEST IN THIS COMMUNITY AND BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THERE'S CHALLENGES THAT GO WITH THAT, UM AND IN THE IN THE REPORT AND THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO TALK WITH THE CONSULTANTS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT IN TERMS OF THE SWAT ANALYSIS THAT THEY DID SOME OF THE SOME OF THE HELMETS THAT I THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND WHERE SOME OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ARE AND WHAT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE I WILL TELL YOU THAT SUCCESS IS REALLY WORKING TOGETHER. UH I'M NOT. I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THROWING ROCKS AT THINGS. UH, I THINK IT'S A LOT BETTER FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES. I ALWAYS TELL FOLKS IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A PARTY WHERE THE HOST AND HOSTESS HAS BEEN FIGHTING.
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU WANNA DO? YOU WANNA LEAVE RIGHT? AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WHATEVER CHALLENGES WE HAVE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO MAKE THINGS WORK FOR EVERYBODY AND CREATE THAT SUCCESS, SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO REALLY I WANT YOU TO MEET THE CONSULTANTS. I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE MET HIM BEFORE, BUT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM. UH AND HAVE THEM SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS AND FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS ALSO COUNCILMAN TURNER. UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SPEAK TO SOME NUMBERS THAT THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE WATCHING. CAN'T SEE . UH BEAUMONT HAS OVER 31,700 MILLENNIALS. UH, THE MEETING AGENT BEAUMONT IS 34. SO THE REALITY IS I SEE THESE, A YOUNG, THRIVING CITY. AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT THE RESIDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WATCHING SHOULD KNOW. YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST AGE DEMOGRAPHIC BE AT THE MILLENNIALS AGES, 25 TO 39. AND I OFTEN ASK MILLENNIALS AROUND THE CITY. DO WE FEEL LIKE IT'S RAN THE WAY IT ACTUALLY REFLECTS, AND THE DOUBT AND THE NUMBERS REFLECT AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THESE NUMBERS SO WE CAN MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS LIKE I DON'T MIND SHARING INFORMATION LIKE THIS WITH ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE SHARED IT WITH MULTIPLE RE PRIOR TO TODAY BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS. SO STEVE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD TO GET THIS REPORT TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE COMMITTEE ON THEIR COMMENTS. I DON'T FEEL ANYONE WERE ATTACK ATTACKING, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT TOUGH CONVERSATIONS THAT I
[01:05:01]
THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME WITH THE CITY QUIT AVOIDING HAVING I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND FIGURE OUT STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS IN ORDER TO MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD, SO I GOT SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR ALAN? COUNCILMAN GATES. AND UH, TALKING WITH THE CONSULTANTS. UH I HEARD YOU SAY THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS MENTIONED ABOUT FROM PEOPLE THAT DO NOT LIVE INSIDE THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN IT. YES SIR.NOW AS A COMBINATION OF THINGS YES, SIR. THOSE TWO THINGS. UH, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS, UH, BASED IN REALITY, AND HOW MUCH OF THAT IS PERCEPTION? AND IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UH YOU KNOW, THE CLASSIC RESPONSE IS PERCEPTION BECOMES REALITY. UM AND SO, BUT I, BUT I THINK THERE'S AND AGAIN COUNCILMAN GOODS. I THINK WHEREVER THERE'S CHALLENGES, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND UM, I KNOW THIS IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, UH, YOU ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO TRYING TO MAKE STUFF HAPPEN AND MOVE THE CITY FORWARD AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE. AND I THINK AS YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF YOU KNOW THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET IN TERMS OF HIRING DECISIONS, THERE IS GOING TO BE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO START TURNING THAT BATTLESHIP. THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WANTED TO GO AND MAKE AND MAKE AN IMPACT. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL. I THINK AS I'VE TOLD ALL OF YOU, I THINK WE'RE IN THIS MOMENT. I THINK WE HAVE A 3 TO 4 YEAR WINDOW. TO DO SOME THINGS THAT CAN HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT AND CHANGE THE DIRECTION AND THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS COMMUNITY. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T WE'RE GOING TO WAKE UP IN 10 YEARS AND THIS POPULATION IS GOING TO BE BELOW 100,000. AND WE'RE GONNA BE GOING. WHAT THE WORLD WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED. AND SO THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US. COUNCILMAN SAMUEL OK, UM I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION THROUGHOUT THE DAY CONCERNING, UH, RESIDENCY AND THE EMPLOYEES, UH, I RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. UH THERE WAS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE , UH UH. THEY BROUGHT LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITED US FROM UTILIZING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS ON EMPLOYEES OR EVEN DEPARTMENT HEADS. IT'S ONLY THOSE THAT WE EITHER, UH HER OR WE HAVE TO APPROVE ON THE HIRING IF I'M CORRECT, UH, MADAM, UH, ATTORNEY IS THAT CORRECT THE OF THE LEGISLATION YES, SIR. IT'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 1 51.021. SO REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE WANT TO HAVE A RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT ON OUR EMPLOYEES, WE CANNOT DO THAT BY STATUE BY LAW, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO CREATE INCENTIVES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WANT TO STAY IN BEAUMONT AND I THINK MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WE ALREADY DOING THAT. UH I KNOW AT ONE TIME, UH, THERE WERE INCENTIVES FOR BUT I'VE HEARD THAT AND I REMEMBER WHEN WE DID HAVE INCENTIVES. UH UH, WHEN THERE WERE REQUIREMENTS , BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN WE HAVE CONTROL OVER AT THIS TIME, SO WITH THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT WILL ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND KEEP THEM HERE. WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS AT BISD. WE CAN ONLY ATTEMPT TO WORK WITH THEM IN IMPROVING. UH, THE DISTRICT IN THE PEOPLE'S EYE SO THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN. SO I JUST WANT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ALL DAY ALL DAY. AND I KNEW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE CANNOT REQUIRE A PERSON TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT. AND, UH, IN ORDER TO WORK IN BEAUMONT. COUNCILMAN NE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER AND THEN COUNCILMAN DURIA. SO SO, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL IS AGAINST HIRING LOCAL PEOPLE. IN FACT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE WISHES OF EVERYBODY THAT'S SITTING UP HERE. UM, I'M ALSO WELL AWARE THAT THE CHARTER PRETTY CLEARLY SPEAKS TO WHAT IS THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL VERSUS WHAT IS THE ROLES OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY MANAGER. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT COS UM, CAN HAVE OPEN DIALOGUE WITH THE CITY MANAGERS. AS FAR AS WHAT THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES STAY, UH OR STATE. UM BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DISCUSSED. I MEAN, EVEN GOING BACK TO THE FIRE AND POLICE, BUT THOSE BEING CIVIL SERVICE YOU CAN'T REQUIRE THEM TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. UM I GUESS THROUGH CONTRACTORS WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE IT. UH, BUT YOU CAN'T. YOU CAN'T REQUIRE IT. UM MOVING FORWARD. IT MIGHT BE
[01:10:08]
APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE A WORK SESSION AND PUT ALL THE FACTS ON THE TABLE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WHAT OPTIONS? THERE ARE, UM WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF THE COUNCIL? UH, WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF THE CITY MANAGERS FOR AS, UH, MAKING SURE NOBODY'S OVERSTEPPING THEIR BOUNDARIES.UM BUT THE HELP TRY TO COME UP TO SOME RESOLUTION ON THIS. I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS, AND I THINK IT'S EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR THE FOR THE COUNCIL TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BEST HELP OUR CITIZENS AND EMPLOY AS MANY FROM ACTUALLY ACTUAL BOMA AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER AND COUNCILMAN DURIA. UH, MR MANAGER. UH, I'M GLAD WE'RE ON THE LINE TO THIS TOPIC BECAUSE THIS IS ONE THING I WANT TO DISCUSS AND AGAIN. I DO UNDERSTAND. THE RULES AND LEGISLATION. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCENTIVIZE. AND AS THE COUNCIL I DO RECALL LAST BUDGET SEASON. I SPOKE ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES. WHERE WERE THE BUDGET TO INCENTIVIZE? LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS TO COME BACK AND RESIDE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND THE COUNCIL DID VOTE DOWN TO DECREASE THE BUDGET AND HAVE A HEALTHIER GENERAL FUND BALANCE. AND I CORRECT IN THIS STATEMENT, OR AM I INCORRECT? WELL IT WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT GOALS AND GOAL SETTING LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS A TOPIC THAT WAS DISCUSSED WI WITH ME AS A MANAGER THAT WHAT COULD WHAT COULD WE DO TO INCREASE? UH, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WORK WHO LIVE WHO WORK IN BEAUMONT LIVE IN BEAUMONT. SO WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME THINGS AND IN PARTICULAR , AT THAT TIME WE WERE LOOKING AT WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS GOING ON WITH THE EMS. AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. UH TO, UH, A ABOUT SOME THINGS TO GET THE DEPARTMENTS, UM, BETTER STAFFED. AND SO AS A PART OF THAT BUDGET PROCESS, WE CAME BACK, UH, CITY MANAGER CAME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL OF INCENTIVES TO GET, UH, TO GIVEN INCENTIVES FOR EMS FOREIGN POLICE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT OR IF YOU ALREADY AN EMPLOYEE TO RELOCATE. I MEAN TO. YEAH, RELOCATE IF YOU WERE HERE. AND UH, THOSE IN PAST. NO. ONE OF THEM. I WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT WITH EMS. WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE EMS INCENTIVES IF YOU CAME TO WORK FOR MONTHS AS AN EMS INCENTIVES, AND, UH, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. BUT THAT LAST I HEARD THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS, UH, HAD AN IMPACT A POSITIVE IMPACT. SO UH, WE DO WE DO. WE DID PRESENT A HAVE A PRESENTATIONS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES, UM, TO PROVIDE, UM SOME PREFERENCES, NOT POLICY. SO WHAT TO GIVE SOME PREFERENCES IF THEY WERE TO MOVE, LIVE OR RELOCATE TO BEAUMONT? AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF DISCUSS BECAUSE WE CAN ACTUALLY ATTEMPT TO CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AND INCENTIVIZE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT AND I DID WANT TO BRING IT UP THAT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US IN BUDGET SEASON. I SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHILE WE'RE ON THE LINE THAT THIS TOPIC, WE JUST KINDA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS AND, YOU KNOW BE COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT WHAT TOOK PLACE. SO THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE A SLIDE. CAN YOU PUT THE SLIDE UP? I HAVE THE SLIDE OF THE PRESENTATION.
WHAT WE PROPOSED THAT WE PROVIDE INCENTIVES. OH, NOT THAT ONE. THE LAST ONE PROBABLY. ABOUT WHAT WE PROPOSED. PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO RELOCATE THE BOO. THAT ONE. YOU KNOW THE TRICKY TRIGGER FINGER THERE. THAT ONE THAT THAT'S A RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT WAS PROPOSED TO GET MORE PEOPLE AND POLICE FIRING MS TO LIVE, UH OR RELOCATE TO BEAUMONT. UH, IT WAS IN SOME OF THE EARLIER BUDGET PROPOSALS, BUT WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE, UH SOME MAJOR CUTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT FOR US TO BUDGET. ANYTHING ELSE. COUNCILMAN TURN NO, SIR.
COUNCILMAN DUO. DO THAT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES. HAVE A RECRUITMENT PLAN TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT EMPLOYEES TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT. DO THEY HAVE A, UM CAUSE SOME PEOPLE. UH WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WE HAVE SOME OPENINGS, BUT EVERYBODY DOESN'T GO ON THE INTERNET. EVERYBODY DOESN'T GO ON FACEBOOK. EVERYBODY DOESN'T GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THE JOBS THAT WE HAVE, OR WE ACTIVELY OUT RECRUITING PEOPLE FROM BEAUMONT TO APPLY FOR JOBS HERE IN BEAUMONT. BECAUSE SHE
[01:15:03]
WANTED ADJUST THAT AND I CAN ADD TO IT. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR COUNCIL. WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO ATTEND ALL THE LOCAL JOB FAIRS, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH BISD OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HERE LOCALLY , UH, WE HAVE CERTAIN TOOLS TO HELP US RECRUIT, UH, CIVIL SERVICE, AND IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, BUT IT DOES HELP US RECRUIT THOSE TO COME WORK FOR WILMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT. UM, THERE'S INCENTIVE TO HIRE SWORN OFFICERS, WHICH WHICH ARE NICE, BECAUSE, UM, IF YOU HIRE A CADET , YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM TO, UH, THE MARSE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR THAT PROGRAM, HIRING SWORN OFFICERS CAN BRING THEM IN IMMEDIATELY AND, UM, TO PARTICIPATE SO UM WE HAVE CERTAIN TOOLS THAT WE DO UTILIZE AND CAMARO YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, WHERE WE PLACE THESE JOBS. IT'S PLACED AMONG, UM, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE WEBSITES, UM, DIVERSE WEBSITES. SO UM, THERE ARE TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE TO RECRUIT. UM BUT AS FAR AS UM SPECIFIC RESIDENTIAL INCENTIVES WE DO NOT GO WITH THAT AT THIS TIME. ON THOSE, UH, ONE. I REMEMBER ONE TIME ON THOSE CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS. UM YOU CAN GIVE EXTRA POINTS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT, CAN'T YOU? WE DO. WE DO GIVE EXTRA POINTS, UM, FOR BEAUMONT RESIDENTS. OH, YEAH, WE, UM SICK. ALL AVENUES OF, UM OF RECRUITMENT AND GETTING WORD OUT TO RECRUIT FOR POSITIONS. YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THE TEXAS MUNICIPALITY. WE GO THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGER ASSOCIATION AND WE GO THROUGH NATIONAL FORM OF BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE. AVENUES TO RECRUIT PEOPLE FOR ITS EMPLOYMENT, UH TO BEAUMONT, AND A LOT OF IT DEPENDS UPON THE POSITION IF IT'S A PLANNING POSITION WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE TEXAS PLANET ASSOCIATION, AND WE ADVERTISED ON THEIR PAGE, ETCETERA, ETCETERA. SO IT'S A IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM AND GOING OUT. AND RECRUITING, UH, TO GET PEOPLE FOR THESE POSITIONS, A LOT OF OURS. WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE IN BEAUMONT TO APPLY FOR POSITIONS. UH IT'S GOTTEN BETTER, BUT WE AS A GROUP AS A COUNSELOR AS AN ADMINISTRATION, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOWARD THAT AS A GOAL TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE ARE APPLYING FOR THESE POSITIONS IN THEIR IN THEIR PREPARED AND QUALIFY FOR THESE POSITIONS FOR SURE. SO UH, WE HAVE THEM THERE AND WE ENCOURAGE THAT I TOTALLY ENCOURAGE THEM COMING OUT AND APPLYING FOR THESE POSITIONS. OR DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT'S, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE WORKFORCE? LIVE IN BEAUMONT. SURE, I CAN, UH, SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. I HAVE A FEW SLIDES THAT I ASKED. WE ASKED HIM TO PREPARE SOME SOLS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF, UH, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION ITSELF. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ANY ORGANIZATION CAN IMPROVE, SO WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT BY DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT.WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT BY UH, UM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BEAUMONT AND DOWN SO WE GOT SOME SLIDES. WE WANNA SHOW YOU ABOUT THE CITY BE UN EMPLOYEES AND WHERE THEY RESIDE. I.
THIS WAS PROPOSED. THIS WAS PROPOSED IN THE INITIAL BUDGET I SUBMITTED TO CITY COUNCIL. AND AS A COUNSEL. IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL DID NOT APPROVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. BUT BEFORE WE SHOULD GO TO THE SLIDE, I DID KNOW A COUPLE OF OUR, UH SPEAKERS. UH, MISS THOMAS AND, UH, MR DAVIS. BOTH MEN THAT THIS WAS A, UH LIKE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AS FAR AS HAVING UH, PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITIES THAT THEY WORK. IS THIS JUST A BEAUMONT PROBLEM OR IT JUST HAPPENING EVERYWHERE. I WOULD SAY THE LARGER CITIES OFFER YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES, HIGHER PAY AND BETTER BENEFITS THAN SOME OF THE SMALLER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND CITIES. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE TREND. AND THAT'S TRUE HERE. BEAUMONT. UM MAKE THE JOBS MORE ATTRACTIVE. WE HAVE HIGHER PAY AND A LOT OF THOSE JOBS. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE GOOD BENEFITS AT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. IT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE ORGANIZATION TO WORK AT. I THINK IT'S WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER PLACES THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS IS THIS WAS AAA STATE LEGISLATION THAT PREVENTED UH, RESIDENTS REQUIREMENTS THAT WAS THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO THERE'S
[01:20:07]
SOME STATES THAT DON'T HAVE, UH, THAT TYPE OF, UH UH, PROHIBITION , SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WE CAN CREATE INCENTIVES FINANCIALLY. BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE CREATE INCENTIVES SUCH AS HOUSING, OR, UM, UH, WHAT OTHER INCENTIVES ARE THERE OUT THERE? THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO EXPLORE BECAUSE WE CANNOT USE THE RESIDENCY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AS A BASIS OF HIRING.IS THAT CORRECT COUNCIL? THAT'S CORRECT. I UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. WE CAN'T DO THAT. IT'S ILLEGAL, BASICALLY, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO LIVE HERE THAT WORK HERE AND I'M PRETTY SURE HE GAVE A LIST OF, UH YOU LISTED CHICAGO ATLANTA, MINNEAPOLIS BALTIMORE.
I MEAN, I MAYBE SOME OF THOSE CITIES MIGHT BE ILLEGAL THERE ALSO, BUT THEY FOUND A WAY TO DO IT. NOT MAYBE IT'S NOT A, UH, A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, BUT THEY FOUND A WAY TO GET MORE OF THEIR RESIDENTS THAT WORK IN THOSE CITIES TO LIVE IN THOSE CITIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
[COUNCIL COMMENTS]
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GATZ AND COUNCILMAN TURNER. WELL THERE IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF A WIGGLE ROOM IN THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE IN TERMS OF REQUIRING SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES TO LIVE IN THE CITY BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE, UH, FIRE CHIEF AND THE POLICE CHIEF, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT BY CHARTER. UH, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REQUIRE THESE OFFICIALS TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO HAVE THEM AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF A RESPONSE TIME. FOR AN EMERGENCY. AM I STATING THAT CORRECTLY? NOT ENTIRELY SO THE CHARTER STATES THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK IN THE CITY MAGISTRATE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE POSITIONS REPORTING BY COUNSEL ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE IN THE CITY. THE COUNCIL CONFIRMS THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE FIRE CHIEF.SO THEY ALSO FALL INTO THAT PROVISION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT REQUIRED THEM TO LIVE IN THE CITY. BUT IT'S NOT OUTWARDLY STATED IN THE CHARTER. I DON'T BELIEVE BUT THE RATIONALE I BELIEVE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT IF THERE IS IDENTIFIED A RESPONSE TIME THAT IS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, SO FOR ME IF OUR DIRECTOR OF BUILDING MAINTENANCE, FOR INSTANCE, UM IF WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY AT THE JULIE ROGERS THEATER, AND THERE'S A PIPE LEAKING AND YOU KNOW OUR GOD LIVES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. YOU KNOW, I WANNA I WANT OUR GUY TO BE LOCAL, AND SO THAT HE KNOWS HOW TO WHO TO GET TO GO TURN THE VALVE I. I THINK THAT'S ONE POSITION WE CAN. WE CAN POSSIBLY LOOK AT, UH, ALTHOUGH THAT WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE, UH, CHANGING THE CHARTER TO REFLECT THAT AS THAT CORRECT, CORRECT. OK? UM YOU KNOW, JUST I. I THINK FROM LISTENING TO COUNSEL. IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT ALL OF US WOULD IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. PREFER TO HAVE PEOPLE. THAT ARE LIVING IN BEAUMONT. BE THE ONES THAT ARE HARD NOW, THE QUESTION THAT WE AS A CITY ALSO HAVE TO FACE IS ARE WE GETTING ENOUGH? QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FROM PEOPLE LIVING IN THE CITY TO FILL JOBS THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED. AND THAT'S THAT'S A QUESTION THAT YOU KNOW YOU MR. MANAGER HAVE TO WEIGH AND YOU YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, LIKE HARRY TRUMAN, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU. AND SO YOU CAN. YOU CAN HEAR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE, BUT ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO GET THESE POSITIONS FILLED SO YOU. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO ENCUMBRANCES IN THE CITY CHARGE OF THE CHARTER THAT PREVENT US FROM TRYING TO MICROMANAGE YOUR JOB, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL, NO , IIIII. I DO. I DO KNOW THAT SO , UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH JOB . THAT'S WHY YOU GET THE BIG BUCKS, BUT, UH, I, I THINK WHAT? WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IS A DESIRE AMONGST COUNCIL TO TRY TO EMPHASIZE HIRING WITHIN THE CITY. YEAH. YEAH COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GETS FOR SURE. AND THEN THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION, THIS TYPE OF FEEDBACK. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WHAT WE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
[01:25:03]
LOOKING FOR, EVEN DURING I GUESS DURING MY EVALUATION OF THOSE UH , IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, AND I TOLD YOU IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE FOCUS FOR THIS YEAR WAS THE EMPLOYEE.UH ISSUES AND SO THAT'S THAT'S COMING TO FRUITION IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND I THINK, STEVE WAS RIGHT. I THINK THIS IS, UM AND I COULD BE WRONG. BUT I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS SO UNCOMMON IN A IN A IN MS A WHERE YOU'RE THE LARGEST CITY. UH, WHERE PEOPLE IN SMALLER CITIES AROUND YOU COME TO WORK THERE TO GO TOWARD THE JOBS AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GO. UH AND SOMETIMES THAT THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE FROM UM, AND THAT'S A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT THIS IS COMPETITIVE AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND COMPETITIVENESS, COUNTRY FOR POSITIONS AND FOR PEOPLE. UM RIGHT NOW, SO CITIES ARE REALLY DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO PUT THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO SUCCESSFULLY GET PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN AND THEY COMMUNITY TO DO THAT, AND THAT THAT'S OUR GOAL. THAT'S OUR GOAL TO DO THAT. UM I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES I WANNA SHOW WITH ABOUT DEPARTMENTS AND WERE OUR PEOPLE LIVED AND WORKED FOR THE CITY OF B AS AN ORGANIZATION. UH FOR SURE, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CITY OF WHETHER SOME OF IT'S TRUE. SOME OF IT'S NOT AT LEAST WE'LL KNOW WHAT WHAT'S THE CASE? SO CAN I GET YOU TO PUT UP THE SLIDE TO THE DIFFERENT UH, DEPARTMENTS OK, SO THAT THAT THAT ONE BASICALLY IS A OUR OUR CITY EMPLOYEE THAT ALL 1262 EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S YOUR PERCENTAGE TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT, APPROXIMATELY 53% AND APPROXIMATELY 47. UH, LET'S GO TO UH, THIS IS CITY UPON CIVILIAN. FIRST UM IT WOULD BE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF UH, SWORN FIRE SWORN POLICE AND EMS. SO WHEN YOU SEPARATE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES FROM FIRST RESPONDERS. CITY OF BEAUMONT EMPLOYS NEARLY 69% OF THOSE THAT RESIDE IN BEAUMONT.
IT'S MUCH HIGHER. 69% OF THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES LIVE IN BEAUMONT. OK? SO DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, UH, LOOKING AT ON THE 1511 OUT OF 15 LIVE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR 73. A LOT OF THE DIRECTORS. THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS? YES. 11 73% OF THEM. LIVE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. NEXT SLIDE IS ON, UH DIVISION MANAGER SO LOOKING AT 41 TOTAL. 23 OF THOSE WHICH ARE A LITTLE BIT EQUALS TO 56% BETTER THAN HALF OF DIVISION MANAGERS. LIVE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THOSE THOSE ARE THOSE ARE UH, EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE NOT DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENTS. CORRECT, RIGHT, RIGHT. OK, SO WE CANNOT CONTROL THESE WHERE THEY LIVE. YOU. RIGHT. BUT BUT THOUGH THAT'S A BIT DIFFERENT. UH, GO BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE FOR JUST CLARITY. OK THE WRONG WAY. THERE WE GO. RIGHT OK, THOSE WERE DIRECTORS AND MAJORITY LIVE. IN BEAUMONT. NOW AND WE CAN CONTROL THE DIRECTORS. IS THAT CORRECT? WE CAN AS ADMINISTRATION? YEAH. YOU CAN CONTROL WHO YOU APPOINT OR CONFIRM. SO OUT OF THAT 15 THREE. OK? AND THAT'S THE PROVISION BY THE STATE. WE CAN CONTROL THOSE THAT WE APPOINT OR CONFIRM, AND THAT'S IT. YES. SORRY SO WE CAN'T EXPAND THAT OUT ANY FURTHER YOU COULD WITH A CHARTER CHANGE, BUT THEN THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CHARTER THAT SAYS THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. SO IF YOU WANTED TO GET DEEP INTO THE WOODS OF CONFIRMING EVERY SINGLE HIRE, I WOULD ADMONISH THAT THAT WOULD BE REALLY CLOSE TO THE DAY TO DAY. IF WE DID THAT, I'M JUST FOR SAKE OF DISCUSSION. IF WE EXPANDED THAT, THEN TECHNICAL WITH THE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS PERMIT IT WERE THEY CHALLENGE US. SO I DON'T THINK THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL COME DOWN AND SWOOP IN. BUT IF SOMEBODY SUED
[01:30:02]
YOU BASED ON IT, THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. OK, THANK YOU. OK, THANK YOU. BUT JUST TO COUNCILMAN UH, SAMUEL'S POINT AGAIN, YOU APPOINT THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY CLERK AND THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MAGISTRATE AND SPECIFICALLY STATES IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY MUST LIVE HERE AND THEN YOU CONFIRM THE POLICE CHIEF IN THE FIRE CHIEF, SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF 560 GOOD MATH. SIX. OUT OF THAT NUMBER. SORT OF STUFF.SO I AFTER DIVISION MANAGERS LOOKING AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 239 CURRENTLY EMPLOYED. YOU HAVE 60 THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT 179 THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT. KEEP IN MIND. WE HAVE VACANCIES IN IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE SELECTIVE WHEN YOU HAVE VACANCIES, AND YOU HAVE TO CARRY A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE. SO YES, SIR. SO AGAIN, LIKE WE HAD THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM UP THERE AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTROL WHAT WE COULD CONTROL BY INCENTIVIZING. AND WE SAID WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THAT AS A COUNSELOR. AND THAT INCENTIVE SIMPLY WAS $4000 DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD EQUAL 57 $600 FOR THAT BUDGET A YEAR AND $500 MOVING ASSISTANCE TO PURCHASE SLASH RENT AND THAT WERE EQUIVALENT TO FOUR. THOU $14,400 A YEAR. MY ONLY CONCERN IS WITH THESE NUMBERS BEING THAT ALARMING. THERE WAS 100 AND $67,400 TO THE BUDGET. AS A COUNCIL. AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SO OPPOSED TO NOT SUPPORTING SOMETHING THAT WAS DIS AFFORDABLE TO DO. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GO BACK AND DISCUSS IF WE AS A COUNCIL WANNA MOVE IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION. WE HAVE TO HAVE A UNIFIED FRONT IN THE STAND ON DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS, DECISIONS BASED ON NUMBERS. AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THESE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING BECAUSE THESE ARE THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCENTIVIZING. COUNCILMAN GET AS WE START THINKING ABOUT OUR NEW BUDGET YEAR. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK UP, BECAUSE, UH, THESE NUMBERS ARE CONCERNING, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, CHRIS IS, UH, IN TALKING TO PEOPLE IN OUR EMS, OUR FRAUD DEPARTMENT. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH DO YOU HAVE ANY FEEL FOR WHETHER OR NOT THE TYPE OF INCENTIVES THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED LAST YEAR? WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE. UH VERY MUCH, OR DO YOU THINK, UH, YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT WANNA LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF BE MART ? UH, WOULDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION OR DO YOU HAVE ANY I THINK THE INCENTIVES WERE THAT SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY DOWN HOME PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. UM IN A IN A TIME WHERE, UH, INFLATION IS VERY HIGH, AND THE RATES ARE HIGH, AND PEOPLE NEED HELP BUYING HOMES OR EVEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE. I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW HIRES THAT YOU KNOW, WE RECRUIT AND THEY'RE MOVING HERE TO BE IN THAT POSITION. SO I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THAT AREA. UM, IT'S HARD TO SAY ABOUT RELOCATION. BUT WHEN YOU PUT INCENTIVES LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN PURCHASING A NEW HOME, IT'S A BIG DEAL. OK THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANNA TALK ABOUT.
IN MORE DETAIL. UM, MAYBE DO A SURVEY. UH YOU KNOW SOME OF THE RECENT NEW HIRES, UH, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE DECIDED NOT TO LIVE IN BEAUMONT ASKED THEM, UH, WOULD IT HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE? I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF DATA DRIVEN INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED TO HAVE AS A COUNCIL WHEN WE CONSIDER THESE INCENTIVES. UH YOU, YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S SEE IF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE MADE DIFFERENT CHOICES. I. I KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF HEALTHY DISCUSSION, AND CLEARLY IT'S HIGH CONCERN OF THE COUNCIL. PERHAPS WE CAN, UH, SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION IN 2 TO 4 WEEKS OR SIX. IF IT AND COUNCIL CAN PRESENT QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN SEE ABOUT GETTING ANSWERS TO BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME WE SEEM TO BE ASKING SOME QUESTIONS THAT HADN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ADDRESSED AT THIS POINT. AND WITH THAT, UH, THERE IT DOESN'T NEGATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY STILL CREATE INCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO COME INTO THE CITY, WHICH SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE. IT'S CRAZY. THAT'S STILL POSSIBLE. AM I CORRECT? YOU CAN INCENTIVIZE YES, YOU CAN ENCOURAGE. YOU CAN'T REQUIRE I THOUGHT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE PULLED IT OUT OF THE BUDGET LAST TIME, THOUGH, WAS BECAUSE
[01:35:03]
OF IT WAS GONNA CREATE CONTRACT ISSUES BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, TOO, AND THEY WOULD OPEN US UP TO BARGAINING. SO ANYTIME YOU ADD THOSE INCENTIVES YOU DO HAVE TO, UH, APPLY TO THEIR CONTRACT. WE HAD ALREADY COMPLETED THE POLICE CONTRACT SO WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO BACK AND REVISE THE POLICE. UM, CB. A THE FIRE. UH, CONTRACT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN UM, SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OR MONTHS, DEPENDING ON SCHEDULING. AND THAT IS KEY BECAUSE THOSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. THAT WOULD BE NO ISSUE WITH GIVING THEM INCENTIVES TO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY. BUT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY ON THOSE WHO ARE IN POLICE, FIRE AND EMS. SO YES OR HOUSE ENDURO OVER, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. GIVE TESTS YOU HIRE SOME CERTIFIED OFFICER, BUT YOU ALSO GIVE CIVIL SERVICE TEST TO PEOPLE OFF THE STREET THAT'S NOT HIRED. CORRECT RIGHT? WE CAN HIRE CADETS AND SEND THEM TO THE ACADEMY. AND IN THAT CASE, WE GET MORE. IF YOU OPEN IT UP THE POOL, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE FROM BEAUMONT. IF SAY, IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID THAT, IF THEY IF THEY JUST GAVE A TEST AND I'M JUST USED, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I GOT HIRED, THEY GAVE A TEST TO ANYBODY OFF THE STREET. IF YOU IF YOU YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HAVE BAD RECORD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A CERTIFIED FIREMAN.I MEAN, WHEN THAT HAPPENED, WE HAD 600 PEOPLE TAKE THE TEST. 300 PASSED IT. 11 OF US GOT HIRED AND OUT OF THOSE 11 9 OF US LIVED IN BEAUMONT. SO I MEAN, WOULD WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO HERE WITH WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? IT WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF THOSE TESTING. SURE. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE CERTIFIED ALREADY.
DON'T THEY LIVE ALL OVER THE PLACE? IF YOU IF YOU COULD GET PEOPLE TO JUST COME IN AND APPLY AND PASS, AND THEN WE CERTIFY THEM. WE CAN GET SOME FOLKS THAT LIVE IN BEAUMONT AND ESPECIALLY IF WE GIVING THEM EXTRA POINTS ON THE TEST FOR BEING CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. WELL, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT AT LEAST, UH, STAFF COME BACK AND WE HAVE A WORKSHOP ON OPPORTUNITIES. WHAT CAN BE DONE? TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACING NOW. YEAH. IS THAT WHAT THIS IS? YEAH, THIS IS THIS IS A HERE COUNCIL'S CONCERN AND WHAT YOU WANNA DO, AND THEN WITH THAT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IS SOME OTHER MEANS THAT OTHER PLACES HAVE USED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF LACK OF RESIDENCE, UH, BEING IN THEIR WORKFORCE. THAT'S PRETTY SPECIFIC. I THINK RIGHT, I. I MEAN, THIS. THIS WAS NOT WHAT I'M SUGGESTING, TOO. IS IT GIVE COUNSEL A CHANCE TO EMAIL QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE AGENDA AND SOME PERHAPS DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND. SO THEY CO UH SO THAT STAFF COULD BE ABLE TO GET US INFORMATION ON OTHER TEXAS CITIES THAT IF THEY'RE HAVING ANY MORE SUCCESS WITH IT, AND WHERE THAT SUCCESS IS COMING FROM AND THIS NEEDS TO BE LIKE PLACES THAT HAVE SOME OF THE SAME RESTRICTIONS SUCH AS THE LEGISLATIVE, UH, ISSUES THAT WE'RE WE'RE HAVING TO, UH UH, STAY WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES. I. I WOULD, UH RECOMMEND MAYOR THAT YOU KNOW WHEN WE DO OUR GOAL SETTING WITH OUR WE OPEN UP OUR WORK. FISCAL YEAR WE HAVE A GOAL SETTING MEETING. AH I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BE ONE OF THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF YOUR MAJOR DEAL. THIS IS GONNA IMPACT YOUR YOUR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE IN A MAJOR WAY. SO I THINK THAT'LL BE A GOOD TIME WHEN WE CAN HAVE THIS AS A MAJOR AGENDA ITEM AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. UH AND WE CAN HAVE, THOUGH, THAT INFORMATION FOUR COUNCIL UH, I IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO RUSH IT IN TWO WEEKS AND THAT'S GONNA RESTRICT YOUR ABILITY TO HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. UH AND WE BRING IT BACK AT THAT WORKSHOP THAT GOAL SETTING WORKSHOP AND THEN TALK ABOUT IT THERE AND THEN OPEN MEETING. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN GETS CAN WE GO AHEAD AND SEE, UH IS THERE A SLIDE FOR POLICE? AND YES, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SLIDES. WE CAN GO THROUGH LEXUS EMS. SO EMS IS THE LOWEST OF ALL THE NUMBERS. THE CATEGORIES.
YEAH, TO SEVEN THAT LIVE IN BEAUMONT OF 42, WHICH IS 16 ALMOST 17. 35 LIVE OUTSIDE. A
[01:40:04]
BEAUMONT. EMS IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO HIRE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES SPECIFIC SKILLS. UM YOU BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE AND, UH, TAKE THESE COURSES AT A UNIVERSITY OR OR ONLINE OR IT REQUIRES SPECIFIC TRAINING TO BECOME, YOU KNOW, EVEN EMT BASIC , AND THERE'S ALSO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTERMEDIATE AND PARAMEDIC. WHICH IS ADDITIONAL, UH, TRAINING SO UM THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT CITY OF BEAUMONT. SO AND P IS HIGHER. UM 88 OF 244 CURRENTLY EMPLOYED RESIDE IN BEAUMONT, WHICH IS 36. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. HOW MUCH WOULD THIS PROPOSED IN SENATE PROGRAM? UH, AFFECT OUR BUDGET? HOW MU MUCH WOULD IT AFFECT THAT IMPACT OUR BUDGET, SO I DON'T HAVE THAT TOTAL RIGHT NOW. GO REMEMBER, BUT SOME $167,400 YOU CAN ADD ALL THOSE NUMBERS UP AT THE END, AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES OUT TO. AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING IT. BUT AGAIN, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE. AND THE PREVIOUS BUDGET SEASON IN CHALLENGE STAFF WERE COMING UP WITH SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE OR SOMETHING WE CAN DO AND AGAIN AS A COUNCIL, THEY CAME UP WITH IT. AND WE DIDN'T DO IT REGARD EVEN EVEN OPENING UP. UH, WE SAYING WE OPENED UP A CONTRACT. I GET EVERYTHING WE'RE SAYING, BUT I DON'T KNOW, UH, A POLICE OFFICER THAT WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO OPEN SOMETHING TO INCENTIVIZE. SO I JUST I JUST KINDA WANNA.THAT'S WHY IT'S FRUSTRATING TO ME BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE SAYING LET'S DO SOMETHING AGAIN. WE ALREADY DONE. COUNCILMAN GOETZ. MW UH, I DOES THAT NUMBER SOUND. CORRECT YOU'RE NOT CHALLENGING YOUR MATH. I JUST WANT, SIR. THAT DOES SOUND ABOUT THAT DOES SOUND RRA. THAT SOUNDS PRETTY REASONABLE. YEAH. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATUTE, JUST SO THIS IS THE IMPACT THERE THAT REALLY OR THE NUMBERS OR OR OUT OF SYNC AS FAR AS CITY EMPLOYEES IT IT'S NOT TOO MUCH, AND I THINK THAT THAT WE HAVE ONE FOR JUST UH, YOU HAD THE CIVILIAN ONE. I GUESS THAT PERCENTAGE, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT'S ALL THE SLIDES WE DISCUSSED. UM YOU KNOW UP THERE, SO IT IT COULD POSSIBLY MOVE THE NEEDLE QUITE A BIT AS FAR AS AN ORGANIZATION. GOES UM, UNDERSTAND THAT COUNCIL WANTS PEOPLE FROM HOME ON HIRED HERE AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS A STAFF, BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES IN GETTING PEOPLE. WE'VE HAD POSITIONS THAT'S BEEN OPEN FOR MONTHS. ELSE. WE CAN'T GET THOSE PEOPLE. GET PEOPLE TO APPLY, AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT GETS TO A POINT. WHERE WHERE WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB OR THE JOB IS JUST NOT GONNA GET DONE. SO IT IT'S A TOUGH DECISION. WE WANNA GET THAT. BUT DO WE PUT SOMEBODY WHO'S INCOMPETENT IN A POSITION? DO WE, UH JUST LEAVE IT THE POSITION BLANK AND THAT THE JOB'S NOT GETTING DONE. SO AT SOME POINT, YOU GOT TO GET THE BEST. ALTERNATIVE AND INTO A JOB POSITION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPERATED AS AN ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GOETZ. I DON'T KNOW HOW THERE'S UH A WAY TO REALLY QUANTIFY THIS, BUT I DO THINK THAT AN EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO MEASURE WHAT TYPE OF RO I YOU WOULD GET BY HAVING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE. THAT ARE LIVING IN BEAUMONT. THEY CURRENTLY ARE NOT. BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES IN BEAUMONT. YOU'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE. UH, MORE LIKE IF THEY'RE LIVING OUTSIDE OF BELMONT, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO RESTAURANTS AND DOING THE GROCERY SHOPPING OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT, TOO. IF THEY'RE LIVING IN BEAUMONT, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE DOING THEIR SHOPPING AT. I TB IN KROGER HERE IN BEAUMONT AND THEY'RE GONNA GO TO RESTAURANTS HERE IN BOMA. SO TRY TO MEASURE WHAT KIND OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT YOU'RE GOING TO GET. UH, YES, IT'S GONNA COST US 100 AND 60. $7000 TO MAYBE OFFER THESE INCENTIVE PACKAGES, BUT, UH, ASSUMING THAT WE GET SOME OF SO NOW, Y'ALL THAT YEAH. MAYBE WE'RE GONNA GET SOME, UH, RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT AS WELL. COUNCIL, MAURO WHO WOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION. I KNOW SOME OF THE, UH PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN BEAUMONT OR WORK IN BEAUMONT MAY NOT LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF BEAUMONT. BUT THEY MAY LIVE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY OR IN THE IN, UH, E TJ OF BEAUMONT. DO THOSE FOLKS PAY PROPERTY TAXES
[01:45:01]
TO BEAUMONT? NO. NO. YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER. UH YES. AND KENNY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ABATEMENTS, DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE THESE ABATEMENTS WE SAY WE'RE GONNA HIRE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WE USE WORDS LIKE WE'LL HIRE LOCALLY. UH WITH LOCALLY UH ARE WE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT BEAUMONT? AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHEN IT COMES TO AUDITING YOU KNOW, SOME ARE ENTITIES WOULD GIVE TAX ABATEMENTS TOO. DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY RESPONSIBLE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO DO THE AUDITING OR DO WE KIND OF DEPEND ON JEFFERSON COUNTY DOING THE AUDITING? AND WHO GETS THE REPORT NOW? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? IN YOUR LINE OF ABATEMENT YOU WANT SO TO YOUR POINT WE DO RELY HAVE HISTORICALLY RELIED ON JEFFERSON COUNTY TO BASICALLY COLLECT THAT REPORTING DATA. UM BECAUSE OFTEN THE INCENTIVES THAT WE OFFER ARE OFTEN ALSO OFFERED BY THE COUNTY AND SO WE DO RELY ON THEY'RE AUDITING AND THEIR REPORTING, UM TO ENSURE THAT ANY ANY FOLKS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HIRED WITHIN THE COUNTY OR HIRED WITHIN THE COUNTY. UH I IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REPORT. IF THAT'S OK. THE FINDINGS. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR CATALINA. NOW THE COUNCIL. IF THERE'S NO OTHER[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
DISCUSSION, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER REGARDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE FIRE PENSION PLAN PROPOSAL WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SE. YES WE WILL BE BACK COMING BACK. YEAH, WE'RE COMING BACK.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.