Apr 01, 2025 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO THE MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST, 2025. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR RODERICK BLEWETT, PASTOR OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS NEW HORIZONS CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

LET US PRAY TODAY. THANK YOU LORD. FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU TODAY, LORD, THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT FAITH IS IMPORTANT. AND FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, LORD, WE DO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU, LORD, CONFESSING OUR INABILITY, CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR YOU.

YOUR WORD SAYS THAT IF WE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IN ALL OF OUR WAYS, THAT YOU WOULD DIRECT OUR PATH. AND, FATHER, THIS IS A CITY LORD THAT REACHES OUT TO MINISTERS TO COME AND PRAY FOR THE CITY. AND WE THANK YOU NOW, LORD, BY THE PROFESSION OF ALL OF THESE COUNCILMEN, THEY'RE MEN OF FAITH. AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY TODAY, LORD, THAT BY THEIR WORDS THAT THEY WOULD LIVE. OH, GOD, AS LEADERS OF FAITH. FATHER, WE PRAY, LORD, NOT ONLY FOR KNOWLEDGE TO LEAD THIS CITY, BUT WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD NAVIGATE US THROUGH THE LANDMINES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. WE PRAY, OH GOD, THAT YOU WOULD DIRECT OUR THOUGHTS. GOD THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO BE BALANCED, FOR YOUR WAYS ARE EQUAL. FATHER, YOU SAID THAT YOU'VE TAUGHT US, LORD, WHAT YOU REQUIRE TO DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY BEFORE YOU. NOW, LORD, I LIFT UP THIS LEADERSHIP TODAY, FATHER, AND ALL OF THOSE THAT FOLLOW. MAY OUR LEADERS, OH GOD, BE THE FIRST PARTAKERS OF THE FRUIT OF HUMILITY, OF WISDOM AND OF DIRECTION. I PRAY FOR CHURCHES.

I PRAY FOR LEADERS. I PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THESE ARE PERILOUS TIMES. FATHER, SETTLE OUR HEARTS. GIVE US SOBER MINDS AS WE DO THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY, WHICH IS YOUR BUSINESS. FATHER. EXCEPT YOU WATCH THIS CITY. WE WATCH IT IN VAIN. WE LIFT OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILIES, OUR SCHOOLS. BEFORE YOU TODAY.

OUR BUSINESSES. FATHER, WHEN WE EXALT YOU, WE CAN ALL BE PROSPEROUS. FATHER, JUST FORGIVE US WHERE WE FAIL AND GIVE US DIRECTION TO GO FORWARD. FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST, PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM NEAL, PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN DARIO HERE. COUNCILMAN GATES PRESENT. COUNCILMAN TURNER. PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN FALLSHAW PRESENT. AND COUNCILMAN SAMUEL. PRESENT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE

[PROCLAMATIONS]

ARE YOU SIR? THERE YOU GO. SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK. YOU. HELLO. GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIS, FOR WHAT YOU DO.

ALRIGHT. ARE YOU.

[00:05:21]

NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 77TH CELEBRATION OF THE NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL.

ACCEPTING WILL BE MISSUS MELLIE LAVACA AND THE 77TH SOCIAL CHAIRMAN AND MR. JUSTIN HUFF.

THE NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL 77TH PRESIDENT. IF THEY WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. AND ANYBODY ELSE WITH THE NATURE'S RIVER FESTIVAL, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. WE INVITE YOU DOWN. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. DANIEL. APPRECIATE YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. YES, MA'AM. YEAH. HOW YOU DOING? AND, JUSTIN, YOU CAN Y'ALL CAN COME.

OH, YEAH. WE GOT TO GET A PICTURE FIRST. YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN THIS ONE. THANKS FOR. EVERYONE. OKAY. STAY THERE FOR ONE MORE SECOND. GOT IT.

[00:10:01]

NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL WAS FORMED IN 1947. THE MEMBERS OF BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WERE HAVING A SUNSET CRUISE ON THE NECHES RIVER, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER, CALDWELL MCFADDEN, ALONG WITH HIS FRIENDS, WERE DISCUSSING THEIR PLANS HOW TO BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY. AND IN THAT MOMENT THE NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL WAS BORN. THE PURPOSE OF THE FESTIVAL WAS TO PROVIDE BEAUMONT COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS WITH A SPRINGTIME CELEBRATION CENTERED ON THE BEAUTIFUL NECHES RIVER, TO ENCOURAGE ITS USE BY OUR CITIZENS AND PUBLICIZE THE BEAUTY OF OUR RIVER AND THE VALUE OF OUR PORT. AND ALSO, ON MAY 28TH, 1949, IS WHEN THE NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL DEBUTED. THERE WERE SIX PRINCESSES AND THERE WAS 11 DUCHESSES, AND NOW IN ITS 77TH YEAR, WE HAVE 83 PRINCESSES AND WE HAVE 30 VISITING VISITING DUCHESSES ALL THE WAY FROM ORANGE, TEXAS TO SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS YOUTH. WE'RE WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE OFFER SEVEN BOARD SCHOLARSHIPS. AND THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHO PLUMMER AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE FESTIVAL THAT WILL BE ATTENDING LAMAR UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR TIME. BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT FROM YOU AND THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS LONG STANDING TRADITION AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR FESTIVAL FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. ALL RIGHT. AND I'M INVITING AMY LAVOY UP. SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND SHE'S GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. IT IS MY GREAT HONOR ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO PRESENT THIS BELL AS A SYMBOL OF UNITY, TRADITION, CELEBRATION. AS WE OFFICIALLY KICK OFF THE 77TH NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL. THE FIRST NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL DEBUTED IN BEAUMONT IN 1949. THANKS TO THE DEDICATION AND COLLABORATION OF OUR CITY LEADERS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF T.T.

HUNT, THEN THE EDITOR OF THE BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE. THE FESTIVAL OVERCAME FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THROUGH THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE GREATER BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OUR CITY OFFICIALS. THE CHAMBER PROVIDED OFFICE SPACE AND SECRETARIAL SUPPORT, WHILE LOCAL MERCHANTS AND FLORISTS GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES TO BRING THIS FESTIVAL TO LIFE. CITY OFFICIALS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE OFFERING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, POLICE SECURITY ASSISTANCE FROM VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS, ENSURING OUR FESTIVAL WAS A SUCCESS. THIS STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CHAMBER, CITY OFFICIALS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR CHERISHED BEAUMONT TRADITION. FOR GENERATIONS, THE NECHES RIVER HAS BEEN THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, CARRYING OUR HISTORY, FUELING OUR INDUSTRY, AND PROVIDING A PLACE FOR US TO GATHER. AND JUST AS THE RIVER CONTINUES TO FLOW, SO DOES THE SPIRIT OF NECHES RIVER FESTIVAL. THIS BELL REPRESENTS THE CALL FOR US TO COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OUR PAST, EMBRACE OUR PRESENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO A FUTURE FILLED WITH PROMISES. SO LET'S THIS RING REMIND US OF OUR STRENGTH, OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE JOY OF OUR TRADITIONS, AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DAYS TO COME. WITH THAT, MELLIE, WOULD YOU

[00:15:06]

ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS GILDER OF JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BEAUMONT COMMUNITY PROJECT CHAIR, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BEAUMONT REPRESENTATIVES HERE.

TONIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL I'M SHERRI DICKERSON I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BEAUMONT.

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF BEAUMONT IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN WHOSE MISSION IS THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH VOLUNTEER ACTION, COLLABORATION, AND TRAINING. WE HAVE FIVE ACTIVE COMMUNITY PROJECTS GOING RIGHT NOW, AND ONE OF OUR BIG ONES IS OUR SERVICE SQUAD. IT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN OUR LEAGUE FOR WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. TODAY. DECADES IS MY BEST ANSWER TODAY.

AND WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS EVENT THAT MISS ARKELL HAS PLANNED FOR THIS WEEKEND IS THAT WE INVITE ALL 175 OF OUR MEMBERS TO SERVE WITH US ON THAT DAY. SHE'S GOING TO TELL US MORE ABOUT IT. HELLO, I'M MARK HILL, I'M THE SERVICE SQUAD CHAIR ENDING UP THIS YEAR. SO THIS SATURDAY I HAVE ALL THE WOMEN COMING OUT, WILL BE AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY, CLEANING OUT CANDLES AND GIVING LOVE TO THE DOGS AND THE CATS AND THOSE AND TRYING NOT TO ADOPT ONE. AND WE'RE EVEN GOING TO BE DONATING A LOT OF NECESSITIES THAT THEY NEED. WILL ALSO BE AT THE SUICIDE WALK. WE'LL BE AT STABLE SPIRIT, HELPING OUT WITH THE HORSES AND THEIR THERAPY SESSIONS, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE WITH HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. SO WE'RE DOING A LAUNDRY DAY. WE'RE GIVING BACK. AND TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED OF WASHING CLOTHES, THEY'RE NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE TO WASH THEIR CLOTHES. WE'LL BE HELPING THEM AT A WASH INTERIOR IN TOWN AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WE THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TODAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. 123. OKAY, I HAVE ONE MORE CAMERA. DON'T MOVE. I GOT IT. YEAH, YEAH.

NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL AS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH.

ACCEPTING WILL BE MISS TIA ROBINSON, AUTISM CHAIR OF THE ZETA CHAPTER OF BEAUMONT ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY INCORPORATED. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, SORRY. BUT Y'ALL ARE ALL WELCOME TO COME UP HERE. AND I EXPRESS MY APOLOGY. THANK YOU. AND THEN FEEL FREE TO STAY.

FOREVER. TO BE CHOSEN AND THRUST UPON. YOU. I. SHALL WE DIE? YES.

[00:20:09]

EVERYBODY READY? LOOK RIGHT HERE IN ONE, TWO, THREE. HEY, ONE MORE CAMERA. STAY RIGHT THERE.

SORRY. SORRY. OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. NO, NO. I'M ABOUT TO SING THE SONG. NO, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT POPPING MY BACK. IT'S NOT MY BACK. IT'S THE NERVE GOING DOWN. MY. YEAH. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US TODAY ON THIS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY, THIS WONDERFUL BEGINNING OF THE MONTH OF AUTISM AWARENESS. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ALPHA CHI ZETA CHAPTER OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. AND THIS IS TIA ROBINSON, WHO IS OUR. ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT FOR US? SO THIS PROCLAMATION, YOU GOT TO HAND THIS TO YOU. THANK YOU. I MESSED UP YOUR NAME. WE FORGOT ABOUT THAT. HELD UP YOUR PROCLAMATION. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. THIS IS TIA ROBINSON, WHO IS OUR COORDINATOR OF OUR AUTISM AWARENESS COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE HER SON HERE WITH US, JULIAN.

AND SHE'S GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT AUTISM AWARENESS. AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT GOING ON THIS MONTH TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF AUTISM AWARENESS AND THE THINGS THAT IT ENTAILS.

AND SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE. PLANNED. THIS IS THE MONTH OF APRIL WHERE AUTISM AWARENESS BEGINS. APRIL 2ND IS THE NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS DAY, AND THIS MONTH WITH ALPHA CHI ZETA, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING ZUMBA WITH THE ZETAS AT CRUNCH FITNESS, AND WE WILL ALSO CELEBRATE BY WEARING BLUE ALL DAY LONG. APRIL 2ND I KNOW YOU LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT.

THE ZUMBA. THE ZUMBA WITH ZETA IS APRIL 13TH AT 3 P.M. TO 6 P.M. CRUNCH FITNESS ON DOWLING.

YOU ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME OUT AND JOIN US. YES, BUT APRIL 2ND WHERE ARE YOUR BLUE AND POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH AUTISM AWARENESS. AND YOU CAN ALSO HELP WITH THAT CONCERNING AUTISM AWARENESS. THANK YOU.

THIS IS MY SON, JULIAN CLAY. HE IS 13 YEARS OLD AND WE I FIRST I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD AUTISM WHEN HE WAS TWO YEARS OLD, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN PLENTY OF THERAPY AND NOW HE'S IN JUNIOR HIGH. AND WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN? SIXTH GRADE? SIX, 6 OR 7? SEVEN. THAT'S A CANTON. OKAY. SO THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT'S A YES. SO THAT'S HE'S GOING TO WANT TO TALK ON THE PHONE ON THE MICROPHONE ALL THE WHOLE MEETING. SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE Y'ALL THAT Y'ALL HAD US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE IN DAYTON TEXAS. YES WE LIVE IN DAYTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SO NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. ACCEPTING WILL BE MR. KENNETH SIMIAN, SENIOR PRESIDENT OF THE BEAUMONT AREA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND. AND THOSE THAT ARE WITH YOU, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[00:25:05]

BLESS YOU, BROTHER. THANK YOU. GOTCHA. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY I SEE YOU. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. YES. THERE'S A. THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY, HERE WE GO. ONE, TWO.

THREE. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO GLAD TO BE HERE. BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK, THE BEAUMONT AREA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY USERS OF TEXAS AND THE BRAILLE REVIVAL LEAGUE OF TEXAS, WILL BE HOLDING AN EVENT CALLED SPLASH IN THE SPRING CELEBRATION AT R.C. MILLER LIBRARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY ON DOWLEN ROAD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH FROM 10:30 A.M. UNTIL 12 NOON. AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ MORE.

AND IT GOES FROM STUDENTS TO THE OLDER ADULTS. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE AT THE LIBRARY WITH SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS ON DIFFERENT THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO. ACCESSING BOOKS IN THE LOCAL LIBRARY, BUT ALSO EVEN FROM YOUR IPHONE OR SMART DEVICE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE THEME THIS YEAR, CELEBRATING 67 YEARS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. DRAWN TO THE LIBRARY, AND WE WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE LIBRARY OFFERS. AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US IF THEY CAN ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LASTLY, WE HAVE A

[PRESENTATIONS]

THE HUNT STARTS AT 11 AND GOES UNTIL ALL THE EGGS ARE GONE. SPEAKING OF EASTER, A REMINDER THAT CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH IN OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRIDAY. AND FINALLY, JUST FOR TODAY, CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A NEW PET SHOE ORDINANCE, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. ALL PETS IN BEAUMONT WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR SHOES AT ALL TIMES. YES, EVEN YOUR CATS. NO ONE IS EXEMPT FROM THE PAWS ON THE GROUND RULE. ANY PET CAUGHT WITHOUT SHOES WILL BE SENT STRAIGHT TO A TEXAS SIZED BARBECUE COOK OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT.

THEY'LL HAVE TO PORE THROUGH A GIANT PLATE OF BRISKET UNTIL THEY FIND THE PROPER FOOTWEAR, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ALL OUR PETS SHOULD LOOK STYLISH AS WELL. AND OF COURSE, JUST A FRIENDLY

[00:30:02]

[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]

MAYBE Y'ALL CAN FIND SOME PLACES FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, TO COOL OFF, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA GET HOT.

Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU. ALBERT HARRISON, 1240 ASHLEY BEAUMONT, TEXAS. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY. EMPLOYEES. OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS THAT ARE PRESENT. I HAVE A REQUEST TODAY. MY REQUEST IS REAL SIMPLE. I KNOW THE CITY OF BEAUMONT PUTS ON A JUNETEENTH ACTIVITY. MY REQUEST IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR JUNETEENTH ACTIVITY, FROM NOW ON, BE HELD ON THE EXACT DATE OF JUNE 19TH, NOT JUST ON THE WEEKEND AS Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING. THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S A NATIONAL HOLIDAY NOW. YOU'RE CLOSED ANYWAY, AND BY IT BEING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, YOU CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY ON THIS DATE. SO WHY NOT CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH ON EACH DAY? THE ONLY SIMPLE THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. AUSTIN SONNIER, 5555 LEXINGTON.

LUMBERTON, TEXAS. OKAY, THAT WORKS PRETTY GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES. AS A 20 YEAR ROOFING CONTRACTOR WORKING WITHIN OUR GREAT COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO RAISE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE LACK OF EDUCATION AND TRANSPARENCY IN OUR INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE PERMITTING PROCESS. IT'S UNIQUE OVERLAP TO NONCOMPLIANCE WITH ONE STORM CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND HOW THIS AFFECTS MULTIPLE BUSINESS MODELS. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE TO PERFORM ROOFING WORK, WHICH IN ITSELF CAN LEAD TO A VARIETY OF COMPLICATIONS. I'D LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTING HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES IN BEAUMONT. THE FAILURE TO PULL NECESSARY PERMITS FOR ROOFING WORK, AND HOW EASY IT IS TO SLIDE THROUGH THE CRACKS OF NOT PULLING ONE. CONSIDERING THERE IS NO REPRIMAND FOR SUCH ACT, THE ABSENCE OF PERMITS NOT ONLY PLACES HOMEOWNERS IN A VULNERABLE POSITION, BUT ALSO CREATES A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT CAN LEAVE THEM STUCK WHEN IT'S TIME TO SELL THEIR HOME OR DEAL WITH INSURANCE MATTERS. INSURANCE COMPANIES, REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND EVEN INSPECTORS ARE OFTEN FACED WITH INCOMPLETE OR MISSING DOCUMENTATION, WHICH COMPLICATES DELAYS, CLAIMS AND RESULTS IN UNREPORTED ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, SOME CONTRACTORS ARE EXPLOITING THIS LOOPHOLE AND POCKETING THE PERMIT FEES, WHICH UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. THE CURRENT

[00:35:01]

THIS POLICY WOULD WORK AS THE FOLLOWING. FAILURE TO PULL A PERMIT SHOULD RESULT IN A FINE, WITH THE PENALTY BEING DOUBLED FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION. AFTER THREE VIOLATIONS, WITH THE DESIRED ROLLING PERIOD OF YOUR CHOOSING, THE OFFENDING CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE BANNED FROM PERFORMING WORK LEGALLY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME. THIS POLICY WOULD PROVIDE CLEAR CONSEQUENCES FOR CONTRACTORS WHO ACT IN BAD FAITH, WHILE ALSO CREATING A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WILL HELP TO PROTECT HOMEOWNERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, IT WOULD ALLOW THE MARKET TO CORRECT ITSELF BY PROVIDING A STRONG DETERRENT FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE CUTTING CORNERS. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO BE WORKING AND COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY TO HELP DRAFT AND IMPLEMENT A SOLUTION. DRAWING ON MY PERSONAL YEARS OF BEING IN THIS ROOFING INDUSTRY. WITH THE RIGHT APPROACH, WE CAN ENSURE BETTER TRANSPARENCY, PROTECT HOMEOWNERS, AND FOSTER A MORE PROFESSIONAL, RESPONSIBLE INDUSTRY IN BEAUMONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JERRY SONNIER 1318 HIGHWAY 96 SOUTH LUMBERTON, TEXAS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY SON PRETTY MUCH SUMMED UP SOME OF THE CONCERNS HERE. AS A CONTRACTOR FOR OVER 50 YEARS, STRICTLY IN THE ROOFING BUSINESS. AS HE HAD MENTIONED, THERE IS NO ROOFING LICENSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THEREFORE, ANYONE CAN COME IN AND BECOME A ROOFING CONTRACTOR AND BE AS LEGAL AS WE ARE NOW. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FINDING IS WE GET CALLS MORE OFTEN THAN WE'D LIKE FROM HOMEOWNERS IN BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY. CAN Y'ALL COME OUT AND DO A WINDSTORM CERTIFICATION? MY ROOF WAS JUST GOT FINISHED AND MY INSURANCE IS HOLLERING FOR AN INSPECTION. WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT AFTER THE FACT. THEREFORE, THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR INSURANCE. THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR INSURANCE. WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THE PERMIT FEES HERE. THEY CHARGE US BASICALLY 10 TO $11 PER SQUARE JUST TO PROVIDE THE PERMIT. A NORMAL SIZED HOUSE, I DON'T KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 TO $800 JUST TO PULL A PERMIT JUST TO DO THE JOB, WHICH IS OKAY TO AN EXTENT. IF EVERYONE WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME RULES. IN ADDITION TO THAT, PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE WINDSTORM CERTIFICATIONS. WE NEED TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING THAT'S FAIR, NOT ONLY TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT WANT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, BUT ALSO, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO THE HOMEOWNERS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE CALLING US. AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, CAN YOU PLEASE GET US A WINDSTORM CERTIFICATION? WE'RE GOING TO DROP OUR INSURANCE, BUT THE GUYS ARE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, OR THEY COME FROM OUT OF TOWN OR HAILSTORM HIT. THEY'RE THEY'RE ALL OVER EVERYWHERE. WE'RE NOT REAL SURE WHAT THE ANSWERS OR THE SOLUTIONS ARE, BUT WE'D LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MAYBE TO CONSIDER THIS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT TRYING TO HELP THE HOMEOWNERS WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING IN. IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS A CONTRACTOR OURSELVES, WHEN WE'RE BIDDING THESE HOMES BEFORE WE EVEN DO ANYTHING, WE'RE ABOUT $1,000 OUT FOR THE WINDSTORM CERTIFICATION AND OR THE PERMIT, WHEREAS THE CONTRACTORS ARE COMING IN AND NOT DOING EITHER OF THE TWO. THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES GETTING GETTING THE JOBS, WHICH IS UNFAIR NOT ONLY TO THE CONTRACTOR BUT TO THE HOMEOWNERS AS WELL. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I'D LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENTING SOME KIND OF POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOMEOWNERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF LEGALLY, THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. CAITLIN HOWELL, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. YES. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS CAITLIN, AND AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. I SHARED DEAN'S PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE HEALING APPROACHES WITH MY MASTER'S OF SCIENCE AND NUTRITION FROM LAMAR UNIVERSITY, I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND TRUE HEALING BEGINS WITH NOURISHING THE MIND AND BODY THROUGH PROPER NUTRITION, SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROVIDE

[00:40:01]

HELLO. HELLO. MY NAME IS DEAN TUCKER, AND IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY IN ORDER TO HELP CREATE MORE SANITY AND HEALING INTO THIS WORLD. I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE IDEA TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT INVOLVES TELLING THE TRUTH. AFTER ALL, IS THIS NOT WHAT JESUS SAID? TELL THE TRUTH FOR YOUR FREEDOMS. IN 1999, I WAS INTRODUCED TO A CHRISTIAN CHURCH THAT USES A HIGHLY REVERED PSYCHOTROPIC HERBAL TEA THAT COMES FROM THE AMAZON CALLED AYAHUASCA. IT CHANGED MY LIFE IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND POSITIVE WAY. IT IS EXTREMELY SAFE, HIGHLY THERAPEUTIC, AND IS TOTALLY NON-ADDICTIVE. IN 2007, THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN A UNANIMOUS DECISION, SUPPORTED THE RELIGIOUS USE OF THIS REMARKABLE TEA, LARGELY THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF THESE THERAPEUTIC MEDICINES THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING LEGAL ACCESS TO. FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY RECENTLY DECLARED ON THE JOE ROGAN SHOW THAT HE IS COMMITTING THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO SUPPORT HELPING VETS HAVE ACCESS TO A SIMILAR TYPE SUBSTANCE CALLED IBOGAINE, WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE REMARKABLY HEALING FOR DEPRESSION, ADDICTIONS AND PTSD. HERE'S A LITTLE KNOWN LAW THAT CAN THAT WE CAN USE TO HELP RICK PERRY WITH HIS NOBLE DREAM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELPING OUR COMMUNITY. THIS CURRENT LAW BEING THE CURRENT LAW, BEING USED TO DENY PEOPLE ACCESS TO THESE POWERFUL MEDICINES IS A FRAUDULENT, HIGHLY DECEPTIVE LAW WHICH DEFINES THESE HEALING SUBSTANCES AS BEING VERY DANGEROUS, HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL PROPERTIES. THE FIRST AMENDMENT CLEARLY STATES CONGRESS SHALL HAVE NO LAW RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXPRESSION THEREOF. I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO INTERPRET THAT LAW, TO MEAN CONGRESS CAN MAKE ANY LAW, NO MATTER HOW FRAUDULENT, CORRUPT, OR DECEPTIVE, IN ORDER TO DENY OUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS. I'M ASKING YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP ME FIND ONE LAWMAKER OR JUDGE IN THIS AREA THAT IS WILLING TO SAY PUBLICLY THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST. WHEN HE INSTRUCTED ME TO HEAL THE SICK AMONG YOU. THIS SIMPLE IDEA CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARD TRANSFORMING THIS CITY AND HELPING IT BECOME A DESTINATION CITY FOR THOSE SEEKING TRUE HEALING. THIS DREAM IS POSSIBLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. LARRY GAUTHIER, 59, 26 GLENMORE LANE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR WES. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY EMPLOYEES AND MY OLD FRIEND CHRIS OVER THERE. ALSO, I COME TODAY TO TELL YOU SOMETHING I SPOKE WITH SOME TIME BACK CALLED DIRTY ELECTRICITY. DIRTY ELECTRICITY. I EXPERIENCED 247 VOTES ON 110 VOTE LINE. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS IN YOUR HOUSE? CAN YOU IMAGINE THE APPLIANCES? CAN YOU IMAGINE YOUR TELEVISION AND ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT OPERATES ON 110 VOLT? IT FRIES ALL OF THE CIRCUIT BOARDS. WE SPOKE A BIT ABOUT ABUSE. 5926 GREEN MOORE LANE. BACK IN THE 80S. THEY DID SEISMOGRAPH TESTING, LOOKING FOR OIL. THEY SHOOK PEOPLE'S HOUSES. THEY DAMAGED PEOPLE HOUSES, TESTING FOR ALL DAMAGES TO HOUSES, STREETS, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE CORE. AND I'VE EXPERIENCED SOME OF IT RIGHT HERE IN CITY HALL. HAVE A NICE DAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, GIVE ME A CALL. I'LL BE GLAD TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.

[00:45:02]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. SO ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS F. YES.

ITEM I, I NOTICED WE HAD AN AMENDMENT FOR THE CHOTO PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN REMOVED. BEEN REMOVED. YEAH OKAY. COOL. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON EVERYTHING MINUS ITEM F. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

[F. Council to consider a resolution in support of the Beaumont Independent School District hosting a parade within the City.]

[00:50:05]

OUR BOYS DESERVE BETTER, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO GO TO THE PARADE AND I'M ONE OF THEM COULDN'T GET THERE. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE EVEN THOUGH IT'S SYMBOLIC BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED. BUT I WANT TEXDOT TO KNOW THAT SHUTTING DOWN MAJOR DRIVE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. IF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE HAD NEEDED TO GET THROUGH TO ASSIST SOMEBODY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP THAT BAD THAT FAR. SO AGAIN, PLEASE DON'T MISCONSTRUE CONSTRUE WHAT I'M SAYING. I WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR BOYS AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO CELEBRATE OUR BOYS WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING NOTABLE, LIKE WINNING A STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT HAVING A PARADE ON MAJOR DRIVE WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AROUND THE CAMPUS, COULD HAVE BEEN DONE OUT OF THE STADIUM. SHUTTING DOWN MAJOR DRIVE WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. AND THE WAY THAT THIS.

CERTIFICATE OF SUPPORT WAS DONE, I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE MAYOR HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT WITHOUT GOING TO COUNCIL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. QUESTION.

MAYOR. YES. COUNCILMAN NEILL SO WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF SIGNING THIS RESOLUTION IF IT'S ALREADY OVER WITH? I GUESS THAT'S MAYBE A LEGAL QUESTION. WE WERE ASKED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AS A AS A FORMALITY, ESSENTIALLY, THE LIKE A COUNCILMAN GETS SAID THE PARADE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.

THEY ASKED FOR A RESOLUTION OUTSIDE THE DEADLINE FOR IT TO BE POSTED ON COUNCIL. SO WE OFFERED TO PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA. SO I'M ASSUMING THERE'S ALREADY A RESOLUTION SIGNED, THEN THERE IS NOT. SO WHAT WAS SENT IN TO THE STATE? A LETTER OF SUPPORT WAS SENT TO THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE TO TEXDOT. IS THAT THAT'S NOT IN THIS PACKAGE, IS IT? IT WASN'T BECAUSE IT WASN'T AUTHORED UNTIL AFTER THE TIMELINE TO POST. OKAY. I MEAN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN GETS ON THIS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL OR WHAT HIGH SCHOOL IT IS. I MEAN, I WENT TO WESTBROOK LIKE LOTS OF OTHER KIDS, BUT I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST THE ISSUE THAT HERE WE ARE BEING ASKED TO SIGN SOMETHING AFTER

[00:55:01]

COUNCILMAN TURNER, OUT OF CURIOSITY, IF THE MAYOR IS THE HEAD OF THE CITY AND HE'S ABLE TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT WITHOUT US HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT COUNCIL HAS AN ISSUE WITH HIM WRITING A LETTER. IF IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME TO US. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, MY STATEMENT WAS THAT HE HAS THE ABILITY TO ISSUE A STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO HE HE DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE STATEMENTS. AND THE LETTER OF SUPPORT WOULD HAVE BEEN A STATEMENT OR POSITION THAT THE CITY TOOK. SO NOT TO ADD THINGS TO THE CHARTER, BUT IT JUST SAYS THAT HE IS THE HEAD. YEAH, I JUST WANT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. WELL, I CAN KIND OF MAKE ME A GOOD RESPONSE BASED UPON UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE POINT OF US DISCUSSING THIS. SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT. COUNCILMAN TURNER, WHEN YOU GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR, IT IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OFFICIALLY IS THEIR OFFICIAL POSITION. MY OFFICIAL POSITION IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO SHUT DOWN MAJOR DRIVE. IT'S A BAD IDEA, ESPECIALLY AT RUSH HOUR. AND I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT A LETTER OF SUPPORT WAS GENERATED WITHOUT TALKING TO THE COUNCIL, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE IT IN THE LETTER IS, I THINK THAT WESTBROOK AND BEAUMONT UNITED WILL WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE FUTURE, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING ON THE SHELF ALREADY READY. THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY BISD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT AT BEAUMONT POLICE IS INVOLVED IN IT. THAT IS AN APPROVED PARADE ROUTE WHERE ALL OF THESE FACTORS AND CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE CONSIDERED. THAT IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH. INSTEAD OF A REACTIVE APPROACH. THEY ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING APPROVED, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY START WORKING ON TOMORROW, BECAUSE WE WILL WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE FUTURE, AND WE WILL HAVE PARADES FOR THESE GUYS AND WOMEN WHEN THEY DO. SO. I DEFINITELY DO SUPPORT A PROACTIVE APPROACH. I AGREE WITH YOU AS WELL. BUT IF THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THINGS, I'M JUST NOT THAT IN SUPPORT OF PULLING AUTHORITY AWAY, IF THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO, WHETHER IT BE ANY MAYOR, WHETHER IT BE ME IN THE FUTURE, PASTOR FISHER, ANYBODY, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF MAKE SURE WE'RE CAREFUL WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT AUTHORITY. NOW, IF IT'S A COUNCIL DECISION, IF A MAYOR WRITES A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, I DON'T LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT. HE SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF. THE MAYOR DOESN'T SPEAK FOR COUNCILMAN AJ TURNER. BUT I'M REAL CLEAR ON, YOU KNOW, JUST BEING THAT AUTHORITATIVE OF US DICTATING WHAT WE AS INDIVIDUALS CAN AND CAN'T DO IF WE DON'T HAVE NOTHING ALREADY IN PLACE STIPULATING THAT. AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO EXPLORE IN THE FUTURE, I'M OPEN TO IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS INSTANCE, I KIND OF I DON'T KNOW IF I'M AS OPEN TO IT RIGHT NOW.

[01:00:06]

COUNCILMAN TURNER YEAH. AND MR. COUNCILMAN, I AGREE, WHEN IT ALL FIRST ORIGINATED, AS WITH OTHER CELEBRATIONS FOR OUR YOUTH, EVEN WITH THE BASEBALL TEAM, I'VE KIND OF PLAYED A ROLE. BUT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IT WAS A LOT OF OPINIONS INSERTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN CERTAIN THEIR OPINIONS, IT'S HARD TO GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE. SO FOR ME, I DO AGREE IT NEEDS TO BE A FORM OF A COMMITTEE AND SOME TYPE OF ORDINANCE HIT. SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SAID WE'RE VOTING TODAY FOR A RESOLUTION AND WE'RE SAYING IT COULD BE A NEW PRACTICE FOR ME, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SAY THINGS. I HATE TO BE COMPLICATED, BUT I'D RATHER HEAR IT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH INSTEAD OF LEAVE THINGS OUT THERE FOR ASSUMPTIONS. SO THE RESOLUTION AGAIN, IS, LIKE I SAID IN THE MEMO, IS A FORMALITY BECAUSE THE PARADE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED IF COUNCIL CHOSE, WHICH IS WHY I RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. IF YOU NOTICE, MOST OF MY ITEMS DON'T COME WITH A RECOMMENDATION. IF COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION, THE PARADE WOULD NOT HAPPEN. OKAY, EXACTLY. IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED. IF COUNCIL WAS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO COUNCILMAN GETZ'S POINT, IF THEY DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER PARADE AND THEY WANTED TO USE A SIMILAR ROUTE, COUNCIL COULD SAY NO. LIKE WE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY IT HAPPENED ON MAJOR DRIVE. SO IT ISN'T ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT THAT YOU CAN SHUT DOWN MESA DRIVE AGAIN. WE DID IT. WE DIDN'T LIKE IT. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ATTORNEY WITH ME. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ISSUES WE FACE AND I THINK ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT WITH TEX-DOT THAN THAT ROAD, LIKE OUR INTERSECTIONS AND OUR FREEWAYS AND OUR AND OUR FEEDER ROADS THAT WE'RE RIDING ON. I THINK THAT NEEDED WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE THE PRIORITY IN FOCUS, IN MY OPINION. I'LL LET EVERYBODY SAY FOR THE DIFFERENT THINGS ON THIS TOPIC, SINCE I THINK IT'S OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS YOU GOT THREE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TEX-DOT, THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND BISD. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THOUGH, IT'S OUR JOB

[01:05:01]

[REGULAR AGENDA]

[01:10:06]

SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN NEILL, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT MR. DUNIGAN IS GOING TO DO TO GET THIS OVER WITH? YES, SIR. SO YOU'LL SEE, I THINK THE NEXT ITEM IS THE ABANDONMENT, WHICH HAS TO APPROVE BY CITY COUNCIL. AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS IN THE ITEM IN QUESTION, HE HAS TO COMPLY WITH THOSE. THEY'RE ALSO, I BELIEVE, PERMITS FOR THE DRIVEWAY THAT HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED. SO YES, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HE NEEDS TO DO, BUT NO OTHER HURDLES THAT ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO GET OVER. NO OTHER COUNCIL OR PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIONS THAT I'M AWARE OF UNLESS HE CHANGES HIS PLANS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN TURNER. YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR HURDLES FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NEILL, I KIND OF SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN KIND OF WORK WITH CITIZENS WANTING TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA. AND WE CAN BE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE. I THINK WE'VE I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR ALMOST, ALMOST SINCE I FIRST BEEN ELECTED, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE WE'RE HERE TODAY. BUT I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB. GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE UP FRONT AND HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND NOT LET TIMES BE THIS EXTENSIVE. YES, SIR. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR 14 YEARS. WOW. LONGER THAN, EXCUSE ME, 14 YEARS. SOUNDS LIKE THE JAMES MATTHEWS CASE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR

[01:15:01]

[01:20:07]

[COUNCIL COMMENTS]

THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO I GUESS JIMMY'S NOT HERE, BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE GUY. COASTAL ROOFING. AS FAR AS THE PERMITTING PROCESS FOR THE ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN BEAUMONT AND. GET SOME INFORMATION FROM OUR STAFF ABOUT THAT. ALSO, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I THINK WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND FIGURE THAT TYPE OF STUFF OUT AHEAD OF TIME. THIS ONE SITUATION HERE, IT WAS, IT WAS DONE LATE, YOU KNOW, AND IT HAD BEEN IT HAD BEEN RESCHEDULED ONCE BEFORE.

AND I DON'T WANT IT. I DON'T WANT IT TO GET LOST. THAT THE REASON WE WERE DOING THAT IS FOR THOSE KIDS AND THEIR RECOGNITION. BUT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO WORK THAT STUFF OUT. SO JUST. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN GETS I WANT TO ALSO PIGGYBACK ON COUNCIL MEMBER DARIO'S SUGGESTION THAT WE DO SOMETHING TO TIGHTEN UP PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT GET ROOFING PERMITS. AND I LIKE THE. SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY COASTAL ROOFING. MAYBE WE CAN FORMALIZE THAT IN SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE MODIFICATION. AS FAR AS THE PARADE, AGAIN, I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER DARIO. WE DON'T WANT IT TO GET LOST THAT WE DO WANT TO HONOR THOSE KIDS WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND I PARTICULARLY LIKED YOUR IDEA, AND I THINK ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SUGGESTED THAT AS WELL TO ME BEFORE THE MEETING. BUT HAVING THIS DONE OUT AT THE STADIUM WOULD BE SO MUCH SAFER, CONVENIENT, REQUIRE LESS OF A POLICE PRESENCE INSTEAD OF BARRICADING ALL THOSE STREETS.

SO IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE TO ME TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT DONE. THAT'S WHERE THEY PLAY THEIR GAMES. SO CERTAINLY OKAY TO HAVE A PARADE THERE I THINK SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN GETS COUNCILMAN TURNER, FIRST AND FOREMOST, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WESTBROOK BOYS. MAN I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO ATTEND THE PARADE AND CELEBRATE WITH YOU GUYS AND ACTUALLY SPEAK TO Y'ALL. AS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE COMMITTEES. BUT ORIGINALLY IT WAS 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THE COACHING STAFF AND THE STUDENTS AND THE KIDS, THEY WANT TO DO IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED, YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND THAT'S WHAT DICTATED THE AREA THAT THEY CHOSE. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE STUDENTS AND THE COACHES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CHOSE THAT AREA. IT WASN'T CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THAT'S HOW IT KIND OF TOOK PLACE. AND I JUST KIND OF STEPPED BACK AND SUPPORTED THE WISHES OF THOSE KIDS AND THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. SO IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE HAD A POSSIBLE SITUATION, BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT WE DIDN'T. SO WE ALWAYS GOT TO THINK LIKE THAT MOVING FORWARD. FURTHERMORE, I'M ALSO OPEN TO SOME OF THE PERMIT AND CODING. AND ALSO MR. DUNHILL, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU HANGING IN THERE. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN BEAUMONT. YOU KNOW, OFTEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO THINGS AND THEY DON'T HEAR IT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT TOOK THIS LONG, BUT I'M HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD. YOU GUYS AND STAFF, Y'ALL CAN BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD. I SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOU. AND FOR STAFF WORKING WITH HIM I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AS WELL. LIKE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. IF WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE A FORUM THIS AFTERNOON. I KNOW YOU SAID IT WAS 251, BUT WE ALSO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS COUNCIL TO.

YEAH, THERE WAS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WELL LET'S GO. WELL I'LL BE HERE ACROSS THE STREET TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORUM NOW. SO THAT'S EVEN BETTER. SO NOBODY WILL SAY NOTHING SO I CAN GET OVER THERE. YOU GOT AN HOUR, COUNCILMAN? THANK YOU MAYOR. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO

[01:25:08]

WE GOT WE GOT OUR SUGAR FOR THE WEEK OR THE MONTH, SO. BUT STATE FAIR IS GOING ON. GO AND ENJOY.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES, COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. SAMUEL, I JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STATE CHAMPIONS, WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S A GREAT HONOR. SO I JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SAMUEL. COUNCILMAN NEAL. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. I HEARD SEVERAL OF YOU GUYS MAKE MENTION OF WANTING TO LOOK INTO THE ROOF SITUATION THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. CAUTION THE COUNCIL ON THAT. ON CREATING MORE, MORE RED TAPE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH IT. SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S ALREADY PLANS IN PLACE OR ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT YOU HAVE TO PULL A PERMIT TO GO GET A OR PUT A ROOF ON YOUR HOUSE. IN MY OPINION, THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO BE ENFORCED IS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OF IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING, ADD MORE PEOPLE TO THAT CREW AND JUST START FINDING PEOPLE BASED OFF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT PULLING PERMITS. BUT LET'S NOT GO CREATE A LOT MORE RED TAPE FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET A ROOF FOR OUR HOUSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN NEAL. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. ALL RIGHT. MOLLY, BRIEFLY IN THE COMING WEEKS, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE YET. WE WILL DO A WORK SESSION ON CODES AND ORDINANCES AND KIND OF WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF CODE AND ORDINANCES. HOPEFULLY TRY TO IDENTIFY SOME SOME RED TAPE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, THAT WE MAYBE COULD CUT OR REDUCE TO MAKE THINGS EASIER. BUT I WILL JUST SAY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE YEARS IN TERMS OF OUR ONE STOP PERMITTING PROCESS, OUR ONLINE PERMITTING PROCESS AND COMPUTER SYSTEM. AND THEN ALSO EVERY THURSDAY MORNING WE HAVE OFFER OUR PREDEVELOPMENT MEETINGS TO ANYONE AT ANY STAGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS PERMITTING PROCESS TO COME IN AND MEET THE FOLKS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW PROCESS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, IS RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION. YES, SIR. MR. CITY MANAGER. YES. I DON'T WANT TO STEAL THE THUNDER, BUT THIRSTY. THERE'S A HOMELESS COALITION MEETING AND IT'S GOING TO BE HELD AT SOME OTHER PLACE, AND IT'S BEING HELD THERE SO WE CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM MORE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT THIS ACTUALLY IMPACTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE HOLD ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, AND THE MAYOR WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO MOVE IT OVER THERE. SO THURSDAY AT 230, WE'LL BE HAVING THAT MEETING. AND ONE LAST COMMENT ON MY PART ABOUT THE PARADE, THE THINGS THAT TXDOT DISTRICTS DO CAN VARY FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT, AND THAT CAN VARY STATEWIDE. A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHO THAT DISTRICT ENGINEER IS AND WHAT HE CHOOSES TO ENFORCE, OR SHE CHOOSES TO ENFORCE. SO SOMETIMES THAT CAN ACCOUNT FOR SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES OR THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT AREAS, IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE. HOW STRICT THEY ARE WITH PARADE PERMITS, ETCETERA. SO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE TALKED ABOUT, TEXDOT NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. ALL RIGHT. AND AS WE WRAP UP, I CERTAINLY EXCITED THAT WESTBROOK BOYS BASKETBALL WON STATE AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE. AND FOR THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT THERE, IT WAS QUITE THE CELEBRATION. I KNOW I ENJOYED BEING A PART OF IT. EARLIER BEFORE COUNCIL, WE HAD THE CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION DOWN IN FRONT OF THE FIRE MUSEUM WHERE THEY HAD A GATHERING THERE. AND THIS WEEK, AS WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED, NATURE'S RIVER FESTIVAL KICKING OFF TOMORROW NIGHT, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE KING'S ARRIVAL AT THE EVENT CENTER. AND CERTAINLY THE STATE FAIR IS GOING ON. SO BE C

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.