[00:00:03]
          WELCOME TODAY'S MEETING, WHICH IS MAY 7TH 2024. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY 
          [CALL TO ORDER]
REVEREND JASON CARR OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE THEIR PHONES AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 
          LORD, WE COME TO YOU TODAY SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND YOUR GOODNESS AND US, LORD, WE ASK YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU SAID IF ANYONE LACKS WISDOM, LET HIM ASK, AND YOU WOULD GIVE LIBERALLY AND I AM PRAYING AND ASKING FOR DIVINE WISDOM. LORD FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEAD OUR PRECIOUS CITY GOD, LEAD THEM AND GUIDE THEM AND DIRECT THEM THAT WE MAY SEE YOUR KINGDOM COME AND YOUR WILL BE DONE NOT JUST IN HUMAN EARTH, BUT IN THIS CITY AS WELL. WE LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS IN JESUS NAME. WE PRAY. AMEN. YEAH. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO I NATION. MAY HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR WEST PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TIM TURNER, ABSENT COUNCILMAN RAD COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILOR COUNCIL MEMBER SAMUEL AND 
          [PROCLAMATIONS]
COUNCIL MEMBER, NEIL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE FOUR PROCLAMATIONS IN ONE PRESENTATION AND IN LIEU OF READING THE PROCLAMATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO YIELD THE TIME TO ALLOW FOR EVERYBODY TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TA TAKE A PICTURE AS WELL, UH, HERE WITH COUNSEL IF YOU SO CHOOSE AND PLEASE WALK AROUND AND SHAKE HANDS WITH EVERYBODY UP HERE FIRST. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZE. COUNCILMAN TURNER. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH 2024 IS PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION RECOGNITION WEEK. ACCEPTING WILL BE MS JACQUELINE GUNNER WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. 
          YEAH. MY DREAM BLEW IN HERE. LOOK AT YOU. OH, I GOTTA MAKE THAT LOOK GOOD. 
          WHAT A GREAT CROWD WE HAD HERE, MY BOY. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL LOOK RIGHT HERE. 12 AND THREE PERFECT. THANK YOU. YEAH. ANY COMMENTS. OK, SORRY. TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SHARE PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK YET AGAIN FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, AS YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TALENT WITHIN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. WE HAD AN AMAZING COMMITTEE THAT WAS CONSISTED OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY. WE HAD MILES HAYNES FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, LARISSA ALI FROM THE RECREATION ROSANNA MAHIKA, REPRESENTING IT, JENNIFER PAYTON, EVEN EVENT SERVICES, LISA WHITE THE CITY CLERK SUSAN SMITH PLANNING LAUREN GALVAN, LEGAL. BAILEY THOMPSON ACCOUNTING CHRISTO VALENCIA. I'M SORRY. ENGINEERING. AND WE HAD CAPTAIN TRAVIS MALONE SONG FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO WE'VE PLANNED A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS THIS WEEK FOR TO CELEBRATE OUR MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED THAT WE ARE HERE AGAIN BEING ALLOWED TO DO THIS. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY AS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH MONTH ACCEPTING WILL BE MRS JULIE O'MALLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS WITH YOU AS WELL. SO EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO COME UP. YOU CAN WALK AROUND. ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU WHAT YOU DO. THANK 
          [00:05:22]
YOU. YOU. SO WHAT YOU DO, THEN YOU APPRECIATE YOU GUYS APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. FOR ALL YOU DO. YOU DO IT GOOD TO SEE YOU. YES. Y'ALL LOOK RIGHT HERE AND ONE TWO AND THREE. THANK YOU. WHO WANTS TO GO? THANK YOU. ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY AND FOR RECOGNIZING ME AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. UM I'M HERE. I'M KIM PIN AND I'M HERE WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. JULIE O'MALLEY. MISS FICE MONROE, MISS SALLY BROUSSARD, MISS MARY YOUNG AND REGINA ROGERS. UM WE ARE ON A MISSION TO, UM INCREASE AWARENESS OF SERVICES AND TO EDUCATE OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY THAT MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE TREATED. NO. THAN PHYSICAL HEALTH. AND SO ONE OF OUR BIG, UM, EFFORTS RIGHT NOW IS TO ADVOCATE AND, UM, MAKE AWARE THAT NEW 988 NUMBER WHICH IS A SIMILAR TO 911, BUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND SO WE WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE JUST AS UM UH PEOPLE WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT JUST LIKE THEY WOULD 911 AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU CAN TEXT OR CALL THE NUMBER 988 AND A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIG ENDEAVORS. UM, THIS YEAR. AND, UM WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING US. AND THIS IS MISS BERNICE MONROE. I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO COMMEND THIS CITY COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION. FOR YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. AND I DON'T THINK MANY CITIZENS HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS. BUT WE HAVE BECAUSE UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP OF, UH MILES HAYNES, A FORMER STUDENT UH, YOUR ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER. HE HAS PULLED TOGETHER A COMMITTEE OF 25 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING, UM INDIVIDUALS, UH , PROVIDERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. UH, YOUR POLICE CHIEF , UH, YOUR, UH, CHIEF, UH, UH, CHIEF WHITE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FOUR OF US FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH BOARD WHO ARE SITTING ON THIS COMMITTEE AND LET ME READ AND THE MARCH, OK, AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT BEEN MEETING SINCE MONTHLY SINCE DECEMBER. HIGH PRIORITY FOR 2023 2024 AGENDA. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH. GOALS PROBLEMS. ANALYSIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT. I DIDN'T BRING MY GLASSES SO BEST PRACTICES. POTENTIAL PARTNERS CITY ROLE REPORT WITH OPTIONS. DIRECTION, FUNDING AND CITY ACTIONS. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL DISTRESS, MENTAL ILLNESS AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PUT THIS AS A PRIORITY. PLEASE NOTE. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, AND IN RECOGNITION OF MENTAL HEALTH MONTH. I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO OUR 2024 LUNCHEON. 
          MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. JUDGES. THANK YOU. AT THIS EVENT. WE ARE HONORING TWO JUDGES, JUDGE UH RANDY SHELTON AND JUDGE TERENCE HOLMES, WHO HAVE INITIATED PRACTICES WITHIN THEIR COURT TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THOSE WHO COME BEFORE THEM. 
          SO THANK YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. AND IF ANYBODY'S WONDERING, WE ALSO 
          [00:10:03]
HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NURSES THIS WEEK, AND, UH, ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS. UH ANNA MCKOWSKI. 
          UH, CNO, THE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, AND MS MICHELLE JOHNSON , UH, ASSOCIATE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER, NURSING ADMINISTRATION OF CHRISTUS HEALTH. AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN COME UP AS WELL. YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS. FOR WHAT YOU DO. MY SON'S A NURSE PRACTITIONER. SO I, I GET IT. THANK YOU GUYS. GLAD Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT. LIKE YOU GUYS. 
          APPRECIATE YOU GLAD Y'ALL KNOW IT. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. WE NEED MORE NURSES. YEAH Y'ALL GOTTA QUIT WORKING TOO MUCH OVERTIME. THANK YOU GUYS, FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS? APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. A LOT OF GOOD APPRECIATE. THANK YOU GUYS. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. YOU MAY HAVE TO SQUEEZE IN. I GOTTA STAND ON MY TIP TOES TO SCRATCH DOWN. 
          REALLY? YOU CAN GET THAT TOO. ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL LOOK RIGHT HERE AND 12 AND THREE THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. YEAH. OK? YEARS NURSE AND W THEME IS NURSES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN RECOGNITION OF INCREDIBLE NURSES WHO INVITED THE SPIRIT OF COMPASSION AND CARE IN EVERY HEALTH CARE SETTING. NURSES ROLE IS NOT EASY AND SOME OF THE TASKS THEY COMPLETE EFFORTS EFFORTLESSLY ARE BEYOND REACH FOR OTHERS. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE LIFE TO ITS FINAL HOURS IN BETWEEN NURSES MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SHARING PATIENCE WITH PATIENTS AND FAMILIES, THEIR JOY OR GRIEF AND BY EXTENDING THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST. EVERY DAY. NURSES MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY STRIVING FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE AND OUTCOME FOR EVERY PATIENT. NURSES MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR EACH OTHER IN BUILDING A GREAT TEAM AND THEIR UNIT AND THEIR TIRE ORGANIZATION. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS THE MOST RESPECTED, TRUSTED AND APPRECIATED PROFESSION. THANK YOU. MAYOR WEST. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER FOR HAVING US HERE AND CELEBRATING WITH US NURSES WEEK. THANK YOU. 
          AND LAST PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH AS THE NATIONAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK. UH, ACCEPTING WILL BE GOT TO BE PREPARED. ACCEPTING WILL BE MR TIM OSK CITY OF BEAUMONT, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND MRS SHANIQUA NOBLES, UH, DEPUTY COORDINATOR. AND SOME OF THE REST OF THE STAFF. YEAH, TELL US THERE'S NO HURRICANES THIS YEAR. GONNA BE A YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA BE A BUNCH, HUH? THANK YOU. PICTURE OF YOUR FIRST AND THEN YOU COME BACK. HELLO. HOW DO YOU ALL LOOK RIGHT HERE AND ON THREE, SAY HURRICANE 12 AND THREE THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL M MANAGER AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE AND HAS BY ALL OF THE MOANING AND GROANING WHEN WE CAME UP HERE. UM, THIS PROCLAMATION EVERY YEAR SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT IT IS TIME TO START PREPARING FOR HURRICANE SEASON. 
          [00:15:03]
UM AS YOU ALL KNOW, HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE THE FIRST AND IT RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER. 30TH SO NOW IS THE PRIME TIME TO START TO GET READY AND GET PREPARED FOR HURRICANE SEASON. 
          UM OVER THE YEARS, THIS AREA AGAIN, AS EVIDENCED BY THE MOANING, UM, HAS BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO, UH, PREPARING FOR HURRICANES BUT NOT ONLY PREPARING FOR THEM, BUT ALSO OVERCOMING THEM. WE HAVE BECOME A VERY RESILIENT COMMUNITY. UM AS COUNSEL, SAMUEL ALWAYS SAYS, WE KNOW A THING OR TWO BECAUSE WE'VE EXPERIENCED A THING OR TWO WITH WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANES . SPECIFICALLY UM, WE BEGIN OUR PLANNING IN OUR OFFICE. UM THIS TIME OF YEAR STARTING IN MAY, AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO DO THE SAME, AND THEY CAN DO THIS THREE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO DO THAT, AMONGST OTHER IS ONE REGISTER TO RECEIVE THOSE EMERGENCY ALERTS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE SWITCHED TO A NEW SYSTEM. AND SO WE REALLY ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS, UM, TO REGISTER TO RECEIVE THOSE ALERTS DIRECTLY FROM THE OFFICE. UM THEY ALSO NEED TO START DEVELOPING THEIR FAMILY PLANS KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO HAVE A STORM OR WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE AREA. UM AND MAKING THOSE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS, AND LASTLY, IT IS TIME TO REVIEW ALL OF OUR INSURANCE POLICIES. UM AND START TAKING PERSONAL INVENTORY OF OUR HOMES AND OUR PROPERTIES. AS WE KNOW HURRICANES CAN BE VERY DIS DEVASTATING. OF COURSE, WE DO NOT WANT A HURRICANE THIS YEAR. UM BUT I AM FULLY CONFIDENT WITH THE PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS THAT WE ARE ALL STARTING TODAY. AS A COMMUNITY, WE WILL BE EVEN MORE RESILIENT. SHOULD WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO ONE ANY ANYWAY? SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, TREMENDOUS SUPPORT AND FORGIVE ME, BUT TODAY I HAVE WITH ME. OF COURSE, UH, CAPTAIN NIK, WHO'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR , ELE CASSIDY, WHO'S OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST. AND UM SKY COLON. WHO IS OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANTS COORDINATOR? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE CITY OF BEAUMONT 
          [PRESENTATIONS]
COMMUNICATION UPDATE. THAT WE'VE GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO THANK YOU, LAUREN. OF COURSE, GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 7TH DUE TO THE WEATHER LAST WEEK, THE CITY'S BIANNUAL COMMUNITY CLEANUP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO THIS FRIDAY FROM 1 TO 4 AT SPROUT PARK. WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME OUT AND JOIN US. IT'S NATIONAL PET WEEK IN BEAUMONT. ANIMAL CARE IS CELEBRATING WITH DISCOUNTED ADOPTIONS. IF YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A FURRY FRIEND FOR YOUR LIFE, THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO ADOPT A SHELTER PET. AND AS WE JUST HEARD, HURRICANE SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AND THE OFFICE OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO REGISTER FOR STAN, THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS ALERT NETWORK, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY WAY WE SEND OUT EMERGENCY MESSAGES. THEY UPGRADED TO A NEW SYSTEM LAST YEAR, SO MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES ARE REGISTERED AT THE STAND.COM. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PLANT 400 TREES AT TYRRELL PARK ON JUNE 1ST SIGN UP AS AN INDIVIDUAL FAMILY OR GROUP AT BEAUMONT, TEXAS.GOV/GROW BMT AND HELP GROW BOW WITH US. IF YOU WANNA GET A JUMP ON FALL, REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR BEAUMONT REX. FALL YOUTH CO. ED FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE SIGN UP BY JUNE 2ND FOR THE SEASON, WHICH RUNS SEPTEMBER 7TH THROUGH OCTOBER 19TH FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 7 TO 14. VOLUNTEER COACHES AND REFS ARE ALSO NEEDED. YOU CAN CONTACT THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER FOR MORE INFORMATION. SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK ARE BACK WITH BEAUMONT REC. ALSO THE SCHEDULE IS NOW OUT, AND WE INVITE YOU TO PACK A BLANKET AND PICNIC AND JOIN US AT A PARK NEAR YOU THIS SUMMER. 
          THE FIRST ONE IS MIGRATION AT WUTHERING HEIGHTS ON MAY 17TH. WE'RE ALSO CELEBRATING WORLD MIGRATION DAY AT TYRRELL PARK NATURE CENTER AS PART OF THE FREE KIDS NATURE EXPLORERS PROGRAM. THE SATURDAY MAY 11TH JOIN US FROM 10 TO 1 WITH ALL KINDS OF FREE KIDS, CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES. AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS JACKIE SIMEON OF BEAUMONT, ISD TO SHARE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS THE DISTRICT HAS PUT TOGETHER AS PART OF THEIR SUMMER TO SUCCESS. IT'S DEFINITELY. GOOD AFTERNOON. BOAR ISD IS PLEASED TO OFFER A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER TO KEEP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE POSITIVELY ENGAGED, INCLUDING THESE SUMMER RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AT BEAUMONT UNITED AND WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL FROM JUNE 3RD THROUGH JULY 18TH. WE HAVE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, GYMNASTICS, SOCCER, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL AND TRACK OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE AN OPEN JIM, AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 3RD THROUGH JULY 18TH AT PEACH, MACARTHUR, SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL, MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND VINCENT MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WE 
          [00:20:01]
ALSO HAVE SWIMMING LESSONS, SWIM OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR ANY AGE. THERE ARE DIFFERENT SESSIONS BEGINNING IN JUNE. YOU CAN REGISTER ON BMTISD.COM. WE ALSO HAVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH. 
          ANYONE 18 YEARS OLD OR UNDER. CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING ANY KIND OF DOCUMENTATION CITING ANYTHING. THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE , 18 OR, UH OR UNDER AT AMELIA ELEMENTARY, FLETCHER ELEMENTARY, MARTIN VINCENT MIDDLE SCHOOL, BEAUMONT UNITED AND WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOLS, ALSO AT BINGMAN, BLANCHETT AND OUR THIRD FUTURE CAMPUSES, AND THAT PROGRAM IS FROM JUNE 3RD THROUGH THE 27TH AGAIN. IT'S BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND FOR REMINDERS ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHERS AGAIN. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE BMTISD.COM YOU. THANK YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND PRESENTATION. AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          [PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME AND IT IT IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, ITEMS OR REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH FOUR OR ANY OTHER TOPIC. 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 THE COMMENTS. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON. WHEN YOU IS A PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT MYSELF AND COUNSEL CANNOT RESPOND WHEN YOU'RE MAKING COMMENTS, BUT SOMEONE FROM OUR OFFICE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU. SO EDDIE ALLEN. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS EDDIE ALLEN 9695 GROSS. BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77707. TO UH THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF. I'M STANDING HERE AGAIN. BECAUSE I HAD SOMEONE TO JUMP OVER MY FENCE. I HAVE A NO TRESPASSING SIGN INTO PLACES I HAVE FILLED OUT AN AFFIDAVIT OF AIRSHIP AND I THINK IT'S TWISTED BECAUSE, UM, I CALLED 911 THE POLICE. RESPONDED. HE TOOK UH, WORDS OR HE TOOK SOMETHING FROM A GUY THAT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY RATHER THAN RESPONDING TO ME. I WAS THE CALLER. NOW AT THIS POINT I DID FILL OUT AN OPEN RECORDS ACT. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE BECAUSE WHEN I TALKED WITH, UM THE CLERK, UM IN RECORDS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT , I WAS CALLED. SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT RELEASE IT BECAUSE THE CASE WAS STILL OPEN. THAT WAS ON FRIDAY LAST TUESDAY WHEN I WAS HERE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED. I HAVE NOT BEEN INTERVIEWED BY A DETECTIVE. HOWEVER IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH UM, THE JR SUPER CENTER OWNER MUST HAVE TALKED TO THE CITY. I DO NOT OWE THEM A DIME, AND THE PROBLEM IS WHY WHERE SOMEWHERE JUMPED THE FENCE. I CALL THE POLICE AND THERE'S NO ACTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN THE GUY JUMPED THE FENCE. THERE WAS SOME ACTION AND OFFENSE HIGHER WAS ESTABLISHED. I CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT. SO I'M HERE AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE WHEN SOMEBODY COMES ON YOUR PROPERTY UNINVITED. THIS GUY DIDN'T RING MY DOORBELL. HE DID KNOCK ON MY DOOR. THAT'S INCORRECT. IT'S INCORRECT. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANYTHING FROM THE CITY SINCE IT'S CLOSED, AND YOU JUST SAID BEING TRANSPARENT MAYOR YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE CITY. I HAVE NOT. 
          [00:25:04]
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING. AND IT'S NOT FAIR. THERE WAS A WITNESS THAT SAW THIS. SO HOW CAN IT GO ON TAKING CARE OF? IF THAT'S A GOOD WORD TO SAY THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD A BULLET HOLE IN MY FRONT BEDROOM, AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN INVESTIGATED. I'VE NEVER BEEN CALLED. SO THESE ARE TWO INCIDENCES. AND I THINK THAT, UM OUR POLICE IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE OFFEND. AND I GUESS I WOULD BE APPREHENSIVE TO CALL 911 NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTED TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT DID NOT SIGN UP ON THE KIOSK? AND I HAVE NO ONE ELSE FROM HERE. ALL RIGHT? IS THERE A MOTION OR A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
CONSENT AGENDA? MOVE TO A SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR CITY MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE 
          [REGULAR AGENDA]
READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCIL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO WATER A CONTRACT TO ALCO LLC UP ON MY TEXAS FOR THE PINE STREET. 
          SWTP CHLORINE DIOXIDE SYSTEM PROJECT, AND IT COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF A APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND MOVED AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN GOETZ. 
          FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THAT MAY NOT HAVE HEARD WHAT THIS CHLORINE DIOXIDE PROJECT IS. CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO, AND ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF CLEANING UP SOME OF OUR DISCOLORED WATER ISSUES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. YES, SIR. WE HAD A STUDY DONE A WHILE BACK. UH, IN THE NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO ADDRESS DISCOLORED WATER WAS TO IMPLEMENT CHLORINE DIOXIDE TO OXIDIZE AND REMOVE, UH, MY IRON AND MANGANESE FROM THE SOURCE WATER THAT COMES FROM THE NATURE'S RIVER. BY DOING SO, UH, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HOPEFULLY DECREASE THE FREQUENCY OF THAT DISCOLOR WATER, WHICH IS CAUSED BY IRON AND MANGANESE SEDIMENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU, BART. AND IT'S JUST, UM OBVIOUSLY, IN THE PAST, WE'VE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS OF GROUNDWATER, DISCOLORED WATER, AND I THINK THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS HEARD YOU. IT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROJECT $1.5 MILLION, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO FAR AND YOU'RE CONFIRMING THAT TO ELIMINATING THAT PROBLEM. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN TURNER. THANK YOU. MAYOR ISB BASED UPON IN THE PAST , YOU KNOW, WITH THE BROWN WATER CALLS. CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK TO THE CAPACITY OF THE CALLS ARE COMING IN NOW VERSUS TO WHAT THEY WERE COMING IN. WHEN WE WERE MAKING THESE DECISIONS TO PUT THIS FUNDING IN PLACE, AND SOME OF THESE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO KIND OF COUNTERACT THAT, I DIDN'T LOOK BEFORE I CAME TO COUNCIL, BUT WE DO HAVE A DISCOLORED WATER MAP ON THE WEBSITE CURRENTLY, UM I BELIEVE IT'S FAIRLY LOW AT AT THIS TIME. USUALLY, UH, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT SOMETHING STIRS UP OR CHANGES THE FLOW WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT, UH, BRINGS THOSE SEDIMENTS YOU KNOW OFF WHEREVER THEY KNOW NEXT TO A VALVE OR IN A LOW SPOT WITHIN THE WATER LINE, SO IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS A LOT WHEN WE HAVE DISRUPTIONS, SUCH AS A LOT OF WATER BREAKS THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE S. WE'RE NOT REALLY IN A HIGH PERIOD OF, UH, WATER BREAKS, THANKFULLY. YEAH, THANKFULLY. THANK YOU, BART. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR CITY MANAGER. MAY WE PLEASE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE. COUNCIL CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO TO THE CONTRACT WITH ALL CO LLC FOR THE STREET, WEIL CITYWIDE PHASE FIVE REBID PROJECT, AND IT COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? MOVE TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND FOR APP IMPROVEMENT? THERE IS A MOTION IN 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 
          [00:30:08]
NUMBER THREE, PLEASE. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF PROVING THE CASTING OF NEW IMPELLERS FOR THE WALL STREET UNDERPASS PUMP STATION PUMPS, AND IT COMES WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR A NUMBER THREE? SECOND THERE IS 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 ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR CITY MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING CENTER POINT ENTITY. TEXAS GAS 2023 PA. RATE CASE STATUS AND A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. THERE IS A MOTION FOR IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? MOVE TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE IS A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES COUNCIL. 
          MAIA I WOULD JUST ASK THAT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS EXPLAINED. DEMI YEAH, SO THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. UM, PREVIOUSLY PROBABLY, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, ENERGY PUT IN TO DO A REORGANIZATION. IT WAS MAINLY BASED FOR THEIR HOUSTON. UM COMPANIES WHERE THEY WERE KIND OF REORGANIZING. UM, NONE OF THE TEXAS DIVISION, UH, CITIES EAST TEXAS, WHICH WOULD BE WHERE WE'RE LOCATED. HAD ANY IMPACT TOWARDS THEM? UM, SO WE WENT TO COUNCIL AND I ASKED Y'ALL TO SUSPEND THE RATE INCREASE, WHICH YOU AGREED TO DO, AND SO NOW WE'RE BACK ASKING TO JUST BE A PART OF THE SETTLEMENT. UM THE IMPACT IS RELATIVELY THE SAME. 
          THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO US BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT. THERE'S NO IMPACT AS AFTER THE SETTLEMENT, BUT OUR NEIGHBORS IN HOUSTON GET A SWEET DEAL. SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA AFFECT LOCALLY YOUR GAS BILL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THERE WAS RELATIVELY NO CHANGE IN THE INITIAL, UH, RAPE PROPOSAL THAT THEY, UH, PUT FORTH. UH, LAST YEAR, UH, FOR THE EAST TEXT DIVISION, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY NOT A PART OF THOSE ROLLING BLACKOUTS OF PEOPLE WHO LOST POWER WERE NOT REALLY A PART OF THAT, UM, PROCESS AT ANY RATE. UH SO WHEN THEY CAME BACK, AND THEY, UH, CAME BACK FOR THE SETTLEMENT AGAIN, LIKE OUR THE IMPACT TO US IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. SO WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE, UM, IF YOU ALL WOULD HAVE ADOPTED THE RATE, UM WHEN FIRST PROPOSED IT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GETTING NOW. UM WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT YOU DENY THE RATE JUST SO IF THERE IS A CHANCE TO MAKE IT BETTER, AND JUST FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE, THERE ARE SEVERAL CITIES THAT ARE PART OF THAT AGAIN. MOST OF OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE ON OUR SIDE OF STEERING COMMITTEE OR IN OUR EAST TEXAS DIVISION SO WE COULD JUST KIND OF UNILATERALLY DO THAT AS A GROUP JUST TO STRENGTHEN OUR NEGOTIATION POWER. BUT THIS ONE HAS RELATIVELY LIKE I SAID, NO IMPACT FOR OUR CITIZENS. AND THIS IS CONCERN OUR NATURAL GAS OR BOAT. SO SINGAPORE IS OUR NATURAL GAS. UM BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO HEAT THEIR HOME, UH, WITH GUYS THAT KIND OF IMPACT, THERE WERE SOME IMPACTS OF THAT DOING, UM, THE PREVIOUS STORM, SOME PEOPLE DID LOST HEAT. NO. 
          THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF A PROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MISTER CITY MANAGER. 
          [PUBLIC HEARING]
WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE US INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES, MA COUNSEL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO HEAR APPLICANT REQUESTS FOR FUNDING FROM THE 2024 HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX GRANT PROGRAM FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 25. AND, UH, WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING. OK AT THIS POINT, WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OUR CITY. CLERK WILL BE CALLING OUT YOUR NAME. AND YOU WILL WHEN YOU COME FORWARD. UH YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AS WE DISCUSS WITH THE, UH PRIOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU. I'M DANIELLE SUTTON. FOR 5140. ROSEMARY DROP BE MY TEXAS. UH 409 FAMILY IS ORGANIZATIONS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF. COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. AND I WENT TO, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THE HEART OF 409 FAMILY. AND I HOPE YOU KNOW AND WITNESS THROUGH OUR ACTIONS. HOW MUCH WE ALIGN AND WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT AND SUCCESS AND GOOD FOR OH, MY COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE CONSIDERED ALONGSIDE THE REST OF THESE WONDERFUL HARD WORKING VALUABLE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FOR THE HEART GRANT FUNDS AND I, IF APPROVED, WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AND EXCUSE ME AND 
          [00:35:01]
BUILDING ON THE STRONG FOUNDATION SET BY NOW. TWO YEARS OF 409 DAY. UM IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS YEAR, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AS PROCLAMATION BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE LAST SATURDAY OF APRIL. SO IT'S ALREADY SAID THAT SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH OF 2025. 
          WE'LL HAVE THE THIRD ANNUAL 409 DAY. SO LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST EXPERIENCING AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF VISITOR. UH UH, UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF LOCAL FAVORITES ALL IN ONE PLACE. AND WHILE THE FOCAL POINT FOR US CERTAINLY IS SATURDAY, THANKS TO BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE GROUPS OF PARTNERSHIPS AND MARKETING TEAM OUTREACH, EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE 409 AREA CODE IS, UH, QUICKLY LEARNING TO EXPECT AN ENTIRE MONTH OF CELEBRATION. UH, WE'RE FEATURING EXCLUSIVE 409 DEALS AND LOCAL REPRESENTATION. UM THIS MEANS A GREATER REACH AND DRAW FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, A STRONGER SUPPORT SYSTEM FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND GROWING A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT JOINING TOGETHER AND INVESTING IN THEIR BUSINESS AND ART AND TIME IN IN OUR AREA. THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, GUESTS EXCLAIMED HOW THEY HAD NEVER VENTURED TO TYRELL PARK BEFORE NOW, SO WE WERE EXCITED TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND RECOGNIZE THE GYM THAT WE HAVE THERE AND THEN MANY WERE DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR AREA THAT'S AT THEIR DISPOSAL. AND SO THEY GOT TO WALK THROUGH AND EXPERIENCE THAT THROUGH ENGAGING BOOTHS AND TIME SPENT WITH THESE ACTUAL THE ACTUAL FACES OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND, UM THROUGH OUTER AREA. AND SO, AS WE CONTINUED ON WE, UM NOW WE KNOW 409 DAYS HAS ESTABLISHED TODAY TO BE TO WITNESS A UNIFIED MOMENT WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME. THE LOCAL TALENT IS DIVERSE AND BRILLIANT. EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATES IN IN 409 DAY IS 409 LOCAL. SO ANYONE ON THAT SHOW MOBILE? THEY'RE HERE FROM THE 409 AREA CODE. AND THEN THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS CUISINE KEEPS YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE. WE HAVE ALL THE FOOD TRUCKS AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN ENJOY. 
          AND THEN BEAUMONT. UH, TRULY IS BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE OUT IN NATURE EXPERIENCING WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER ON A NATURAL DAILY BASIS. UM AS WE, UH AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCOVER AND WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. UM, SORRY. THANK YOU. YEAH. BUT MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS AT THE END OF THE HANDOUTS. 
          AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME NOW YOU CAN ASK, OR, UM, IF YOU THINK OF THEM LATER. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANYTIME. UH, MAN, I HAD A QUESTION JUST SO WE CAN BE ON THE SAME PAGE BEFORE EVERYONE PRESENTS. UH, MADAM ATTORNEY, MR MANAGER MAYOR. IS IT APPROPRIATE TO ASK QUESTIONS ONCE THEY'RE DONE, OR GET WITH STAFF AND GET IT FOLLOWED UP LIKE HOW DO YOU GUYS WANT TO PRESIDE WITH THIS? OH, IT'S A PRESIDING QUESTION. SO YOU FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, OK, THANK YOU, MAN. BUT II I NOTICE IN YOUR APPLICATION. YOU DID REQUEST FUNDS LOWER THAN WHAT IT ACTUALLY TOOK YOU TO PUT ON THE EVENT. CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK TO WHY YOU DECIDED TO DO THAT? WELL WE DO HAVE SPONSORS THAT JOIN WITH US, AND, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC FREE EVENT. WE OPEN IT UP TO ANY LOCAL BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO JOIN WITH US IN PROVIDING THAT FREE TIME TOGETHER. UM A LOT OF I ALSO FOR MY FAMILY IS IN LLC. IT'S MY BUSINESS, AND I PUT FUNDS TOWARDS THAT. AND ORGANIZE THE EVENT AND PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE HERE, AND I JUST SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN QUALITY AND EFFORT AND MAKING SURE THAT UM, WE CAN DO THAT TOGETHER. BUT AS FAR AS LESS ASKING, NOT AS MUCH I DON'T WANT TO. THERE'S JUST SO MANY PEOPLE AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH TO GO AROUND FOR EVERYONE. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE MORE THAN THAN I CAN WEAR. YEAH JUST VERY FAIR ASSESSMENT. I JUST NOTICED THAT THAT'S WHY I ACT SO THANK YOU. YEAH. YES, COUNCILMAN FELLS SHALL THEN COUNCILMAN GETZ. I'M SORRY. YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS. I WAS MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED WHEN YOU DID. I WAS READING YOUR FOR SURE. BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU AVERAGE ON THIS DAY RUNNING THROUGH THE PROGRAM? WELL, THIS IS ONLY THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR THIS LAST APRIL, THE LAST SATURDAY OF APRIL AND LAST YEAR WAS INAUGURAL YEAR AND WE HAD AROUND WE'VE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 2002, 2500 AND 3000 PEOPLE, AND THIS YEAR WE EASILY DOUBLED IT SO AS WELL OVER 4000 PEOPLE THAT CAME THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. 
          COUNCILMAN GATZ AND COUNCILMAN HI DANIEL. THE EVENT THAT Y'ALL PUT ALL INTO THIS GREAT IT'S LIKE A LOT OF OUR FESTIVALS, CALLING ATTENTION TO, UH, SOME OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. TEAR APART BEING ONE OF MY SHARE YOUR VISION FOR PROMOTING THE PARK. IT'S A REAL JEWEL. ONE CONCERN I DO HAVE, THOUGH, IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX MONEY. ONE OF THE CRITERIA 
          [00:40:04]
IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING ALLOCATED TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE IN TO BEAUMONT TO STAY. HOTELS WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT? OR BECAUSE OF MY IMPRESSION IS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ENJOY 49 DAY ARE ALREADY LOCAL. ARE YOU ABLE TO TRACK UH, PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND MIGHT STAY OVERNIGHT. SO AGAIN BEING JUST OUR SECOND YEAR WE ARE WORKING ON A GOOD WAY TO TRACK THAT FOR THE OVERNIGHT STAYS, BUT WE DO REACH WELL BEYOND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. THE 409 AREA CODE EXTENDS ALL THE WAY INTO GALVESTON UP INTO JASPER AND BEYOND, AND SO WE MAKE SURE TO PULL WHILE THEY MAY WE MAY SOUND VERY HYPER LOCALIZED. IT PULLS IN A WHOLE FACET OF PEOPLE. UM AND FOR THE HOTEL STAYS, THEY BRING THEIR FAMILIES WITH THEM, AS WELL AS OUT OF TOWN GUESTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE. WE'RE KIND OF REACHING TO A MARKETING TOWARDS AND THAT MARKETING IS CONTINUING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES , UH, PODCASTS, AND WE TRY TO HAVE A RADIO HAVE OUR FINGERS IN EVERYWHERE SO THAT EVERYONE GETS WE GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE AND, UM, AND KNOW THAT THEY'RE INVITED. SO IT'S FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE. SO ANYONE WANTING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WANTING TO DEVELOP DOWNTOWN AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, IT WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW ON PEOPLE AND THEY CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S OFFERED ALL IN ONE. ON ONE DAY. DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN THAT ARE STAYING IN OUR HOTEL? UH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT HOTELS SPECIFICALLY. BUT WE DID HAVE SEVERAL OUT OF TOWN GUESTS AS WELL. UH, WE HAD ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE DEFINITELY MADE UP OUR POPULATION THAT CAME TO ATTEND THE DAY. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN SAMUEL THEN COUNCILMAN DURIA. COUNCIL MOIO WILL KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THIS, BUT I BEING IN THE PARK AND SEEING THAT, UH, I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, UH, WENT TO LAMAR EARLIER. UH THAT CAME IN THE TOWN AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE IN TERRELL PARK. UH FOR A LONG TIME , SO IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. UH, LAST SATURDAY. I DO KNOW THAT SATURDAY BEFORE LAST I KNOW ALL THAT RAIN KIND OF WASHED AWAY THAT ONE WEEKEND, RIGHT? RIGHT, BUT GREAT, GREAT JOB. COUNCILMAN DURIA, UM JUST WANT TO SAY THE SAME THING. I ENJOYED IT. I WAS OUT THERE. THE UH 100 BLACK MEN IN BEAUMONT HAD A GOLF TOURNAMENT OUT THERE THE SAME DAY AND A LOT OF US LEFT THE TOURNAMENT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE 409 FESTIVAL. I BOUGHT ME A FEW BAGS OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF FOOD AND WALKED AROUND AND HAD SOME LEMONADE. IT WAS NICE. 
          IT WAS VERY NICE. IT WAS A NICE CROWD CO TURNER WAS THERE WITH HIS WHOLE FAMILY, AND THAT'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE RIGHT THERE. THE BOUNCE HOUSES WHERE THE HIT IT IT WAS A GREAT AND, UH, REALLY AND IT'S DOING A GOOD JOB. I EVEN HAD MY DOG OUT THERE. I LOVE IT ALL. THE WHOLE FAMILY IS WHAT IT'S FOR EVERYONE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AMY ELIZABETH 3415 INGLEWOOD DRIVE BY MY TEXAS SPEAKING ON AIMED DANCE, MAY I. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR US TODAY. MY NAME IS AMY ELIZABETH AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR AIMED DANCE WHERE 501 C THREE PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION SEEKING TO FOSTER AN AWARENESS OF AND VALUE FOR DANCE AS A FINE ART IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. WE DO THIS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, LIVE PERFORMANCES AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. AIMED AT SUMMER FEST IS A MULTIFACETED FESTIVAL OFFERING CLASSES, CONCERTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SEVERAL SELF LEARNING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LOCAL YOUTH, AND THIS ALLOWS US TO MAXIMIZE OUR MISSION. STEPPING INTO OUR FOURTH SUMMER FESTIVAL IN 2024. WE HAVE SEEN OUR PROGRAMMING GO FROM REGIONAL TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL. STUDENTS COME FROM TEXAS, LOUISIANA, FLORIDA AND MORE. OUR EMERGING CER OF HER FELLOWS HAVE COME FROM CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK IN THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT FROM MICHIGAN. OH, YOURS INTIMIDATING . SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEHIND THE PODIUM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN 2023. OUR FEATURED GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER ELIZABETH. THE MINATO CAME TO US FROM NEW YORK VIA ROME, ITALY. AT ITS CORE, AIMED AT SUMMERFEST WAS CREATED TO GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR ALL FROM THE YOUTH, TAKING THE STAGE ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND SHARING THIS TO LEARN AND GROW TO AUDIENCE BEING INTRODUCED TO ARTISTS AND WORKS THAT THEY MAY OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO. OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE AIM DANCE SUMMERFEST, THE DESTINATION FOR DANCE RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, THE ONLY 
          [00:45:05]
EVENT OF ITS KIND AT THIS MAGNITUDE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS CURRENTLY IN FOUR YEARS WE'VE GROWN FROM AN IDEA TO A FANTASTICAL EXPERIENCE. AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW FAR OUR REACH CAN SPREAD WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY BEHIND US. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? DID A GOOD JOB. NO NEED TO BE NERVOUS. VERY GOOD. 
          ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LINN CASTLE 500 MAIN STREET BY MY TEXAS ART MUSEUM OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER MANAGEMENT AND CITIZENS. THE ART MUSEUM OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS CHANGE IN EXHIBITIONS. 3 TO 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR, ARTISTS COME TO INSTALL THEIR ARTWORK, OFTEN STAYING SEVERAL DAYS OUT OF TOWN SCHOLARS, GALLERIST AND COLLECTORS JOIN US FOR PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS GALLERY TALKS FURTHER ACCOUNTING FOR HOTEL STAYS. THESE EXHIBITIONS, CONTINOUSLY DRAW VISITORS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. WE HAVE NOTICED OUR, UH UH, HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE NOTICED OUR DIGITAL BILLBOARD CURRENTLY ON I 10 EASTBOUND JUST AFTER YOU CROSS THE SAN JACINTO RIVER PROMOTING THE CURRENT EXHIBIT. ALICIA ERT. ALL THE LIGHT YOU CAN SEE OR THE NEON ARTWORK ON MAIN STREET AT THE AMS GROUNDS IS ALSO PART OF THIS EXHIBIT. LET MUSEUM BEGAN IN 1950. WE OFFER FREE ADMISSION AND WE ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. OUR CAFE IS RUN BY TWO MAGNOLIAS AS AN OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK. ASIDE FROM REGULAR PROGRAMMING, WE OFFER SPACES FOR MEETINGS, DINNERS, RECEPTIONS, WHICH ALSO ATTRACT HOTEL GUESTS. THE CV B CHAMBER AND BN HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS THERE AS WELL. WE OFTEN HOST OUT OF TOWN VISITORS, SUCH AS THE 52 FLOWER JUDGES WHO STAYED IN HOTELS AT THE BIANNUAL MAGNOLIA GARDEN CLUB FLOWER SHOW THIS PAST MARCH. WE PROVIDE CULTURAL AND ENRICHMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, STARTING WITH FREE TOURS, AS WELL AS 13 EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ALL AGES AND ABILITIES TO MULTI VISITS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ALSO DIRECT PARTNER ARE ALSO DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS WITH BISD. WE ALSO PROVIDE OUTREACH PROGRAMMING TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ALSO HAVE REGULAR PRESENCE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SUCH AS THE MURAL FEST. 
          WE ARE PROUD THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE BOARD STAFF AND AUDIENCE LAST FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. WE HAD 48,850 VISITORS OF THESE, UH 1412 ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN, AND WE HAD 309 HOTEL STAYS. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA STATS INCLUDE 56,000 VIEWS FROM GOOGLE, ALMOST 100 AND 127,000 PROFILES REACHED ON FACEBOOK AND 5800 REACHED ON INSTAGRAM. WE MAIL OUT 4000 INVITATIONS ANNUALLY ALL OVER THE US PROMOTING OUR EXHIBITIONS. WE ARE ALSO ACCREDITED THROUGH THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS, WHICH ALSO ATTRACTS OUT OF TOWN VISITORS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF MUSEUM. EXPERIENCES QUARTERLY FREE FAMILY ARTS DAYS CONTINUE TO BE A HUGE DRAW WITH LARGEST ATTENDANCE RECORDS THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE PAST MUSEUM MADNESS THE BIGGEST FAD EVER HAD 3654 VISITORS THIS PAST OCTOBER. WE REGULARLY PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AT OUR FADS, SUCH AS THE IRU DANCES PAST SATURDAY. AMSA HAS A STELLAR RECORD OF COMPLETING PROJECTED PROGRAMMING EFFORTS FOR ITS ACCURATE AND HONEST REPORTING OF GRANTS AWARDED ON THE STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVELS. WE GRACIOUSLY GREATLY APPRECIATE THE IN KIND SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THE CITY HAS GIVEN US AND WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE CV B, WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROMOTING OUR EVENTS. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE THAT ANY, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN DAN WHEN YOU SAY AMERICAN ALLIANCE MUSEUMS, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY HUGE TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF ACCREDITATION. UH I WILL SAY WE HAD OVER 50 ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT CAME DOWN AND ANDY DID A GOOD JOB LIKE TOURING. I ACTUALLY BROUGHT THEM TO THE MUSEUM, AND THEY REALLY ENJOYED IT. SO THAT IS A BIG PLUS, BUT THAT KIND OF STANDS UP TO STANDS OUT TO ME DRASTICALLY. THANK YOU . YES WE JOIN THE TOP 3% IN THE NATION AS BEING ACCREDITED AND THE ONLY OTHER MUSEUM IN THE ENTIRE REGION THAT'S ACCREDITED IS THE MCFADDEN WARD MUSEUM. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AMANDA YARBOROUGH, 701 MAIN 
          [00:50:07]
STREET BY MY TEXAS, UH BY MY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. EVERYBODY ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL MEMBERS. YES THE BEAUMONT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CONTINUES TO STRIVE TO PROMOTE FAMILY FUN IN AN INTER INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN THRIVE AND GET EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING TOGETHER. OUR MISSION IS TO IGNITE THE GROWTH IN RELATIONSHIP OF CHILDREN'S FAMILY, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND PLAY. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HAS SHOWN CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH ANNUAL ATTENDANCE OVER 60,000 GUESTS IN 2022 AND 2023. AND IN THIS PAST YEAR 26% OF THOSE VISITS. VISITORS TRAVELING FROM OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION. AS WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT VISITORS, BC M FINDS MANY WAYS ON OUR PROGRAM AND EVENT CALENDAR TO ENCOURAGE AND IMPACT POSITIVELY. LOCAL TOURISM. NOT ONLY IS THE MUSEUM PROMOTING TOURISM, BUT WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S QUALITY AND LIFE ENHANCEMENT. CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS CONTINUE TO BE THE FASTEST GROWING SECTOR OF THE MUSEUM COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE BECAUSE THERE IS AN INCREASED RECOGNITION OF THE POWER OF THE HANDS ON INTERACTIVE AND PLAYFUL LEARNING EXHIBITS. NO NOT ONLY ARE THESE PLAYFUL LEARNING EXHIBITS IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPMENT, BUT ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A STRONG APPRECIATION FOR MUSEUMS AND THE VALUE THAT THEY HOLD AS A CHILD AND FAMILY GROWS. WE KNOW TRAVEL TRAVELERS SELDOM CHOOSE THEIR DES DESTINATIONS BASED ON ONE REASON, BUT BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE GREAT ACTIVITIES THAT ENTERTAIN FOR A TRIP. MOST LEISURE TRAVELERS ARE FAMILIES AND CHOOSE THEIR DESTINATION BASED ON A VARIETY OF FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE. BEAUMONT HAS ALL OF THESE. THIS PAST YEAR, BC M ADDED TWO BILLBOARDS ON I 10 AND BOOSTED MEDIA CAMPAIGNS ON RADIO PODCASTS AND STATEWIDE PUBLICATIONS MOVING FORWARD. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THOSE CAMPAIGNS AND ADD AN ADDITIONAL BILLBOARD RECOGNIZING THE DOWNTOWN MUSEUM DISTRICT AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO PROMOTE THE MUSEUM VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, GEOGRAPHICAL TARGETING AND PROGRAM MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. THESE WILL PROMOTE AND CONTINUE TO REMIND BC M REMIND OF BC M AND BEAUMONT AS A PLACE TO STOP FOR A BREAK AND A PLACE TO RETURN AND ENJOY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENCOURAGING STAYING OVERNIGHT TO EXPLORE THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND ALL THE GREAT PLACES THAT IT DE DISCOVERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CITY OF BELMONT FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGH HOT TAX. BUT IN GENERAL THE SUPPORT OF THE BEAUMONT GENERALS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF? ANY QUESTIONS? DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. SHELBY BRANNAN, 3025 FRENCH ROAD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, UH, BEAUMONT HERITAGE SOCIETY. HI GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S WONDERFUL TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENTING BEAUMONT HERITAGE SOCIETY. BEAUMONT HERITAGE SOCIETY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZED TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH BEAUMONT'S HISTORY AND HERITAGE FOR A BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER IN THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY ON IMPROVING OPERATING AND OFFERINGS. THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT HOUSES OUR OFFICE HAS NEW SHEETROCK AFTER A MULTI PHASE PLAN TO STABILIZE AND IMPROVE THE SPACE BEGAN, IT IS READILY AWAITING THE PLAN. SET UP OF OUR NEW CHILDREN'S EXHIBIT. UH AND THAT WILL BE THE FIRST STAGES OF WHICH WILL BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE'VE MADE STRIDES IN PROGRAMMING NOW OFFERING MUSEUM IN A BOX VIRTUAL TOURS VIA VISIT TOUR FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTEND THE SITE IN PERSON, TIS ALIGN SPECIAL PROGRAMMING FOR CLASSES AND NOW HOME SCHOOL DAYS EVERY QUARTER. ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM HOT FUNDING TO HELP US PROMOTE AND DRAW VISITORS TO OUR SPACE VISITORS THAT ULTIMATELY HELP US SUSTAIN THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING THE 179 YEAR OLD MUSEUM ALIVE. 
          WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING TO PROMOTE THE JOHN J FRENCH MUSEUM'S GENERAL TOUR. AND SCHOOL TOURS TO OUT OF TOWN GUESTS TO PROMOTE OUR ANNUAL EVENTS LIKE THE MUSEUM, MADNESS, PUMPKIN WALK, CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT AND EASTER EGG HUNT AND TO HELP US SET UP OUR NEWEST HERITAGE TOURISM INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL BE GUIDED DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PENNY PENNY LELU 9227 CAJUN WAY ORANGE, TEXAS WITH A BOOMTOWN FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. MAYOR WEST AND COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU. UM 
          [00:55:09]
BOOMTOWN HAS BEEN HAVING THE FILM FESTIVAL SINCE 2008 AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARTS COUNCIL STARTED PARTNERING WITH THEM TWO YEARS AGO. AND THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR, UH, THAT WE EXCEEDED OUR ATTENDANCE, UH, GOAL, WHICH, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MODEST 300 WE EXCEEDED THAT THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HAD FILMMAKERS THAT CAME BASICALLY IN THIS YEAR. USUALLY YOU ONLY GET ONE OR TWO FOR A FILM, BUT WE HAD FIVE THAT CAME FROM NEW YORK FIVE THAT CAME FROM MISSISSIPPI SEVEN THAT CAME FROM OREGON. UH, WE ALSO HAD FILMMAKERS THAT CAME FROM, UM MASSACHUSETTS, OKLAHOMA, FLORIDA , LOUISIANA, AND THERE WERE OTHERS. UH THERE WERE 30 OUT OF STATE FILMMAKERS THAT CAME IN. THERE WERE ANOTHER 10 FILMMAKERS THAT CAME IN FROM TEXAS THAT WERE MORE THAN FIVE HOURS AWAY. WE HAD 60 FILMMAKERS IN TOTAL, THEY CAME AND SO THEY NOT ONLY COME AND STAY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO POTENTIAL FUTURE. FILMMAKERS THAT MAY COME BACK FOR YOUR FILM FRIENDLY. UH INITIATIVE, SO THEY IT'S KIND OF LIKE A AA DOUBLE EDGED, NOT SWORD. BUT YOU, YOU MAY GET TWO BANGS FOR YOUR BUCK. BASICALLY THAT YOU GET THE TOURISM DOLLARS. BUT YOU ALSO POTENTIALLY HAVE OTHER FILMMAKERS THAT MAY COME BACK. UH, WE DID HAVE ONE FROM LAST YEAR THAT IS ACTUALLY LOOKING. HE FOUND A LOCATION NOT IN BEAUMONT BUT IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND IS LOOKING TO COME AND DO AND IN HE'S COMING IN FROM RHODE ISLAND, AND SO, UM, IT IS MAKING THAT IMPACT AND WHEN LINDA REESE WAS HERE LAST YEAR, SHE WAS AMAZED AT SOME OF THE LOCATIONS THAT WERE DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT. AND SO WE ARE MAKING THAT IMPACT. I KNOW THERE WERE 40 FILMMAKERS THAT STAYED AT LEAST TWO NIGHTS. SOME OF THEM STAYED THREE NIGHTS . UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND FROM TWO DAYS TO THREE DAYS THIS YEAR, SO THAT EVEN WILL HAVE MORE. FILMMAKERS STAYING HERE AND THE LONGER THEY STAYED IN THE BETTER THEY GET TO SEE WHAT IS HERE, AND THEY MAY COME BACK AND MAKE ANOTHER FILM, SO THEY'RE NOT ONLY STAYING IN THE BEDS, BUT IF THEY COME BACK LATER. UM THAT'S A BIGGER INCREASE IN, UH, JUST A SMALL FILM THAT WAS DONE IN WOODVILLE. 
          UM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BROUGHT IN 20 BED NIGHTS JUST FOR CAST AND CREW. SO EVEN A SMALL FILM CAN MAKE AN IMPACT FOR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL, UH, AGAIN SUPPORT THE, UH, FILM FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN GU. YOU KNOW, LOOKING THROUGH THIS BOOKLET. IT KIND OF REMINDS ME OF OUR OWN LITTLE LOCAL VERSION OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF ALL TYPES OF, UH UH, FILM, UH, THEATER, MUSIC AND PANELISTS TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS. IT'S REALLY AMAZING, AND WE JUST NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT. UH WE UTILIZE NINE BILLBOARDS LOCALLY THROUGH ORANGE, JEFFERSON AND HARDIN COUNTY ARE FACEBOOK ADS TARGETED PEOPLE AT LEAST FIVE HOURS OUT OF SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS AND ALL THE WAY TO NEW ORLEANS, THE DIFFERENT FILM HUBS AND THEN, UH, THE SUBMISSION PROCESS IS ON SOMETHING CALLED FILM FREEWAY, AND THAT'S GOES WORLDWIDE. SO UH, THANK YOU. FOR WHAT? YOU DID A LOT BETTER. YES, WE'RE WE'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT AND WE ARE GROWING. AND WE GREW A LOT THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR. GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. MAN. DIFFERENT. OK IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A COMPLIMENT TO YOU, UH, THIS THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH AND I SEE THE SUBSTANCE IN WHAT YOU PRESENTED THIS YEAR. I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THAT. SO BART, UH, 700 NORTH STREET BY MY TEXAS DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE TO DEFEND OUR APPLICATIONS. I WAS ASSURED YOU ALL HAD ACCESS TO THE APPLICATION AND YOU'VE READ THEM, SO I WASN'T REALLY SURE WHAT ELSE I COULD ADD, EXCEPT THAT IT WAS A LONG HAUL TO GET THAT DESIGNATION FROM THE STATE AND BECAUSE WE KEPT OUR EAR TO THE GROUND DISCOVERED THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD BRING ALL THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND FROM THE STATE INTO BEAUMONT. I CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT GOING ALL TO DALLAS, AUSTIN, HOUSTON AND THIS YEAR ALONE WE'VE BROUGHT IN 70 MORE THAN $72,000 IN GRANTS FOR 
          [01:00:01]
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS ARTS COUNCIL, LIKE THE BEAUMONT CIVIC BALLET, AND LIKE THE ART MUSEUM OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, THEY'VE ACCESSED THESE GRANT. PATIENTS THEY'VE GOTTEN APPROVED. I ANTICIPATE THREE MORE ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING FOR THOSE FUNDS. A MILLION DOLLAR ORGANIZATION CAN ACCESS UP TO $250,000. SINGLE PROJECT. AND I WANNA SEE THIS TOWN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. I DO NOT HAVE TOO MUCH MORE TO SAY, EXCEPT YOU KNOW, IF WHATEVER THE APPLICATION WOULD HOW I PROVIDED AN ANSWER FOR THAT. BUT WE JUST HELD A WONDERFUL THROUGH GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND HELP FROM THE CBB. WE PARTICIPATED IN A SECOND DAY FOR 409 WEEKEND AND HELD AN ARTS FESTIVAL SUNDAY AT THE EVENT CENTER TO MAKE THAT A TWO DAY EVENT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. 
          WE NEVER COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE CV B'S HELP AND THE OBAMA, UH, RESTAURANT GROUP. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JENA AND I THINK IT'S SAMMY 5550 . JIMMY SIMMONS BOULEVARD BEAUMONT, TEXAS LAMAR UNIVERSITY SPINDLETOP BOOMTOWN MUSEUM. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. 
          MY NAME IS GINA SUMMEY. I'M THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR OF SPINDLETOP BOOMTOWN MUSEUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY VISION IS TO PROMOTE LAMAR UNIVERSITY SPINDLETOP MUSEUM AS A PREMIER HISTORIC DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING SOME REALLY EXCITING CHANGES. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO VISIT, PLEASE COME OUT TO SEE IT. WE ARE UPDATING OUR MUSEUM TO INCLUDE MORE SPACES TO HOLD LARGE SCALE EVENTS, AND WE HOPE THESE EVENTS WILL ATTRACT LARGE AUDIENCES FROM OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT. SOME OF THE UPDATES INCLUDE RENOVATING OUR BANQUET ROOM, ADDING AN OUTDOOR FIRE PIT. GETTING THE GIFT SHOP AND REPLICA BUILDINGS TREATED AND PAINTED, AND ADDITIONALLY WE WILL BE SELLING BARBECUE AND OPENING A SPACIOUS COVERED PAVILION, WHICH WILL HOLD 100 PEOPLE. WITH THESE CHANGES, WE HOPE TO ATTRACT TOURISTS TO BEAUMONT TO EXPERIENCE THE HISTORIC BACKDROP AND VIBRANT CULTURE OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THIS HOT TAX GRANT FUNDING WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO ADVERTISE AND PROMOTE THE MUSEUMS ANNUAL EVENTS IN ADDITION TO NEW EVENTS OUR MOST POPULAR EVENTS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BROUGHT IN LARGER CROWDS. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO GROW THESE, UH GROW THESE EVENTS THEY INCLUDE OCTOBER SPOOK FEST, DECEMBER CITY AND LIGHTS AND THE 124TH SPINDLE SPINDLE TOP ANNIVERSARY IN JANUARY. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE FOUND SUCCESS IN PROMOTING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, OUTDOOR CONCERTS. UH, WE'VE HAD CAR SHOWS AND TRADE SHOWS AND MORE SO FAR THIS YEAR. SPINDLE TOP BOOM TO MUSEUM WILL ALSO PROVIDE A UNIQUE VENUE AVAILABLE TO RENT, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WILL BRING FOOT TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OF BELMONT TO EXPERIENCE OUR UNIQUE BOOM TOWN. WE ARE ASKING, UM FOR THIS HOT TAX GRANT TO HELP PROMOTE ON SATELLITE RADIO YOUTUBE, GOOGLE ADS NEWSPAPER AND MEDIA OUTSIDE OF BEAUMONT. I PERSONALLY FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF SPINDLETOP BOOMTOWN MUSEUM. I'M EXCITED TO USHER IN THIS NEW AIR FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND FOR THE MUSEUM. I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND BRINGING NEW IDEAS TO HELP PROMOTE TOURISM IN BEAUMONT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAURA CHILDRES 3830 HIGHWAY 365 PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS MARDI GRAS, SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. TIM ROMERO, WHO IS OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. I'M PRESIDENT OF MARDI GRAS, SOUTHEAST TEXAS. UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE AWARD THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR, AND IT HELPED US IMPROVE SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS. WE SPREAD IT ACROSS, UH, CHIL THE CHILDREN'S AREA BY ALLOWING A FREE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR, UM AROUND THE LAKESIDE TO HAVE A WHOLE THING OF INFLATABLES AND JUMPS AND DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. RACES UM, PRACTICE TARGET PRACTICING THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, OUR THEORY ON IT HAS BEEN THAT THE MORE WE CAN GIVE BACK THE BETTER. THE WHAT WILL BECOME SO 
          [01:05:02]
THEREFORE ALLOWING FREE AREAS SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE SUCH A PRICE TAG. WHEN FAMILIES COME IN , YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR FUNDING HELPS TO ALLEVIATE. WE ALSO HOPE THIS YEAR AND I'M WORKING VERY HARD TO GET A SPONSOR FOR A FREE FAMILY NIGHT. UH, I DON'T KNOW WHICH NIGHT THAT'LL BE. IT'LL DEPEND ON THE AMOUNT OF THE SPONSORSHIP, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GIVE BACK AND INVITE MORE PEOPLE IN THAT MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT US. THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID LAST YEAR WAS TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY MEETINGS. WE CALLED THEM 411 MARDI GRAS 41 ONES, AND WHAT WE DID WAS EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO AND WHERE THE FUNDS GO AND HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED. THEY WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HOSTED THEM AT RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY HERE IN BEAUMONT, AND, UH, JUST INVITED PEOPLE IN IT WAS A SOCIAL. WE ALSO DID A SHOWCASE MUSICAL TALENT FOR LOCAL TALENT HERE, UH, TO PUT ON A STAGE, UH, ON THE WEEKEND FOR, UH, COUNTRY AND MUSIC. UH WE HAVE BIG PLANS. WE UH, FIND OUR EXPENSES GROWING FASTER THAN, UH , WE WOULD LIKE, BUT I GUESS EVERYBODY'S EXPERIENCING THAT. WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE IN HOTEL . UH TRAFFIC THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE BROUGHT IN NOT ONLY ENTERTAINERS THAT STAYED WITH VENDORS THAT STAYED AS WELL AS COMMITTEE PEOPLE THAT JUST CAME IN TO HELP AND SUPPORT. 
          VOLUNTEERS ARE A VERY BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO. HIM. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I? I JUST WANNA SAY LISTENING TO THE WITH AND BREATH OF THE DIVERSE CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS IT'S AMAZING. AND WE FEEL THAT ANY MONEYS WE RECEIVE FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THAT WE CAN USE TO ENHANCE MARDI GRAS. ENHANCES THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT AND THE CITY. WE'RE PROUD TO BE PARTNERS WITH Y'ALL WITH THAT, AND I JUST APPLAUD EVERYBODY FOR THIS. GREAT GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR CITIZENS. 
          THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU ALL. DAY 6555. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TRAP IS THAT? WHAT IS THAT MAN? CLAIBORNE CLAIBORNE DROP BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OBAMA THREE. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME UM, WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED THIRD YEAR OF BOMA MURAL FESTIVAL. AND TO SAY THAT IT WAS A SUCCESS, NOT GIVING ENOUGH CREDIT BASED ON YOUR HELP. WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF GROW THE FIRST MORE THAN DOUBLE FROM THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS. AT THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR, UM, IN TENNIS WERE NORTH OF 22,000. UM AND CURRENTLY STILL GOING SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT WE HAVE REACHED OVER 10 MILLION HITS ACROSS ALL SOCIAL MEDIA. UM THE FESTIVAL PRODUCES, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A BRICK AND MORTAR. IT PRODUCES ART AND AREAS WHERE YOU CAN VISIT ALL YEAR ROUND FOR YEARS TO COME. NOT A SINGLE MIRROR FROM YOUR ONE HAS BEEN TOUCHED. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN VANDALIZED. SO IT'S JUST FALLING FROM THERE. THE ART FOR PEOPLE IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE. WE HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON TOURISM BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN, THE ARTISTS WERE COMING IN TO SHARE. WE NOT ONLY WIN NATIONWIDE, BUT WE ALSO WIN INTERNATIONAL. AND WITH THE IMPRINTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ACTUALLY HIT ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS, AND THIS IS BASED ON THE RESEARCH THAT WE DID ON THIRD PARTY AND WITH THE CBS INFORMATION WE'RE ABLE TO COME IN AT THE THIRD YEAR ON A TWO DAY FEST. AS A SECOND, INTENDS ONLY TO MARDI GRAS AND THANK TO MARDI GRAS, TOO, FOR BEING A PART OF OUR FESTIVAL, HELPING US PROMOTE IT. UM WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID THIS ALSO WAS A VERY CRITICAL YEAR FOR THE FESTIVAL. I KNOW IT WAS A BIG NUMBER THAT YOU GUYS SEE IN FRONT OF YOU. BUT SINCE YOU'RE ONE, I HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I BP PERSONALLY MYSELF. AND WITH US EXPANDING OUR PROJECTS NOW REACHING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRAIL A TRAIL PARK BEING ABLE TO DO THE UNDERPASS IN FRONT OF CHARLES AND PAUL. WE DO HAVE SPONSORS, BUT WITH THE COSTS GOING UP, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ARTWORK THAT WE'RE PLACING IT IN THE PROPER PLACE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE PLACE. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT OFF CALDER IF YOU SEE IT COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT PIECE WAS ORIGINALLY 1/5 OF ITS SIZE. WE WANTED TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE THAT IT WAS GONNA BE INSTRUMENTAL IN INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO BEAUMONT COMING INTO DOWNTOWN. SO NOW IS WHY YOU SEE IT WHERE IT'S LOCATED IN THE SIDE THAT IT HAD. UM I MYSELF PERSONALLY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH WHAT I CAN PUT INTO IT. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE IT. UM BUT LIKE I SAID, I ALSO DO HAVE LIMITATIONS, SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO SEEK PROPER FUNDING FOR THE FESTIVAL. UM AND AGAIN ON BEHALF OF JMC, 
          [01:10:01]
BB AND MYSELF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO GET BACK TO MY COMMUNITY IN MY OWN WAY THROUGH PUBLIC ART, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN GET THE FESTIVAL HERE TO STAY AND CONTINUE GROWTH. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, COUNCILMAN TURNER COUNCILMAN DUO BUT, UM UH, MA MAYOR IF I MAY, UH, I MADE A COMMENT AFTER MURAL F AND I JUST HATE THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO HEAR THIS COMMENT. WE HAD A CITY COUNCILWOMAN FROM WACO AND I ALSO HAD A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR FORT WORTH, COME DOWN AND MEET ME HERE JUST TO SEE IT BECAUSE THEY HEARD ABOUT IT TWO YEARS PRIOR TO AND THEY WANT TO BRING IT TO THEIR COMMUNITY. SO TO SAY I ALWAYS LOOK AT STATISTICS AND DATA. TO SAY WACO HAS GROWN AT THE RATE THEY HAVE GROWN SINCE IT WISE FOR THEM TO WANT TO COME TO BEAUMONT, TEXAS, TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND BRING IT TO THEIR COMMUNITY. IN SPEAKS VOLUME BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD COMPETE ABOUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. THAT YOU LITERALLY HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM OTHER CITIES DOWN HERE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND BASICALLY BRING THIS EVENT TO THAT CITY, SO TO SET A TREND LIKE THAT, IN TEXAS IS HUGE, ESPECIALLY CITIES THAT ARE GROWING AT THAT RATE. SO I DID WANNA SAY THAT TO YOU BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO. I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS AND I WANT EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW I'M GONNA BE TRANSPARENT. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED WITH SEVERAL OTHER CITIES, NOT JUST IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, BUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WANTING US TO MOVE OUR FESTIVAL. I AM LOYAL TO BEAUMONT. I AM NOT TAKING ANYWHERE. THE FESTIVAL DOESN'T HAPPEN. IT WILL BE THE END OF IT. I'M NOT GONNA GO HELP ANOTHER CITY WHEN IT UP UP TO SAY IT FROM THE FRONT. THIS IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO FOR MYSELF TO GET BACK TO MY COMMUNITY, AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, YOU'LL EITHER STAY IN BEAUMONT OR IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRISTY FEGAN 600 MAIN STREET, MY TEXAS, UH, TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM. HELLO. 
          MY NAME IS CRYSTAL FAGAN. AND THIS IS RAFAEL A CURBELO. WE'RE WITH THE TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM. 
          AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR THAT THE TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM IS A CITY MUSEUM. IT WAS FOUNDED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. UH, THE CONCEPT FOR IT WAS PRESENTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IT'S IMPLEMENTATION WAS A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND LAMAR UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL CHOSE TO OPEN THE MUSEUM'S DOORS ON JANUARY 10TH 1990. THE JANUARY 10TH DATE MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1901 SPINDLETOP GUSHER, A GUSHER MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN THE WORLD. WITHOUT DISCOVERY OF SPINDLETOP AND THE RESULTING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, THE WORLD WOULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT TODAY. SPINDLETOP SPARKED AN ERA OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT BEFORE ONLY IMAGINED HAVING THIS RESOURCE AND INNOVATION IN AMERICA MADE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US FULL, WARM AND SAFE BECAUSE IT MADE IN COMMERCE ACCESSIBLE, THE AMERICAN ECONOMY STRONG AND OUR MILITARY MIGHTY. THE TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS THIS DISCOVERY AND THE RESULTING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR AND THE RELATED FIELDS ARE STILL THE PRIMARY REASON PEOPLE LOCATE TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM HAS BEEN BESTOWED THE GUBERNATORIAL TITLE OF THE TEXAS STATE MUSEUM ON ENERGY AND UNDER GOVERNOR RICK PERRY. THE ENERGY MUSEUM WAS GIVEN A RISING STAR OF TEXAS. TOURISM THE 2223 ATTENDANCE WAS AROUND 8500. BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE ALREADY OVER 10,000 AND WE'RE ON TRACK TO HAVE 12,000 LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS HERE. I TOLD YOU THAT WAS MY GOAL. AND I'M CONFIDENT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT. OUR OVERALL ATTENDANCE SUGGESTS THAT 15 TO 20% OF OUR NORMAL VISITORS STAY IN BEAUMONT HOTELS ARE OUT OF STATE OUT OF COUNTRY ATTENDANCE SITS ABOUT 35% THIS YEAR'S BLOWOUT FUNDRAISER HAD A LITTLE MORE THAN 900 PEOPLE IN AND AT THE TIME OF THE REGISTRATION 18% THEY INTENDED, UH 18% SAID THEY INTENDED TO STAY IN A HOTEL IN BEAUMONT. THE TEXAS ENERGY MUSEUM PROVIDES 100% FREE SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS CHILDREN WITH SCHEDULING PREFERENCE GIVEN TO B ID. WE CAN ONLY SEE 45 CHILDREN AT A TIME. 
          BUT WE PARTNER WITH THE ART MUSEUM, THE FIRE MUSEUM AND THE EDISON MUSEUM TO ALLOW US TO SEE EACH 200 UP TO 200 CHILDREN BEFORE 1 P.M. THIS YEAR, WE EXPECT TO SEE A AROUND 3000 K 12 CHILDREN SINCE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE COMPLETELY RENOVATED OUR CHILDREN'S HANDS ON EXHIBITION SPACE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT, UH, ENERGY MUSEUM HAS AN EDUCATOR IN OUR BUDGET. WE'VE RETROFITTED LIGHTING TO LEDS AS IT ENERGY SAVING SUSTAINABILITY MEASURE. UM AND WE ARE ALSO 
          [01:15:05]
WORKING WITH THE DALLAS BASED EXHIBITION FIRM FOR THREE POSSIBLE NEW PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS, AND THAT IS ALL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DOES ANYBODY DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE'LL JUST MOVE INTO COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AND I WILL START WITH, 
          [COUNCIL COMMENTS]
UH COUNCILMAN NEAL DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, MAYOR BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION GOING BACK TO THE HOT T. SO THERE'S $548,000 WORTH OF REQUESTED FUNDS. HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE TO GIVE OUT? I THINK THEY KEPT IT AT 300,000. AND SO THAT'S GONNA BE COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, YES, AS A BOARD THAT WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL COUNCIL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON HOW MUCH EVERYBODY GETS. LIKE MY THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL M SAMUEL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SAMUEL ANNOUNCEMENT. FHA THANK YOU. MAYOR. NO COMMENT. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILMAN TURNER. UH, ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL WAS HAVE TO APPROVE SO MANY GREAT ENTITIES COMING IN FRONT OF US TO SEE HOW THE CITY CAN ASSIST AND HELP THEM. SO I JUST WANT THE COMPLIMENT. EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO THE PODIUM AND CAME TO THE MIC THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY. AND I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE Y'ALL, OUR COMMUNITY WOULDN'T THRIVE AND GROW IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT'S BEEN GROWING IN. I'M CONFIDENT THAT BEAUMONT WILL GROW AND WHAT PEOPLE LIKE Y'ALL THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HELP US GET THERE. SO I JUST WANTED TO REALLY TAKE THE TIME OUT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY PUTTING AN APPLICATION TOGETHER. COMING UP HERE GIVING YOU A SPILL. AND ALSO EVEN IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE THE FUNDS STILL GOING, SO I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO PLEASE KEEP GOING. I'M APPRECIATIVE Y'ALL IF I COULD. I WISH I COULD GIVE ALL Y'ALL THE MONEY THAT Y'ALL ASKED FOR, BUT I JUST KNOW WE CAN'T BECAUSE IT'S A BUDGET. SO I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT Y'ALL AND TELL Y'ALL THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          COUNCILMAN TURNER COUNCILMAN GOETZ. RIGHT? SO I I'LL SING THESE ALL OVER THE CITY. Y'ALL HATE HIM AS MUCH AS I DO. SO PUT UP. THE OUT OF TOWN BUSINESSES. THEY ARE PREDATORY IN NATURE. 
          THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DISTRESS ECONOMICALLY, THEY OFFER THEM LOW BALL NUMBERS FOR THEIR HOMES, BUT TO ME THEY JUST TRASH UP OUR CITY. THEY ARE PUT INTO OUR CITY EASEMENTS. I'VE SEEN THEM IN OUR ESPLANADES. THEY ARE TACKY AND THEY BREAK THE LAW. WE HAVE ORDINANCES AGAINST PUTTING UP SIGNS LIKE THAT. WE CALL THEM BANDIT SIGNS, ACTUALLY. AND AS I UNDERSTAND THE LAW, UM IF WE AND I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ON THIS, BUT IF WE START IMPLEMENTING A POLICY WHERE WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO TOLERATE ANY SIGNS, I DON'T CARE IF THEIR CAMPAIGN SIGNS GARAGE SALE SIGNS . WE BUY HOME SIGNS. WE DO PRESSURE WASHING SIGNS. WE CAN ENFORCE THAT. IF WE DO IT FAIRLY AND ACROSS THE BOARD IS THAT CORRECT. THE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT STATES THAT IF YOU HAVE TO READ THE SIGN TO ENFORCE IT, THEN YOU'RE ABOUT ATION. BUT IF WE JUST HAVE A BLANKET POLICY THAT WE'RE GONNA PULL UP EVERY SIGN THAT'S IN THE CITY RIGHT AWAY, THEN YOU WOULD BE IN GOOD STANDING. HOWEVER IN SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED POLICIES LIKE THIS, IT BECOMES VERY CONTROVERSIAL DURING ELECTION SEASON WHEN WE HAVE COUNCIL PERSONS IN THEIR OPPONENTS WHO PLACE SIGNS INAPPROPRIATELY AND THOSE SIGNS ARE REMOVED, AND IT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON STAFF WHO ARE REMOVING THOSE SIGNS BECAUSE CANDIDATES GET REAL MAD. ABOUT THOSE SIGNS BECAUSE OF CANDIDATE SIGNS ARE NOT CHEAP, AND, UH, IT GETS IT GETS VERY, VERY HEATED. UM WHEN THAT HAPPENS, SO, UM, YOU ARE CORRECT THAT IT AS LONG AS WE HAVE A BLANKET POLICY. THAT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO INCLUDE ELECTION SIGNS. AS LONG AS WE HAVE A BLANKET POLICY ABOUT THAT, THEN WE WOULD BE IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE SUPREME COURT RULING, AND YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE OR AN INCUMBENT, AND YOU CAN'T OBEY THE CITY ORDINANCES ABOUT SIGN PLACEMENTS AND KEEP THEM OUT OF THE CITY 
          [01:20:03]
EASEMENTS, AND MAYBE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT THE PLACE FOR YOU SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNSEL. TO TELL STAFF THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME MORE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE VIOLATIONS, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THROW OUT THERE THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER BRINGING BACK THE, UH UH, BEAUTIFIED BEAUMONT COMMISSION BECAUSE WHAT THESE SIGNS DO REALLY IS TELL PEOPLE. HEY IT'S OK TO TRASH YOUR CITY BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT. EVERYBODY'S DOING IT WITH IMPUNITY. SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT THE NEXT THING IS, UH WELL, WHY NOT THROW THE BAG OF TRASH OUT ON THE STREET? BECAUSE HEY, YOU KNOW WHO CARES? WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. SO LET'S DO BETTER THAN THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DUO. UM, JUST A FEW THINGS. UH, AND THANK OUR EMPLOYEES. JACKIE WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK. UM AND ALSO MILES WITH HIS, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING GOOD TO KNOW THAT 988 NUMBER, UH OF FOLKS AND MAYBE HAVING PROBLEMS NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OR TEXT SOMEONE SO ALL THAT ARE HERE. PUT THAT NUMBER OUT. IT WAS JUST SO PEOPLE WILL KNOW I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT IT EXISTED. YOU KNOW, THANKS FOR EVERYBODY, UH, THAT DID YOUR PRESENTATION. YOUR HASH TAG PRESENTATION. VERY DIVERSE CROWD . IT'S A LOT OF A LOT OF, UH NICE EVENTS, VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO. AND, UH, WITH THE MURAL DAY STILL WAITING FOR ONE IN MY WARD. WELL, THANK YOU ALL. UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YEAH, IT'S SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS AFTERNOON. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO A INTERNSHIP IN WITH FBI SD, UM, TO RECOGNIZE THE INTERN THAT HAD A MOUTH IS PAIGE JORDAN, WHO'S A SENIOR AT WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT . SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB IN THE PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE A PLACING STUDENTS, UM, IN AREAS OF THEIR INTEREST. I THINK IT'S DOING A GOOD JOB AND I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT AT OUR JOINT MEETING, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT'S WORKING. I HOSTED ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS MYSELF. COUNCILMAN TURNING SHE, UH SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB AND IT WAS SHE WAS A GREAT ASSET TO MY OFFICE. BUT TODAY THIS EVENING AFTERNOON, RATHER I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AS SYDNEY HENRY CAN STAY IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY IS A JUNIOR AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY STUDYING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SHE WILL TURN WITH MY OFFICE. UH, FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, SO IF YOU GUYS SEE HER AROUND, BE NICE. UM IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENGAGE WITH OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY. WE TOOK THAT TO HEART. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND WELCOMING STUDENTS WHO WANT TO INTERN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN CITY GOVERNMENT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MUNICIPAL LAWYER, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON ON THAT PROCESS, SO EXCITED TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. ELLIS JUST AN UPDATE, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, NEXT TUESDAY. WE HAVE OUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THAT BUDGET WORK SESSION IS GONNA FOCUS MAINLY ON UH, THE CRP THE FIVE YEAR C IP SO EACH, UH, DIRECTOR WILL GO THROUGH THEIR SECTIONS. PARKS RECREATION, WATER, SEWER STREETS. DRAINAGE SO WE'LL, UH SPEND, UH, THOSE FEW HOURS COVERING THE C IP GETTING FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL ON OUR FIVE YEAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN WILL BE PROVIDING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH THAT MORNING AND AFTERNOON. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. OK? AND, UH, SURE, RAY. YES I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE. UH THIS AFTERNOON ON OUR BACK BILLING FOR OUR GARBAGE. UM AS YOU KNOW, I'M I BELIEVE YOU KNOW THAT THE CITY ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FROM A 30 DAY BILLING CYCLE TO A 20 DAY BILLING CYCLE. AND THAT DID NOT WORK WITH OUR SOFTWARE. UNFORTUNATELY AND SO WE DISCOVERED THAT EVERYBODY HAD ONE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY WERE NOT CHARGED FOR ONE MONTH. 
          SO WE ARE RECOUPING THOSE CHARGES ON THE APRIL MONTHLY UTILITY BILL. THERE'S A SEPARATE LINE ITEM FOR THAT CHARGE. AND THAT TOTAL REVENUE OF THE CHARGES IS APPROXIMATELY $585,000, WHICH IS MATERIAL TO OUR FUND BALANCE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED TO COLLECT THAT. I WANTED TO CLEAR UP THAT THE REASON IT TOOK SO LONG TO BACK BUILD THOSE CHARGES IS BECAUSE WE HAD TO CONTACT OUR SOFTWARE VENDOR. THEY HAD TO WRITE A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO GET THAT CHARGE PUT ON ANOTHER MONTH'S BILL. WE THAT PROCESS TOOK A LITTLE WHILE BECAUSE WE 
          [01:25:06]
HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN OURSELVES AND SOFTWARE VENDOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CHARGED WERE CHARGED. UM SO NOW ALL CUSTOMERS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BILL FOR THAT CHARGE. UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY FIELDING CALLS REGARDING THOSE CHARGES. AND I DID WANT TO STATE THAT YOU KNOW, AS A CITY. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THAT IT CAUSED OUR CUSTOMERS AND WE DO APPRECIATE THEIR PATIENCE. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN DUO COUNCILMAN, GOATS AND COUNCILMAN NEIL. I JUST WANT FOR THE, UM PUBLIC THAT'S THE EXTRA $23. CHARGE IT'S EITHER $22.25 OR IF YOU'RE A SENIOR, IT'S $20.02 0. 
          WHY WAS MINE 23? IT SHOULD BE 2225 SEE US IF IT WASN'T NEXT QUESTION. SO I HAVE HAD AND I'M SURE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE HAD MANY CALLS AND EMAILS ABOUT WHY IS THIS BEING PUT OUT THERE? THERE WAS A NOTICE. THAT WAS INCLUDED IN A PREVIOUS WATER BILL THAT WAS SENT OUT TO THE CUSTOMERS. IT DID NOT DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING THE SITUATION. IT WAS ALSO UNSIGNED. 
          IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. THE OTHER THING THAT, UH PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME IS THAT WHEN THEY CALL TO TRY TO GET AN ANSWER FREQUENTLY, THEY ARE TOLD THAT THEIR WAIT TIME IS GOING TO BE AN HOUR OR MORE. IS THAT ACTUALLY THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE SENDING OUT? AND IF SO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ALLEVIATE THAT? WELL, I DO KNOW THE CALL VOLUMES ARE VERY HIGH RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF COURSE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CHARGE. UM YOU KNOW, WE DO GET TO THE TO THE CALL AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE RETURN THE CALLS IF THEY LEAVE A MESSAGE. 
          UM OTHER THAN THAT, OTHER THAN HAVING MORE STAFF. I'M NOT REAL SURE WHAT WE COULD DO SO I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TELL YOU THAT IF THERE IS A LONG WAIT TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE YOUR NUMBER AND YOU CAN GET A CALL BACK. DO WE HAVE THAT ABILITY? WE DO OK, SO THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY EXPECTING TO HAVE TO SIT ON HOLD FOR AN HOUR AND NOT GET A CALL BACK THAT YOU WILL GET A CALL BACK. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE THAT THEIR NUMBER. 
          OK AND MR MANAGER IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO? UM AT LEAST ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR SOMEWHERE TO HELP. EXPLAIN WHAT MISS RAY IS? UH UH, PUT FORTH VERBALLY TODAY TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. SURE. DO MORE TO COMMUNICATE THE CORRECT MESSAGE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, WE DID PUT IT IN THE WATER BED, BUT WE CAN DO FACEBOOK AND OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA TO MAKE SURE THAT MESSAGE IS GOTTEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE CLEAR AND CONCISE MANNER. I THINK THAT THAT'S DESCRIBED BY OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN NEAL SO I GUESS MY MAIN QUESTION IS. HOW WAS THIS DISCOVERED? WELL I WASN'T PART OF THAT PROCESS AT THAT TIME. UM BUT WE HAVE JEFF DOWNS HERE. I THINK HE CAN ASSIST US WITH THAT. AND SO THE PREVIOUS CEO NOTICED THAT THE FUND BALANCE OR THE FUND WAS LOW, AND THEY ASKED ME TO INVESTIGATE. AND ONCE I. I WAS IN IT AT THE TIME ONCE I WORKED WITH, UH, BRIDGET IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND DISCOVERED THAT, UM THESE WEREN'T BEING BILLED. UM WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING AT HOW WE COULD REGAIN THE MONEY. 
          AND HOW FAR BACK DOES THIS GO? UH THE 30 DAY BUILDING STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF 22, AND WE GOT EVERYTHING BACK TO A 20 DAY BUILDING IN AUGUST OF 23. ALRIGHT, BUT THESE THESE 22 OR $23 CHARGES THAT WERE CHARGING PEOPLE NOW HOW FAR BACK IS THAT $23 FROM? IT'S OVER A MULTI MONTH PERIOD. IT'S ANY ANY TIME BETWEEN NOVEMBER 22 TO AUGUST 23. SO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING BACK 18 MONTHS ON YES. UH, I CAN'T COMPREHEND THAT. IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET THE YOU KNOW TO GET THE PROGRAM WRITTEN WITH THE SOFTWARE VENDOR TO GET IT SO THAT WE WOULDN'T BE CHARGING PEOPLE THAT SHOULDN'T BE CHARGED. AND ONLY CHARGE THE PEOPLE THAT HAD A MISS GARBAGE CHARGE AND HOW MUCH WHAT'S THE OVERALL VALUE OF THIS? IT'S $585,000. $585,000 GOING BACK OVER 18 MONTHS. UH, I DON'T KNOW. I STRUGGLE WITH THIS IN THE REAL WORLD. IN A REAL 
          [01:30:03]
BUSINESS. IF YOU'RE BUILDING DEPARTMENTS SCREWED UP LIKE THAT . YOU CAN'T GO BACK TWO YEARS AND COLLECT MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU FORGOT THE INVOICE. UM I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS APPROPRIATE TO DO THE CITIZENS. IT'S CAUSING ALL KINDS OF HELL. I KNOW ALL OF US ARE GETTING PHONE CALLS ON THIS THING. UM I DON'T KNOW. I STRUGGLE WITH THIS ONE. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN GATS AND COUNCILMAN TURNER A COUPLE OF THINGS, UH, FIRST OFF, UH, IF SOMEBODY HAS MOVED FROM THE CITY CLOSED OUT THEIR WATER BILL ACCOUNT DURING THAT 18 MONTH PERIOD. WE'RE JUST OUT OF LUCK IS THAT THAT'S CORRECT. OK SO, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE LOST REVENUE BECAUSE OF THIS, UH, FELL UP. UM BUT AS FAR AS FORGIVENESS OF THIS, UH AND I ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO HELP ME WITH THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S VISIONS IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION THAT, UM UH, ABOUT A CITY FROM JUST PROVIDING ■A SERVICE LIKE THAT, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO COLLECT ALL THAT. IS THAT ACCURATE, SO UNPOPULAR OPINION, IN FACT, BUT THERE'S NO STATUTORY LIMIT ON DEBT OWED TO MUNICIPALITY SO WE CAN COLLECT FOREVER, BUT THERE IS A STATUTE THAT SAYS THAT THERE IS A YOU CAN'T HAVE A, UH YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY SERVICES AS A GIFT OF A PUBLIC FUND. SO UM, THE FACT THAT IT WAS DISCOVERED AND THEN WE INVOICED IT AND I GET THAT IT'S TERRIBLE THAT IT'S SO FAR OUT DOESN'T ELIMINATE IT. SO IN A GENERAL BUSINESS, THERE'S A LIKE A WAIVER, BUT WE'RE IMMUNE OR EXEMPT FROM THAT UNDER THE STATUTE SO WE CAN COLLECT THE DEBT. UM FROM 30 YEARS AGO IF WE SO CHOOSE SO YOU KNOW, I GET COUNCIL MEMBER NEIL'S COMMENT AND I CAN'T I CAN'T SAY I DISAGREE WITH IT. UM UNLIKE A PRIVATE BUSINESS, UH, WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATION THAT PREVENTS US FROM JUST SAYING HOW WELL WE SCREWED UP AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA WRITE IT OFF. SO AS WAS MENTIONED, THAT'S A MATERIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OUR FUND. AND YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD WRITE IT OFF, WE PROBABLY HAVE TO INCREASE OUR WATER BILL TO YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, RECOVER THAT REVENUE. SO UM THE PRICE OF CHEMICALS HAVE GONE UP TO TREAT OUR WATER. UH YOU YOU KNOW, THINGS CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN PRICE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THESE WATER RIGHTS DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE REVENUE TO RUN A WATER SYSTEM. COUNCILMAN TURNER. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES, SIR. JUST JUST ME BEING HONEST WITH OUR CITY MANAGERS I NORMALLY DO WHEN WE HAVE THESE TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST POPULAR THING TO SAY. BUT I ALWAYS RATHER BE HONEST, I'M MORE CONCERNED WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AND WHO WAS AT FAULT BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THE PREVIOUS THIS, BUT WE UH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON SPECIFICS. SO WHAT TOOK PLACE WITH WHOEVER THE PREVIOUS PERSON WHO REALLY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO SUPPORT IT. I FEEL LIKE THIS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. 
          YOU MAKE MISTAKES. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT LOSS AND OWN YOUR MISTAKE. EVEN THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOVERNMENT, BUT UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE SENIORS THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOME AND $20 MAY NOT BE MUCH TO SOME, BUT PEOPLE WHO WON'T FIX MONTHLY INCOME $20 CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM, YOU KNOW, EATING AND THINGS OF THAT MAGNITUDE. SO I. I CAN'T SAY I. I SUPPORT THIS . I HONESTLY DON'T BUT I I'M MORE CONCERNED OF ACCOUNTABILITY . HOW DO WE GET THERE? WHAT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES HAVE WE PUT IN PLACE AND WHAT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY DO WE HAVE FOR THAT MISTAKE? BECAUSE 580 SOMETHING $1000 IS A BIG MISTAKE. UH, YEAH, AND WE CAN GET YOU MORE DETAILED REPORT, BUT I THINK HE MENTIONED HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED, AND WHO DISCOVERED IT? AND THEN WE HAD SOME PEOPLE THERE THAT THAT THAT WHEN WE DID THE SOFTWARE CHANGE IT. IT KIND OF SET THIS THINKING IN MOTION. YOU KNOW, WE WENT TO THE, UH, BILLING CYCLE 30 DAY BILLING CYCLE. WHATEVER THEN FOUND OUT THAT WE COULDN'T BUILD CERTAIN STATE ENTITIES. I BELIEVE THE STATE ENTITIES AND SO WE HAD TO GO BACK. AND WHEN WE WENT BACK THAT STARTED TO CREATE PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE GETTING BILLED CORRECTLY FOR THEIR SERVICES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DID RECEIVE THESE SERVICES. IT'S NOT LIKE WE DIDN'T DELIVER THESE SERVICES. WE PICKED UP GARBAGE AND WE PICKED THAT UP. SO THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE CASE. UH YOU KNOW , CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE THIS IT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO YOUR ENTERPRISE FUND. $507,000 WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TRYING TO RECOVER IT IF IT WASN'T SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. UH, WHERE YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT A RATE INCREASE THIS NEXT BUDGET YEAR IF YOU DON'T AND THAT WAY THIS WAY, PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE SERVICE ARE PAYING FOR IT. IF YOU DO A RATE INCREASE, YOU'RE CHARGING PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T RECEIVE THE SERVICE. SO YOU KNOW THERE'S NO GREAT WAY TO RESOLVE 
          [01:35:04]
THE ISSUE. BUT YOU LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GIVEN AND TRY TO COME UP WITH THE BEST SOLUTION. YOU KNOW, 12, I GUESS ONE A LOT OF A LOT OF MONEY TO OUR FUND. UM TO IT HELPS TO DEFER OR LESSEN A RATE INCREASE THIS NEXT YEAR AND DOING THAT, TOO, AND, UH, WE'RE JUST, UM WE WORK, MAKE SURE OUR SOFTWARE AND PROCESSES ARE IN PLACE AND WE'LL GET THEM, UH, AT A SIT IN A IN A PLACE OR THINGS WILL RUN. TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE. ALL RIGHT. AND THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, MR DOWNS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING UP HERE. I KNOW NEITHER ONE OF YOU WERE A PART OF IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL LAST AUGUST AS I RECALL. UH, WHENEVER IT WAS PRESENTED TO US ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS COMING, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IT, BUT, UH IN AND CERTAINLY BEING FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD. I WILL SAY THAT CITIES AND BUSINESSES ARE A LOT DIFFERENT, AND, UH, THIS IS Y'ALL'S MONEY THAT WE'RE COLLECTING AND IT IS FRUSTRATING FOR PEOPLE, BUT I KNOW THAT, UH, THE WATER DEPARTMENT WILL WORK WITH ANYBODY THAT IT PRESENTS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S $20 A MONTH AS COUNCILMAN, TURNER SAID. THAT CAN SQUEEZE SOMEBODY'S BUDGET AND WE WILL WORK WITH THEM. AND, UH AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE, UH VEINS IN PLACE NOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM, HOPEFULLY HAPPENING AGAIN, AND, UH, CERTAINLY IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. BUT WE FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATION AND WE'VE ALL RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CALLS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DO WANNA, UH, $580,000 FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS DEMONSTRATED HERE TODAY, UH, WITH THE VARIOUS REQUESTS IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT'S NOT EASILY UH, JUST BRUSHED ASIDE. BUT I. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COUNCIL PEOPLE'S COMMENTS. YES SIR. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, FOR CLARIFICATION THAT $22. 
          THAT'S A ONE TIME PAYMENT. THAT'S NOT A CONTINUOUS IS OK? AT US ONE TIME PAYMENT AND IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SPREAD THAT OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, YOU KNOW WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON THAT $20 PAYMENT. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE JUST REQUIRING TO PAY THAT $20. THANK YOU. MR CITY MANAGER. 
          OK A COUPLE OF THINGS. UH, MAYOR THE PUBLIC'S, UH, SERVICE WEEK. I'D LIKE TO COME IN, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THAT, UH, PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALL PUBLIC SERVICE. UH WORKERS, BUT ALSO THIS COUNCIL, YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, TOO. SO I COMMEND YOU FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK. OUR STAFF OF HURRICANE PAER THIS WEEK. IT'S A TREMENDOUS DEAL. I DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS. UH, WHAT THEY OFFER AND BRING TO THE COMMUNITY, HAVING BEEN A UH UH, ME AND MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR IN MY PAST. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT WHAT THEY DO TO A COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH THEY MEAN. UM, WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY BECOME THE PERSON WE ALL LOOK TO UH, SIGN ENFORCEMENT. I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GATS. UH, SO WE HAVE STAFF WORKING WITH SIGN ENFORCEMENT AND RIGHT OF WAYS. UH, IT DOES. GRADE YOUR COMMUNITY. UH, IT GIVES IT A LOOK. THAT'S NOT ATTRACTIVE. SO UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH STAFF FOR TO SIGN ENFORCEMENT THAT'S IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. UH, CITY ATTORNEY, UH, FOR SURE, AND I HAVE ONE CORRECTION FROM FROM LAST WEEK. COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER . I THINK I TOLD YOU I CE IP WAS FUNDED 25% BY GRANTS, BUT IT WAS LESS THAN THAT IT WAS 13. SO I WANT TO CORRECT THAT ON ON IN THE MEETING WITH YOU. THANK YOU, MHM. ALL RIGHT, THAT ALL MR CITY MANAGER YES. ALL RIGHT. UH AND I WOULD JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE UNRELATED. THIS IS NOT A CITY SPONSORED OR CITY EVENT IN ANY WAY. BUT THIS COMING MONDAY, MAY 13TH AT THE MONTAGNE CENTER. THERE IS GOING TO BE A CITYWIDE PRAYER, UH, FROM 6 TO 7 P.M. AT THE MONT CENTER AND, UH, EVERYONE IS INVITED. AND ALSO I WANNA APPLAUD ALL THE HOT TAX APPLICANTS IN, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHARE TODAY AND AGAIN BEING ABLE TO PRESENT IT LIKE THIS CAN BE PERHAPS AWKWARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET TO DO THAT A LOT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT REMINDS ME ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UH HOW MUCH IS GOING ON IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND OFTENTIMES I KNOW AS COUNSEL, WE CAN'T GET TO ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE MULTIPLE EVENTS GOING ON AT ONE TIME, WHICH THINK IS A GREAT PROBLEM TO HAVE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PASSION AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO, UH, PULL OFF THESE EVENTS BECAUSE IT IS A CONTINUING DEBATE BEAUMONT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE FROM ACROSS 
          [01:40:04]
THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION. IN UH, WITH THAT, UH, I KNOW YESTERDAY WE HAD A FOR OUT ON MAJOR DRIVE. THERE WAS A WARRANT AND, UH, RAN AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD OUR POLICE AND FIRE OFTENTIMES, UH, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF COMMENTARY WHEN THINGS HAPPEN, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE HAVE IS SOME REAL PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS THAT PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER, UH, PROTECTING OUR PROPERTY AND INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY DO. UH AND I. I KNOW THAT IT IS APPRECIATED, BUT SOMETIMES, UH, IT'S INCONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS ARE HAPPENING, BUT IT'S OTHER PEOPLE CAUSING THOSE INCONVENIENCE. BUT OUR POLICE AND FIRE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO RESPOND AS THEY NEED TO. AND WITH THAT, UH
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.