Feb 18, 2025 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING. TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. IT'S TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR TORY DOUCETTE, PASTOR OF NEW BIRTH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR A DAY WE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, AND A DAY WE SHALL NEVER, EVER SEE AGAIN. LORD, WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BUT OH GOD, WE, AS WE'VE ALWAYS HAVE ASKED OF YOU. LORD, WE NEED YOU TO GUIDE US. OH, GOD. YOU BE THE STEERING WHEEL AND YOU BE OUR GUIDE. AND LORD, WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID, ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE THUS FAR. AND LORD, WE PRAY THAT THIS MEETING, THIS MEETING WILL BE NOT ONLY GOVERNED BY YOU, BUT IT WILL BE GUIDED BY YOU AND LORD, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT CONCERN THIS CITY AND OUR AREA, CITIES AND COUNTY. LORD, THAT YOU WILL GUIDE US IN MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS. THANK YOU FOR OUR COUNCIL, GOD. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT HOLD OFFICE IN THIS VERY CITY. BUT LORD, MOST OF ALL WE THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE AND BEEN HERE ALL ALONG. WE THANK YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU. IT IS IN YOUR DARLING SON, JESUS NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN. GLORY TO THE MEN. AND. FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST. MAYOR PRO TEM NEAL. ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBER DORIO. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER GETS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. PHIL SHORE ABSENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER

[PROCLAMATIONS]

ACCEPTING WILL BE MISSUS DORA NESBY. CITY OF BEAUMONT. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. MISSUS NATASHA SIMON MARTIN, PRESIDENT OF BEAUMONT CHAPTER OF NAACP AND MISTER RODNEY SAVIT, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT. 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT. ASKING FOR COME FORWARD. YES. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? RIGHT NOW? OKAY. YES.

MAYOR. WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE INVITED. IF WE HAVE INVITED YOU TO COME AND PARTICIPATE WITH THIS RECOGNITION, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? ALL THE ONES THAT WE HAVE INVITED TO COME, PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL.

EXCELLENT MOBILE. RIVERSIDE ON BOTH SIDES. ON BOTH SIDES. YEAH. ALRIGHT. HOW ABOUT.

[00:05:35]

[00:10:04]

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND SAY THE NAME OF YOUR FAMILY? WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE. IF THEY COULD COME TO THE MIC. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR THEM. DAVID WILLARD. MACK ENGLISH. I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM. OKAY, MISTER THEODORE JOHNSON. I'M TRYING TO SEE. I DON'T SEE ALL WHO'S HERE.

MISS DURDEN. I DON'T SEE ALL THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP AND THE. AND THE PRESIDENT. THE JUNE OF THE YOUTH NAACP. I DON'T I DON'T SEE WHERE'S BERRY. OKAY. LET THEM SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR. ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY. I AM DAVID WILLARD. I'M THE SON OF ELMO WILLARD THE THIRD AND PAT WILLARD. MY FATHER AND THEODORE JOHNS. TED JUNIOR, SITTING HERE, STANDING HERE BEFORE ME, WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN FILING LAWSUITS HERE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WHICH DESEGREGATED THE PUBLIC PARKS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES HERE IN BEAUMONT. THE SCHOOLS, THE JOBS, AS MISS NESBY STATED, AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF THAT WAS SEGREGATED AT THE TIME. THEY STARTED IN 1954.

THAT WAS THE FIRST CASE THAT WAS FILED, AND MY FATHER MOVED BACK HERE TO BEAUMONT AFTER GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL, JOINED FORCES WITH THEODORE JOHNS. THEY FILED THE FIRST SUIT IN 1954, AND THEY TOOK ON FROM THERE. I THINK IT'S ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT FROM THE 1953, WHEN ATTORNEY JOHNS MOVED HERE TO BEAUMONT, UNTIL THE EARLY 1980S, MY FATHER AND JOHNS WERE THE ONLY BLACK LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS AND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO THAT'S ALMOST 30 YEARS. THEY WERE INTERESTED IN POLITICS. MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO RUN FOR COUNTYWIDE OFFICE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN. THE SEAT THAT BO ALFRED NOW HOLDS. HE TOOK THE INCUMBENT TO A RUNOFF ELECTION. HE LOST THAT ELECTION, AND HE WAS THE SECOND AFRICAN AMERICAN TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, AFTER DOCTOR ED SPRATT, WHO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M BACK REPRESENTING MY FAMILY, TRYING TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS. I APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION AND APPRECIATE THIS HONOR FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. DAVID IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF PORT COMMISSION BOARD. LOOK. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO MR. WILLARD. THANK YOU TO CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MR. NESBY. AND AS A SPECIAL THANKS TO MISS NESBY. BECAUSE WHEREAS WE DISCUSSED ON YESTERDAY ON THE TELEPHONE, THE DEAN OF MY LAW SCHOOL, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF BATON ROUGE. WAS WAS IT YOUR BROTHER, MY NEPHEW, YOUR NEPHEW. AND HE TAUGHT PROPERTY LAW AND ONE OF THE LARGEST LAND OWNERS IN WASHINGTON PARISH. AND I MIGHT ADD THIS, I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO HISTORY OTHER THAN THIS, MR. WILLARD, DAVID'S FATHER WAS CLOSER TO MY FATHER THAN HIS OWN BROTHER. HE LOVED HIS BROTHER. BUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER WAS A DYNAMIC DUO. AS ANYONE IN BEAUMONT WOULD KNOW. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO TELL MY AGE A LITTLE BIT. WHEN I WALKED UP HERE TODAY, I LOOKED OVER AT THE JOE LOUIS STATUE AND SAID, BOY, I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT PUTTING THAT UP THERE. AND THAT WAS SOME TIME AGO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PRESIDENT NAACP, PLEASE. HELLO, EVERYONE. CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PROCLAMATION. WE ARE HONORED TO RECEIVE IT. WE ARE SIMPLY MAKING HISTORY JUST BY BEING FAMILY AND HOLDING POSITION IN THE NAACP.

WE PLAN ON CARRYING THE MISSION. WE'RE LEARNING THE HISTORY OF OUR LOCAL NAACP, SO THAT WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FITTING TO OUR SOCIETY NOW WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR OUR ELDERS. THANK YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. MISS DURDEN. THE WIFE OF VERNON DURDEN. THANK YOU ALL. I'M HERE

[00:15:03]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. IS BEAU ALFRED PRESENT? I DON'T KNOW. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE HERE ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OF THIS HISTORY MAKING EVENT. WE CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MOST DESERVING. WE ARE CONTINUING OUR STRUGGLE IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE MIGHT MAINTAIN EQUAL RIGHTS AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES. WE ARE COMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE STEPS THAT YOU ARE TAKING TO MAKE US ALL ONE, SO THAT WE WILL NOT BE INTO A POSITION OF REGRESSION, WHERE WE WOULD GO BACK TO SEGREGATED FACILITIES OR SEPARATE SEGREGATED THOUGHTS IN ANY FORM. WE THANK YOU. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU CONTINUE FORWARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, INCLUDING ALL THE BLACKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I AM RODNEY SVETE, VICE PRESIDENT. 100 BLACK MEN OF GREATER BEAUMONT. TO THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEN, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HAVING THIS PROCLAMATION, TO BE RECEIVING IT AND HONORING IT. AND WITH ALL 100 BLACK MEN. PLEASE STAND UP. WE'RE HEARING FOR US BECAUSE WE REALLY, TRULY APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION. WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MISTER MATT GULLEY AND MISS OLIVIA. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? THEY WOULD ANSWER EXXONMOBIL. THEY SUPPORT US WITH OUR 100 BLACK MEN THINGS. AND THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR LIVE PROGRAM WITH THE YOUTH. WE JUST ONCE AGAIN SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU GOT A BUSY DAY, SO THANK YOU. THANK

[PRESENTATIONS]

THE FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY STAR PARTY WILL BE HELD AT TERRELL PARK NATURE CENTER. TELESCOPES AND INFORMATIVE INFORMATIONAL TABLES WILL BE PROVIDED TO OFFER STUNNING VIEWS OF THE MOON, STARS AND PLANETS. SO GRAB YOUR LAWN CHAIRS, BUG SPRAY AND RED FLASHLIGHTS AND HIT AND HEAD TO TERRELL PARK ON THE 21ST THIS FRIDAY, BEAUMONT MURAL FEST IS BACK IN BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. THE FESTIVAL WILL HOST TEN PLUS NEW ARTISTS, TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES IN AND AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA. WE WILL ALSO BE SELECTING MULTIPLE LOCAL ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE LOCAL TALENT ON CUBES AT THE FESTIVAL, ALONG WITH BRAND NEW COMMUNITY MOSAIC FOR ALL FESTIVAL

[00:20:02]

AND FINALLY, IN CONSIDERING A NEW TAGLINE AND WE WANT YOUR INPUT, A TAGLINE IS MEANT TO HELP SET THE TONE FOR HOW OTHERS VIEW OUR CITY, AND IT'S A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES OUR CITY UNIQUE. THE NEW TAGLINE WILL REPRESENT US FOR YEARS TO COME, SO BE SURE TO CAST A VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE. GO TO BEAUMONT, TEXAS TAGLINE. AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM MD ANDERSON'S BE WELL BEAUMONT PROGRAM.

PRESENTING WILL BE DOCTOR RUTH. REX OKAY. AND MYRA AQUINO. AQUINO, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR WEST, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I'M JIMMY WHITMORE WITH EXXON MOBIL. AND IF YOU'RE AWARE OF IN JANUARY, WE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A $10 MILLION GRANT PROVIDED TO MD ANDERSON TO ROLL OUT BEAUMONT, A HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND CANCER PREVENTION FOCUSED PROGRAM IN THE BEAUMONT AREA. AND SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE STRONGLY DEPENDENT ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THOSE PART OF THE GREATER BEAUMONT COMMUNITY. AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO AND ENCOURAGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND AS WE ROLL OUT IN 2025. AND SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL HAND OVER TO RUTH REX WITH MD ANDERSON TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE BEAUMONT PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ABOUT BELLE COMMUNITIES AND BELLE BEAUMONT. I ALREADY KNOW I HAVE TOO MANY SLIDES, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. AS YOU PROBABLY ARE ALREADY AWARE, THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF CANCERS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE PEOPLE'S RISK FOR CANCER. FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING SURE PEOPLE WEAR SUNSCREEN ALL THE TIME, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE NEVER USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE OBESITY. ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE HEALTHY FOOD AND ACTIVE PLACES TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. ALL OF THESE THINGS, TAKEN TOGETHER, CAN REDUCE EVERYONE'S RISK FOR CANCER. AND AT MD ANDERSON, WE'VE BEEN DEDICATED TO PREVENTION FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A PROGRAM CALLED BELLE COMMUNITIES HERE TO BEAUMONT TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THOSE MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR GOAL AS PART OF BELLE COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS MD ANDERSON'S PLACE BASED APPROACH TO CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL, IS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN AN ONGOING DIALOG ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH AND BEHAVIORS, FOSTER MULTI-SECTOR COMMUNITY COLLABORATION TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES THAT CAN HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT IN CANCER RISK REDUCTION OVER THE NEXT IN FIVE AREAS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

HEALTHY EATING. ACTIVE LIVING. SUN SAFETY, TOBACCO. FREE LIVING. PREVENTIVE CARE, THINGS LIKE CANCER SCREENING. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS IS OUR MODEL WHICH I WILL NOT WALK YOU ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BUT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK AT ANOTHER DAY. AND I'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IN BEAUMONT AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE WITH THIS MODEL FOR OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS. BAYTOWN, TEXAS, WITH THE SUPPORT FROM EXXONMOBIL, WAS OUR FIRST INAUGURAL COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMUNITIES MODEL. AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DOING THAT WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO DELIVER THESE EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTIONS IN A WAY THAT RESONATES WELL WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO EXXON, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY OF BAYTOWN FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT AND THE CITY OFFICIALS IN BAYTOWN, AS WELL FOR HELPING THEM, HELPING US TO EXECUTE THIS PROGRAM. WE'VE REACHED WE'VE WORKED WITH 16 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. WE'VE REACHED 93% OF THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITHIN THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY, NOT WITH JUST INFORMATION, WITH DIRECT INTERVENTIONS LIKE HEALTHY FOOD OR ACCESS TO A SUNSHADE OVER A PARK, OR ACCESS TO A NEW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. PROGRAMING WITHIN THE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR WITHIN THE CITY'S PROGRAMING. WE HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT PARTICIPATE WITH US, AND OUR TEAM PROVIDES CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPORT. WE ARE THERE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAMS CAN BE DELIVERED AS EFFECTIVELY AND AS WITH AS MUCH IMPACT AS POSSIBLE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND I WILL AGAIN NOT WALK YOU THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS. BUT YOU CAN SEE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WITH THIS MODEL. AND WE ADAPT IT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY WHERE WE WORK. WE'VE BEEN VERY HAPPY AND GLAD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN BAYTOWN FOR THEM TO CARRY OUT INTERVENTIONS THEMSELVES. OUR TEAM PROVIDES FUNDING, SUPPORT, RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I THINK ONE MORE SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS IS A MAP THAT WILL NOT SHOW YOU HOW TO GET ANYWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF BAYTOWN, BUT WE'LL SHOW YOU ALL THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE BEEN. I'M SO FORTUNATE TO PARTNER AND WORK AND DELIVER THIS PROGRAM SO YOU CAN SEE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE. YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, A VERY TINY FRED HARTMAN BRIDGE. BUT YOU CAN SEE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WE DELIVER INTERVENTIONS, AND ALL OF THOSE ARE INTENDED TO BE SUSTAINED FOR THE LONG TERM. OUR

[00:25:04]

WE'VE WORKED ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS, FOR PARKS AND SCHOOLS, REALLY MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO GET TO THEIR THEIR PLACES WHERE THEY CAN BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. AGAIN, IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY OF BEAUMONT, WE'D LOVE TO DO THAT HERE AS WELL. SO NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ONE MORE PLEASE. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON AN ASSESSMENT PLAN AND PULLING TOGETHER A STEERING COMMITTEE. ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION THAT'S INTERESTED IN BEING ON THAT STEERING COMMITTEE IS WELCOME TO JOIN. AND WE HAD A FIRST MEETING JUST LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM BEAUMONT PARTICIPATE IN THAT AND HELP GATHER. THAT STEERING COMMITTEE WILL GUIDE ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AND REALLY HELP US TO MAKE THE BEST PLAN THAT CAN WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE'LL DO THAT WORK, AND THEN WE WILL MAKE A PLAN TOGETHER, AND THEN WE WILL INVEST THIS $10 MILLION GIFT FROM EXXONMOBIL AGAIN OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS WITHIN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS WORK. WE'LL SUPPORT THAT. WE'LL IMPLEMENT THAT. WE'LL MEASURE ALL ASPECTS OF THAT, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN TO THAT, THAT THIS WORK SUSTAINS IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LONG TERM. AND THAT IS OUR MODEL FOR BE WELL COMMUNITIES. AND ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE'LL BE LOOKING, AS I MENTIONED, TO UNDERSTAND THE CAPACITY OF THE COMMUNITY, OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE NEVER WANT TO DUPLICATE ANYTHING. YOU GUYS HAVE AMAZING PROGRAMS LIKE GIFT OF LIFE AND UNITED WAY AND BEAUMONT ISD SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO MANY GREAT ASSETS. WE REALLY WANT TO LEVERAGE THOSE AND LEARN FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, FROM THE CITY ITSELF. WE'VE HAD GREAT MEETINGS ALREADY WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS, SO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE AND DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WOULD WORK WELL HERE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND SO AS I MENTIONED WE'LL BE DOING SOME INTERVIEWS. WE'LL BE TALKING. WE'LL BE LEARNING. AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. AND AGAIN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WORK THAT WE'LL BE DOING. WE'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER MEETING ON MARCH 24TH. WE'LL WE'LL GET STARTED. AND AGAIN, WELCOME ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THAT MEETING WITH US. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE READY TO SIGN YOU UP. READY. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. FANTASTIC. WELL YOU CAN EMAIL US QUESTIONS VISIT THE WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE. AND WE'RE JUST SO PLEASED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY OF BEAUMONT AND KNOW IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL HERE AS WELL. AND AGAIN, GRATEFUL TO EXXONMOBIL FOR THE SUPPORT. CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK SO, YES. ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT YOU COME TODAY. BROTHER TURNER AND

[00:30:07]

AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES AND BRINGING IT TOGETHER. BUT WE'RE READY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN TURNER. HEY, JUST TO KIND OF BE COMPLETELY HONEST, WHEN I HEARD THEY PUSHING FOR SECOND PLACE AND YOU TALKING TO US, WE DEFINITELY WANT NUMBER ONE. SO I HAVE TO AGREE, AND I DEFINITELY CONCUR. BUT ONE OF MY THINGS THAT WHEN YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT PARKS, CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK TO SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES THAT YOU'VE SEEN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE MORE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS, MAYBE MORE SHADES OVER OUR KIDS PLAYGROUND AREAS? CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK INTO SOME SPECIFICS? ABSOLUTELY, YES. SO WHAT? THE PARKS DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY AMAZING PARTNERS. WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS. SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES. SO PUTTING IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF FACILITIES TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. WE'VE ALSO PUT IN SUNSHADES AND SUNSCREEN DISPENSERS AND THOSE HAVE WORKED WELL. FOR EXAMPLE AT LIKE A BOAT LANDING WHERE PEOPLE ARE MAYBE GOING TO GO OUT TO, YOU KNOW, THEN MAYBE THEY FORGOT THEIR SUNSCREEN THAT DAY. SO MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE THERE. WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT SOMETIMES JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THAT THESE AMAZING RESOURCES EXIST.

SO WE'VE DONE A WONDERFUL CAMPAIGN CALLED BAYTOWN MOVES. AND THAT CAMPAIGN WAS REALLY JUST ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE LEAKS, GO TO THE CLASSES THAT ARE ALREADY EXIST, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PARKS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY TO REALLY GET PEOPLE TO ACCESS THOSE THINGS. WE'VE ALSO DONE A PROGRAM I LOVE CALLED POP UP PARKS, AND THAT'S A TRAILER THAT GOES WITH ONTO A TRUCK. AND WHEN YOU TAKE THAT TRAILER INTO THE PARK, IT IS A STAGE THAT I LIKE TO REFER. IT'S LIKE A TRANSFORMER, AND IT KIND OF OPENS UP INTO A STAGE. AND THEN FROM THERE YOU CAN DO EXERCISE DEMOS, YOU CAN DO A COOKING DEMO. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ON A STAGE, YOU CAN DO THERE AND BRING A BAND, GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THE PARK. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE INTO PARKS AND REMIND THEM THAT THEY'RE THERE, THE UTILIZATION OF THOSE PARKS INCREASES DRAMATICALLY, AS DOES THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE IN THAT PARK. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE ALSO DONE SENIOR FITNESS CLASSES. WE'VE WITH THE CITY OF PASADENA, WE ACTUALLY TESTED OUT A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF CLASSES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WOULD BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THEM. AND THE CITY OF PASADENA NOW FUNDS THOSE CLASSES. BUT WE TRIED WATER WALKING IN A LAZY RIVER. WE TRIED ZUMBA. WE TRIED, YOU KNOW, MORNING CLASSES, EVENING CLASSES, WEEKEND CLASSES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RESIDENTS WERE INTERESTED IN. SO IT'S BEEN A PRETTY WIDE RANGE OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS AQUATIC PROGRAMS, KID PROGRAMS, ADULT PROGRAMS, SENIOR PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MY LAST QUESTION IS WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING A PARKS MASTER PLAN, SO THE TIMING PROBABLY COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER. SO I THINK, MR. MANAGER, I KNOW THERE'S MORE OF YOUR ROLE, BUT I THINK THAT'LL BE A GOOD THING TO KIND OF SEE IF SOME OF THE THINGS CAN IDENTIFY WITH ONE ANOTHER AND NOT WORK AGAINST EACH OTHER. COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER STILL LOOKING FOR INPUT ON THAT PLAN, ALTHOUGH IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO BEING COMPLETED. BUT WE DID. JUST TO UPDATE COUNCIL. WE WENT TO THE KICKOFF MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY.

THURSDAY, MYSELF, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CHRIS BOONE WAS THERE, DIRECTOR OF PARKS. WAS THERE OTHERS? FREDDIE WILLARD, OUR CONVENTION BUREAU PERSON. WE WERE WELL REPRESENTED AT THEIR KICKOFF MEETING, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND JUST LAST THING, I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARKS OFTEN WE FORGET RECREATION. YOU KNOW, LIKE THOSE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR SENIORS AND FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR OUR KIDS.

SO IF WE CAN JUST CONSIDER SOME OF THOSE, I'D BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO M.D. ANDERSON AND EXXONMOBIL FOR JOINING THIS PROJECT HERE IN BEAUMONT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. GREAT. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE UPCOMING MURAL FEST BY MIDDAY. AND EMILY WHEELER. GOOD AFTERNOON. BEFORE MEN COMES UP AND GIVES YOU A PRESENTATION, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A REMINDER. THAT MURAL FEST IS COMING UP ON MARCH 8TH AND NINTH, AND IT'S GOING TO BE OUT HERE ON MAIN STREET AND INSIDE THE CIVIC CENTER. WE WERE HERE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND MEN AND J MADE A PRESENTATION. YOU KIND OF GAVE A LITTLE BLESSING THAT WE COULD BEAUTIFY THE CIVIC CENTER THIS GO ROUND. AND IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS, THEY HAVE DONE AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB CURATING SOME.

THESE MURALS ARE UNREAL, AND THEY REALLY DID AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB IN DEPICTING WHAT WE WOULD

[00:35:03]

EACH SECTION FEATURES A SYMBOL THAT TELLS A STORY ABOUT A COMMUNITY, ITS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. IN TOTAL, HE IS DOING, I THINK RIGHT AROUND 13, 12, 13 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL PANELS. I PICKED OUT A FEW JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS WHAT HIS VISION IS BEHIND IT. THERE'S A DEER WITH A SHOOTING STAR THAT SYMBOLIZES HOPE, GUIDING THE CITY TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE WITH HONORING THE WISHES AND DREAMS OF RESIDENTS. THE HOUSE REPRESENTS THE WARMTH OF HOME AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN BEAUMONT. THE BALD CYPRESS IS A TREE DEEPLY ROOTED IN BEAUMONT, SYMBOLIZES THE CITY'S RESILIENCE AND LONGEVITY. PEOPLE TRADING REFLECTS THE CITY'S LONG STANDING ROLE AS A MAJOR TRADING HUB. THE IRON REFINERY SUPPORTING A KEY DEPICTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REFINERY INDUSTRY FOR BEAUMONT'S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND KEYS SIGNIFIES THE KEY TO THE CITY. HOW THE INDUSTRY HAS UNLOCKED OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SHAPE THE CITY'S INDUSTRY. WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER SYMBOLS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE WERE HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE THESE ARE SEVERAL. THAT'S, IN MY OPINION, THAT I WAS KIND OF MY FAVORITE.

THE REALLY SYMBOLIZE THE LOVE, RENEWAL, AND PURITY AS THE LILIES BLOOM EVERY YEAR AFTER YEAR. THEY REPRESENT NEW BEGINNINGS AND POTENTIAL OF TRANSFORMATION IN BEAUMONT'S FUTURE. SO THESE ARE THE PIECES THAT WE'RE PRESENTING FOR THE CIVIC CENTER ITSELF. WE'LL HAVE

[00:40:02]

THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN GETS WITH DISCUSSIONS BEING HAD TO CONVERT THE CIVIC CENTER INTO A CONVENTION CENTER. HOW WILL THE ART THAT'S BEING THOUGHT ABOUT TO BE PUT ON THE CIVIC CENTER BE IMPACTED? SHOULD WE MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER AND THAT WAS THAT THOUGHT PROCESS WAS INTO WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO. EMILY, AS SHE LED WITH HER OPENING COMMENTS, WHETHER IT'S ONE YEAR OR 50 YEARS, THAT'S WHAT SHE MEANT.

BECAUSE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CHANGES WITH THE CIVIC CENTER OR IF IT'S RECONSTRUCTED OR WHATEVER, THIS WILL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS COULD GO AWAY. SO IT'S UNDERSTOOD WITH THAT, THE WAY THE WAY EMILY IS EXPLAINED IT TO ME THAT THAT'S BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION. AND THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GETS COUNCILMAN TURNER. YEAH. JUST. MR. DE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. LIKE, OFTEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO AMAZING THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SAY THANK YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING THIS FESTIVAL TO BEAUMONT. YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH BRING IT ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. AS YOU STATED EARLIER, EVEN PEOPLE TRYING TO RECRUIT YOU TO LEAVE YOUR HOMETOWN. SO I'M LETTING YOU KNOW. THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE WANT YOU HERE. SO PLEASE KEEP GOING. OF COURSE. AND LIKE I SAID, WITHOUT YOU GUYS GIVING US THE FREEDOM TO ACTUALLY DO THE FESTIVAL, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT DOES IT FOR ME IS BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE, HAVING THE FREEDOM TO SHOW AND GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY IN MY OWN WAY. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. AND IT LOOKS GREAT ALL OVER TOWN. THANK YOU. OKAY, LASTLY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE BOND PRESENTATION AND FACILITATION PROCESS. PRESENTING WILL BE MR. JEFF BARTON WITH GAP STRATEGIES. THANK YOU MAYOR I'LL INTRODUCE MR. BARTON OKAY. AS YOU MENTIONED JEFF BARTON IS WITH GAP STRATEGIES. HE WAS A FOUNDING PARTNER WITH THAT FIRM. THE FIRM HAS BEEN AROUND MANY YEARS. IT'S A FULL SERVICE CONSULTING FIRM. THE FIRM HAS FACILITATED SUCCESSFUL BOND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND FACILITATION CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS.

JEFF IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS. HE HAS A TEAM THAT IF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED TODAY, THAT WOULD PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND WORK WITH CITY STAFF IN ORDER TO MOVE US TOWARD A POTENTIAL BOND ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARTON.

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AGAIN, JEFF BARTON WITH GAP STRATEGIES. THANK YOU, MR. ELLIS. REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. WORKED WITH MR. WILLIAMS IN THE PAST AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO PERHAPS GETTING TO KNOW YOU ALL BETTER AND WORK WITH YOU. WE DO WORK, AS YOU HEARD ALL AROUND.

NEXT SLIDE ALL AROUND THE STATE. SO I'LL GIVE YOU JUST THE BRIEFEST OF INTRODUCTION. I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS PRETTY SHORT AND THEN OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS ON THAT NEXT SLIDE. SO WE SPECIALIZE IN BOND FACILITATION. WE ALSO DO CITY PLANNING AND A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE STATE, WORKING ON COMPLEX FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES.

AND FOR THIS PROJECT YOU'LL BE SEEING A LOT OF THE FOUR PEOPLE HERE. YOU'LL YOU'LL PROBABLY GET SICK OF ME, OR AT LEAST THE APPOINTEES. THE COMMITTEE WILL. MY PARTNER, KARA BUFFINGTON, REALLY LEADS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SEGMENT. AND THEN ANDRES GONZALEZ AND JOEY OCHOA, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NEXT SLIDE, WILL BE WORKING WITH US HERE. SO IT'S MY FIRST TIME TO WORK IN BEAUMONT, THOUGH SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HAVE WORKED HERE

[00:45:02]

AS OUR GOAL TO REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL. AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU HAVE UNTIL ABOUT MID-AUGUST TO CALL THE ELECTION TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. SO THE NEXT STEPS, THE REALLY CRITICAL STEPS ARE TO GET A CITIZEN COMMITTEE APPOINTED. WE, AS WE'VE WORKED WITH PEOPLE FROM DALLAS TO THE HOUSTON AREA, ALL AROUND THE AUSTIN AREA, THERE ARE THERE ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THAT.

SOME CITIES PUT OUT APPLICATIONS. SOME WANT JOINT COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTMENTS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN OFTEN REALLY WORK THE BEST, PARTICULARLY WHEN TIME IS SHORT, IS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL DO ROUTINELY WITH OTHER TASK FORCES. SO THAT WOULD BE OUR TENTATIVE RECOMMENDATION. IT'S OF COURSE YOUR DECISION, BUT WE HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT DO THAT RELATIVELY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND ICE THAT DELAYED ONE OF YOUR EARLIER MEETINGS. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE COULD USE A LITTLE URGENCY IN THIS FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TASK FORCE HAS ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY GET IN THERE AND, AND WORK THROUGH THESE PROJECTS IN A IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT MOVE QUICKLY TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE. AND THEN WE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF TO IDENTIFY THE, THE, THE POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT WILL GO TO THAT TASK FORCE FOR THEM TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER, AS WELL AS THIS COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT I ALLUDED TO. AND WITH THAT, REALLY, I JUST LIKE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE OR HEAR SOME DISCUSSION FROM YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PRIORITIES AND THOUGHTS FOR THE PROCESS. ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT ON THE TIME FRAME FOR THE TASK FORCE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY BY NEXT MEETING, BUT WE WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE THE TASK FORCE TO START IN MARCH AND WORK THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH US. SO WE WOULD IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE THEM TO BE AVAILABLE FOR 1 TO 2 MEETINGS A MONTH, KIND OF DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU GET THEM STARTED AND WHAT HOW THEIR SCHEDULES WORK. BUT YOU CAN YOU CAN KIND OF DO THE MATH. IF WE START IN MID TO LATE MARCH WITH THE FIRST TASK FORCE MEETING AND ARE TRYING TO WRAP UP BY JULY AND KIND OF IMAGINE 5 TO 6 MEETINGS, THE FIRST 1 OR 2 ARE REALLY JUST GETTING PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS AND THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND THEN WE DIVE INTO SOME SPECIALTY ISSUES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE PARKS OR ROADS OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER THOSE PRIORITIES ARE. AND WE WANT TO HAVE SOME TIME TO COME BACK, TALK TO YOU AS A COUNCIL, TALK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE TOWN HALL, AND THEN GO BACK TO THE TASK FORCE FOR THEM TO GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THEY MAKE A FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO YOU. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN TURNER, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD TO JUST SAY, HOURLY OR JUST A TIME FRAME THAT YOU GUYS PUT INTO A PROJECT LIKE THIS WHEN YOU'RE CONSULTING? WELL, I WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW, HUNDREDS OF HOURS. I ACTUALLY FIGURED IT UP ON A SPREADSHEET WHEN WE SUBMITTED IT, BUT IT IS A LOT OF HOURS. WE WOULD LIKE TO SHOW STAFF. WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOUR COMMITTEE PROJECTS, LOCATIONS OF THE PROJECTS, PERHAPS IN SOME CASES GO OUT AND SEE THOSE PROJECTS. WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SOME OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, WHAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO LEARN YOUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE PRIORITIES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO YOUR STAFF WILL HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, FOR THAT MATTER. YOU KNOW, YOUR CITY MANAGER

[00:50:03]

WHEN WE SAY GENERATIONS, I RATHER BE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. CAN STAFF SAY, THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS FORM OF SOMETHING PRESENTED OR DONE TO ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW LONG, EVEN IF IT'S A ROUGH ESTIMATE, IT'S. NEXT MONTH. MARCH WILL BE EXACTLY 42 YEARS. SO 42 YEARS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW LONG IT'S BEEN. AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, AS A CONSULTANT, YOU'VE DONE THIS ALL OVER PRETTY MUCH THE STATE OF TEXAS, RIGHT? HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE AVERAGE CITIES KIND OF RUN THROUGH THIS PROCESS? IS IT IS IT THIS KIND OF TIME FRAME, OR DO YOU SEE MOST CITIES THAT ARE GROWING DO IT OFTEN. LIKE WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THAT? I WOULD SAY YOU'LL HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME WITHOUT A BOND PACKAGE. MOST, MOST CITIES THAT ARE GROWING DO IT MORE OFTEN. SO WHEN YOU SAY MORE OFTEN, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE CANDID. WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU LOOK AT, WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE. IT REALLY VARIES ON GROWTH IN SOME OF THE HIGH GROWTH AREAS. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PROGRAMING. WE JUST DID SOMETHING FOR CEDAR PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWTH AREAS TO THE NORTHWEST OF AUSTIN. ABOUT 70 OR 80,000 PEOPLE THERE IN, YOU KNOW, A VERY HIGH GROWTH CORRIDOR. SO THEY REALLY HAVE A BOND PROGRAM THAT THEY REALLY ROLL THROUGH ABOUT EVERY THREE YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THE REASON I'M ASKING BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT WITH IT BEING 40 YEARS.

BUT I WANT TO SPEAK TO TRUTH AND FACTS, WHAT YOU KIND OF SEE ON THE NORM IN OTHER CITIES THAT ARE KIND OF GROWING AND DOING THIS TYPE OF THING. THAT'S WHY I READ THE ASK THE PROFESSIONAL VERSUS SAYING IT FROM ANYONE'S PERSPECTIVE. I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PROFESSIONAL. IT VARIES A LOT, OF COURSE, BUT I WOULD SAY WE DO SEE A LOT OF CITIES THAT THAT OVER TIME GET ON A REGULAR PROGRAM, AND IT MIGHT BE EVERY FIVE OR EVERY TEN YEARS. COUNCILMAN GETS. SO OUR CITY HAS ADOPTED AND HAS A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN. IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH THAT DOCUMENT. YES, SIR. WE HAVE, I HAVE. SO THE THINGS THAT WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF ANY PROPOSED BOND, IS IT LIMITED TO THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CIP, OR COULD IT GO OUTSIDE THAT IT COULD GO OUTSIDE THAT WHAT WE HAVE TAKEN AS A STARTING PLACE, JUST JUST TO HELP PREPARE OUR THOUGHTS AS WE GO INTO A POTENTIAL MEETING WITH YOUR STAFF THIS WEEK, IF YOU ALL APPROVE, YOU KNOW THE

[00:55:05]

YOU'VE GOT SOME THAT ARE IDENTIFIED TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF THE CIP. THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES THAT THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PUT FORWARD, THAT THE STAFF WANTS TO PUT FORWARD, OR EVEN THE MEMBERS. AS WE TALK TO THE TASK FORCE, WE WOULD TRY AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THE WORK THAT'S GONE IN TO YOUR CIP AND THOSE PLANNING DOCUMENTS AND PRESENT THOSE AS AS A STARTING PLACE.

BUT THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REALLY GET SOME MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE'D OPEN IT UP TO THEM IF THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THEY WANT TO PUT ON THE TABLE. SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE CIP, I'M SURE YOU SAW THAT THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT DOCUMENT. YES, SIR. EVERYTHING FROM INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THINGS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED WISH LIST TYPE OF THINGS. YES, SIR. LIKE A NEW CITY HALL OR SOMETHING, OR A NEW POLICE STATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU NOTICE THAT? I'M SURE. YES, SIR. IT SURE DID.

OKAY. AND WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, YOUR JOB IS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, GOING TO BE TO HELP OUR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, ESTIMATE COSTS, FIGURE OUT PROJECTED TIMELINES, AND WORK WITH THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IS THAT PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU DO? I THINK THAT SUMS IT UP. YES, SIR. OKAY. IS THERE ANY REASON WHY OUR CITY STAFF COULD NOT FACILITATE THAT ON THEIR OWN? WELL, I YOU KNOW, I SUPPOSE THAT'S FOR YOU TO DETERMINE. I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE IS AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S PRETTY USEFUL FOR THOSE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT THERE'S NO ONE DEPARTMENT OR ONE STAFF PUSHING ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THAT HUNT. SECOND, MOST CITY STAFFS THAT I'VE MET ARE PRETTY BUSY, AND SO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ISSUES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON DAY TO DAY.

THIS THIS ALLOWS US TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT, TO REALLY BRING YOU AND YOUR YOUR TASK FORCE TO REALLY WORK WITH THAT TASK FORCE SO THAT THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY AND IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY. AND FINALLY, I DON'T MEAN I GUESS I WILL BLOW MY OWN HORN. WE'RE GOOD AT IT. WE JUST DID THIS FOR THE CITY OF PLANO, SOMETHING SIMILAR. AND THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE HAD BEEN A PLANNING ZONING COMMITTEE, COMMISSION MEMBER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, THEN MAYOR, NOW HEAD OF THE WATER COMPANY, AND THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO RUN THIS TASK FORCE. AND AT THE AT THE END OF THE MEETING, WHICH WE DID ABOUT NINE MONTHS OF FACILITATION OVER SOME ISSUES THAT HAD STARTED OFF VERY CONTENTIOUS. WE HAD UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL THAT WENT TO THE COUNCIL, AND HE SAID, YOU'RE THE BEST FACILITATOR I'VE WORKED WITH IN 37 YEARS IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT. SO I THINK WHAT WE BRING IS THAT SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM ABOUT FACILITATION TO TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE WILL NECESSARILY ACHIEVE UNANIMITY, BUT TO FORGE SOME KIND OF CONSENSUS OUT OF THAT AND SOME UNUSUAL EXPERTISE IN HOW TO REACH OUT WITH COMMUNITY SURVEYS AND GET NOT JUST THE TEN FOLKS WHO NORMALLY SHOW UP TO CITY COUNCIL, BUT TO REALLY REACH DEEPLY INTO THE COMMUNITY TO A SENSE OF WHERE THEY ARE ABOUT ISSUES, TAXES, AND MAKE SOME TOUGH FOUR CHOICES, NOT JUST DO YOU WANT THIS ITEM ON YOUR WISH LIST, BUT HERE'S WHAT IT MIGHT COST AND HERE'S WHAT IT MEANS IN TAXES. SO IS THIS A VALUE TO YOU? IS IT WORTH IT TO YOU? AND THEN WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES SO THAT YOU AS A COUNCIL, THEN REALLY HAVE GOOD INFORMATION WITH WHICH TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION? YOU KNOW, WE RECENTLY HAD A DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED, AND WHEN WE STARTED TRYING TO MEET A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE APPOINTED TO THAT COMMITTEE NEVER SHOWED UP. THAT SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM SOMETIMES WITH SOME OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES. EVEN TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT NAMING A VICE CHAIR TO THE CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU. AND I'M LOOKING AT THE ATTENDANCE RECORDS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE APPOINTED TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE NEVER SHOW UP. HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF A SITUATION? WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THAT, YOU KNOW, IT VARIES FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY. I THINK ON BASED ON KIND OF HISTORY, THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THE TIME, THE INFLUENCE, HOW MUCH TIME PEOPLE CAN GIVE. WILL RELY ON YOU ALL TO MAKE GOOD APPOINTMENTS. AND THEN OUR JOB IS TO SHOW THEM IMMEDIATELY AT THAT FIRST MEETING THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS OF VALUE, SO THAT THEIR TIME IS REALLY WORTH IT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THIS ISN'T YOU'RE NOT. THIS ISN'T A BOARD WHERE PEOPLE WORK FOR FOUR YEARS. AND THEN THERE IS A VAGUE OUTCOME AT

[01:00:04]

AND THEN YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT WHETHER YOU WANT TO INSTRUCT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FROM INDUSTRY OR FROM THE COLLEGE OR ANYBODY THAT YOU WANT TO APPOINT, JUST, YOU KNOW, TO REPRESENT THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, OR DO YOU WANT INSTRUCT THE CITY TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WE MIGHT COORDINATE ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, BUS ROUTES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT COULD BE 2 TO 3 MEMBERS PER COUNCIL MEMBER. I THINK WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH. OKAY, SO ARE YOU. ARE YOU QUITE, I GUESS, SAY SUCCESSFUL AT GETTING HELPING CITIES, GETTING BONDS PASSED. AS FAR AS YOUR RECORD? WELL, WE I'M NOT GOING TO WORD, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY NEVER LOST AN ELECTION THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH. OKAY. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS NOT TO CONVINCE VOTERS THAT THEY SHOULD VOTE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,

[01:05:05]

[01:10:05]

MAYOR. YES. IS THAT IT WOULD BE A MENU OF OPTIONS. THERE'S SOME RULES PROMULGATED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DAYS OF LIKE PACKING IN SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK NOBODY WANTS AND MAKING THEM VOTE FOR IT, OR KIND OF YESTERDAY'S NEWS FOR THE MOST PART. SO I THINK WE WOULD ANTICIPATE SOMETHING THAT REALLY GIVES PEOPLE A LOT OF A LOT OF CHOICE. AND JUST TO GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION FOR CITIES YOUR SIZE, AS YOU GET TO MAYBE DALLAS OR HOUSTON, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF STAFFING AND EXPERTISE IN HOUSE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T SEE IT MUCH AT ALL IN CITIES UNDER 500,000 OR SO. THANK YOU. YOU'VE DONE VERY GOOD EXPLAINING EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST THE LAST QUESTION. ALL RIGHT MANAGER, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T PRESENT TODAY. HOW HOW WOULD THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FEEDBACK OR DIALOG ON THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION? WELL, THEY COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT WITH STAFF FOR SURE AND TALK TO US SO THEY COULD CALL MR. BARTON PERSONALLY AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM. HE'S A VERY PERSONABLE GUY AND WELCOMES THAT. AND WHILE I'M NOT PROMOTING ANYTHING FOR HIM AND I DON'T TYPICALLY SPEAK AND I'M NOT PROMOTING, BUT I WILL GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON JEFF THAT HE HASN'T GIVEN. YOU KNOW, HE DID FULL DISCLOSURE, HE WORKED WITH US TWICE IN BEAUTY AND GOT BOND PACKAGES PASSED. WE GOT NEW PARKS AND STREETS AND ROADS AND AMPHITHEATERS, CITY HALL, POLICE STATIONS. ET CETERA. ET CETERA.

THROUGH HIS HIS WORK. AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD WORK. AND HE'S, HE'S HE'S A LITTLE SHY, BUT HE'S,

[01:15:04]

SO HE UNDERSTANDS THAT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS. HIS FAMILY OWNED THE NEWSPAPER AND HAYS COUNTY.

SO HE UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. AND HAVING ACCESS AND BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATION AND PUTTING STRATEGIES TOGETHER TO GET THE WORD OUT TO PEOPLE AND GETTING THINGS DONE IN THAT REGARD. SO HE HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN GETTING THINGS DONE FOR SURE, AND WORKING WITH PACKAGES. I'VE GOT A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO ON THAT SIDE OF THE DAIS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GETS JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. AS COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER MENTIONED, THIS IS POLITICAL SEASON, AND WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT ALMOST HALF THIS COUNCIL WILL NOT BE HERE ON MAY 5TH. WE'VE GOT THREE THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE RETURNING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RUNNING FOR THEIR POSITIONS THAT THEY CURRENTLY HOLD. SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING TO FACTOR IN, ANOTHER THING TO FACTOR IN IS WE ALREADY HAVE A CITIZENS DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN TASKED WITH DOING ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BUT I'M WONDERING IF THEY COULD BE BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THEIR FUNCTION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVISE TO COUNCIL. I THINK MISS NESBY CHAIRED THAT FOR MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO START ALL OVER.

BUT I GUESS MY CONCERN IS IT'S A MATTER OF TIMING. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 42 YEARS. IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT. THIS NOVEMBER, CALLING OF AN ELECTION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN NOVEMBER. IT COULD BE NEXT MAY, OR IT COULD BE NEXT NOVEMBER. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS IMPORTANT, THIS IMPORTANT, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CALLING FOR THE BOND, RIGHT? WE DON'T KNOW WHICH PROJECTS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS. AND I UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE YOUR FIRM'S ROLE TO HELP US DELVE THROUGH THOSE UNKNOWNS AND WINNOW IT DOWN TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS, COSTS AND TIMELINES. AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT YOU BRING TO THAT. BUT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING GIVING THAT THE COUNCIL IS ABOUT TO CHANGE. THAT, I GUESS, IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S FOR YOU ALL. AND I UNDERSTAND THE POLITICAL SIDE. I'LL SAY THIS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHENEVER YOU HIRE US, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE TO DO, WE HAVE IN OUR PROPOSAL IS TO GO UP PRETTY QUICKLY. BY THE TIME THE FIRST TASK FORCE MEETING STARTS TO GO UP WITH A SPECIAL WEBSITE THAT WOULD BE LINKED TO YOUR WEBSITE, BUT WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT SITE AS WELL, SO THAT WE CAN PUBLISH ALL THE MATERIAL THAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO THE TASK FORCE. SO THAT'S COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE CAN SEE PRESENTATIONS OR SLIDE DECKS. THEY CAN SEE WHERE THE WHERE THAT'S HEADED. TASK FORCE MEMBERS CAN GO ON THERE. SO I HOWEVER YOU ALL DECIDE TO DO THAT, WORKING IN AND AROUND POLITICS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH AND WILL BE MINDFUL OF IT. OUR JOB IS NOT TO IS NOT TO TAKE SIDES ON ANY OF THAT, BUT TO BE THE OUTSIDERS THAT CAN COME AND SAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH, YOU KNOW, THE CRAZINESS OF ELECTION SEASON, HERE ARE THE LONGER TERM OUT ON THE HORIZON.

HERE ARE THE ISSUES OVER THE NEXT FIVE, TEN, 20 YEARS THAT THE CITY IS THINKING ABOUT AND SOLUTIONS AND HOW TO PAY FOR THEM. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. Y'ALL WERE HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN YOU THOUGHT. WE WERE WAITING FOR THIS. YEAH, I. ALSO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, SO TONIGHT'S.

[01:20:05]

BONTA, AKA ROB BONTA, AND AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY SIERRA CLUB, INC. SURFRIDER FOUNDATION, INC.

HILL OF THE BAY. HILL. THE BAY, INC. BAYKEEPER, INC, AND INTERGENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT JUSTICE FUND LIMITED. CASE NUMBER 125 DASH CV, DASH 0014, AND ALSO CALEB FENTER AND THE BEAUMONT PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 399 INTERVENERS VERSUS CITY OF BEAUMONT CHRISTOPHER S BOONE, KENNETH WILLIAMS, ROY WEST, EARL WHITE, TAYLOR NEILD, MIKE GETS, AUDWIN. SAMUEL. CHARLES DARIO, ALBERT TURNER AND RANDY SHAW CALLS NUMBER BE 210244. WE'RE

[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]

[01:25:03]

MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS CHILD CUSTODY INTERFERENCE, AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS BOTH OUR YOUTH AND THE SANCTITY OF FAMILY, OF THE FAMILY UNIT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS MY FOURTH TIME ADDRESSING THIS COUNCIL, AND EACH TIME I'VE SHARED ALARMING STATISTICS, HIGHLIGHTED RELEVANT STATE LAWS AND PROPOSED WAYS THE COUNCIL CAN BETTER TACKLE THESE ISSUES. YET, DESPITE MY EFFORTS, THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES IN MY PROPOSAL FOR THE CITY TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS. THIS HAS YET TO MAKE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION. WITH THE CURRENT ISSUE, WHAT'S THE CURRENT ISSUE WITH HOW THE CITY HANDLES INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY CASES? THE LACK OF ACTION FROM BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DRIVEN BY TWO MAIN FACTORS. THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THESE TYPES OF CASES, AND THE D.A. WON'T HANDLE CUSTODY INTERFERENCE CASES BECAUSE PARENTS COULD FACE FELONY CHARGES. SO LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST DROPS THEM, TELLING THE AFFECTED PARENTS IT'S A CIVIL MATTER. GO TO COURT. AS A RESULT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LEFT QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF CONTINUING THEIR EFFORTS TO INVESTIGATE THESE CRIMES, EVEN WHEN ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE CASE ARE PRESENT. PAST EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS RELUCTANT TO PURSUE THEM, LEADING TO A WASTE OF VALUABLE POLICE RESOURCES. THIS LACK OF ACTION ONLY EMBOLDENS OFFENDERS, ALLOWING THEM TO HARM THE CITY'S YOUTH WITH VIRTUAL IMPUNITY. IF THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T STEP UP AND MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES, THIS WILL KEEP HAPPENING FOR GENERATIONS. WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? THE SOLUTION I'VE PROPOSED IS FOR THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND CHAPTER 12 OF BEAUMONT'S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A NEW SECTION THAT IMPOSES CIVIL PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY. THIS WOULD HELP PREVENT THESE INJUSTICES FROM AFFECTING CHILDREN IN BROKEN FAMILY ENVIRONMENTS. IN SHORT, IT WOULD ALLOW POLICE TO ISSUE TICKETS FOR THESE OFFENSES AS OUTLINED IN HOUSE BILL 969. IT IS NO LONGER UP TO BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE COUNTY PROSECUTORS TO FIX THIS. IT IS NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS COUNCIL. IF YOU DO NOT ADOPT THE ORDINANCE ALLOWING BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ISSUE CITATIONS FOR THESE OFFENSES, YOU'RE TELLING THE COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH, THAT WE'RE COMPLACENT IN ALLOWING THESE CRIMES TO CONTINUE AND THAT THE CITY IS UNWILLING TO FIND A SOLUTION. I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT ISN'T TRUE.

I BELIEVE EACH MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL WAS CHOSEN FOR YOUR ABILITY TO THINK STRATEGICALLY, STRATEGICALLY, AND SERVE AS VISIONARIES OF THIS COMMUNITY. IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM, THE SOLUTION I'VE PROVIDED IS THE ONLY ONE, AND IT'S LEGISLATION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. THANK YOU SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. AARON REYNOLDS, 6945 CELINA LANE, TEXAS.

SHE. MY. NAME IS AARON REYNOLDS. I RESIDE AT 6945 SALIDA HERE IN BEAUMONT. MY REASON FOR COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO ADDRESS THE FALSE NARRATIVES AND THE MISREPRESENTATIONS OF TRUTH THAT YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSIONS. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS YOU IN YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO THIS IS MY ONLY WAY AND OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS WHAT HAS BEEN SAID AND DONE IN YOUR SESSION. THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS COLLUDED WITH FOUR CORNERS PLUMBING. THE FIRE MARSHAL INTERACTED WITH FOUR CORNERS PLUMBING THAT DID NOT EVEN PULL A PERMIT TO WORK ON MY PROJECT. I DID A REQUEST ON THE FREEDOM OF ACT INFORMATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL SENT A LETTER TO THE STATE BOARD OF PLUMBING SUPPORTING FOUR CORNERS PLUMBING. WHEN I FILED A COMPLAINT, I DID A REQUEST ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AS TO WHO HAS DID A REQUEST FOR 36 80 METER ROAD. THE FIRE MARSHAL ALSO COLLUDED

[01:30:07]

AND THIS EMAIL IS FROM BO HANSEN. AND IT SAYS, GOOD MORNING, MR. REYNOLDS. AS WE HAVE STATED REPEATEDLY SINCE OUR MEETING LAST WEEK, THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS TO COMPLETE BEFORE WE CAN REOPEN YOUR PERMITS. YOU ARE CORRECT IN STATING THAT THREE OF THE FOUR ARE COMPLETE. THE FOURTH ITEM TO BE COMPLETED IS FIRE PROTECTION. UNTIL THIS IS DONE, WE WILL NOT LIFT THE STOP WORK ORDER. TO BE CLEAR THOUGH, THE FOURTH ITEM STILL ALLOWS YOU TO WORK. THE WORK IS SIMPLY LIMITED TO WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED OF YOU. I APOLOGIZE IF THIS IS CAUSING CONFUSION. NOW THIS EMAIL SOLIDIFIES THE FACT THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL WILL READ THE PACKET. THANK YOU SIR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THIS TIME. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOVE TO APPROVE

[CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN GETS? ON ITEM C? I SAW IS AN ATTACHMENT BASICALLY WHAT AMOUNTED TO A BALLOT TO GET A VICE CHAIR? IT WAS. WAIT, I MIGHT BE AHEAD OF MYSELF. YEAH.

IS THAT THAT'S THAT'S ON THE REGULAR AGENDA WORK SESSION. OKAY. NEVER MIND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING

[REGULAR AGENDA]

IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE. SO MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? COUNCILMAN GETS YOU KNOW, WE'RE MISSING A THIRD OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE TODAY, EXCLUDING THE MAYOR. I THINK THAT THIS, GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING, SHOULD BE TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE HAVE HOPEFULLY ALL OF THE COUNCIL HERE. SO I MOVE THAT THIS BE TABLED TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. IS THERE A SECOND BEFORE WE SECOND THAT MOTION? CAN WE DISCUSS THE WHY ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBER GETS REQUESTS WHERE WE NEED TO SECOND IT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. SO ACCORDING TO YOUR RULES, YOU CAN DISCUSS IT BEFORE A MOTION. ONCE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, IT EITHER NEEDS TO HAVE A SECOND FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DIES FOR LACK OF A SECOND. BUT IF YOU WANTED TO GO PURELY ON ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, YOU CAN ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION AND THAT THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS. CLARIFICATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER GETS REQUEST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I ASKED EARLIER WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD COUNCIL MEMBERS NOT PRESENT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE? AND IF I THINK IF A MAJORITY IF WE DID CALL FOR A VOTE AND A MAJORITY VOTED REGARDLESS IF THEY WERE HERE OR NOW, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? I JUST WANT CLARITY. WELL, IF A MOTION PASSES TODAY, IT PASSES. SO IF A

[01:35:03]

AND FOR CLARITY, THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW. I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR 21 MONTHS, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS COMING UP, AND WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN LOOKING AT IT THIS PAST YEAR. SO IT'S REALLY NOT A SURPRISE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IT UP. AND SO. MAYOR, YES, ALSO WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING UP. AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THIS TODAY. SO I MEAN, IF THEY WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TO VOTE ON IT. COUNCILMAN GATZ, I THINK THIS WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BE AT A ON AGENDA FOR A COUNCIL MEETING THAT WAS CANCELED. SO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT AREN'T HERE APPARENTLY HAD VACATIONS PLANNED DURING THIS WEEK ALREADY. SO THEY'RE NOT HERE. ALL RIGHT. IS MOTION. DIDN'T GET A SECOND. SO ANY ANY DISCUSSION ON ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM ONE. NO JUST JUST CLARITY THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK IF THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED PASSED IT, AND IT ALSO CAN BE PARTICIPATED IN DISCUSSED WITH WHOEVER, WHOMEVER ISN'T HERE. I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO BE LOOKED AT UPON AS IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT'S PLACED IN THE AGENDA, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD A FULL QUORUM. WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR WASN'T PRESENT, AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM RAN THE MEETING. ANY ANY ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT THAT PASSES CAN BE REVISITED WITH ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL FOR FURTHER EXPLANATION, EITHER WITH STAFF, THE CITY MANAGER OR OR IF THEY JUST WANT TO HAVE IT DISCUSSED IN AN OPEN SESSION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM. IT TAKES TWO MEMBERS TO PUT SOMETHING BACK ON THE AGENDA IN THE FORM OF A WORK SESSION OR, OR ANY, ANY OF THAT NATION TO PUT IT BACK ON FOR ACTION. IT WOULD TAKE SOMEONE, ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S ORDER. IT WOULD TAKE SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR THE MOTION TO PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL ACTION OR FOR FURTHER ACTION. AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY UNUSUAL TO BRING UP AN ITEM THAT PASSED BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION, BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL, AND IT CERTAINLY CAN HAPPEN. IT'S TYPICALLY ITEMS THAT FAIL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A MOTION. HE DIDN'T GET A SECOND, SO. BUT YOU STILL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO DID YOU HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE? WE DID HAVE A MOTION I MISSED THAT WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YES.

SO AGAIN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ANY OPPOSED? NO. ALL RIGHT. THAT WOULD BE FOUR ONE. ALL RIGHT, MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO, COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A JOINT ELECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BEING HELD JOINTLY WITH THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PORT OF BEAUMONT FOR THE MAY 3RD, 2025 GENERAL ELECTION, AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? SECOND, 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. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CXG DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECT LOCATED AT 5695 CONCORD. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT BEAUMONT HAS MORE THAN TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE OF UNITS PER CAPITA SUPPORTED BY TAX CREDITS, AFFIRMING THAT THE PROPOSED PROJECT AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING AND OFFERING EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AND THE COMMITMENT OF FUNDING IN THE FORM OF A FEE WAIVER NOT TO EXCEED $500, AND IT COMES WITH

[01:40:06]

[01:45:04]

SO I THOUGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OPENING RIVERFRONT PARK IN MARCH. WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS? STILL FURTHER DELAY? AND WHEN IS THE ACTUAL OPENING DATE GOING TO HAPPEN? A LOT OF THE RECENT DELAYS HAVE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON THE WEATHER AND HAVING DAYS THAT THEY'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK. WE ARE MEETING WEEKLY NOW WITH THEIR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE WITH THE PURPOSE AND STAY FOCUSED ON GETTING THE PROJECT FINISHED.

THE LAST SCHEDULE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THEM IS FOR THE END OF FEBRUARY. WE'RE HAPPY TO OBSERVE TWO TRUCKLOADS OF SOD SHOWED UP THIS MORNING, AND THEY'VE BEEN PLACING SOD IN THE RAIN TODAY, SO THANKFULLY THE WEATHER DID NOT HINDER THAT ACTIVITY. THERE IS STILL SOME MORE WORK UNDERGROUND TO BE DONE. IF YOU'LL RECALL, THAT SITE HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR ABOUT 150 YEARS. AS A FORMER SAWMILL, THERE ARE SOME SURPRISES. ONCE WE GOT INTO THE LANDSIDE OPERATIONS THAT SLOWED US DOWN, BUT WE WERE CONFIDENT. THE CEO IS CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS TO MEET THAT END OF THE PROJECT AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. THERE MAY STILL BE SOME DRAINAGE WORK OCCURRING ON THE NORTH, JUST NORTH OF THE CIVIC CENTER, BUT THE REST OF THE PARK SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO BE OCCUPIED AND HAVE OUR GRAND OPENING. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO MODIFY THE NORTH SIDEWALKS TO COMPLY WITH ADA REGULATIONS? A LOT OF THE WORK IS ONGOING RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY PLAN TO. THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN MEET THE END OF FEBRUARY. AND LIKE I SAID, I'LL GET ANOTHER UPDATE THIS FRIDAY. BUT THEY ARE STANDING BEHIND THAT END OF FEBRUARY DATE. SO WHY DO THEY NEED 56 ADDITIONAL CALENDAR DAYS? THE PROJECT HAS EXTENDED BEYOND THE CONTRACT TIME, SO THERE WERE SOME DAYS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDED FOR THAT ADDITIONAL WORK. THAT STILL BRINGS THE. IT DOESN'T EXTEND THE CONTRACT TIME PAST THE END OF FEBRUARY. THEY'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO BE OUT OF CONTRACT DAYS, AND WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT MAY WHAT CHARGES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THERE'S NO ADVERSE PENALTIES TO THE WORK, THAT THEIR BOTTOM LINE. SOUNDS LIKE YOU STILL THINK IT COULD BE OPENED IN MARCH. WE ARE. WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL SEEING THAT SOD GO DOWN TODAY BECAUSE AS OTHER STAFF CAN TELL YOU, SOD IS HARD TO GET RIGHT NOW. AND TO SEE THOSE TRUCKLOADS SHOW UP, THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD SIGN. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, COUNCILMAN TURNER. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED. CLARITY. IT SAYS A TOTAL OF 56 ADDITIONAL DAYS, NOT ADDITIONAL 56 WORKING DAYS.

WELL, IT'S 56 ADDED 56 DAYS FROM WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS SCHEDULED TO END, WHICH WAS BACK AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. SO WE'RE CATCHING UP THROUGH DECEMBER AND JANUARY DAYS. SO WE'RE STILL BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE CONTRACT TIME. AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THAT, THAT THE DREADED LIQUIDATED DAMAGES DISCUSSION. SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM RIGHT NOW. OUR PRIORITY IS GET THE PROJECT FINISHED, GET THIS PARK OPEN. I UNDERSTAND I KIND OF SHARE WHAT MY SENTIMENT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER GETS WITH CITIZENS ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HOLD OUR CONTRACTS TO THE HARD DEADLINES THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, PRODUCE TO THE CITY.

[01:50:01]

IS THAT CORRECT WITH THESE CONDITIONS? YES, SIR. A MAXIMUM OF TWO DWELLING UNITS ON THE PROPERTY. OKAY. THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY

[PUBLIC HEARING]

[01:55:12]

OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? YES, SIR. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE. DEREK DAWSON, 48, 30 ROOT DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. I THINK HE'S SPEAKING ON ITEM NUMBER 37.

GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. I'M THE OWNER OF 4830 ROOT DRIVE. MY HOME SUSTAINED A FIRE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND BEEN BATTLING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES EVER SINCE, AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BATTLE WITH THAT. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER NOT DEMOLISHING THE PROPERTY AND GIVING ME A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO COMPLETE IT. OBVIOUSLY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. I HAVE NIMA AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PRONOUNCE THE LAST NAME, BUT THE ADDRESS IS 4160 BETHLEHEM AVENUE, BEAUMONT, NUM, MA'AM. THANK YOU. IT'S NIMA.

NIMA, OKAY. I'M THE OWNER OF 4160 BETHLEHEM. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS STRUCTURE, IT WAS SUFFERING FROM SEVERE TERMITE DAMAGE. IT WAS VANDALIZED. THEY STOLE ALL THE COPPER PLUMBING, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRE THROUGHOUT THE REAR OF THE STRUCTURE WAS LEANING AND, LIKE, ALMOST FALLING DOWN. I HAD TO COMPLETE EXTENSIVE REHAUL AND REMODEL OF THE PROPERTY. WE HAD TO TAKE ALL THE SHEET, ALL THE EXTERIOR SIDING OFF, TAKE ALL THE SHEATHING OFF, REPLACE ALL THE TWO BY FOURS WITH WITH PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER ONE BY ONE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR, SECOND FLOOR AND THE GARAGE. WE PUT ALL NEW SHEATHING UP. WE PUT ALL NEW WATERPROOF 50 YEAR HARDIPLANK SIDING, ALL NEW DOUBLE PANE WINDOWS, ALL INSULATED STEEL ALUMINUM DOORS.

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? WE TREATED FOR TERMITES AT THE COMPLETION OF THE REFRAME. AND THEN ALSO A SECOND TIME AT THE COMPLETION OF THE SHEATHING AND SIDING PREVENTATIVE MEASURE, THE ENTIRE ENVELOPE OF THE STRUCTURE IS REBUILT AND SECURE. ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SOFFIT TRIM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ENTIRE EXTERIORS ALSO FULLY REPAINTED. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY. I DID RE BOARD UP THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. WE DID SUFFER A BREAK IN IN OCTOBER OF 2024, SOMEBODY BROKE IN AND STOLE SOME NEW ELECTRICAL WIRE. WE ARE 25% THROUGH THE ROOF AND STATUS OF THE RE ELECTRIC. WE PASSED THE PLUMBING TOP OUT INSPECTION. SO THE PLUMBING SAYS WE'RE GOOD TO GO ON INSULATION AND SHEETROCK. RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST WORKING ON THAT 25 TO 100% OF THE ROOF AND ON ELECTRICAL. AND THEN I CAN INSULATE SHEETROCK AND WE CAN JUST ROCK AND ROLL FROM THERE.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SETBACK, BUT MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THE ROUGH END COMPLETED IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. I INTEND TO HAVE THE INSULATION COMPLETED AT THE END OF MARCH IS MY SCHEDULE. AND THEN AT THE VERY BEGINNING, THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF APRIL, I'D LIKE TO DO ALL THE SHEETROCK, AND THEN I HAVE TO DO THE THIRD PARTY THERMAL INSPECTION FOR ECO GREEN FRIENDLY. I'M AWARE OF,

[02:00:04]

YEAH. GO AHEAD. OKAY. I RECENTLY HAD A FIRE. I LIVE IN HOUSTON, SO I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO COME HERE TODAY TO SEE IF I CAN GET A TIME TO REPAIR IT. BASICALLY, I HAD A FIRE. IT WASN'T A FIRE. SOMEONE I GUESS, WAS TRYING TO GET OUT. THE COLD BROKE IN MY HOUSE AND I HAD TO FIND ONE WALL. IT DIDN'T DO ANY DAMAGE TO MY LEGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S JUST ON ONE WALL, SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TIME TO REPAIR IT, WHETHER IT'S GETTING TO A PROGRAM OR WHATEVER. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, SO I'M REALLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT IT IS REPAIRABLE AND I WOULD JUST LIKE A CHANCE TO REPAIR MY HOME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. AND JOSHUA BRYCE, 5720 DERBY LANE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. NOT SURE WHICH ITEM. YES, MA'AM. I BELIEVE I HAVE TWO HOUSES ON THAT LIST. 1578 TEXAS AND 6260 PANSY. PANSY IS NUMBER 32. AND I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT OTHER ONE 1578 TEXAS 44. YES. WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO FIX THESE PROPERTIES. WE HAVE ONE HOUSE FIRE ON THE PANSY PROPERTY AND THEN TEXAS WAS JUST I WAS JUST RECENTLY NOTIFIED OF THAT ONE. WE DID SOME REPAIRS A COUPLE MONTHS BACK ON THAT HOUSE. I DO HAVE PHOTOS OF OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WERE RED TAGGED THAT WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, AND ONE OF THEM WE GOT OUR CEO FOR IN OCTOBER. THE OTHER ONE WILL HAVE OUR FINAL INSPECTIONS NEXT WEEK IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BUT WE WILL GET THOSE PROJECTS STARTED ASAP AND GET THEM DONE WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME THAT WE ARE ALLOWED. IF WE ARE, AND I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM

[REGULAR AGENDA]

APPROVAL. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TEN? I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FIVE ITEMS 39, THREE, 27, 32 AND 44, I BELIEVE IT WAS 37. COUNCIL SHOULD BE SEVEN, 37, 27, 37, 32, 37 AND 44. OKAY, SO THERE IS A MOTION WITH REMOVING THE FIVE NUMBERS 37, THREE, 27, 44, 32. YES, 327, 32 3744 DO WE ALSO NEED TO ADD 11 AND 47? NO, BECAUSE THOSE WERE PULLED OKAY. THEY WERE PULLED. THEN I SECOND. ALL RIGHT, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TEN WITH THE AMENDMENTS CHANGES. IS THERE ANY

[02:05:04]

SECOND QUESTION, CHRIS, JUST AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS, IF WE DO DEMOLISH THE PROPERTY, WHAT ARE LIKE THE STEPS FOR THE WORK THAT THE CITY PAID AND THINGS LIKE THAT? IS IT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY? HOW DOES THAT WORK? AGAIN, NO. SO IF IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, WE DO NOT ATTACH A LEAN TO THE PROPERTY. THE CITY WOULD ABSORB THOSE COSTS. IT'S A COMBINATION OF CITY FUNDING, IN SOME CASES CDBG, HUD FUNDING. BUT IF IT'S RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, WHICH MOST OF THESE ARE, WE DO NOT TRY TO COLLECT OR PLACE A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. IF IT'S COMMERCIAL, THOUGH, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE, IF IT IS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, THEN WE WOULD WE WOULD SEND THE OWNER A BILL, AND IF THE BILL IS NOT PAID, THEN WE WOULD ATTACH A LEAN TO THAT PROPERTY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN, MAYOR, CAN WE BECAUSE A COUPLE OF FOLKS THAT CAME UP AND SPOKE SAID THEY HAD NEVER BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

SO CAN WE TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENS NOW AS FAR AS EXTENSIONS FOR THE FIVE PROPERTIES THAT WE PULLED OFF THE DEMOLITION LIST, OR FOR THE FIVE THAT WERE REMOVED? OKAY, YEAH. SO FOR THE FIVE THAT WERE REMOVED, THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO ENTER INTO A 150 DAY WORK PROGRAM. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. IF THAT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON TODAY, OR IF THAT BY REMOVING THEM THEY NOW HAVE THAT OPTION. SO THE MOTION WAS TO REMOVE THEM FROM, FROM THE DEMOLITION, SO THAT IT'S ASSUMED THAT THEY WOULD ENTER INTO THE WORK PROGRAM TO DO THAT. OKAY. SO ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS NOW CONTACT US AND WE WILL ALSO TRY TO CONTACT THEM TO ENTER INTO THAT WORK PROGRAM WITHIN THE TEN DAY TIMEFRAME. OKAY. AND FROM SORRY AND TO ELABORATE, FROM THERE THEY WILL GET THEIR PERMITS AND THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE THE WORK AND BRING THE STRUCTURE UP TO CODE WITHIN 150 DAYS. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TEN, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, WOULD

[WORK SESSION]

WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE VICE CHAIR TO THE BEAUMONT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ADVISORY BOARD. NOT ONLY DO THEY RESUME THE DUTIES WHEN THE CHAIRMAN IS NOT THERE, BUT AS READ, THEY ALSO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX GRANT, ONE OF WHICH THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REVIEWING COME APRIL 10TH. SO WE THIS APPOINTMENT NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE PLACE. OF COURSE, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THERE ARE 16 SEATS, WHICH 15 ARE ALREADY FILLED. NOT ONLY DOES THE BYLAWS STATE THAT THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT THERE IS AN ORDINANCE IN IN PLACE AS WELL. IT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR HANDOUTS. IT'S A HIGHLIGHTED AREA THAT YOU CAN REVIEW. I'VE PROVIDED A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOU TO REVIEW AS WELL. WE'VE DONE SOME OF THE LEGWORK FOR YOU. WE SURVEYED OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO CHECK FOR THEIR AVAILABILITY AND DESIRE TO SIT ON THE BOARD AS THE VICE CHAIR. ALL OF THE DUTIES WERE REVIEWED WITH THEM. THREE BOARD MEMBERS STEPPED UP AND EXPRESSED INTEREST IN CHAIRING. ON JANUARY

[02:10:06]

TODAY I WANT TO CONTINUE WHAT I BEGAN IN MY LAST PRESENTATION, SHIFTING FOCUS FROM AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ADDRESSES TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS. SO THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES JUST THAT. OF THE 14 TOTAL PROPERTY OWNERS, HALF HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLIANCE. THE REMAINING SEVEN STILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL WORK AHEAD OF THEM. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE CONTINUE TO PROACTIVE APPROACH AND INVITED THESE SEVEN OWNERS TO A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TO CLARIFY OUR REQUEST AND FACILITATE SOLUTIONS. PROGRESS SEEMED TO HAVE STALLED, AND WE WANTED TO REENGAGE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY WITH THESE SEVEN OWNERS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE RESULTS WERE LARGELY POSITIVE. ONE BUILDING OWNER COMMITTED TO REPAIRING TWO BUILDINGS AND ACQUIRING A CO FOR BOTH. ONE BUILDING OWNER HAS ALREADY KNOCKED OUT A FEW REPAIRS AND IS. AND SINCE OUR MEETING IS WORKING ON THE VACANT BUILDING REGISTRY, ONE BUILDING OWNER COMMUNICATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET THE DVR DONE.

ONE BUILDING OWNER IS LOOKING TO MIMIC SOME OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL BOARDED AND SECURED BUILDINGS THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO TEMPORARY COMPLIANCE. SO FOR FOUR OF THESE OWNERS, THIS IS THE PROGRESS WE WERE HOPING TO SEE BY SIMPLY SITTING DOWN TOGETHER. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THREE BUILDING OWNERS WHO COLLECTIVELY OWN 13 BUILDINGS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. QUICKLY, I'LL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OVERVIEW BY ADDRESS, STARTING WITH THE VACANT BUILDING REGISTRY AND OUR DEMO COORDINATOR. COORDINATOR. AS YOU KNOW, CLUTTER IS HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILED QUESTIONS, THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE CONTACTED TO REGISTER THEIR VACANT BUILDING. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONLY ONE HAS DONE SO, BUT SEVERAL HAVE COMMUNICATED PLANS TO DO SO. NEXT SLIDE. HERE'S A LIST OF UNSAFE PROPERTIES BY ADDRESS. I'LL NOTE THAT THE ADDRESSES IN THIS SLIDE REPRESENT THE SEVEN OWNERS THAT WE INVITED TO SIT DOWN WITH US. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HERE IS A LIST OF THE OWNER. HERE IS A LIST OF THE OTHER SEVEN OWNERS PROPERTIES THAT ARE EITHER COMPLETELY COMPLIANT OR VERY CLOSE TO IT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THEN BEFORE UPDATING ON THE GILBERT BUILDING, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT ON WHY ADDRESSING UNSAFE VIOLATIONS IS SO CRITICAL. WHILE I KNOW YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING CODES, IT IS VALUABLE TO REFLECT ON PAST INCIDENTS AND CONTINUE TO APPLY THOSE LESSONS TO OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THE FIRST BUILDING CODES IN THE UNITED STATES AIM TO PREVENT FIRE SPREAD, WHILE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS HAVE EVOLVED, THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF FIRE PREVENTION AND OCCUPANT SAFETY REMAINS UNCHANGED. IN 1625, THE FIRST RECORDED BUILDING LAW WAS PASSED IN NEW AMSTERDAM, WHICH IS NOW NEW YORK, PRIMARILY ADDRESSING WOODEN CHIMNEYS TO REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 30TH, 1903. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS A FIRE DURING A MATINEE PERFORMANCE RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY 602 DEATHS. THE THEATER LACKED SUFFICIENT EXITS AND LACKED SUFFICIENT EXITS RELATIVE TO ITS OCCUPANCY. NOVEMBER 28TH, 1942 THE COCONUT COCONUT GROVE NIGHTCLUB FIRE IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. A FIRE IN AN OVERCROWDED NIGHTCLUB LED TO 492 DEATHS. MANY EXITS WERE LOCKED OR CONCEALED IN THE VENUE, CONTAINED HIGHLY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. MORE RECENT NOVEMBER 21ST, 1980, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA A FIRE CAUSED 85 DEATHS AND OVER 700 INJURIES. THE

[02:15:05]

FEBRUARY 20TH, 2003 THE STATION NIGHTCLUB FIRE IN WEST WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND. A PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY IGNITED SOUNDPROOFING FOAM, LEADING TO 100 DEATHS AND OVER 200 INJURIES. THE BUILDING WAS OVERCROWDED, LACKED ADEQUATE EXITS, AND HAD NO SPRINKLER SYSTEM. WHILE NATIONAL TRAGEDIES HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR STRONG BUILDING CODES, WE HAVE ALSO UNFORTUNATELY SEEN INCIDENTS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY THAT EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ENFORCEMENT. JUNE 12TH, 2017 A 4000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WITH A HIGH FIRE LOAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE BUILDING LACKED DETECTORS AND AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS. A STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE ULTIMATELY LED TO ITS COMPLETE DEMOLITION.

MARCH 21ST, 2021 THE FORMER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FIRE. A FIRE BROKE OUT ON AN UPPER FLOOR OF THIS VACANT AND UNSECURED BUILDING, AND THIS STRUCTURE IS UNFORTUNATELY CONSISTENTLY FOUND UNSECURE AND UNSAFE. APRIL 8TH, 2022 FORMER WORKFORCE BUILDING A FIRE IN A THREE STORY VACANT BUILDING REQUIRED EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THE STRUCTURE HAD BROKEN WINDOWS AND UNSECURED ENTRY POINTS. THE BUILDING REMAINS VACANT AND UNSECURED FROM ENTRY TODAY, JUNE 6TH, 2024. THE GILBERT BUILDING FIRE. THIS FIRE OCCURRED IN A RECENT AND A RECENTLY TAGGED VACANT BUILDING WITH MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS. BEAUMONT FIRE WAS QUICKLY ON SCENE AFTER AN INITIAL OFFENSIVE ATTACK. UNITS MOVED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE COLLAPSE ZONE AND STILL BE EFFECTIVE. THE NEW OBJECTIVE WAS TO SLOW FIRE GROWTH AND KEEP THE FIRE CONTAINED TO ONE BUILDING. THAT OBJECTIVE WAS ACHIEVED. THANK YOU AGAIN TO BEAUMONT FIRE FOR YOUR QUICK, QUICK ACTION TO SUPPRESS THIS FIRE WHILE SHORING. EFFORTS ARE IN PROGRESS TODAY. NO FORMAL PLAN TO SECURE OR RESTORE THE BUILDING HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO CITY STAFF.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YES, SIR. BEFORE YOU GO FORWARD, YOU SAID YOU HAD INVITED SEVEN BUILDING OWNERS TO COME TO A ROUNDTABLE TO HELP FACILITATE DISCUSSION AND INITIATE THE PROCESS, AND THAT FOUR PEOPLE DID, THREE DID NOT. THE IDENTITIES OF THE THREE THAT DID NOT. IS THAT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC INFORMATION? IF THERE WAS A RECORD OF THEY SENT OUT INVITATIONS VIA EMAIL. THERE'S A RECORD OF IT. OR IF THEY TOOK ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING, THEN YES, THEY WOULD BE. WAS THERE A RECORD OF EMAIL INVITATIONS? YES. WHO WERE THE THREE THAT DID NOT SHOW UP? MR. FLANAGAN, MR. GILBERT. ALLOW ME TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. MR. CLUTTER WILL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR US.

THANK YOU. AT THE LAST MEETING, COUNCIL SET A MARCH 11TH DEADLINE FOR A STRUCTURAL PLAN, ALONG WITH A CLEAR INTENT AND TIMELINE FOR THE GILBERT BUILDING. THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE RECEIVED AN UPDATED TIMELINE FORECASTING A MID-MAY COMPLETION OF THE STRUCTURAL CONCERNS.

WHILE STRUCTURAL REPAIRS ARE CRUCIAL, SECURING THE BUILDING AGAINST TRESPASSING ALSO REMAINS A CRITICAL CONCERN. THIS BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY TAGGED IN APRIL OF 2023, THEN AGAIN AS PART OF THIS BROADER PROACTIVE PLAN IN EARLY 2024. TODAY, NO FORMAL PLAN HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO ADDRESS THIS IMMINENT DANGER. WE WILL EXPAND ON THIS MORE AT THE MARCH 11TH COUNCIL MEETING.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THREE QUICK TAKEAWAYS. FIRST, PROGRESS IS HAPPENING. OVER THE HALF, OVER HALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES TOWARDS COMPLIANCE. CONTINUED COLLABORATION HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE. SECOND, SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. WE ALL DREAM OF MORE OCCUPANCY AND ACTIVE AND INACTIVE DOWNTOWN, BUT OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS PROTECTING LIVES BOTH IN AND AROUND THESE BUILDINGS. AND THIRD, BY WORKING TOGETHER, CITY STAFF, PROPERTY OWNERS AND COUNCIL. THESE CHALLENGES WILL CONTINUE TO TURN INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR A MORE VIBRANT AND SAFE CITY. WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S CONTINUED SUPPORT AS WE WORK TO UPHOLD BUILDING SAFETY STANDARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, WE'LL GLADLY ADDRESS ANY OF THEM. COUNCILMAN TURNER.

WELL, I HAVE A I HAVE A QUESTION AND FURTHERMORE CONCERN, AND I LIKE TO SEE HOW COUNCIL AND STAFF FEELS ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, WITH THE STANDARDS OF THE GILBERT BUILDING AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, I WOULD HOPE TO SEE IF COUNCIL WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT ADDING LIABILITY INSURANCE TO THAT BUILDING ON THE OWNER TO. WHEREAS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THAT LIABILITY WON'T BE ON ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE OWNER. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE STAFF HAS SAID ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT AND THE PROGRESS OR LACK OF THAT WE'RE MAKING, I JUST THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO,

[02:20:04]

[COUNCIL COMMENTS]

SIR. COUNCILMAN GETS. THERE'S A HOUSE ON ARMSTRONG THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECLARED A PUBLIC

[02:25:06]

YEAH. I JUST WANT TO KNOW SITUATION ON BOB STREET. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO BACK OUT THERE TODAY AND SEE IF THE CAR WAS STILL PARKED ON THAT PROPERTY, AND IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO GET IT TOWED. WE CAN. THEY WERE DUE TO GO BACK OUT TODAY SO WE CAN GET YOU A REPORT THIS AFTERNOON.

WHAT THEY FOUND? THE. I KNOW THAT GUY'S BEEN IN COURT, BUT THEY THEY IGNORING. THEY'RE IGNORING WHATEVER THE JUDGE SAY BECAUSE THEY KEEP GOING BACK AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON CARS, AND I GET CALLS FROM NEIGHBORS. ONE PARTICULAR NEIGHBOR, AT LEAST 2 OR 3 TIMES A WEEK.

BECAUSE THE GUY'S RUNNING AN AUTO SHOP OUT OF HIS BACKYARD. HE'S LIVING IN A SHED, AND HE WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO GET A SEARCH WARRANT TO SEE IF THERE WAS RUNNING ELECTRICITY TO THAT SHED. HAS ANY OF THAT BEEN DONE YET? WE CAN GET YOUR REPORT ON THAT. I DO KNOW THAT THERE THE CASE HAS BEEN TO COURT, I THINK MULTIPLE TIMES. I THINK THE OWNER OR THE OCCUPANT FAILED TO APPEAR. AND I THINK A WARRANT WAS ISSUED AND EXECUTED AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL. YOU TALKING ABOUT THE OWNER OR THE GUY THAT'S WORKING ON THE IN THE TENANT? THE LEGAL OWNER IS DECEASED. SO I BELIEVE IT'S THE TENANT. IT'S THE TENANT. AND THEN ALSO WE FOUND THE HEIR TO THE PROPERTY. SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH HIM TO ABATE THE ISSUE. ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BEEN ABATED AT THIS POINT. BUT I DO NEED TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF THE WARRANT. AND I'LL TRY TO COORDINATE WITH THE POLICE CHIEF TO DO SO. NO, THEY DROVE OUT THERE TO. RIGHT NOW, THE GUY IS PROBABLY IN THE BACKYARD WORKING ON CARS, AND THEY HAVE A SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT OWN SOME PROPERTY THERE. THEY ARE WANTING TO. HE ALREADY BUILT A HOUSE THERE, AND HE HAD A HARD TIME SELLING IT BECAUSE OF THE GUY ACROSS THE STREET WITH THE MECHANIC SHOP, AND HE HAS SOME OTHER PROPERTY THAT HE'S TRYING TO SELL. AND SAME THING. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GET KIND OF THEY WANT TO DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY, BUT WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AND YOU SEE THIS GUY GOT CARS LINED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IN THE BACKYARD, YOU KNOW. YES, SIR. I IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. I WENT OUT THERE AS LATE AS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND IT IS STILL GOING ON. AND I THINK I KNOW WE HAVE MULTIPLE CASES AGAINST IT AND WE'RE JUST WE'RE WORKING THOSE CASES, WORKING ON CARS. WHEN YOU WENT OUT THERE, YOU DIDN'T GET OUT AND TELL THEM TO STOP. I DID NOT. ALRIGHT. COUNCILMAN GETS BACK TO YOU AS WELL, MISS REED.

ONE QUESTION I HAVE CONCERNS A CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS CIVIL. FIND THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE ATTACHED FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY. IT IS ONLY A FIND THAT WE WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO DO, IS THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO THROUGH MUNICIPAL COURT. CORRECT. SO IT'D BE A FINE. SO I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN, HAVING PRACTICED FAMILY LAW FOR 30 YEARS, THAT I HAVE TO TAKE EXCEPTION WITH YOU, SIR, SAYING THAT THIS COUNCIL JUST WANTS TO TURN ITS BACK ON CHILD CUSTODY INTERFERENCE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE LAW ALLOWS FOR IT TO BE FILED IN CIVIL COURT AND FAMILY COURT. AND IF SOMEONE IS INTERFERING WITH CHILD CUSTODY, THE FAMILY LAW JUDGES

[02:30:06]

COUNCILMAN TURNER. I'M GLAD YOU DID STAY TO THE END OF THE MEETING, BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE EMAILED YOU BEFORE IN REFERENCE TO IT, AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN CONNECT YOU WITH A STAFF MEMBER SO YOU GUYS CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AND REFERENCE TO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO. I AM CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH CHILDREN, BUT I WOULD RATHER THE PROFESSIONALS ON OUR STAFF DEAL WITH THAT WHO ACTUALLY WILL BRING THAT INFORMATION TO US AND DO WHATEVER PRESENTATION. SO I AM SAYING IT OPENLY. I LIKE TO GET WITH YOU AND MAYBE CONNECT YOU WITH THE PROPER PERSON. YOU KNOW, PRIOR TO US LEAVING THE CHAMBERS, I COME DOWN AND SEE YOU TODAY. MY SECOND THING WAS IT'S ADDRESS, 2130 SARAH STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77 705. THIS PARTICULAR RESIDENT HAS CONTACTED ME MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT I GUESS IT'S A NEIGHBOR WHO'S NOT PROPERLY TAKING CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY NEXT TO THEM.

MISS DIRECTOR. MISS DEMI, I KNOW YOU GET A LOT OF THINGS COMING AT YOU IN MULTIPLE WAYS, BUT I'M JUST SIMPLY SHARING WHAT THIS NEIGHBOR OR THIS CITIZEN HAS CAME TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT.

I PROBABLY TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM HER MAYBE ONCE A WEEK. SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SHARE THAT IT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AND I TOLD HER I WOULD SPEAK TO IT AT COUNCIL. SO IT'S ON THE RECORD AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? YES, SIR. YEAH. BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE STAFF. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS DO. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO DO THESE THINGS. AND AGAIN, IT'S ELECTION SEASON. SO YOU KNOW HOW THINGS WILL PROBABLY BE. SO NO POINT IN BEATING AROUND THE BUSH OR TALKING LIKE IT'S NOT EXISTENCE. YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE AND I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP WORKING. I ENCOURAGE THIS COUNCIL TO KEEP WORKING, DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIZENS AND NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN POLITICS. BUT LET'S JUST MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER. NOTHING, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YES. I JUST LIKE TO OFFER CONDOLENCES TO THE BROUSSARD FAMILY. ON THE LOSS OF THEIR PATRIARCH, LEONARD BROUSSARD DIED OVER THE WEEKEND. HE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST COOKS THIS CITY EVER HAD. THE OPPORTUNITY. TO EAT FROM HIS TABLE. AND HE'D BE A HUGE LOSS TO THE CITY. PUBLIC WORKS. NOTHING, MAYOR. NO COMMENT. JUST WANTED TO THANK BEAU HANSON, DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL, FOR COMING UP AND GIVING THIS PRESENTATION. I KNOW SOME OF IT WAS A BIT OF A TIMELINE OF HISTORY, AND I JUST WANT TO REFOCUS THAT. THE REASON WE ARE, ARE WE ARE FOCUSING ON CODES IS THAT IT DOES POSE FIRE ISSUES. IT DOES POSE A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. SO NOT ONLY WAS WAS THERE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION TALK, BUT THIS IS THE KEY, THE KEY STEP TO TAKING TAKING THOSE STEPS TOWARDS REVITALIZATION. AND THAT IS NUMBER ONE, MAKING SURE THAT IT IS A SAFE PLACE TO WALK FREELY IN PUBLIC PLACES. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO REFOCUS AS TO WHY WE WERE HIGHLIGHTING THESE PROPERTIES. YEAH. GO AHEAD. YEAH. I MEAN, AGAIN, MISS EAGLE, AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT. BUT NOW I THINK IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE JUST WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED AND DID WHAT THE CITY HAS REQUESTED, YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT TO FIGURE OUT THE NEXT SOLUTION TO THE ONES WHO HAVEN'T. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT. I'M SAYING IT OPENLY TO MAKE SURE WE HOLD THEM ALL TO THE SAME ACCOUNTABILITY AND WHATEVER SUGGESTIONS YOU FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO NEXT TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. MR. CITY MANAGER. I JUST LIKE TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO TRACY AND LOSS OF HER FATHER. YES, THANKS. ALL

[02:35:01]

AND ONE REASON THIS IS SUCH A GREAT STATE AND WE LOVE LIVING HERE. SO THAT REQUIRES PROCESSES AND THE COURTS GET INVOLVED. SO THINGS OFTEN DON'T MOVE QUICKLY. BUT YOU ALL STAY ON TOP OF IT AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. AND I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS BECAUSE I KNOW OFTENTIMES PEOPLE MAY FEEL LIKE NOTHING IS HAPPENING. I KNOW WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER COLD WEATHER EVENT LATER THIS WEEK, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT EARLIER. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO THE SALVATION ARMY, HENRY'S PLACE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER PLACE AND BEAUMONT PETS ALIVE.

AND I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION. IN TERMS OF SALVATION ARMY AND HENRY'S PLACE. THEY ARE. HENRY'S PLACE IS PREPARED FOR ANY OVERFLOW. IF THE SALVATION ARMY HAS NEED FOR THAT. AND SO AND I YOU KNOW, I JUST APPRECIATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC REACHES OUT. THOSE ARE THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FEET ON THE GROUND. AND I'M NOT SAYING OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THINGS THERE ARE.

BUT FROM MY WHENEVER I REACH OUT, WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THOSE AREAS, THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE. SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR GIVING MONEY OR GIVING RESOURCES, THESE ARE ALL 500 AND 1C3 THAT ARE DOING SIGNIFICANT WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEN YOU SEE OTHER PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN COME TO THE CITY AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, WE ENDED UP PROVIDING SOME COTS TO HENRY'S PLACE LAST TIME, AND THERE WASN'T A NEED FOR WHAT WE PROVIDED, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE THERE, AND I JUST APPLAUD THE 500 AND 1C3 AND OUR COMMUNITY, HOW THEY SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE UNSTRUCTURED DURING THESE COLD WEATHER SPELLS, AS WELL AS THE AS WELL AS THE ANIMALS. AND I KNOW AS WE WRAP THINGS UP TO GO INTO RECESS, THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT ANIMAL SHELTERS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AND WOULD BE ON THE BOND. SO BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ADD ONE AND THEY'RE NOT INEXPENSIVE. SO THAT IS THE TYPE OF DIALOG THAT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE. AND WITH THAT,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.