May 06, 2025 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:08]

I NEED TO BRING MY GAVEL DOWN. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING. OF CITY HALL.

TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, MAY 6TH, 2025. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY FATHER MICHAEL OF SAINT MICHAEL ORTHODOX CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER AND UNTO AGES OF AGES. AMEN. OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. US 30. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION FOR US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND UNTO AGES OF AGES. AMEN. O LORD GOD OUR GOD, WE HAVE ADORN US WITH YOUR IMAGE AND GIVEN US FREE WILL. YOU ALSO TAUGHT US WISDOM TO SOLOMON. LOOK DOWN EVEN NOW A MAKER AND CREATOR UPON OUR AUTHORITIES. THE MAYOR OF THIS HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL, AND GRANT THEM WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY MAY LEARN YOUR HOLY WILL, WARM THEIR HEARTS IN LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. GUIDE THEM ON THE WAY OF TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, KEEPING THEIR HEARTS FROM ALL EVIL. UNITE THEM IN ONE MIND, IN ONE HEART, AND LET MUTUAL BROTHERLY LOVE ABIDE IN THEIR MIDST. BLESS THEM FOR THE DOING OF GOOD AND USEFUL THINGS. WE PRAY THEE, O MOST MERCIFUL LORD, OUR GOD, THE GOD OF EVERY COMPASSION AND CONSOLATION. DO NOT TURN AWAY YOUR FACE FROM THEM AND ALL OF US HERE PRESENT, FOR WE HAVE SET OUR HOPE IN THEE. GRANT TO OUR GREAT CITY OF PULLMAN, OUR COUNTRY, AND ALL OF US PEACE AND SINCERITY AND UNITY OF SPIRIT, CONCORD AND FRUITFUL ACTION, AND ALL THOSE THINGS NEEDFUL FOR OUR TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL LIFE. YOU KNOW OUR NEEDS, AND YOU GRANT AND FULFILL OUR REQUESTS EVEN BEFORE WE MAKE THEM. FOR YOU ARE THE GLORY AND MERCY, AND ALL LOVER OF MANKIND. AND UNTO THEE WE ASCRIBE GLORY TO THE FATHER, AND TO THE SON, AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. AMEN. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. UNDER GOD. INDIVISIBLE, WITH JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST, PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM NEAL PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. DAURIO PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER GETS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER.

SHAW. PRESENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER. SAMUEL HERE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL, TODAY WE HAVE

[PROCLAMATIONS]

[00:05:11]

NURSING IS A CALLING, A LIFESTYLE, A WAY OF LIVING. NURSES HERE TODAY HONOR ALL NURSES ACROSS OUR GREAT COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND THEIR DEDICATION TO NURSING DURING NURSES WEEK. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PATIENTS SUFFER. WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WORK CAREGIVERS DO IS COMPLEX, IMPORTANT, AND BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGING. OUR MISSION IS NURSING MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN WE STEP INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. FROM THE START OF LIFE THROUGH THE END, WE'LL ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED NURSES PRESENT. PLEASE STAND AS WE HONOR NURSES AND RECITE TOGETHER THE NIGHTINGALE PLEDGE.

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF BEFORE GOD AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THIS ASSEMBLY, TO PASS MY LIFE IN PURITY AND TO PRACTICE MY PROFESSION FAITHFULLY. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM WHATEVER IS DELETERIOUS AND MISCHIEVOUS, AND WILL NOT TAKE OR KNOWINGLY ADMINISTER ANY HARMFUL DRUG. I WILL DO ALL IN MY POWER TO MAINTAIN AND ELEVATE THE STANDARD OF MY PROFESSION, AND WILL HOLD IN CONFIDENCE ALL PERSONAL MATTERS COMMITTED TO MY KEEPING AND ALL FAMILY AFFAIRS COMING TO MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE PRACTICE OF MY CALLING WITH LOYALTY, WILL I ENDEAVOR TO AID THE PHYSICIAN IN HIS WORK AND DEVOTE MYSELF TO THE WELFARE OF THOSE COMMITTED IN MY CARE? THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CITY COUNCIL AND TO THE MAYOR FOR ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2025 IS NATIONAL NURSES WEEK. ACCEPTING WILL BE HOLLY ENGLISH, CHRISTUS HEALTH, SOUTHEAST TEXAS PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST. AND I'M ASSUMING WE HAVE A NUMBER NUMBER OF NURSES HERE. ALL RIGHT, COME ON. FORWARD. HOW YOU DOING? I LOVE YOU, I APPRECIATE YOU. I WANT YOU DO HOW YOU GUYS APPRECIATE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING. YES. THANKS FOR HAVING US. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING? THANK YOU.

YEAH. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU BROTHER, FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HANDSHAKING. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. GOOD. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU GUYS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL RIGHT. YES. THANK YOU GUYS. I THINK ONE OF THOSE IS MINE.

YEAH. OKAY. A GREAT LOOKING GROUP OF HEROES. OKAY. YEP. OKAY. HERE WE GO.

[00:10:11]

THANK YOU. GOT A FULL HOUSE TODAY. OVERFLOW.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE OUR CVB DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, SADIE. AND WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY COMING THROUGH. WHAT'S UP, WHAT'S UP, WHAT'S UP? HOW ARE YOU DOING? HERE YOU GO. YOU'RE WELCOME. HELLO. THANK YOU. HELLO. APPRECIATE YOU.

WELCOME. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU MUCH.

RIGHT HERE. 123. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER MR. MAYOR AND THE COUNCILMEN FOR ALLOWING US TO PROCLAIM THIS WEEK AS NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IS SO IMPORTANT TO BEAUMONT. AND THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR RELEASED THE TRAVEL DATA FROM 2024. AND LAST YEAR, VISITORS CAME TO OUR CITY AND OUR REGION AND SPENT $391.9 MILLION. THAT IS MONEY THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO OUR ECONOMY, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS AND OUR FAVORITE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS NEARLY 3000 103,100 JOBS, AND LAST YEAR IT ALSO GENERATED 303 OR SORRY, $33.5 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE. SO ALL THIS MONEY SUPPORTS OUR ECONOMY AND MAKES BEAUMONT SUCH A GREAT REGIONAL DESTINATION. SO WITH NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK, WE'D LIKE TO ALSO INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN ON OUR BEAUMONT BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE. WE REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE AREA'S OFFERINGS, AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO, SO MUCH TO SEE FROM SHOPPING, HISTORY, ATTRACTIONS, MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS, NATURE AND OUTDOORS, ARTS AND MURALS, EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND SO MUCH MORE. THE GOAL IS TO BOOST THE CITY'S IMAGE WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING SO MANY THINGS TO DO. THERE'S SO MANY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES TO OUR AREA THAT MAKE IT SO EASILY ACCESSIBLE, AND GIVING VISITORS AND RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE CITY WITH A NEW LENS THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE. SO WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE AND DISCOVER THE CITY'S OFFERINGS. FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA VISIT BEAUMONT, TX.COM. WE'RE POSTING CHALLENGES EACH DAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENT BUCKETS OF BEAUMONT, AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES AND GET SOME BEAUMONT SWAG. ALSO, THIS IS.

[00:15:07]

THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 22ND AS NATIONAL MARITIME DAY AND ACCEPTING WILL BE MR. EVAN MOBLEY WITH THE PORT OF BEAUMONT SEAFARER CENTER.

THANK YOU MAYOR. OKAY. GOOD. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE. SORRY. LET ME GET ONE MORE. TWO, THREE. ONE TWO. THREE. GOT IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 10TH AS THE MEDITERRANEAN DAY FESTIVAL. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE FATHER MICHAEL WITH SAINT MICHAEL ORTHODOX CHURCH, FIVE.

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY? YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT? RIGHT HERE IN ONE, TWO, THREE. GOT IT. MISTER MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. WE'RE EXCITED TO DO THIS AGAIN. THIS IS OUR 14TH MEDITERRANEAN DAY FESTIVAL AND NON-CONSECUTIVELY. WE TOOK OFF TWO YEARS FOR COVID, AND WE TOOK OFF LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE HOSTED A CONFERENCE. BUT WE'RE WE'RE BACK. AND JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER THAN EVER. IT'LL BE A LOT OF FUN. WE HOPE YOU CAN COME OUT. WE HAVE IT'S ALL HOMEMADE FOOD. WE DON'T DO RESTAURANTS, SO WE HAVE OUR GREEK BOOTH AND WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THE ROSE AND PISTACHIO. AND THOUGH MODEST, THE GREAT GRAPE LEAVES, AND WE HAVE OUR INSIDE MEDITERRANEAN PLATE THAT WE'VE BEEN SERVING FOR WELL OVER 100 YEARS, WE JUST INTEGRATED IT INTO THE FESTIVAL, WE STARTED HAVING IT, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES THAT WE HAVE THE MIDDLE-EASTERN GRAPE LEAVES, WE HAVE FALAFEL SANDWICHES, KOFTA SANDWICHES, JUST ALL KIND OF FOOD, CHILDREN ACTIVITIES. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, BRING YOUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE A BIG PLAYGROUND. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF BLOW UPS AND THINGS FOR THEM TO JUMP ON AND FACE PAINTING AND A PETTING ZOO. AND WE HAVE, OF COURSE, CHURCH TOURS INSIDE AND WE HAVE A SHOPPING BAZAAR. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR THINGS THAT MAY BE UNUSUAL. SO THANKS AGAIN AND WE ALWAYS ENJOY HOSTING

[00:20:02]

WHEN THE CHRISTIAN, THE DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEY WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THAT IS THE CHURCH THAT WE HAVE IN BEAUMONT. AND IT'S THE SECOND OLDEST ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. SO WE HAVE THE SECOND OLDEST CHURCH, OUR PEOPLE. THEY BROUGHT THEIR TRADITION, THEIR FAITH, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO WORSHIP WITH FREEDOM FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. SO MY CALL IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF BEAUMONT FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

AND ALSO WE WANT TO BE MORE IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR WE SELECTED THE ARK ORGANIZATION, THE ARK ORGANIZATION. SO PART OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE FESTIVAL GO ALWAYS, ALWAYS TO A LOCAL ORGANIZATION OF BEAUMONT. SO EVERY YEAR WE PICK AN ORGANIZATION. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD AND VERY PROUD OF MY PEOPLE, THEIR SMALL COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN SERVING SOME MICHAEL ORTHODOX CHURCH FOR THE LAST 25TH YEAR, ALSO 25 YEARS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. SO WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH. WELCOME TO OUR FESTIVAL, AND HAVE A GREAT, GREAT, GREAT TIME UP. IF YOU WANT. THIS YEAR WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY AMAZING. WE ARE WE HAVE A RAFFLE. THIS YEAR IT'S ONLY 150 TICKETS AND THAT RAFFLE IS A CRUISE TO THE GREEK ISLANDS FOR. YES. CRUISE TO THE GREEK ISLANDS FOR TWO PEOPLE, EVERYTHING INCLUDED, FROM HOUSTON TO ITALY, GOING TO THE GREEK ISLANDS. AND WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. SO IT'S ONLY 150 TICKETS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL ALSO. SO GET YOUR TICKETS. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW, OUR LAST PROCLAMATION WE'RE RECOGNIZING MAY 10TH AS AMERICAN LEGION SECOND DIVISION OF TEXAS DAY. ACCEPTING WILL BE CHRIS DARIO.

NO, WILL BE SECOND DIVISION COMMANDER CLIFTON GUILLORY. IS GOING TO COME DOWN AND SHAKE OUR HANDS, CHRIS. HE GOT HIS HAT ON, I KNOW. YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU, GIRL.

OKAY. RIGHT HERE. 123123. ON IT. WILL. NICE TO BE BACK HERE. MAYOR WEST AND THE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. I JUST AM GRATEFUL TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF DORIE MILLER. POST 817, THE AMERICAN LEGION. THIS DIVISION CONVENTION REPRESENTS 95 POSTS IN OUR AREA, EVERYWHERE

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ARE CALLED THE SOUTHSIDE. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A

[PRESENTATIONS]

SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DROP OFF NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AT ANY OF OUR BEAUMONT FIRE STATIONS NOW THROUGH FRIDAY, OR SIMPLY LEAVE SOME NONPERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS IN YOUR MAILBOX FOR YOUR MAIL CARRIER TO COLLECT ON SATURDAY, MAY 11TH. SO WE WANT EVERYBODY TO COME TOGETHER.

FIGHT HUNGER IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS LEFT TO SIGN UP FOR BEAUMONT'S TRACK CLUB STOP BY THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER ON GULF STREET TO REGISTER KIDS FIVE THROUGH 18. REGISTRATION RUNS THROUGH THIS FRIDAY, MAY 9TH. WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS COMING UP ON MAY 17TH. FIRST OFF, THERE'S A FREE SYMPOSIUM FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN, SIXTH GRADE AND UP.

JOIN US FOR STRAIGHT TALK FOR YOUNG MEN. IT'S A POWERFUL EVENT FOCUSED ON DECISION MAKING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SATURDAY, MAY 17TH FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. THIS IS ALSO AT THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER ON GULF STREET. IT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED. GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG MEN. ALSO ON SATURDAY THE 17TH, WE HOPE YOU'LL TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR HOME AND COMMUNITY WITH FREE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND TIRE COLLECTION. YOU CAN DISPOSE OF THESE ITEMS AT THE BRIDGE CITY INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL PARKING LOT BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 1 P.M. IT IS OPEN TO ALL SOUTHEAST TEXAS HOUSEHOLDS, THOSE IN BEAUMONT AS WELL. AND THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SAFELY GET RID OF PAINTS, CLEANERS, MOTOR OIL, CAR BATTERIES, POOL CHEMICALS AND THEY'RE ALSO ACCEPTING OLD TIRES. THE FIRST EIGHT ARE FREE AND THEN IT'S $3 EACH AFTER THAT. SO LET'S DO OUR PART TO KEEP SOUTHEAST TEXAS SAFE, CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. AND SPEAKING OF CLEANING UP, WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR OUR CITYWIDE CLEANUP. BISD CAMPUSES KICK THINGS OFF ON FRIDAY THE 16TH AND THE COMMUNITY WIDE EVENT HAPPENS SATURDAY, MAY 17TH BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 11 A.M. WE'LL MEET AT THE JOHN PAUL DAVIS COMMUNITY CENTER ON EAST LUCAS.

REGISTRATION STARTS AT EIGHT. YOU'LL RECEIVE A MAP WITH YOUR ASSIGNED CLEANUP AREA. GLOVES, TRASH BAGS, SNACKS, AND DRINKS WILL ALL BE PROVIDED. WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AND YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. I THINK THAT'S ALL HAPPENED. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]

[00:30:05]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND STAFF. I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT DIRTY ELECTRICITY, BUT WHAT ABOUT ELECTRICAL FIRES AND THAT IT CAN KILL YOU? IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE SPOKEN ALSO ABOUT SEISMOGRAPH TESTING AND THE DESTRUCTION OF HOMES THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE 80S. OVER 60 IN TERRELL PARK AREA ALONE WAS DAMAGED. AMELIA AREA WAS COMPLAINING. ALSO NORTH AND SOUTHEAST END ALSO TRESPASSING AND DISCRIMINATION AND THE LIST GOES ON. I APPRECIATE THIS BE LOOKED AT AS WE HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A LOT OF THESE THINGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME OF LISTENING. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. THANK YOU SIR. SCOTT RENICK. YES, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

MAKES A LOT EASIER FOR ME. A LITTLE LOWER. THANK YOU. YEAH, SHOULD BE GOOD. OKAY. HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. I'M SCOTT RENICK. I'M A LOCAL ATTORNEY HERE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS. I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. SPECIFICALLY, I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT BRIEFLY ABOUT ARTICLE SIX, THE GAMING SITES AND GAMING MACHINES ORDINANCE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING SEVERAL SMALL, LAW ABIDING BUSINESS OWNERS HERE IN BEAUMONT CORNER STORES, FAMILY OWNED CONVENIENCE STORES, EACH OF WHOM OPERATES FIVE OR FEWER GAMING MACHINES LEGALLY UNDER WHAT THE CITY HAS DESIGNATED AS ACCESSORY GAMING. THESE ARE NOT GAME ROOMS. THESE ARE NOT CASINOS. THESE ARE CORNER STORES, LAUNDROMATS AND CONVENIENCE STORES. MANY FAMILY RUN WHO HAVE FOLLOWED EVERY STEP REQUIRED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO OPERATE WITHIN THE LAW. THESE MACHINES ARE NOT THE BACKBONE OF THESE BUSINESSES, BUT THEY ARE CRITICAL SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELPS THESE BUSINESSES STAY AFLOAT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S DIFFICULT ECONOMY. THESE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE FOLLOWED EVERY STEP AND EVERY RULE THAT THE CITY HAS PUT IN PLACE TO OPERATE WITHIN THE LAW, AND MY CLIENTS HAVE DONE SO IN GOOD FAITH. UNDER THE CURRENT GAMING ORDINANCE, THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE PAID APPLICATION FEES TO REGISTER, PAID AN ANNUAL OCCUPATION TAX AND REGISTRATION FEE, WHICH IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY, PURCHASED AND DISPLAYED CITY ISSUED DECALS AND SIGNAGE AS REQUIRED. PAID FOR ARCHITECTURAL MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR BUSINESSES TO MEET COMPLIANCE, INCLUDING TRANSPARENT WINDOWS, SIGNAGE, INSTALLATIONS, ADJUSTED CUSTOMER ACCESS POINTS, AND FOR MY CLIENTS, THAT ALONE HAS RANGED BETWEEN 20 TO $40,000 FOR EACH STORE THEY HAVE INVESTED IN SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS, WHICH HAVE ALSO COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THEY HAVE LIMITED THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION AND MADE THEIR MACHINES PHYSICALLY AND ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE OF APPROVED HOURS. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, NOT AGAINST THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THEY DID THAT, AND THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO COMPLY IN GOOD FAITH. THESE BUSINESS OWNERS DIDN'T TOLERATE THE ORDINANCE, THEY INVESTED IN IT, AND NOW THEY FACE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS LEGAL STRUCTURE, WHICH THEY RELIED ON TO MAKE BUSINESS DECISIONS, COULD BE REPEALED OUTRIGHT, WITH NO WRONGDOING AND NO SHOWING OF HARM. WHY REPEAL THIS ORDINANCE NOW? THERE IS NO DATA THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO SHOW THAT THESE FIVE MACHINE GAMING SETUPS

[00:35:01]

THESE MACHINES ARE IN PLAIN SIGHT, NOT TUCKED AWAY. THEY'RE REGISTERED AND MONITORED.

INSTEAD. WHAT IS REAL IS THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT THEY BRING NOT JUST TO OUR SHOPS BUT TO THE CITY. THESE ACCESSORY MACHINES ARE TAXED AND REGISTERED. THEY HELP SUSTAIN THE SMALL BUSINESS, MANY IN UNDERSERVED PARTS. UNDERSERVED PARTS OF BEAUMONT. THIS REPEAL WOULD BE ESPECIALLY HARMFUL TO SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES WHO WHO DEPEND ON EVERY LEGAL TOOL TO STAY AFLOAT. WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE CITY AND MAINTAIN THAT THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU AGAIN. ALANA THOMPSON.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ALANA THOMPSON. I DON'T TALK TO MY NEIGHBORS. I'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I DON'T THINK I EVEN SEE THEM AS PEOPLE, JUST AS BACKGROUND NOISE. I KNOW THEIR NAMES MAY BE AN OCCUPATION OR TWO, BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW. ALL I KNOW, I NEVER THOUGHT TO ASK MYSELF WHY I DON'T GET TO KNOW THEM. IT'S JUST SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS ACCEPTED AS NORMAL. IT'S SOMETHING I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT SOMETIMES. AND THEN I SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS AWAY BECAUSE I HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO FOCUS ON. RIGHT? BUT THAT'S SO CONVENIENT, ISN'T IT? HYPER INDEPENDENCE, TURNING ACTUAL PEOPLE INTO FACELESS AND NAMELESS EXTRATERRESTRIALS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MY OWN LIFE? A LACK OF TRUST, EVEN.

IT'S SO EASY AND IT SCARES ME. HUMANS WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO LIVE LIKE THIS, CUT OFF FROM EACH OTHER, FOCUS SOLELY ON THEMSELVES, SELF-SUFFICIENT TO THE POINT OF DETRIMENT. I MOURN THE DEATH OF COMMUNITY. I ALWAYS SWORE I WOULD NEVER BE LIKE PEOPLE WHO STOOD BY IN HISTORY.

NO, NO, I'D BE DIFFERENT. I'D NEVER BE BRAINWASHED. YOU SEE, I'M STRONGER THAN THAT. I'M BETTER THAN THAT. AND THEN WHEN MY NEIGHBORS STARTED TO GET SWEPT AWAY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THEY DON'T EVEN BELONG TO, TO CONDITIONS I CAN'T EVEN BRING MYSELF TO FATHOM. A WHOLE COUNTRY BECAME SILENT, I BECAME SILENT. BUT WE HAVE GOOD REASONS, DON'T WE? WE CAN BE HYPOCRITES OF OUR OWN PRINCIPLES OUT OF FEAR. WHY? THAT'S JUST THE AMERICAN WAY. I MOURN THE DEATH OF MY MORALS. MAYBE I DON'T GET TO KNOW MY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE I WOULD FIND MYSELF IN THEM. MAYBE THE TRUTH WOULD SCARE ME. MAYBE BECAUSE THEN I COULDN'T GET TO JUSTIFY MY INDIFFERENCE TO THEM. INDIFFERENCE, HATRED, APATHY, FEAR, WHATEVER YOUR REASONS MAY BE, I DON'T KNOW. BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THEY AREN'T PEOPLE. I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. MY NEIGHBORS ARE TERRIFIED. THEY'RE OVERCROWDED LIKE LIVESTOCK. THEY'RE DISAPPEARING WITHOUT A TRACE. DON'T NEED TO REMIND ANYONE IN THIS ROOM OF WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VANISHED TO FOREIGN CONCENTRATION CAMPS. PLEASE DO NOT DELUDE YOURSELF INTO THINKING AMERICA WOULDN'T DO THAT. WE HAVE DONE IT. WE NEVER STOPPED. I MOURN MY NEIGHBORS BEING PERSECUTED, DEHUMANIZED AND CONDEMNED TO FATES WORSE THAN DEATH BY A COUNTRY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SYMBOLIZE FREEDOM AND HOPE. NO, I'D NEVER BE LIKE THOSE PEOPLE IN THE PAST. I'D NEVER TURN A BLIND EYE FOR MY OWN FEAR OF PERSONAL SAFETY, OR OUT OF MY OWN APATHY. I'D NEVER JUSTIFY EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE TEN STAGES OF GENOCIDE, RATIONALIZING WITH EVERY NEW STEP THAT WE WON'T EVER GET TO THE NEXT ONE. I'D NEVER BE TRYING TO FIND REASONS WHY I CAN'T CALL IT EXACTLY BY ITS NAME RIGHT THIS SECOND. EXCEPT I AM DOING THAT. AND I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE TOO. IT'S SO EASY TO DECEIVE OUR OWN SELVES AND EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR IN THE FACE OF ALMOST UNSPEAKABLE TRUTH, BUT WE HAVE TO SPEAK IT ANYWAY. WE SAY WE WOULD NEVER BE THOSE PEOPLE UNTIL WE FIND OURSELVES BECOMING THEM. WE SAY WE AREN'T LIKE THEM. PROVE IT. EXCUSE ME. NOW I OWE MY NEIGHBORS A VISIT. DEAN TUCKER.

2550 LONG AVENUE, BEAUMONT. THRILLED TO BE HERE. TO TALK TO YOU. LAST WEEK WHEN I SPOKE, IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE WAS. AND I SPENT DAYS TO CONSOLIDATE A SIMPLE MESSAGE OF HEALING. I'VE STUDIED FOR 55 YEARS IN A 2.5 MINUTES ANYWAY, SO. NEVER. SO HERE WE GO. TWO MINUTES AND 30S WHATEVER. SO I APPLAUD AND I RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL TWICE AND OTHER POSITIONS. WAS ELECTED U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CANDIDATE FOR THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY. NOT THAT THAT MATTERS. NUMBER HOPE OF WINNING, BUT I APPLAUD ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE

[00:40:04]

IT'S THE SAME. THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING. YOU STILL WANT TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. IT'S A MIRACLE THAT I'M HERE, THAT I WAS BROUGHT TO THIS CITY. HOW MUCH? ONE MINUTE. 30S. IT'S A MIRACLE I'M MAN. WOMAN. FEMALE. DENNIS. TRAVELING THROUGH. I CREATED A LITTLE SLIDESHOW WHEN I WAS ALMOST HOMELESS AND CALIFORNIA. AND THEN LITTLE ABOUT LOVE, TRUTH AND HEALING AND PEOPLE RESPONDED. SO IT ENDED UP TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INVITED TO THE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO SENATE AND TO THE PENTAGON TWICE AND THEN BEEN TRAVELING THROUGH. I MET A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, JUDITH COMET, DOCTOR JUDITH CORBETT AND ON OUR THIRD DATE, ON OUR THIRD DATE, OUR LAST AND FINAL DATE, WE GOT MARRIED. ANYWAY, THAT'S A LONG STORY. BUT ANYWAY, SO IT BROUGHT ME HERE. SO I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN HEALING, AND I INVITE EVERYBODY TO KIND OF LIKE, LET'S WAKE UP AND BE WILLING TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THINGS. IT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING. BEAUMONT COULD BE A CITY OF LIGHT FOR THE NATION. I'M NOT KIDDING YOU AT ALL. AND I'M A TEACHER ABOUT 12 SECONDS. MY TEACHER OF TRUTH AND LIGHT AND LOVE. AMEN. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO TALK AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN TEAM DEAN. THANK YOU, OLIVER RANDALL. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS OLIVE, AND I SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AS A GRIEVING, CONCERNED NEIGHBOR. WHAT I GRIEVE IS NOT A DEATH, BUT A LOSS OF LIFE NONETHELESS, AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 25, MARY JOSE ALVARADO BORGES WAS STOLEN FROM HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WORKING AT A BAKERY IN LEWISVILLE, TEXAS. MARY DEVELOPED A REPUTATION AS A GOOD FRIEND AND AN EVEN BETTER BROTHER, GOING SO FAR AS TO TATTOO THE ICON OF AUTISM AWARENESS ON HIS BODY. SPORTING HIS BROTHER'S NAME NELSON, AS A PERMANENT SYMBOL OF HIS DEVOTION TO THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM, MARY HAD FAITH THAT THROUGH HIS HARD WORK, HE WOULD ACHIEVE A LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY BETTER THAN ANYTHING HE COULD HAVE HAD IN VENEZUELA. HE BELIEVED IN THE AMERICAN DREAM. IT WOULD BE ONLY NINE MONTHS BEFORE THAT DREAM WAS CRUSHED. ON FEBRUARY 4TH, MARY WAS DETAINED BY ICE OFFICERS. HE HAD COMMITTED NO CRIMES. THE OFFICERS HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT HE HAD COMMITTED ANY CRIMES. HE TRIED TO SHOW THEM HIS ASYLUM PAPERS. WITH HIS COURT DATE, THEY DID NOT CARE. THEY THREW HIM INTO THEIR VEHICLE AND TRAFFICKED HIM TO A DETENTION CENTER IN LAREDO, WHERE THEY HELD HIM PAST HIS COURT DATE. THERE HE LANGUISHED FOR OVER A WEEK UNTIL HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MEET WITH A JUDGE. HE WAS TOLD HE COULD EITHER STAY HERE IN DETENTION OR FIGHT HIS CASE FOR HOWEVER MANY YEARS THAT WOULD TAKE, OR HE COULD GO BACK TO VENEZUELA. MARY, SICK OF THE U.S.

IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, CHOSE THE LATTER TO GO BACK TO HIS OLD HOME WHERE HIS FAMILY WOULD BE WAITING FOR HIM. THEY WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN. THE BORGES FAMILY WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MARY UNTIL HIS NAME APPEARED IN A LIST OF VICTIMS FORCIBLY REMOVED TO SEE COURT ON A WHIM, AND WITHOUT GRANTING HIM HIS RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS, I SENTENCED MARY, AN INNOCENT AND LOVING BAKER FROM LEWISVILLE, TO LIFE IN A TORTURE PRISON INTENDED FOR TERRORISTS. THEY ACCUSED HIM OF AFFILIATION WITH TRENDY ARAGUA, CITING ONLY A TATTOO AS EVIDENCE. THE AUTISM AWARENESS TATTOO FOR HIS BROTHER. TO THIS DAY, MARY'S FAMILY AND FORMER EMPLOYER FIGHT FOR HIS RELEASE, BUT THEIR PLEAS ARE MET WITH OVERWHELMING APATHY FROM A POPULATION THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE EVILS IT PERPETRATES UPON INNOCENT WORKING PEOPLE. TO EVERYONE LISTENING TO THIS, I HOPE YOU CAN FIND THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO THIS REGIME BECAUSE THEY WILL COME FOR YOU NEXT. THANK YOU. ROBERT HOLLAND. ROBERT HOLLAND. CHARLIE CRAB.

[00:45:28]

MY NAME IS CHARLIE CRAB. I LIVE AT 928 EAST DRIVE. 77706 IS ANOTHER NICE DAY IN BEAUMONT, OUR TOWN. SUMMER TEMPERATURES ARE GETTING TO BEAUMONT. RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST. THE CITY HAS COME THROUGH A VERY INTERESTING ELECTION, AND THE MAYOR'S POSITION IS IN A RUNOFF. THANK YOU TO ALL THE COUNCIL. COUNCILMEN LEAVING. THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING A GREAT JOB. AIDED BY THIS CITYWIDE CAMERA SYSTEM IS PAYING OFF. IT'S TERRIBLE THE SHOOTING AND KILLING OF OUR PEOPLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO STOP THE KILLINGS. MORE CAMERAS AROUND APARTMENTS WILL HELP, AND OTHER STRATEGIC PLACES IN TOWN. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR STOP AND FRISK. ALSO, WHEN THE FIREFIGHTERS SHOW UP.

TO YOUR CALL. THAT IS A VERY WELCOME SIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO IMPROVE OUR FIRE SYSTEM. THE CITY OF BEAUMONT DO APPRECIATE THE SERVICE OF ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS, BUT THE CITY CANNOT SUPPORT THE COST OF LARGE PAY BENEFITS REQUESTS. THIS IS DUE TO THE AGING FACILITY TAX ROLL, FIREFIGHTERS, PLEASE BE REASONABLE ON YOUR WAGE AND BENEFITS REQUESTS. I DO NOT THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO CRITICIZE THE FIRE CHIEF PUBLICLY. SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND STATE YOUR GRIEVANCE AND WORK WITH THE SYSTEM TO COME TO A CONCLUSION. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS US WONDERING ABOUT HIS TARIFFS WITH THE WORLD TARIFF WAR WITH THE WORLD, OUR OIL AND CHEMICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE FUNCTIONING FUNCTION IN SPITE OF IT ALL. AND HOPEFULLY THE MIDDLE EAST WARS ARE WINDING DOWN AND THE UKRAINE AND UKRAINIANS WILL FIND A PEACE PLAN WITH PUTIN TO EVERYONE. HAVE A NICE WEEK AND THANKS FOR LISTENING. I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR MY RECOVERY OF MY TIME THAT I MISSED, BUT I DON'T NEED IT.

THANK YOU, MISS BROUSSARD. THANK YOU. ROSE RENDELL. JUST CAME TO SPEAK AND WE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ROSE AND I AM SPEAKING TODAY AS A NEIGHBOR IN MOURNING. WE ARE NOT HERE TO MOURN A DEATH, BUT TODAY WE STILL GRIEVE THE LOSS OF A VIBRANT VOICE AND RISING STAR WHO WAS STOLEN FROM US AT ONLY 33. BORN IN VENEZUELA, ARTURO SUAREZ TREJO MIGRATED TO CHILE BEFORE ENTERING THE U.S. AS A LEGAL RESIDENT THROUGH THE CBP ONE PROGRAM. GENTLE AND CREATIVE, ARTURO WROTE TENDER BALLADS AND YEARNING LOVE SONGS IN PURSUIT OF A BLOSSOMING CAREER. ON FEBRUARY 8TH, WHILE FILMING A MUSIC VIDEO IN NORTH CAROLINA, ARTURO AND OTHER MEN WERE KIDNAPED BY AN ARMED GROUP, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. WHILE THE GANG RESPONSIBLE HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING, ARTURO WAS MOST LIKELY TARGETED BECAUSE OF HIS NATIONALITY. HE LEAVES BEHIND HIS WIFE NATALIE, A ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, HIS BROTHER NELSON, AND COUNTLESS OTHER FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FANS. AND I MOURN HIM. ARTURO'S STORY IS NOT ISOLATED. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM ECHOES, TERRIFYINGLY, IN OUR OWN STREETS. ON APRIL 24TH, MULTIPLE PEOPLE DISAPPEARED FROM THE 16TH STREET AREA IN ORANGE. ANOTHER WAS ABDUCTED NEAR ROUND BUNCH IN BRIDGE CITY. THE NEXT DAY, A MAN WAS TAKEN IN BEAUMONT. THAT WEEKEND, ANOTHER BEAUMONT MAN WAS STOLEN OFF THE STREETS, LEAVING BEHIND A DISTRAUGHT WIFE AND SON. I MOURN THEM ALL TOO. THESE KIDNAPINGS GO ON AND ON

[00:50:01]

NEIGHBORS ARE TERRORIZED IF THEY DEFEND EACH OTHER. SO I WON'T NAME THE AFFECTED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM FURTHER VIOLENCE. BUT I WILL NAME THOSE RESPONSIBLE.

ARTURO SUAREZ TREJO WAS TAKEN BY OUR OWN COUNTRY'S IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. HE COMMITTED NO CRIMES IN ANY COUNTRY AND ENTERED THE US LEGALLY. HE COULD HAVE BEEN SENT HOME, BUT WAS INSTEAD INCARCERATED IN A FOREIGN PRISON KNOWN FOR ITS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, AS PART OF A $6 MILLION DEAL TO HOUSE IMMIGRANTS IMPRISONED BY THE U.S. THIS WAS SENSELESS CRUELTY. MEMBERS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY TEMPORARILY DETAINED HERE IN TEXAS MAY FACE THIS TO THEIR LEGAL STATUS, OR INNOCENCE WON'T MATTER, SINCE NOBODY IS BEING GIVEN DUE PROCESS TO PROVE EITHER. THAT ALSO MEANS NOTHING CAN STOP THIS REGIME FROM TARGETING ANY OF US.

IF THEY AREN'T STOPPED, THEY'LL EVENTUALLY COME FOR ANYONE THEY DISLIKE, AND SO WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO GO ON. ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, IT IS SAID, GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE.

SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS TEMPEST TOSSED TO ME. I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR. THE PEOPLE OF BEAUMONT MUST STAND UP FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. REGARDLESS OF PARTY OR POLITICS. WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND AS A UNITED COMMUNITY FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. IT IS OUR DUTY AS AMERICANS AND OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY AS HUMANS, TO CHOOSE JUSTICE AND COMPASSION OVER SILENCE AND COMPLICITY.

THANK YOU. LORETTA LOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE'LL MADDALO 5925 MEADOWVIEW ROAD. HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH DEEP CONCERN REGARDING ARTICLE 6.10 OF THE CITY'S CODE GOVERNING GAMING SITES AND GAMING MACHINES.

SPECIFICALLY, I URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN, IF NOT STRENGTHEN, THE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON GAMING MACHINES IN CONVENIENCE STORES ANY MORE TO ANY MOVE TO LOOSEN THOSE REGULATIONS RISKS OPENING THE DOOR TO AN INFLUX OF CONVENIENCE STORE BASED GAMING SITES, DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING OUR WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS. STUDIES AND REAL WORLD EXAMPLES HAVE SHOWN THAT THESE MACHINES OFTEN TARGET VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY THOSE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. GAMING ADDICTION IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE, AND THE PRESENCE OF EASILY ACCESSIBLE MACHINES ENCOURAGE IMPULSIVE, REPEATED PLAY, LEADING TO ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS. FOR MANY FAMILIES, THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, IT IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT PREYS ON THOSE LEAST EQUIPPED TO ABSORB THE FINANCIAL LOSS. BEYOND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. WE CANNOT IGNORE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH GAMING MACHINE PROLIFERATION. CITIES THAT HAVE ALLOWED WIDESPREAD PLACEMENT OF THESE MACHINES HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CRIME RATES, FROM PETTY THEFT TO ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. MORE GAMING SITES MEAN MORE CASH FLOW THROUGH THE CONVENIENCE STORES AT ALL HOURS, DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF CRIMINAL ELEMENTS AND PLACING BOTH PATRONS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AT GREATER RISK.

THE SURROUNDING AREAS ALSO TEND TO SUFFER FROM HIGHER CRIME RATES AND ECONOMIC DECLINE, AS A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS STRUGGLE TO COMPETE AGAINST ESTABLISHMENT THAT PROFIT FROM GAMING REVENUE, RATHER THAN FROM RETAIL COMMERCE. AS CITY LEADERS, YOU HAVE THE DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS REMAIN SAFE, SECURE AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET SHORT TERM REVENUE GAINS DICTATE LONG TERM COMMUNITY CONSEQUENCES. I URGE YOU TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY'S CODE AND PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF BEAUMONT RESIDENTS OVER THE EXPANSION OF GAMING MACHINES. ACCESSIBILITY I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT DID NOT SIGN UP TO SPEAK? I HAVE NO ONE ELSE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT, WITH

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:55:05]

[C. Council consider a resolution approving a three-year contract for litter removal service for City rights-of-way and specified areas.]

NO OTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING CONSENT AGENDA ITEM C, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS ONE ABSTENTION. SO THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY

[REGULAR AGENDA]

[01:00:04]

COUNCILMAN, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN CVB TO THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OKAY, OKAY. TWO DIFFERENT POSSIBLE. YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE HOUSING, MR. MISS PRINCE IS OVER HOUSING CDBG OKAY. I'M ON THE WRONG FUNDING. WELL, I APOLOGIZE, THAT'S OKAY. CLOSE. BUT I CAN TELL YOU I DID SIT ON I DO SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THERE WAS A FOCUS ON PROGRAMS THAT DO FOCUS EITHER YOUNG PEOPLE OR YOUTH IN ARTS. IF YOU NOTICE THAT THE DANCE ONE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ARTS, MURAL FEST IS ONE THAT DEALS WITH FAMILIES, SO THERE WAS A FOCUS ON THOSE THAT CONNECTED TO THAT, THE HOLISTIC NESS OF THE COMMUNITY. YEAH, I REMEMBER A TECH CONFERENCE FOR OUR YOUTH AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I WAS LOOKING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND MISS FREDDIE, YOU WANT TO JUMP IN AT ANY TIME. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, THAT DOES NOT THAT DID NOT HIT THE TARGET MARKET. AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO BRING IN LIKE ARTS AND THAT MATTER, BUT ALSO HEADS IN BIDS TYPE THINGS. BUT THERE IS A VERY STRICT CRITERIA TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.

AND ALTHOUGH WE DID AGREE THAT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT CONFERENCE FOR THE AREA, IT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA. FAIR ENOUGH. QUESTIONS NOW I WAS ON THE WRONG PART. SO OKAY, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, MISS FREDDY. MISS JESS, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AS WELL. BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS X AND MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD JUST A QUICK COMMENT TO THAT, THERE WERE SOME APPLICATIONS THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY NEW PROGRAMS. AND I THINK THE DISCUSSION THE COMMITTEE WAS THAT THEY MIGHT BE CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE ONCE THEY WERE MORE ESTABLISHED. SO. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO? COUNCIL, CONSIDER APPROVING A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED BUDGET FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? TO APPROVE? THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TWO? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE? COUNCIL TO CONSIDER AMENDING AN ORDINANCE CONTAINING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE THAT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED. ORDINANCE. I'M SORRY, IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE? MOVE TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION QUESTION, COUNCILMAN NEIL THEN COUNCILMAN TURNER THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. WHAT'S DRIVING THESE CHANGES? I CAN ANSWER THAT. SO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THERE'S THREE ITEMS HERE. SO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE THERE WAS A CLERICAL ERROR WHERE RIGHT NOW OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULE IS SHOWING THE FINE RANGE TO BE LESS THAN $50 AND MORE THAN $1,000. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN BETWEEN 50 AND 1000. SO THAT'S JUST CORRECTING THAT CLERICAL ERROR. IT WAS ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ETJ RELEASE FEE WAS NOT ADDED TO THE MASTER FEE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS IN THE LAST BUDGET MEETING. I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OBJECTION OR ANYTHING TO IT, SO I'M INCLUDING IT IN THERE. AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS A NEW FEE. SO THERE'S THE PRELIMINARY PLAT RENEWAL WITH APPROVED CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FEE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE RIGHT NOW, OUR PRELIMINARY PLAT, WHICH IS A NEW SUBDIVISION TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THAT'S HOW IT BEGINS. IT ASSESSES A FEE. AND THEN ONCE IT'S APPROVED BY PLANNING COMMISSION, IT HAS TO GET CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS DONE. THAT TAKES TIME IN THAT THAT PROCESS AND IN OUR ORDINANCES RIGHT NOW, PRELIMINARY PLATS EXPIRE WITHIN 24 MONTHS. A LOT OF TIMES THESE DEVELOPERS ARE IN PROCESS OF IN PROCESS OF BUILDING THESE SUBDIVISIONS AND THEIR PLAT JUST EXPIRES. SO I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THEM ASSESS THE ENTIRE FEE, BECAUSE

[01:05:04]

COUNCILMAN TURNER YEAH, THAT WAS MY QUESTION. CLARITY OF WHY, YOU KNOW, THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS ON THERE. SO THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A REZONING FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT TO RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT FOR THE SOUTHERN 2.43 ACRES OF THE RESIDUAL 21.10 ACRE TRACT TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE EXISTING DILLON DRIVE, AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND FOR APPROVAL? SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A COMMERCIAL WAREHOUSE AND OFFICE PARK IN A GENERAL COMMERCIAL MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1120 WONDERLAND DRIVE, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ONE.

CONSTRUCTION PLANS MUST MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER, UTILITIES FOR WATER AND SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING ANY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S BACKFLOW, PRETREATMENT AND OUTFALL PROGRAM. TWO CONSTRUCTION SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE BUILDING AND FIRE CODES, AND THREE THE DEVELOPMENT SHALL COMPLY WITH SECTION 28 .06.006 LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. CODE OF ORDINANCES. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE? MOVE TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY

[PUBLIC HEARING]

[01:10:01]

THE SHELTER, THE CURRENT SHELTER. WE HAVE HELD 64 BEDS. THE NEW ONE WILL HOLD 144 BEDS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. WE'RE PROUD TO. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE THE ONLY ONE IN THE IN THIS 89 MILE RADIUS THAT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. IN 2023 ALONE, WE'VE RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 CALLS REQUESTING SHELTER ASSISTANCE THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO MEET DUE TO THE LIMITED CAPACITY, ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, NEARLY 30% OF THE SHELTERS AROUND THE STATE ARE ACROSS. THE STATE HAS UNDERGONE THE SAME ISSUE WITH NO CAPACITY DUE TO, YOU KNOW, RESTRICT THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF SPACES. OUR NEW SHELTER, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE MOVING FROM 64 BEDS TO 144 BEDS, EXPANDING, EXPANDING OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND AND PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN WHEN IT IS NEEDED MOST. SO HERE IS THE OUR FAVORITE PART. WE'RE REQUESTING $25,000 TO HELP COVER THE COST OF OUR NEW SHELTER, AND ALL THAT INFORMATION WILL BE INSIDE YOUR FOLDERS. AND WE INVITE ALL OF Y'ALL TO ATTEND THE GRAND OPENING OF OUR NEW SHELTER IN JUNE OR JULY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THIS IS IT LET'S SEE. 700 NORTH STREET, SUITE Q, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE ORGANIZATION IS LOVE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LATEEF BUXI. I'M THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF JANIAS LOVE SICKLE CELL FOUNDATION. JANIAS LOVE IS A 500 1C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2015. JANIAS LOVE JOINED FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER JANAYA, WHO WAS BORN WITH SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. JANIYAH WAS A TWIN AND SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN MAY OF 2025. JANAI BECAME ILL WITH A STOMACH ACHE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL COMPLAINING OF BREATHING, COMPLAINING AND BREATHING SHALLOW. THE DOCTOR WAS NOT IN AT THE TIME. THE STAFF DECIDED NOT TO BOTHER HIM. DANIA'S CONDITION WORSENED DURING THE NIGHT AND BECAME CRITICAL. SHE WAS NOT GIVEN TREATMENT AND SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED. I AM GIVING YOU THESE FACTS TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT SICKLE CELL PEOPLE. I STARTED THE FOUNDATION TO SPREAD AWARENESS, COMFORT, EDUCATION IN ORDER TO PREVENT UNTIMELY DEATHS. MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS LIKE A FISH TAKEN OUT OF WATER. TIMING IS EVERYTHING WITH A SICKLE CELL PATIENT. MY GOAL IS TO FORM A SICKLE CELL WELLNESS CENTER IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES WITH GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO UPHOLD IN THEIR LIFE. SICKLE CELL. SICKLE CELL IS A GENETIC BLOOD DISORDER WHERE THE RED BLOOD CELLS BECOME SICKLE SHAPED, LEADING TO COMPLICATIONS LIKE ANEMIA, PAIN, EPISODES, AND ORGAN FAILURE. JANIYA JANIYA DIED OF SPLENETIC SEQUESTRATION, WHERE THE SPLEEN SUCKED UP ALL THE OXYGEN. HER BODY BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. HER PARENTS WERE YOUNG AND WATCHED HER DIE, BASICALLY BECAUSE SHE WAS URINATING ON HERSELF AND COULDN'T CONTROL HER BODY FUNCTIONS. SICKLE CELL IS VERY CRITICAL, AND A LOT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR SICKLE CELL, AND IT'S LIKE ONE OF THE DISEASES THAT IS

[01:15:04]

EXCUSE ME. SHARON. 2715 CALDER, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE GIVING FIELD. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE GIVING FIELD. WE ARE A ONE ACRE ORGANIC GARDEN HERE IN BEAUMONT. AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HARVEST, WE SEND TO AREA SOUP KITCHENS TO FEED THE HUNGRY. OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME AROUND THIS PROJECT FOR 13 YEARS. WE STARTED IT BACK IN 2012. IT'S AMAZING WHAT THE PEOPLE OF BEAUMONT HAVE DONE TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REALLY NEED HELP. AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS, YOU KNOW, OUR FOOD INSECURITY RATES HERE IN BEAUMONT ARE VERY, VERY HIGH, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AT THE GIVING FIELD HELPS TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD AND WHO ARE HUNGRY. SO OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME AROUND IN THE LAST 13 YEARS AND PROVIDED OVER 85,000 POUNDS OF FOOD TO THE AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY, WE ARE SENDING FOOD TO SOME OTHER PLACE MARKET TO HOPE AND NUTRITION AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS HERE IN BEAUMONT. THEY TAKE EVERYTHING THAT WE GIVE THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DO NOT HAVE THE BUDGETS TO PURCHASE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, SO WE KIND OF FILL IN THAT GAP. I WROTE THE GRANT FOR THE CDBG TO EXPAND OUR FEEDING THE HUNGRY THROUGH THE USE OF A KITCHEN CLASSROOM. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TEACH YOUNG AND OLD HOW TO COOK. WE'VE KIND OF FALLEN AWAY FROM THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE BOTH PARENTS ARE WORKING, AND FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE, THESE FAMILIES ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, BUT THEY'RE SERVING THEIR FAMILIES PROCESSED, UNHEALTHY FOOD. WE FEEL LIKE WITH SOME BASIC COOKING SKILLS, CHILDREN CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHIER MEAL AND A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD. THROUGH THE EDUCATION THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE THROUGH THIS KITCHEN CLASSROOM, IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGH ALL OF THE BEAUMONT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AS WELL. SO IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF EDUCATION OF YOUNG AND OLD WILL HAVE ADULT COOKING CLASSES AS WELL, BUT WE WILL ALSO UTILIZE THOSE HANDS TO HELP CREATE, REHEAT AND EAT MEALS LIKE WE GET AT THE HEB GROCERY STORE TO PROVIDE FOR THE AGENCIES THAT WE CURRENTLY SERVE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THOSE MEALS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE CLIENTS, SO IT WOULD BE A TWOFOLD. IT WOULD BE AN INCREASED OUTREACH IN HELPING THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FEED THE HUNGRY. AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO BE AN INCREASED EDUCATION COMPONENT TO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING TO HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER BEAUMONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. VIVIAN BLUE, 3030 PLAZA CIRCLE, PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VIVIAN BLUE, AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LEGACY. CDC LEGACY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SERVED BEAUMONT FOR 15 YEARS. WE ARE OFFICED AT 700 NORTH STREET, SUITE D. WE ARE THE ONLY ACTIVE HOUSING HUD CERTIFIED COUNSELING AGENCY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND HOMEBUYER CERTIFICATION FOR OVER 2500 FAMILIES. THIS SERVICE IS REQUIRED BY THE CITY'S HOME PROGRAM. WE ALSO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES SPANNING FROM HOMELESS PREVENTION, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND REHAB ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS.

WE RECENTLY COMPLETED THE RENOVATION OF 90 HOMES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FOR SENIORS.

TODAY, WE ARE SEEKING CDBG FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF OPERATING A LOCAL OFFICE. THE COST THAT WE ARE REQUESTING IS $20,000. IT'S ABOUT 25% OF OUR TOTAL COST FOR THAT OFFICE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. THANK YOU. DANIEL JAME, 2509 CAMPBELL AVENUE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE HOUSE CENTER. GOOD AFTERNOON, DANIEL JAMES, DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH CENTER.

THIS IS KERRY LAVELLE. SHE'S THE ADMINISTRATOR. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU SERVING THE CITY AND HELPING THE HEALTH CENTER FOR THE LAST 33 YEARS, THE CDBG FUNDING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS TO COMPLETE A PROJECT TO ADA COMPLIANT HOUSING FOR A RAMP.

[01:20:03]

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. WE GAVE THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCENTIVE TO GET GOING, AND IT'S A JOY TO SEE THE GUYS INTERACT WITH THE YOUNG MEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE ALSO SOMEBODY MENTIONED CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WE'VE UPDATED A BUNCH OF CAMERAS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL THE NEIGHBORS KNOW ABOUT THEM. ALL THE NEIGHBORS APPRECIATE THEM.

WE ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THE NEIGHBORS. THEY KNOW IN CASE OF A CRISIS, THEY CAN COME TO US. WE HAVE HELPED THEM OUT BEFORE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM OUT AGAIN. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FOUNDER OWNS DAVILA AND HIS WIFE, LOTTIE FOUNDED THE HOUSE CENTER IN 1992, AND THEY HAD A VISION OF MAKING A SAFE HAVEN IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND WE LOST MISS LOTTIE LAST YEAR, AND THE ALUMNI CAME TOGETHER. AND NEXT YEAR, IN THE FALL, WE WILL BE AWARDING A SCHOLARSHIP IN THEIR HONOR FROM THE HOUSE CENTER TO. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE. I DON'T NEED TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE GOING TO STEP UP TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, TRY TO HELP KIDS, PREFERABLY IN THE NORTH END OF BEAUMONT, WHERE WE'RE LOCATED, GOING TO LAMAR UNIVERSITY SOMEWHERE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GWENDOLYN GWENDOLYN, 2390 DOWLEN ROAD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS DOCTOR LAVALLE, AND I'M THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT GIFT OF LIFE. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE A NONPROFIT AND OUR MISSION IS TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE UNINSURED TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE SCREENING FOR CANCERS. AND AS YOU FURTHER KNOW, THAT PROSTATE CANCER AFFECTS 1 IN 8 MEN IN THEIR LIFETIME, AS WELL AS BREAST CANCER AFFECT WOMEN, 1 IN 8 WOMEN IN HER LIFETIME. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. THE GIFT OF LIFE IS A NONPROFIT THAT HAS BEEN AROUND CELEBRATING THEIR 30TH YEAR LAST YEAR, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO TO SUPPORT THAT. LAST YEAR, WE SAW 22 WOMEN THAT WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, AND OF THE 22 WOMEN THAT WE SAW, NINE OF THEM WERE RESIDENTS OF BEAUMONT. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THOSE WOMEN AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, WHEN WE GIVE GIFTS AND JUST FOLLOW UP TO SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING, HOW THEIR TREATMENTS GONE AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THOSE WOMEN EXPRESSED EXPRESS SUCH GRATITUDE FOR BEING ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEN REFERRED AND TREATED. AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN ALL RELATE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, BECAUSE ALL OF US KNOW SOMEONE, SOME WOMAN WITH BREAST CANCER, SOME MAN WITH PROSTATE CANCER. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO SUPPORT WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE GRANT FOR 2025 AS WELL. AND HOPEFULLY YOU ENJOYED OUR VIDEO PRESENTATION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO REFER SEVEN MEN TO THE UROLOGIST FOR PROSTATE CANCER BECAUSE THEY CAME WITH ELEVATED PSA, WHICH IS THE SCREENING TEST FOR PROSTATE CANCER. AND OF THOSE SEVEN MEN, TWO OF THOSE MEN ARE RESIDENTS OF BEAUMONT, AND THEY ARE NOW UNDERGOING WHAT WE CALL WATCHFUL WAITING. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS POINT, BUT THEY ARE BEING CAREFULLY FOLLOWED IN THE RIGHT TIME FOR BIOPSY WILL BE CHOSEN BY THE UROLOGIST. WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW VERY IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE YOUR SUPPORT, AND HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT TEXAS IS THE CAPITAL OF THE UNINSURED CITIZEN. AND OF COURSE, BEAUMONT IS REFLECTING THAT TOO, IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SEE THAT ARE UNINSURED. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN THIS MANNER, TO PROVIDE SCREENING FOR THEM. NEXT, THE MEN'S HEALTH SCREENING WILL BEGIN IN JUNE AND IN JULY ON THE 19TH, WE WILL BE HERE IN BEAUMONT DOING SCREENING, AND WE ALREADY HAVE 109 MEN REGISTERED. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELP. THANK

[01:25:07]

AND HE IS HERE, RIGHT THERE. AND SO I A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT VERY BRIEFLY, IS INFORMATION THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER OVER THE YEARS, AND PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN WORKING EVEN MORE CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS. OUR REQUEST IS FOR COUNSELING TO HELP REHABILITATE THESE CHILDREN. THERE ARE MORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES THAN EVER BEFORE. I'M IN THE DETENTION CENTER WEEKLY, AND I SEE SO MANY CHILDREN WHO ARE HELPLESS, HOPELESS, AND FILLED WITH DESPAIR. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE. SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT. WE HAVE A SPEAKER SERIES EVERY SATURDAY, AND MOST OF THE CHILDREN ARE ALLOWED TO BE OUT WITH US IN CONGREGATING AND HEARING THE SPEAKER. MORE RECENTLY, IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, MANY OF THE CHILDREN ARE KEPT IN THEIR CELLS. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THEIR BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN TERRIBLE OR BECAUSE THEY ARE SUICIDAL. AND IT'S VERY

[01:30:08]

DARIO? YES. I GUESS THIS IS, I GUESS, CHRIS. YES. WHEN WILL THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED, WHEN WILL THEY RECEIVE NOTICE OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE APPROVED? SO WE WILL BRING THIS ITEM BACK TO COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE FINAL VOTE AND ACTION PLAN. IN A FEW WEEKS. MAY. MAY 20TH. SO ACTUALLY TWO WEEKS. AND THAT'S WHERE COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION. OKAY. HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW. HOW MANY APPLICANTS DO YOU HAVE. I'LL LET JESS FRIENDS COME UP AND. WE HAVE 25 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR. CDAC MADE THE SCORING RECOMMENDATIONS BACK IN MARCH. AND SO WHEN WE BRING IT TO YOU ON THE 20TH OF MAY, THEY WILL THEN BE ALERTED VIA EMAIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THEY WON'T BE AWARDED THE FUNDING WITH GRANT AGREEMENTS UNTIL LATER IN OCTOBER, DUE TO OUR FUNDING YEAR WITH HUD, AND WHEN WE WILL HAVE OUR GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THEM. HOW MUCH FUNDING IS AVAILABLE? 200,000. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. YES. COUNCILMAN TURNER. MISS PRINCE, FOR PEOPLE WATCHING, CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS PROCESS? I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE 200,000 OVER 25 PEOPLE APPLIED. ME PERSONALLY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS DOING SUCH GREAT WORK. I WISH WE HAD WAY MORE MONEY, BUT YOU COULD ALWAYS FUND IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND IF YOU WISH. BUT NO, NOT THE WAY SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING DURING THIS ELECTION. RIGHT. SO THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS, WE GET AN ANNUAL ENTITLEMENT FROM HUD. WE ARE LIMITED BY HUD WITH HOW MUCH WE CAN GIVE NON-PROFITS. AND SO WITH OUR CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AGENCIES ARE CAPPED FOR $20,000 PER AGENCY. YOU HAVE TO BE A NONPROFIT TO BE ELIGIBLE. YOU HAVE TO MEET THE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THE FUNDING, WHICH ARE SET AND REGULATED BY HUD. WHEN YOU DO YOUR APPLICATION, YOU SPELL OUT, YOU KNOW, THE ACTIVITIES, THE PROJECTS, THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND THEY HAVE TO DIRECTLY IMPACT LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF BEAUMONT. THE FUNDING IS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT, AND SO NOT ALL AGENCIES ASK FOR THE FULL 20. THEY ASK FOR WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET FIRST. SO I WANT TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTAN, BECAUSE I'VE TALKED TO NEW PEOPLE WHO APPLY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. RIGHT. THIS IS ACTUALLY TO THEY WOULD SPEND THE MONEY UP FRONT AND IT WOULD COME BACK ON THE BACK END IF APPROVED. SO I THINK THAT PART IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN PEOPLE APPROACH US AND ASK US, HOW DOES THIS PROCESS WORK THAT THEY UNDERSTAND UP FRONT? I'M GLAD YOU JUST STATED THAT BECAUSE I'VE ANSWERED SEVERAL EMAILS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. OUR APPLICATION IS ONLY OPEN ONCE ANNUALLY BECAUSE WE ONLY RECEIVE AN ENTITLEMENT ANNUALLY. AND SO THAT APPLICATION PORTAL FOR NONPROFITS OPENS NOVEMBER 1ST.

[01:35:06]

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY OF 7050 DONALD STREET. IT STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2020. PROPERTY WAS IN VIOLATION FOR FAILURE TO RETRIEVE LITTER BY CODE ENFORCEMENT. PROPERTY WAS DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE BY CITY COUNCIL IN MAY OF 22, AND THEN ON 719 OF 23, A CONTRACTOR WENT OUT AND CLEANED THE PROPERTY AT THE CITY'S EXPENSE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE COST WAS $3,900 BACK IN 23. AND SO IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR, THE PROPERTY WAS OUT OF COMPLIANCE ONCE AGAIN. SO YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORY OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND THE PICTURES YOU'RE GETTING READY TO SEE. THE PROPERTY WAS REINSPECTED ON APRIL THE 24TH OF 2025. SO WE CAN GO JUST LET THEM SEE THE PICTURES.

QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN DARIO. SO MR. COLEMAN, DO YOU GUYS YOUR DEPARTMENT, DO Y'ALL. JUST HOW DO Y'ALL COME ABOUT THESE. DO YOU RIDE AROUND AND UNTIL YOU FIND ONE, OR ARE YOU DEPENDENT ON CITIZENS TO CALL IN OR. WELL, ACTUALLY WE GET THE REFERRAL FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. THEY GO OUT AND THEY SURVEY THE COMMUNITY. BUT A LOT OF TIMES NEIGHBORS WOULD CALL AND REPORT. AND SO ONCE IT COMES TO US, BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU SEE, AGAIN, THAT BECOMES A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD WITH. RODENT HARBORAGE AND CONTAINERS THAT CONTAIN WATER FROM MOSQUITO BREEDING, WHICH MOSQUITOES CAUSE WEST NILE VIRUS, RODENT DROPPINGS CARRY THE HANTAVIRUS, WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND DEADLY TO CITIZENS, SO IT BECOMES A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD. SO THAT'S WHEN WE GET INVOLVED. AND THEN ONCE WE GET INVOLVED, WE REACH OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, WE SEND THEM A LETTER. AND FROM THAT LETTER THEY HAVE TEN DAYS TO EITHER CLEAN THE PROPERTY OR MAKE

[01:40:06]

IT COULD BE COSTLY TO THE CITY IF THE CITY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO IN AND CLEAN THE PROPERTIES.

I KNOW, MADAM ATTORNEY, YOU EXPLAINED THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT JUST THE PROCESS OF ONCE WE SPEND THIS MONEY, NEXT STEPS FOR THE CITY TO GET IT BACK. YOU KNOW, JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO. SO THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO GET PERMISSION TO ENTER THE PROPERTY FROM A JUDGE, AND IN OUR COURT ORDER, WE TYPICALLY ASK THAT THE COURT AWARD US MONEY NOT TO EXCEED WHAT WE HAVE QUOTED THE PROPERTY CLEANUP TO BE. SO IN 2023, YOU SAW THAT THE PROPERTY CLEANUP WAS $3,900. AND SO IF WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR WE ASKED THEM TO BE TO GIVE A VERY GENEROUS QUOTE, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE QUOTE WAS UNDER WHICH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED. BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE QUOTE WAS UNDER. SO THE QUOTE WOULD HAVE BEEN, LET'S SAY 3500. OUR ORDER WOULD HAVE ASKED A JUDGE TO ALLOW US TO RECRUIT FUNDS NOT TO EXCEED 3500, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE QUOTED. AND SO THE CITY WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE AT A LOSS FOR THE ADDITIONAL FOUR. BUT WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. WE WOULD IT GOES THROUGH OUR COLLECTIONS PROCESS WHERE THEY SEND OUT INVOICES. IF INDIVIDUALS DECIDE TO MAKE PAYMENTS, THEN THEY'LL MAKE REGULAR PAYMENTS. IF THEY IGNORE THE INVOICES, THEN WE WOULD LIKE ANY OTHER DEBT OWED TO THE CITY, PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY PURSUANT TO THE COURT ORDER. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. TWO QUESTIONS, MR. COLEMAN. THIS THIS PICTURE IMPLIES THAT THIS PART OF HIS PROPERTY IS BEHIND A PRIVACY FENCE. I'M JUST IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE, BUT JUST CURIOUS, IS SOME OF THIS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET? I MEAN, THIS IS SO THE NEIGHBORS ARE HAVING TO SEE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. OKAY. SECOND QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S AT TIMES THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND I'M ASSUMING OR OTHER AGENCIES BROUGHT IN WHEN THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE OR WE'RE SUSPECT THAT WE A LOT

[01:45:01]

I DON'T KNOW IF IT STAYED CLEAN, BUT HE DID CLEAN IT UP. BUT IT WAS SO MUCH EFFORT THAT HAD TO GO INTO THAT CASE. AND IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. JUST LIKE HERE WITH THE CITY HAD TO GO OUT AND HIRE A CONTRACTOR AND SPEND MONEY. I THINK IN THAT CASE IT WAS CLOSER TO $6,000. IT'S VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING TO THE NEIGHBORS. I KNOW IN THAT CASE, ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS SOLD THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE THEY JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. IT DIMINISHES THE VALUE OF ALL THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. IT'S AS YOU SAY, EVEN IF IT'S BEHIND A FENCE. IT DOESN'T DIMINISH THE RODENT PROBLEM AND THE INFESTATION THAT CAN OCCUR. SO YEAH, SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO SHOW TOUGH LOVE.

AND AGAIN, WE WHEN I SAY WE SPEAKING OF CODE ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SUPPORT BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE WITH JUST THIS ONE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ONE PROPERTY FOR FIVE YEARS. AND SO YOU ONLY CAN IMAGINE THE MAN HOURS THAT THAT HAS TO BE PUT INTO DEALING WITH THESE PROPERTIES. SO AGAIN WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COUNCILMAN GUDES I WILL ADD THAT THERE IS A SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT SAY, HEY, IT'S MY PROPERTY. I OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO. AND I'VE HEARD THAT ARGUMENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY, YOU ENTER INTO A SOCIAL COMPACT IN WHICH YOU AGREE TO LIVE BY THE RULES ESTABLISHED BY THIS BODY, OUR CITY ORDINANCES, IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO, YOU GO LIVE OUT IN THE COUNTY. YOU DON'T BRING THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE INTO THE CITY. AND IT'S SAD THAT SOME FEEL LIKE THEY CAN AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE ENTITLED TO DO JUST ANYTHING THEY WANT TO DO ON THEIR PROPERTY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. COLEMAN. ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS? ANYBODY SIGN UP? NO, SIR.

[REGULAR AGENDA]

OWNER OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX? MOVE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SIX. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ANY OPPOSED. THE

[WORK SESSION]

[01:50:03]

REGULATIONS OVER AMUSEMENT. REDEMPTION MACHINES DO NOT INCLUDE TYPES OF MACHINES THAT AWARD PRIZES DIRECTLY, SUCH AS CLAW, CRANE OR SIMILAR DEVICES. ADDITIONALLY, THIS INCLUDES MACHINES THAT RELY ON USERS PHYSICAL SKILLS SUCH AS ROLLING, FLIPPING, TOSSING, OR DROPPING A BALL OR AN OBJECT INTO A TARGET AREA TO RECEIVE A PRIZE. THESE ARE TYPICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT, SO THINK CHUCK E CHEESE. MAIN EVENT VENUES LIKE THAT. ARCADES. THE CITY OF BEAUMONT'S GAMING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL, ZONING AND LICENSING REGULATIONS FOR ALL GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS. THESE BUSINESSES ARE AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 A.M. AND 10 P.M, MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE READINESS, GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS MUST DISPLAY VISIBLE SIGNAGE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ALL DOORS MUST REMAIN UNLOCKED DURING OPERATIONAL HOURS. A FUNCTIONAL SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES, AND BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL OWNERS AND OPERATORS. OWNERS AND OPERATORS MUST ALSO WEAR ID BADGES AT ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE PREMISES. ZONING RESTRICTIONS FURTHER REGULATE THE ZONE OR THE LOCATION OF GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS. GAME ROOMS ARE PERMITTED BY RIGHT ONLY IN HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. CONDITIONAL APPROVAL THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIFIC USE PERMITS IS REQUIRED FOR LOCATIONS WITHIN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICTS. ADDITIONALLY, GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS MUST NOT BE LOCATED WITHIN 600FT OF ANY SCHOOL, CHILDCARE FACILITY, CHURCH, HOSPITAL, OR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT AND MUST MAINTAIN A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 1000FT FROM ANY EXISTING GAME ROOM. UNDER THIS ORDINANCE, A GAME ROOM IS DEFINED AS A LOCATION CONTAINING SIX OR MORE GAMING MACHINES, WHEREAS ACCESSORY GAMING REFERS TO ESTABLISHMENTS WITH FIVE OR FEWER MACHINES, GAME ROOMS, AND GAMING SITES THAT WERE LEGALLY ESTABLISHED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, WHICH IS WHEN Y'ALL ADOPTED THE AMENDED ORDINANCE, ARE CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED AT THEIR EXISTING LOCATION AND MAY CONTINUE OPERATIONS UNDER THEIR EXISTING ANNUAL PERMIT. HOWEVER, IF A PERMIT IS REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR ALLOWED TO LAPSE, THE GRANDFATHERED STATUS IS FORFEITED AND THE LOCATION IS TREATED AS A NEW GAMING SITE, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CURRENT ZONING, DISTANCING, AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS. PERMITS FOR GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS MUST BE RENEWED ANNUALLY AND REQUIRE PROOF OF VALID MACHINE DECALS, WHICH ARE ISSUED BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. AS OF NOW, THE CITY OF BEAUMONT HAS 66 PERMITTED GAMING SITES, OPERATING A TOTAL OF 453 GAMING MACHINES. THESE REGULATIONS ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AND LAND USE. COMPATIBILITY QUESTION. DEBBIE. YES, SIR. THE 66 GAMING SITES, DOES THAT MEAN 66 GAME ROOMS OR DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CORNER CONVENIENCE STORES WITH SITES IN TOTAL LIKE SO? IT WOULD BE ACCESSORY GAMING AND WHATNOT, AND THEN 453 MACHINES LEGALLY PERMITTED THROUGH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE DECALS FROM THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. SO FOR THIS, I'LL PASS OFF TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO TALK ABOUT THE MOST RECENT CASE. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO START OUT WITH THE FACT THAT THE CITY OF FORT WORTH IS. RILEY. SORRY, WAS NOT INITIALLY SOUGHT OUT TO BAN GAME ROOMS. THIS WAS A ZONING CASE. THE. OWNERS OF GAME ROOMS IN FORT WORTH ESSENTIALLY CHALLENGED THE FORT WORTH ORDINANCE THAT PUT FORTH GREATER RESTRICTIONS IN IN THEIR AREA TO KIND OF PERMIT THEIR GAMING MACHINES. WHAT THEY ESSENTIALLY WANTED TO DO IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS ALREADY DOING, IS RESTRICT WHERE THEY CAN GO RIGHT NOW, AND YOU JUMP IN WITH THIS. IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING BUSINESS AND IT'S IN AN AREA THAT ALLOWS FOR GAME ROOMS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BEFORE PLANNING AND ZONING. IT'S

[01:55:03]

THERE'S SOME CITIES THAT ARE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. FORT WORTH, CLUTE, WHITE OAK. AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT ORANGE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSIDERING IT. OR YOU CAN AMEND THE PERMITTED USE TABLE TO ONLY ALLOW GAMING SITES WITHIN INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. SO IN MY MIND THAT

[02:00:01]

AND SO SOMEONE COMES IN OUR OFFICE AND THEY HAVE ONE FROM THE STATE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS SAYS IT'S FINE. SO IT IS IT IS A IT'S A CONFLICT. RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT NO DIRECTION FROM STATE COMPTROLLER AS TO WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE UPDATING THEIR PROCEDURES. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE AWARE OF IT, BUT WHEN THEY THEY, THEY DEEM TO UPDATE THEIR PROCEDURES ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO STOP PERMITTING, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO ALLOW IT TO LAPSE IN TERMS OF LIKE, NOT ISSUE ANY MORE PERMITS THIS YEAR. BUT BUT WHAT WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AND STILL ARE ISSUING PERMITS, THAT'S ALL WE COULD KIND OF GET OUT OF THEM, IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED ISSUING PERMITS. WELL, RESPECTFULLY, AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT BECAUSE ONE OF THESE, SOME CITY IS GOING TO REQUEST AN INJUNCTION AGAINST MR. HAGER FROM ISSUING ANY MORE PERMITS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS FINDING THAT THESE MACHINES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I WOULD PREFER IT NOT BE BEAUMONT. WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND OF COURSE, THIS ALWAYS DOES SEEM TO COME DOWN TO MONEY. AND IF WE WERE TO TELL ALL OF THESE CURRENT GAMING SITES THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DONE, WE'RE GOING TO SHUT YOU DOWN. IT'S GOING TO COST US SOME MONEY. AND WE HEARD FROM AN ATTORNEY TODAY THAT MADE AN APPEAL TO AT LEAST LET THE SITES THAT HAVE FIVE OR FEWER REMAIN IN OPERATION. BECAUSE HE TRIED TO PORTRAY AN ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THAT MONEY TO CONTINUE TO EXIST AS A LOCAL, LOCAL BUSINESS, BUT IT'S EITHER UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR IT'S NOT.

AND WHETHER IT'S FIVE OR FEWER OR IT'S GAMING ROOM, YOU EITHER ARE GOING TO ALLOW THE MACHINES TO CONTINUE TO BE IN YOUR CITY OR NOT. I, FOR ONE, DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE. I THINK YOU CAN ASK ANY POLICE OFFICER THAT HAS ANY EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH THESE LOCATIONS AS TO WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THEY OCCUR, OR THAT THEY CAUSE, AND I DON'T SEE THEM AS OFFERING VALUE TO OUR CITY.

SO THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M COMING FROM. SO IN, IN IN 2003, ONE OF THE REASONS FOR INCREASING OR STRENGTHENING OUR ORDINANCE WAS TO COMBAT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD WITH ENFORCEMENT. SO

[02:05:04]

AND WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL IN 2023 AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS HOW MANY WE HAVE OPERATING. THIS IS THE COST FOR THE DETAILS. THIS IS THE COST OF THE TIME IT TAKES FOR OUR POLICE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT. I THINK IT WAS LIKE A TEAM AT THE TIME WAS FIRE, THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, PD, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ALL THESE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS COMING TOGETHER TO KIND OF TO INSPECT AND OPERATE THESE GAME ROOMS. THIS IS HOW MUCH IT COSTS. SO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IS ESSENTIALLY IN THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURRENT ORDINANCE OR TO OR FOR ENFORCEMENT. IF OBVIOUSLY IF WE DECIDED TO BAN, WE WOULD STILL NEED MONEY TO KIND OF ENFORCE THE BAND. AND SO THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER HOW WE WANT TO TELL A LOT MORE MONEY TO ENFORCE THE BAN. OBVIOUSLY WE COULD. THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW FOR FINES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT. WE COULD, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR FINES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT, BUT WE WOULD STILL NEED AN ENFORCEMENT ARM, SO WE WOULD STILL NEED MONEY TO COVER THE COST FOR OVERTIME FOR THAT DIVISION THAT GOES OUT TO ESSENTIALLY RAID ILLEGAL GAME ROOMS. SO THAT MONEY WOULD NEED TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILMAN DARIO. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ON STAFF CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION, BUT. AS MISS LOW HAD MENTIONED, IT APPEARS THAT THESE GAMING ROOMS PREY ON THE ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGED, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE CRIME THAT SWIRLS AROUND THESE LOCATIONS. BUT I, THE FUZZY ANIMAL ISSUE, I, I DON'T FREQUENT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS, I DON'T I'M NOT A GAMER SO I CAN'T I DON'T CAN'T SPEAK TO IT. BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU WIN A $2 FUZZY ANIMAL AND THEN THEY'LL BUY IT BACK FROM YOU FOR 20 BUCKS. SO THERE'S A LOOPHOLE TO EXCHANGE CASH. DO WE DO WE HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT HAPPENING? SO THE FUZZY ANIMAL BEFORE THE FUZZY ANIMAL EXCEPTION IS ESSENTIALLY A COURT TERMS OF ART. AND THAT'S IT WAS KIND OF INTENDED TO KIND OF DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A SKILLED GAME AND A, A GAME OF CHANCE. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A GAME OF CHANCE, YOU SIMPLY THINK OF A CASINO WHERE YOU GET MONEY AND YOU THINK ABOUT A GAME OF SKILL FOR CHILDREN, YOU THINK ABOUT WINNING A TEDDY BEAR. SO ALMOST LIKE THE STATE FAIR, WHEN YOU GO WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND AND HE MAKES THE BASKET, YOU GET A BIG BEAR, IN MY CASE, MY DAD. BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE, LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THEY CAME UP WITH THAT. IS THAT WHEN YOU WIN A GAME OF SKILL, YOU GET THE YOU GET THE TEDDY BEAR. WHEN YOU WIN A GAME OF CHANCE, YOU GET MONEY. WELL, THEN I'LL REPHRASE THE QUESTION. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S A LOOPHOLE WHERE THEY WORK AROUND PRIZES THAT YOU GET IF YOU WIN SO MUCH AT THE GAME, AND THEN THEY BUY IT BACK FROM YOU. SO THERE'S A LOOPHOLE TO GET CASH IN YOUR HAND. DO WE HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT? SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE UNDER POLICE. SO NOT TO SPEAK FOR THEM. BUT THERE ARE IN SOME OF THEIR INSPECTIONS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE THAT SOME OF THE PRIZES HAVE DUST ON THEM, WHICH INDICATES THAT NO ONE IS WINNING THESE PRIZES, OR AT LEAST THAT THESE PRIZES ARE NOT BEING DISTRIBUTED. THE ACT OF GAMBLING IS ESSENTIALLY A SEPARATE PART OF THE ENFORCEMENT. SO THERE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT KIND OF GO UNDERCOVER OR SEND IN SEA ICE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GAME, SOME GAMBLING OR ILLEGAL GAMBLING CASES MADE BASED ON THAT. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY OF THEM ARE ACTIVE, BUT IF YOU DO HAVE A GAMBLING CHARGE FILED AGAINST YOU, YOUR PERMIT IS REVOKED AND ANYONE LISTED AS EITHER AN OWNER, OPERATOR, MANAGER OR ANYONE CONNECTED TO THAT APPLICATION IS PROHIBITED FROM FILING. I THINK IT'S FOR ONE YEAR FROM FILING AN APPLICATION TO RECEIVE AND OPERATE A GAME ROOM IN THE CITY, SO THEN I'LL TAKE THAT AS A NEW GAMING SITE SO IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE NEW DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS, ZONING REGULATIONS AND THOSE THINGS. SO WHEREAS BEFORE IN 2014, YOU COULD BE 300FT AWAY FROM ANY CHURCH, SCHOOL OR HOSPITAL IN THE NEW ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2023, IT'S NOW 600FT FROM ANY CHURCH, CHILD CARE FACILITY, HOSPITAL, SCHOOL. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TWO MORE THAT I'M MISSING THAT I READ OFF EARLIER.

[02:10:06]

AND A LOT OF TIMES IN CERTAIN AREAS, LIKE IN MY MIND, WHAT I ALWAYS COME TO IS FOURTH STREET, WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE RIGHT THERE, WHICH WERE PERMITTED UNDER THE 2014 ORDINANCE. AND RIGHT BEHIND FOURTH STREET IS A IS EXISTING NEIGHBORS RIGHT, OR A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THAT'S ALSO RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS. SO LIKE LET'S SAY THAT A GAME ROOM ON FOURTH STREET LAPSED IN THEIR PERMIT OR SOMETHING HAPPENED WHERE THEY GOT IN TROUBLE OR IT GOT REVOKED, IT GOT SUSPENDED. ANYTHING THAT'S NOW TREATED AS A NEW GAMING SITE AND IT CAN'T BE THERE ANYMORE. I WON'T TAKE THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION AS A YES. THERE SEEMS TO BE LOOPHOLES, BUT NUMBER TWO, AND THIS AIN'T YOU PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER THIS, BUT I'M ASSUMING THEN, AS THE MADAM ATTORNEY MENTIONED, WE ARE POLICING THESE SITES TO TRY TO CLOSE THESE LOOPHOLES. AND THAT WOULD BE A YES. SO THEY DO THEY DO REGULAR INSPECTIONS. THERE'S A MEMBER OF HER STAFF WHO DOES REGULAR INSPECTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HITTING ALL PARTS OF IT, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN, IN IN AN INSPECTION, YOU CAN FEEL LIKE AND THEY WRITE CITATIONS, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF OUR ORDINANCE. SO IF SOMEONE'S IN THERE SMOKING, IF SOMEONE IF THE GAMING PERMIT ISN'T PROPERLY POSTED, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, ANY ANYTHING, THAT'S A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED, CAN CONSTITUTE THEM. AND IF THEY'RE IF THEY RECEIVE A VIOLATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE, THEY CAN ESSENTIALLY HAVE THEIR PERMIT REVOKED. AND I, I HAVEN'T HAD TO WRITE A REVOCATION FOR A PERMIT IN QUITE SOME TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WE'VE HAD TO WE'VE HAD TO SIT OUT. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABIDING BY THE PERMITTING REGULATIONS AND WHATNOT, WHICH IS WHAT I WHAT I OVERSEE IS THE PERMITTING SIDE OF ALL OF THAT. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE REVOCATIONS WHERE WE'VE WE'VE HAD TO BAN A COUPLE SITES. WELL, NOT BAN, BUT THEY HAD TO DO A NEW LOCATION OR A NEW APPLICATION, AND IT WAS APPLICABLE TO THE NEW GAMING ORDINANCE AND THUS COULDN'T BE AT THAT LOCATION ANYMORE. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR, COUNCILMAN DARIO THEN COUNCILMAN NEIL. YES. SO I SEE THE NEXT STEP. IT GOES BEFORE PLANNING. THEN IT COMES BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. THAT WOULD BE IF YOU GUYS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CHOICE 1 OR 2. IF THERE'S NO CHANGE, THEN WE KEEP STATUS QUO AND WE CONTINUE EXACTLY HOW WE'RE WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. BUT. WELL, I SAID THAT AND DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, BUT FOR PEOPLE UP HERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE BY THAT TIME. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO THE NEWLY SEATED COUNCIL? IT WOULD BE FOR SURE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW. YES. SO THE NEXT STEP IS FOR US TO BRING IT TO PLANNING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THEIR, IN THEIR PURVIEW JUST TO KIND OF UPDATE THEM ON THIS CASE. THAT IS A PUBLIC HEARING MEETING. AND SO THE PLANNING AT THAT TIME, THE NEWLY CITY COUNCIL CAN MAKE COMMENTS ON THIS, BUT ALSO YOU CAN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT THEY FEEL. THEY CAN SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT ANY CHANGE. THEY CAN SAY THAT THEY WANT TO AMEND THE PERMITTED USE TABLE, BUT WE WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION TO THEM SIMILAR TO THIS AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ACTION THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN. AND THEN IF THERE'S NOTHING THEN THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMES BACK BEFORE THE COUNCIL. IF THERE IS THEN THERE'S SUCH. COUNCIL ALSO HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, THOUGH, IS THAT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IF, IF COUNCIL OR ANY ANYBODY SAYS THAT THEY WANT TO BE IN IT, THERE IS A PROCESS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, MEANING IT HAS TO BE GO THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM THE PERMITTED USE TABLE. THEN IT HAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THAT RECOMMENDATION. THERE NEEDS TO BE NOTICES THAT ARE SENT OUT TO OPERATORS AND OWNERS, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EQUITABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THEM TO REMOVE THEM FROM THEIR PROPERTY. THANK YOU. AND I WILL. REAL QUICK, I WILL SAY THAT HAVING LEARNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF REPEALING ARTICLE SIX OR THE POTENTIAL OF CHANGING THE PERMITTED USE TABLE, WE HAVE STOPPED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO JUST FREEZING APPLICATION INTAKE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT ANYONE'S MONEY FOR NEW APPLICATIONS WITH KNOWING THAT WE MAY NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH THIS. SO THAT HAS STOPPED AND WE MY STAFF HAS SENT, I THINK IT WAS LIKE I THINK IT WAS LIKE 200 LETTERS OR SO TO OWNERS AND OPERATORS THAT ARE ON FILE WITH US ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF MAY 19TH, SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE AND WHATEVER OUTCOME IT IS TODAY THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD. I'M ALSO GOING TO SEND ANOTHER ROUND OF LETTERS TO LET THEM KNOW IF THEY WANT TO BE HEARD, TO COME TO THAT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. COUNCILMAN NEILL, COUNCILMAN TURNER, MAYOR. I THINK THEY ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT EVERYBODY THAT SITS ON THIS COUNCIL NOW AND EVERYBODY THAT'S GOING TO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL,

[02:15:03]

[02:20:06]

SO IF YOU DENY INSPECTION, IF YOU DENY THEM TO ANY PARTS OF IT TO INSPECT, IF YOU DON'T, WE GET TO SEE WHO'S WORKING YOUR BOOKS, WHO YOU HAVE LISTED, IF YOU DENY ANY PART OF THE INSPECTION, IF YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH INSPECTION, THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE AND UP TO AND INCLUDING REVOCATION. I UNDERSTAND. I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE GREEN. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT INSPECT. I'M TALKING ABOUT CAN ANYBODY JUST GOING IN AND PLAY. YES. THEY CAN'T THEY YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR DOORS LOCKED. YOU CAN'T LIKE THE ORDINANCE IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE. IT'S IF THEY'RE CURRENTLY REQUIRING MEMBERSHIPS THAT IS A VIOLATION OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. SO WHEN WE SAY WHEN WE SAY WHEN WE SAY GRANDFATHERED, WE MEANT BASED ON LOCATION. WE DIDN'T SAY WE DIDN'T MEAN OPERATING PRACTICES. AND THE ATTORNEY WHO SPOKE EARLIER MR. WAS WAS VERY CORRECT. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXISTING GAME ROOMS THAT HAD TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR BUSINESS IN ORDER FOR US TO AGREE TO PRODUCE A PERMIT TO THEM. SOME OF THEM WHO WHO WENT ON ESSENTIALLY A TIME FRAME TO GET THEIR, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT, HEY, RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR A PERMIT, SO YOU DON'T YOU'RE GOING TO RISK LOSING IT.

THEY HAD TO PULL THE PERMITS AND BRING THEIR BUILDINGS UP TO CODE. THEY HAD TO REMOVE TINT FROM THEIR BUILDING. THEY HAD TO SOME OF THEM HAD TO DO MAJOR RENOVATIONS TO THEIR TO THEIR BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY HAD GAME ROOMS BEHIND A LOCKED DOOR AND THEY HAD TO HAVE IT OPENED UP.

THEY HAD TO, LIKE I SAID, REMOVE THE TINT AND PUT THE PUT THE PERMIT WHERE IT WAS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET, NOT NOT IN SOME BACK ROOM. AND SO SOME OF THEM HAD TO MAKE A MAJOR MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR EXISTING BUILDINGS. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IT HAD TO MEET FIRE CODE. THEY HAD TO PUT IN SPRINKLERS. THEY HAD TO THEY HAD TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO IN ORDER FOR IT TO MEET THE STANDARD OF THE ORDINANCE. AND THEN THEY AND IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR A PERMIT. SO MOST OF THEM DID LOSE GRANDFATHERED STATUS BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER UNABLE TO MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE RENTING THE BUILDING, OR THEY JUST LACKED THE FUNDING TO DO SO. AND SO THAT WAS THAT WAS KIND OF THING. SO WHEN WE SAY GRANDFATHERED, WE DON'T MEAN THAT YOU GET TO OPERATE IN THE CONDITIONS. AND UNDER THE TERMS THAT YOU'VE ORIGINALLY BEEN OPERATING, YOU HAVE TO COME UP TO CODE AND OR COME UP TO STANDARDS FOR THE ORDINANCE. THAT ONLY APPLIES TO LOCATION AND LOCATION ONLY. SO AGAIN, IF COUNCIL SAID WE WANTED TO AMEND THE PERMITTED USE TABLE FOR TO ALIGN MORE CLOSELY WITH OUR SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS RULES AND REGULATION OR OR PUT IN ANY ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS THAT WERE MAYBE RECOMMENDED BY PLANNING AND ZONING, THE EXISTING OPERATORS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN WHERE THEY ARE UP UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY THEIR PERMITS WERE REVOKED OR LAPSED, OR THEY OR IF THEY SOLD IT, BECAUSE THAT PERMIT IS ALSO NONTRANSFERABLE. SO IF THEY SOLD THE BUSINESS OR THE LOCATION, THEY WOULD ALSO LOSE THEIR PERMIT AS WELL. AND LASTLY, I READ AN ARTICLE THAT ORANGE BAND, AND TODAY I KIND OF HEARD THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BAN THEM. I JUST WANT SOME CLARITY ON WHICH ONE IT IS. AT THE NEXT MEETING, ORANGE PUT FORTH A RECOMMENDATION TO BAN THEM OUT.

WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THEY IT'S ON THEIR AGENDA, IF IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THEIR COUNCIL OR NOT, FROM MY KNOWLEDGE OR TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT IT HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED YET, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT AND GET THAT BACK TO YOU. ORANGE DOESN'T MEET AS REGULARLY AS OUR COUNCIL, SO IF THEY PUT IT ON THE AGENDA OR IF THEY PUT IT OUT, OR IF IT WAS MADE KNOWN, IT'S THE TIME. BUT IT HASN'T TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, HASN'T OCCURRED YET. MR. CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR, JUST A JUST A BIT EARLIER, COUNCILMEMBER GETS MENTIONED ABOUT THE INCONSISTENCIES OF ENFORCEMENT VERSUS THE STATE VERSUS CITIES AND WHAT THAT MEANS. YOU KNOW, THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, WE HAVE COMPTROLLER HAGAR THERE, WHO'S ONE OF THE MORE RESPECTED STATE OFFICIALS OUT THERE AS HE HAPPILY GOES TO A&M, I BELIEVE,

[02:25:05]

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S HAPPENING A LOT WITH CITIES VERSUS THE STATE OF TEXAS RIGHT NOW. COUNCILMAN GETS MR. MANAGER, WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A WIDE SENTIMENT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AGAINST CASINO GAMBLING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT BEING LED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE SENATE. YEAH, I CAN'T SEE HOW THEY WOULD ON THE ONE HAND, SAY NO TO CASINO GAMBLING, BUT THEN SAY THIS, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT'S DETERMINATION IS SOMEHOW INAPPROPRIATE ON THESE MACHINES. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AGAIN, TO POINT OUT THAT A LIKE THE CITY OF FORT WORTH DIDN'T PUT FORTH THIS LAWSUIT. THEY JUST WANTED TO HAVE A STRONG ORDINANCE, AND THEY WANTED TO REGULATE WHERE THEY WENT. THIS IS A ZONING CASE. THE OWNERS BAR, I THINK IT WAS BAR. IT WASN'T EVEN LIKE STRAIGHT GAME ROOM SITES. IT WAS BAR OWNERS AND PUB OWNERS THAT KIND OF INITIATED, WHICH IN OUR IN OUR CITY WE WOULD CALL THEM ACCESSORY USE SITES INITIATED THIS LAWSUIT. CITY OF FORT WORTH JUST WANTED TO HAVE SOME SOME CLEAN ZONING. RIGHT. THEY THEY JUST DIDN'T WANT THESE GAME ROOMS, YOU KNOW, NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AND YOU WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE IF JAY WILSON WANTED TO PUT IN A GAME ROOM, SOME GAME ROOM SITES IN FORT WORTH, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE, YEAH, WE DON'T WANT THAT THERE. AND SO THAT'S ALL THEY THAT'S ALL THEY WERE INITIALLY TRYING TO DO. I THINK WHAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND HOW WE NEED TO INTERPRET IS THAT THE FUZZY ANIMAL EXCEPTIONS, THOSE GAME ROOMS, CHUCK E CHEESE CAN BE IN THERE, WHICH MEANS IF JAY WILSON'S. I'M JUST SAYING THAT CAUSE I'M HUNGRY RIGHT NOW. IF THEY WANTED TO PUT IF THEY WANTED TO PUT A PAC-MAN MACHINE OR A PINBALL MACHINE IN THEIR, IN THEIR RESTAURANT, THEY COULD BECAUSE THOSE MACHINES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEEMED TO BE GAMES THAT THAT REQUIRE SKILL AND NOT CHANCE. RIGHT. AND SO IT'S INTERESTING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT THOSE EIGHT LINER MACHINES DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT RESTRICTIONS. SO WE CAN HAVE GREATER RESTRICTIONS, GREATER ZONING RESTRICTIONS, GREATER OPERATING RESTRICTIONS FOR THOSE TYPE OF MACHINES. BUT BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF TEXAS HASN'T SAID YEP, YOU CAN BAN THEM. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT THEY'RE THE FORT WORTH COURT OF APPEALS SAID, IS THAT THEY'RE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

AND THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT SAYS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE, THEN AND SO THEY AND SO THEY HAVEN'T. SO THERE HAS NOT BEEN A STATE FINDING FROM OUR HIGHER COURT TO SAY YES OR NO ON THAT ISSUE. AND TO THE MANAGER'S POINT, THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES THAT ARE KIND OF RELYING ON THE FORT WORTH COURT OF APPEALS TO SAY THAT IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT THAT DOESN'T PROHIBIT ANOTHER GAME ROOM OPERATOR OR A GROUP OF OPERATORS FROM SAYING IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR, BECAUSE IF WE IF THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL GIVE US A PERMIT, WHY WON'T CITY X GIVE US A PERMIT? AND SO NOT NOT A POSITION EITHER WAY. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND INCUMBENT ON, ON, ON THE COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND. AND EVEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT WILL HEAR THIS LATER IS THAT THERE IS A. THERE IS A GAP THERE WHERE THE FOUR COURT, COURT OF APPEALS SAID, HEY, THESE ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THEY DON'T MEET THE FUZZY FUZZY EXCEPTION BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THE BAR OWNERS ARE SAYING WE DO BECAUSE WE ARE A GAME OF SKILL AND THEY'RE LIKE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SKILL IN PUSHING A BUTTON, NOT A LOT OF SKILL IN PULLING A LEVER. SO NO, THAT'S A GAME OF CHANCE. AND SO BECAUSE THEY THEY MADE THE DISTINCTION, ALL THE COURT REALLY SAID IS BECAUSE BECAUSE YOU DON'T MEET THIS EXCEPTION. A CITY CAN ENFORCE HIGHER REGULATIONS. AND BECAUSE THEY DID KIND OF SAY THAT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I THINK EVERYBODY INITIALLY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, HEY, THEN THEY'RE ILLEGAL AND WE SHOULD BAN THEM. BUT THAT'S NOT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU. ALL

[02:30:12]

[COUNCIL COMMENTS]

[02:35:02]

COUNCILMAN. DARIO. I JUST REACHED A PERSONAL MILESTONE YESTERDAY. FIVE YEARS AGO ON CINCO DE MAYO. MADE A FIFTH. I HAD A EIGHT HOUR LONG CANCER SURGERY, AND IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THEN, AND THAT'S A MILESTONE FOR ME BECAUSE THE TYPE OF CANCER I HAD, MOST PEOPLE DON'T MAKE IT PAST TWO, AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND I MY LAST SCREENING, THEY SAID, NOW I JUST HAD TO GO BACK AND SEE THEM ONCE A YEAR. STARTED OFF WITH EVERY THREE MONTHS, THEN EVERY SIX MONTHS. NOW IT'S ONCE A YEAR, AND AFTER SEVEN YEARS I DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AT ALL. SO THAT'S A MILESTONE FOR ME. I'M GLAD I'M HERE, AND I ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY ALMOST EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER THAT SURGERY, I GOT ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL. SO I SAID THE LORD HAD A PLAN FOR ME, AND I'M I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO. I'M GLAD I'M STILL HERE. I MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS, AND I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER MET IF I WASN'T ON COUNCIL, AND I ENJOYED IT, AND I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY THIS JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. WELL, I WANT TO FIRST SAY CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU MADE IT THROUGH SURGERY. AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY. BUT TODAY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS, BECAUSE TODAY IS MY DADDY'S BIRTHDAY. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD, WHO IS MY HERO AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.

THANK YOU MOLLY. I WILL SAY SOMETHING, OKAY? DADDY'S GIRL. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER, FOR DOING THAT. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE NURSES HERE. THE NURSES DO IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT HAPPENS IN THIS COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, I WENT TO A SURGERY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, MAJOR SURGERY, AND I WAS AT AN EVENT AT THE MCM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY AND THIS LADY JUST ASKED ME HOW I WAS DOING, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M LIKE, WHO IS THIS PERSON? AND SHE SAID, I WAS THE NURSE DURING YOUR SURGERY. I HAD NO IDEA. YOU DON'T KNOW. BUT THEY OFFER SUCH GREAT THINGS TO US, AND WE JUST REALLY NEED TO APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO. THAT'S SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE IN THE WORLD. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THEM AND I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS NEXT WEEK. MIKE, FOR YOU.

COUNCILMAN TURNER. WELL, MIKE, SINCE YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE HERE INSTEAD OF ME MAKING MY COMMENTS NEXT WEEK, I'M THE KIND OF PERSON I LIKE TO LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYES LIKE ME AND SAY WHAT I GOT TO SAY TO THEM FACE TO FACE. SO WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, EVERYONE TOLD ME, AJ IS GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH. MIKE GETS, I WON'T BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE GET NOTHING DONE WITH HIM. HE'S THIS KIND OF PERSON, THAT KIND OF PERSON. BUT I WILL SAY MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU, MIKE, HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU.

I'VE LEARNED ABOUT YOU BETTER HAVE YOUR FACTS TOGETHER. WHEN YOU DEBATE WITH MIKE, I LEARNED EVERY TIME I WENT TO ANY OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, YOU ALWAYS PRESENT, AND I LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO RESPOND TO PEOPLE WHO HAD ISSUES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND I TOOK PRIDE IN THAT AS WELL. I WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU. ONE THING I RESPECT ABOUT YOU IS ME, AND YOU CAN HAVE A TOUGH CONVERSATION. AGREE TO DISAGREE. WE SHAKE HANDS AND WE BACK AT WORK AND TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO I RESPECT WHAT YOU'VE DONE. AS A COUNCIL MEMBER. I FEEL LIKE YOU WERE REAL STRONG AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. AND I'M GLAD TO SAY PUBLICLY THAT WHAT EVERYBODY SAID, THAT WE COULDN'T WORK TOGETHER. I COULDN'T DEAL WITH YOU. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AS A COUNCILMAN. MAN, I WISH YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR FUTURE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MIKE. APPRECIATE. ALL RIGHT. AND REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS SATURDAY IS THE GREEK FESTIVAL. AND AGAIN, ALL THE NURSES, I FELT LIKE IF ANY MEDICAL EVENT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, WE WOULD ALL BEEN GOOD.

BUT WITH T

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.