[CALL TO ORDER]
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EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. TODAY'S DATE ARE TUESDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2025. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR DONNIE FLIPPO OF GOSPEL CENTER CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. FATHER, WE COME TO YOU TODAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY AND GRACE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US WISDOM. YOU SAID, IF ANY LACK WISDOM, THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ASK. SO, FATHER, WE ASK FOR WISDOM FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE OUR CITY, THIS GREAT CITY OF BEAUMONT. WE PRAY FOR THE PROTECTION OVER THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. WE PRAY GOD THAT YOU GIVE THEM THE WISDOM FOR THE YEAR THAT IS AHEAD OF THEM, THAT THEY MAY ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE FOR OUR GREAT CITY. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. TODAY WE HAVE FOUR PROCLAMATIONS AND ONE PRESENTATION. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES, PLEASE ALLOW THE CITY TO GET THEIRS FIRST.
MAYOR, CAN WE DO ROLL CALL? YES, I SKIPPED THAT, DIDN'T I? YES, SIR. TWO MEETINGS IN A ROW. IS THAT IT? MUST BE NOT. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. DULL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. HILLIARD. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHERWOOD AND COUNCIL MEMBER. CRENSHAW. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOW I'M GOING TO GET TO THE FOUR PROCLAMATIONS AND ONE PRESENTATION. AND FIRST, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION.
[PROCLAMATIONS]
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 26TH, 2025 AS BABE ZAHARIAS DAY. ACCEPTING WILL BE DOCTOR GEORGE GRIMES, PRESIDENT OF THE BABE ZAHARIAS FOUNDATION BOARD. AND BABE'S NEPHEW IS DOCTOR GRIMES IN THE HOUSE. OH, COME ON UP, PLEASE, SIR.CONGRATULATIONS. THERE YOU. ARE. GOING TO STAND RIGHT HERE. WE'LL GET A PICTURE REAL QUICK. SHE'LL TAKE IT RIGHT THERE. ALL RIGHT, JUST LOOK RIGHT HERE. READY? AND ONE, TWO, THREE. GOT IT. I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. FEEL FREE. IF NOT, IT'S OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. NEXT, WE. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE IS MEN'S HEALTH MONTH. ACCEPTING WILL BE MISSUS NORMA SAMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GIFT OF LIFE.
MISS REGINA ROGERS, IF SHE'S IN THE HOUSE AND ANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? SIR? THREE HEROES HERE. HE KNOWS HE'S THE HERO. NORMAN, YOU WANT TO COME UP? OH. I'M SORRY. YEAH. DO YOU MIND? I'D LOVE TO. THANK YOU. OH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH. REAL? OKAY. FIRST HERE AND ONE, TWO, THREE. OKAY. IT STAYED THERE. ONE MORE. ONE. TWO. THREE. GOT IT. BY THE WAY, SHE IS 92. AND SHE DOES GIVE US PERMISSION TO SAY THAT NOT EVERY LADY WHO
[00:05:02]
LIKES TO HAVE THEIR AGE. AND. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, WITH YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MEN'S HEALTH PROGRAM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE PROVIDING OUR FREE LIFE SAVING SERVICES THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND IMPORTANTLY, WILL BE IN BEAUMONT ON JULY 19TH. AND THESE SERVICES HAVE ACTUALLY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN NEARLY 100 MEN WHO RECEIVE OUR FREE CARE. INCLUDED IN THESE FREE SCREENINGS, WE'VE PROVIDED YOU WITH OUR LITTLE FLIER THAT HAS THE DATES AND THE LOCATIONS, AND WE ASK FOR EVERYONE TO PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEN TO GET CHECKED AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO SEE PHYSICIANS ON SITE, AS WELL AS HAVE ALL OF THESE HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED AT NO FEES THANKS TO INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND THE CDBG FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES SO MEN'S LIVES ARE TOUCHED. WE ALLOW THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION. AND AS YOU KNOW, MOST MEN DON'T LIKE TO GO SEE A DOCTOR GET HEALTH CARE.SO WE KIND OF INCENTIVIZE THEM. WE HAVE A $25 GIFT CARD. THERE'S A RAFFLE FOR A GRILL, THEY GET A FREE LUNCH AND LOTS OF HUGS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING THIS IS OUR OFFICER OF OUR GIFT OF LIFE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND SHE HAS BEEN WITH US PROVIDING OUTREACH AND ENCOURAGING MEN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE SERVICES, AS WELL AS OUR FOUNDER AND CHAIR, REGINA ROGERS. SHE TOLD ME I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I JUST FEEL VERY BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND HAVE BEEN SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY WHO SUPPORT THE GIFT OF LIFE, BECAUSE THE GIFT OF LIFE IS A SPECIAL BLESSING TO OUR CITY, ESPECIALLY TO OUR MEN WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEN TO GO AND GET EXAMINED. AND IF YOU ARE EXAMINED AND YOU GET A BADGE REPORT, THE GIFT OF LIFE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. I'M JUST HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE GIFT OF LIFE, AND I PRAY THAT I'LL STILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR IS. SO I'LL BE TELLING YOU. COME ON AND GO TEST IT. THANK YOU. DORA. YOU WILL BE HERE. THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING OUR HUNGERS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. NORMA MENTIONED THE IMPACT. SHE MENTIONED A NUMBER OF 100. THOSE ARE THE MEN WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER. WE SCREENED LAST YEAR. WE SCREENED OVER 812 MEN. IS THAT RIGHT? 13 THROUGHOUT FOUR AREAS. BUT THERE WERE 200 IN BEAUMONT. AND IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL, WONDERFUL GATHERING WITH A LOT OF COMPASSION AND LOVE. AND THIS IS FOR MEN WHO WOULD ORDINARILY NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE, BECAUSE EITHER THEY HAVE NO INSURANCE OR THEY HAVE HIGH DEDUCTIBLES. AND DOCTOR GWENDOLYN LAVALAIS IS OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR. SHE HAS BEEN DETAINED. SHE WILL PROBABLY BE WALKING IN AT ANY MOMENT. BUT I CAN JUST SAY THAT WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER OVERSEEING A GROUP OF BAPTIST HOSPITAL RESIDENTS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DOCTORS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES. SO IT'S A BATTERY OF TESTS WORTH ABOUT $500, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR CARING AND SHARING YOUR RESOURCES. THANKS. I JUST WANT TO ADD SO LET'S GET TESTED.
WELL, I DO JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING IF I COULD. I KNOW MISS DORIS SAID EXAM. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. IT'S JUST A LAB TEST. THERE ARE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REALLY PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS.
IT'S JUST A SIMPLE LAB TEST ON ALL OF THESE PRIMARY CARE IN ADDITION TO THE PSA. SO YOU CAN COME IN, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. WE ACCEPT WALK INS. AND REALLY YOU CAN COME AND GET IN AND GET OUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES. SO IT'S A SEAMLESS WAY. AGAIN, TO HAVE EARLY DETECTION IS CERTAINLY THE BEST PROTECTION. AND BRAD KLEIN, MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM, IS OUR HONORARY CHAIR. HE IS A PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR. WE HAVE MANY PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS IN THIS CITY. MANY, MANY. AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE WITH US. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME IN THE ROOM. I WON'T EMBARRASS THEM OR ASK THEM TO COME UP, BUT THEY ARE VERY THEY'RE GREAT ADVOCATES FOR US AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. HOLD ON ONE SECOND, PLEASE. YES, SIR. I MYSELF AM A PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR BECAUSE OF EARLY DETECTION. I'M A TWO TIME CANCER SURVIVOR. THAT'S THE REASON I'M HERE. BECAUSE, LIKE MY WIFE SAY, I GO TO THE DOCTOR IF I SNEEZE. GOOD FOR YOU. THAT'S THE REASON THAT I'M STILL HERE. BECAUSE OF EARLY DETECTION. BECAUSE I GOT A PSA TEST EVERY YEAR. AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE. IT'S REALLY FOR ALL
[00:10:03]
MEN. REGINA MENTIONED THAT IT'S TRULY A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A MARKETPLACE HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE DEDUCTIBLES. AND SO THEY DON'T GET THE SIMPLE LABS. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, WHERE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO COME IN AND GET A $500. YEAH. AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW CHIEF EARL WHITE IS A PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.SO DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE DOING WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. AND EARLIER I RUSHED THROUGH THE BABE ZAHARIAS FOUNDATION BOARD. THEY'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD NOW TO GET A PICTURE WITH THE COUNCIL. SO IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO. SHE JUST. YEAH. CHRIS WE'RE GETTING ONE. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. HELLO.
HELLO. YES. GOOD. HOW YOU DOING? THANK YOU. SORRY I DIDN'T INVITE Y'ALL UP EARLIER. THERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL AGAIN. THAT'S RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. HOW YOU DOING? SO GOOD. HEY AGAIN.
WHAT'S UP? AUSTIN. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. Y'ALL WANT TO TURN AROUND RIGHT HERE AND GET IN THE MIDDLE? WE'LL GET A PICTURE OF ALL Y'ALL. RIGHT? SCOOCH IN A LITTLE BIT. THERE WE GO. OKAY.
READY? THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 21ST, 2025 AS THE ALPHA PSI SIGMA ALUMNI CHAPTER OF THE SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
SWIM 1922 WATER SAFETY CLINIC DAY. ACCEPTING WILL BE SUPRIYA. FLOWERS, VANESSA WASHINGTON, SHAMIKA TURNER, BOBBY WILLIAMS AND SYLVIA EDWARDS. IF Y'ALL WOULD COME FORWARD NOW AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT IS WITH Y'ALL.
WHO WANTS TO GRAB THIS RIGHT HERE? CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. Y'ALL LOOK SO NICE. YES, MA'AM. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW ARE YOU? CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. YOU MIGHT STAY UP HERE BECAUSE WE'LL GET CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. HELLO. OKAY. ON BEHALF OF THE ALPHA PSI SIGMA ALUMNI CHAPTER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INCORPORATED, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR RECOGNIZING OUR SWIM 1922 INITIATIVE WITH AN OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION. YOUR SUPPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE HONORED TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS, AWARENESS AND LIFESAVING EDUCATION THROUGH THIS IMPACTFUL PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, ONE SWIMMER AT A TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR
[00:15:12]
LAST PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER, WHICH IS A JEWEL IN OUR CITY. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE MR. STACY LEWIS, SENIOR, CITY OF BEAUMONT COMMUNITY LIAISON DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER. AND MR. DONALD FOXX, SUPERINTENDENT. WEAPONRY. HE IS. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT.YEAH, JUST. SO Y'ALL COME ON UP. YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.
JUST A WORD. TO OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AND IF I WAS IN CHURCH, I'D SAY THE ANGEL OF THIS HOUSE TO OUR MANAGER, MR. WILLIAMS. STAFF. AND 30 YEARS, A LONG TIME, 30 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.
CERTAINLY, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE PROCLAMATION, THE RECOGNITION. AND DONALD AND I, WE'RE JUST TWO COGS IN THE WHEEL THAT HAPPEN TO KEEP THE PLACE ROLLING. BUT THEY HAD PEOPLE WHO CLEANED TOILETS, SWEEP FLOORS, PICK UP TRASH, CUT THE GRASS. ADMINISTRATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE, THE ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. AND SO I BELIEVE EVERYONE HAD A LITTLE PIECE IN THE PROVERBIAL PIE TO MAKE THIS THING KEEP ROLLING ON. WANT TO SAY THIS REAL QUICK AND GET OUT OF HERE? THE BRAIN TRUST BEHIND THIS. THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MR. STERLING PRUITT.
AND I'M SURE TRACY IS GOING TO COME WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION AND DATA. BUT IT WAS ABOUT 1992 WHEN THE WHEELS STARTED ROLLING AND I WAS VOLUNTEERING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE WERE OPENING. MAJOR CLARK, WHICH WAS BOWIE, IN THE CITY'S NORTH END. I SAID THAT TO SAY THIS, THAT IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF A GANG ERA, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY BAD AT A PARTICULAR TIME. AND IT WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF CRACK COCAINE TO BEAUMONT, TEXAS. AND SO THE WITH THOSE THOUGHTS IN MIND THAT KIDS NEEDED A DIFFERENT LOOK, ANOTHER AVENUE OF APPROACH TO CHANNEL SOME OF THAT ENERGY, SAY TO THIS COUNCIL AGAIN TODAY, IT MAY NOT BE CRACK COCAINE, BUT WE STILL NEED AVENUES OF APPROACH AND PLACES TO CHANNEL OUR ENERGY. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
Y'ALL PRAY FOR US. BLESS Y'ALL. BYE. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. HE WAS NOT HE DID NOT SPEAK. AND HE HAS SOME PREPARED REMARKS. PLEASE. HE DROVE IN FROM AUSTIN. OKAY.
THANK YOU. MY PATIENCE. DON'T LISTEN TO ME. BUT THEY PAY ME, SO. OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, I AM THE, I GUESS, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE BAY. AND AGAIN, SHE WAS MY AUNT, SO I HAVE A COLD.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS COMING FROM, RIGHT? GO LIKE THIS. ANYWAY, WE ARE VERY TOUCHED BY HAVING THIS, AND IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SO WE LIKE IT. AND IT IS. WE'RE 100% BEHIND IT. EVERYBODY'S
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TALKED ABOUT IT. AND ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO, LET US KNOW, BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO. QUESTION QUESTIONS, COMMENTS I THINK THERE'S MORE COMING. DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THAT? I'M LOOKING FOR AUSTIN, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE. AUSTIN I SHOULD NOT BE UP HERE. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION GREATLY APPRECIATES YOUR DESIGNATION OF JUNE 26TH. HER 114TH BIRTHDAY AS BABE ZAHARIAS DAY IN BEAUMONT. WE KNOW THIS HONOR WOULD BE ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT TO HIS AUNT BABE, BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THE HEART OF HER HOMETOWN. BEAUMONT WAS ALWAYS THE CITY SHE WAS PROUD TO CLAIM, THE PLACE WHERE SHE GOT HER FIRST TASTE OF SUCCESS. SHE RETURNED HERE WHENEVER HER SCHEDULE WILL ALLOW. ON BEHALF OF BABE, HE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A PERSONAL INVITATION TO EACH OF YOU TO ENJOY A VISIT TO THE BABE ZAHARIAS MUSEUM. IT'S CLOSE.IT'S FREE. BUT MORE THAN THAT, IT TELLS HER STORY AND UNDERLINES HER STEADFAST BELIEF THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO. SHE DID JUST THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. AND NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION
[PRESENTATIONS]
FROM THE CITY OF BEAUMONT COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, MISS TRACY KINNICK.OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. IN THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS, OUR SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES IS BACK. THESE ARE FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY MOVIE NIGHTS HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BRING YOUR BLANKET OR LAWN CHAIR AND ENJOY A MOVIE UNDER THE STARS. AND FIRST UP, THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH, HEAD TO WUTHERING HEIGHTS PARK TO SEE CAPTAIN AMERICA BRAND NEW WORLD. NEXT FRIDAY. CATCH BEETLEJUICE AT ROGERS PARK. ALL MOVIES START AT DUSK AND THEY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. GO SKATE DAY IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, FROM 5 TO 8 P.M. AT BEAUMONT SKATE PARK. THAT'S NEXT TO THE LAKESIDE CENTER DOWNTOWN.
WE'LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND FREE SKATING FOR ALL AGES. WHETHER YOU'RE A SKATEBOARDER OR JUST LOOKING FOR A FUN EVENING OUT, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO ENJOY DOWNTOWN. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING OUR WORK ON THE 2025 BOND PLANNING PROCESS, AND YOUR INPUT IS VITAL. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED. THE NEXT BOND COMMITTEE MEETING IS JUNE 25TH AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM JULY 4TH THROUGH JULY 13TH AND WILL HOST AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JULY 12TH FROM TEN TO NOON AT THE LAKESIDE CENTER MEETING ROOM. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE OR AT BEAUMONT BONDS.COM. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STERLING PRUITT ACTIVITY CENTER. MR. PRUITT GREW UP IN KANSAS AT A TIME WHEN RACIAL DISCRIMINATION KEPT HIM AND OTHER CHILDREN OF COLOR FROM USING THE LOCAL ACTIVITY CENTER. THAT EXPERIENCE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION, AND WHEN HE BECAME THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IN 1990, HE SAW A CHANCE TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD FACE THE SAME EXCLUSION HE ONCE DID.
PRUITT HELPED SECURE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT TO BUILD A $2.6 MILLION CENTER. 30 YEARS LATER, THE PRUITT CENTER IS A VIBRANT HUB WHERE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS ENJOY FREE ACCESS TO OPEN GYM, FITNESS PROGRAMS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, SPORTS LEAGUES, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. TAKE A LOOK. TRACY KENNICK WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE STERLING PRUITT CENTER. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE CITY. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE THE CASE ANYMORE. SO WHEN THE KIDS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS SUMMER, THERE'S SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT OVER HERE. THERE'S A POOL. THIS IS ONE OF TWO POOLS IN OUR PARKS AROUND THE CITY, AND YOU WANT TO COME CHECK IT OUT OVER THE SUMMER. IT'S GOING TO BE A HOT SPOT AS THINGS START TO HEAT UP AROUND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. BUT INSIDE THERE'S A LOT OF FREE ACTIVITIES AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE A BRAND NEW YOUTH REC BASKETBALL LEAGUE RIGHT OVER HERE. WE HAVE A POOL ROOM THAT KIDS CAN CHECK OUT. WHEN THERE'S NOT ANOTHER ACTIVITY GOING ON. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO INSIDE HERE AND PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF POOL. AND THEN RIGHT ACROSS FROM THERE, THE GREAT WORKOUT ROOM. SO KEEP THEM BUSY. MAYBE IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN SHAPE DURING THE SUMMER. I JUST REALLY LIKE BASKETBALL.
LIKE I LOVE PLAYING IT. IT'S MY LIFE. OKAY. ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW LEAGUE? YES,
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MA'AM. I'M SUPER EXCITED. THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR. I FEEL LIKE THIS GIVES ME MORE EXPOSURE TO PLAY AND SEE WHERE MY TALENTS ARE AT RIGHT NOW. OKAY, SO LOOK WHO WE CAUGHT UP WITH INSIDE.MR. A.J. TURNER WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. SO THE CITY COUNCIL VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS PROGRAM STARTED. TELL ME ABOUT IT, MAN. IT TOOK A FEW YEARS TO ACTUALLY GET IT GOING.
OUR FOCUS WAS TO GET MORE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, GET THESE KIDS SOMETHING POSITIVE TO DO ONCE THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL, BURN OFF SOME OF THAT ENERGY AND GET HOME TO THEIR PARENTS. MY TEAM IS SUPER FUN. LIKE THEY THEY'RE ALWAYS EXCITED. THIS IS MY FAVORITE ACTIVITY. I PLAY FOOTBALL. THAT WAS MY FIRST YEAR. I DID GOOD IN THAT, BUT THIS IS MY FIRST. I LOVE THIS, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH OUR YOUTH. I THINK WE KIND OF OFTEN DON'T GIVE OUR YOUTH POSITIVE THINGS TO DO AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS. THESE ARE KIDS WHO PARENTS MIGHT BE AT WORK. THEY'RE IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH COACHES, REFEREES DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY CAN BE DOING AT HOME ON THEIR OWN. AND I LOVE THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE, SO IT EXCLUDES NOBODY, RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THESE GREAT ACTIVITIES. IT'S NOT ONLY FREE TO PLAY, BUT IT'S FREE FOR THE PARENTS TO COME IN AND SUPPORT THEIR KIDS. AND I THINK THAT'S KEY. SO IT IS PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT, GET THINGS GOING FOR OUR YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY, MAKE IT A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR YOUTH ACROSS BEAUMONT. SAID THE STERLING PRUITT IS GOING TO GIVE HIM MORE EXPOSURE, AND WE WANT TO ADD THAT DURING THE SUMMER, KIDS CAN ATTEND SUMMER CAMP, SUMMER TRACK, AQUATICS AND VOLLEYBALL, ALL AT THE STERLING PRUITT. SO CHECK OUT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR ALL THE INFORMATION. GREAT FACILITY WE HAVE THERE. WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CITY'S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION LAST SATURDAY. AND A REMINDER, CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED THIS THURSDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLIDAY, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY AND TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY. LOOKING AHEAD, DON'T MISS OUR ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION THAT'S COMING UP FRIDAY, JULY 4TH AT THE DOWNTOWN EVENT CENTER AND LAKE. GATES OPEN AT FIVE WITH LIVE PERFORMANCES AND FOOD TRUCKS. THE SYMPHONY OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS PERFORMS AT THE JULIE ROGERS AT EIGHT, AND THEN THE LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS BEGINS AT 9:00.
AND FINALLY, REMEMBER, NOT EVERYONE ENJOYS LOUD CELEBRATIONS, INCLUDING OUR VETERANS, OUR PETS, AND YOUR NEIGHBORS. AND A REMINDER LIGHTNING OR SORRY, LIGHTING FIREWORKS IN THE CITY LIMITS IS AGAINST THE LAW. VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE COULD RESULT IN A $200 FINE AND HAVING YOUR FIREWORKS CONFISCATED, ALSO FIRING A GUN INTO THE AIR DURING CELEBRATIONS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, BUT ALSO A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL AND A $4,000 FINE, OR BOTH. LET'S KEEP OUR CELEBRATIONS SAFE, RESPECTFUL AND FUN FOR EVERYONE. THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. NOW, FOR THOSE THAT WERE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION OR THE PRESENTATION AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. BUT WE DO HAVE A SWEARING IN COMING SOON. AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING TODAY AT CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO CONTEMPLATED OR PENDING LITIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.087 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, TO WHICH SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT RIVERFRONT AND DOWNTOWN HOTEL PROJECT CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO CONTEMPLATED OR PENDING LITIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE. CALEB FENTER AND THE BEAUMONT PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 399 INTERVENERS VERSUS CITY OF BEAUMONT CHRISTOPHER S BOONE, KENNETH WILLIAMS, ROY WEST, EARL WHITE, TAYLOR NEAL, MIKE GOETZ, AUDWIN SAMUEL CHARLES, ALBERT TURNER, AND RANDY SHAW. CALLS NUMBER BE 210244. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS. NOW IS THE TIME FOR
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]
ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, 1 OR 2, OR ANY OTHER TOPIC. THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, SAY YOUR ADDRESS, CITY AND STATE. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, AND THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT MYSELF NOR COUNCIL CAN RESPOND WHENEVER YOU'RE MAKING COMMENTS, BUT SOMEONE FROM OUR OFFICE WILL CONTACT YOU. EDDIE. AND I THINK IT'S DARREN, 55, 95 GILL DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. YOU ALREADY SAID MY ADDRESS, SO I'LL NEED TO DO THAT AGAIN. SO I'VE BEEN LIVING IN BEAUMONT FOR ABOUT SINCE 2017 AND STARTED IN 2020. THEY THE CITY FIXED A SEWER OVERFLOW DOWN GAIL DRIVE WHERE I[00:30:05]
LIVE, AND EVER SINCE THEN, SINCE THIS IS 2025, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I CANNOT FLUSH MY TOILET. SO THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS, BUT IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.THE STORMWATER MUST BE SEEPING INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO MY PRESENCE HERE MIGHT HELP OUT MORE THAN JUST SENDING AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW MY CONCERNS AND I HOPE IT'S YOURS TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR.
CHARLIE CRABB, 928 EAST DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. FOUR.
WELL GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, MAYOR WEST COUNCIL, MR. WILLIAMS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS CHARLIE CRABB. I LIVE AT 928 EAST DRIVE, 77706. WELCOME BACK, MAYOR WEST. CLOSE CALL. I WANT TO THANK.
HOLD IT DOWN, PLEASE. I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR YOUR SERVICE. IT'S ANOTHER NICE DAY IN BEAUMONT, OUR TOWN. WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE OF RAINFALL, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING THESE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. LET'S SEE, BABE ZAHARIAS. OH, YES. BACK IN MY DAY, IT WAS BABE DIDRIKSON AND SHE WAS KNOWN TO BE A, I THINK, A HURDLER IN THE OLYMPICS WHEN I WAS A KID. AND THEN LATER ON SHE BECAME BABE DIDRIKSON ZAHARIAS, AND SHE WAS A GOLFER. SO UNTIL SHE PASSED AWAY, SHE WAS, SHE WAS WAS A GOLFER AND PLAYED THE TOURNAMENTS IN BEAUMONT.
STERLING. PRUITT. CENTER. THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S A THAT'S A WONDERFUL FOR THE KIDS TO HAVE OUT BACK. HAVE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES IN THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES. AND THE SWIMMING POOLS ARE GREAT. I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT. SWIMMING LESSONS. THE CITY SOMEHOW SHOULD TRY TO WORK INTO SWIMMING LESSONS FOR KIDS. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF FOR THEIR DAILY SERVICE TO OUR TOWN. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE CITY. CHANNEL FOUR BACK ON. IT'S VERY INTERESTING. GOOD INTERVIEWS. REMEMBER, IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD AND TO EVERYONE, HAVE A NICE WEEK AND THANKS FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU SIR. AARON REYNOLDS JUNIOR, 6945 SALIDA LANE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
THANK YOU. I'M HERE AGAIN TODAY. ASKING TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR AND SOME COUNCIL PERSONS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE IN THE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MY PURPOSE, AGAIN, WAS TO REFUTE AND CORRECT THE FALSE STATEMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED. I HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT CONFIRMS THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL COLLUDED WITH THE BONDSMEN FOR WATASHI CONSTRUCTION. THE ATTEMPT IS TO NOT PAY A $4.3 MILLION CLAIM. I MADE AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO DETERMINE THREE THINGS. NUMBER ONE, IF OKLAHOMA'S PLUMBING HAD PULLED
[00:35:04]
THE PERMIT AFTER BEING PAID $100,000. AFTER THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE PLUMBER HAD WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL, HE DID NOT. WHY DIDN'T THE FIRE MARSHAL INSIST ON A PERMIT BEING PULLED? THE FIRE MARSHAL KNEW THAT THE PLUMBER HAD A CONTRACT INSTALLED. FIRE HYDRANTS. THE STOP WORK ORDER WAS THE RESULT OF THE FIRE HYDRANTS NOT BEING INSTALLED. THE TEMPORARY FIRE HYDRANT WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE FIRE MARSHAL'S GUIDANCE, BUT YET NO PERMIT WAS PULLED. IF ANY LICENSED PLUMBER PULLED THE PERMIT, I FOUND THAT NONE HAD BEEN PULLED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. IF ANYONE HAD DONE AN OPEN RECORDS ACT REQUEST ON 3680, MADE A ROAD TO GET THE PICTURES THAT THE PLUMBER PROVIDED TO THE STATE BOARD OF PLUMBING, NO ONE MADE THAT REQUEST. THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE SENT A LETTER REQUESTING. THE CLARITY ON A PREVIOUS REQUEST. THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED THAT THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST WAS THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE. MY REQUEST WAS TO GET INFORMATION ON WHO REQUESTED INFORMATION AT 3680 MADE A ROAD.I MADE ANOTHER REQUEST FOR THE PHONE RECORDS OF THE FIRE MARSHAL. SURELY YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF THE FIRE MARSHAL ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BONDSMAN AND THE PLUMBER.
SURELY YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THE FIRE MARSHAL VIOLATED ANY KIND OF ACT I. MY REQUEST WAS FOR THE RECORDS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. WHAT WAS GIVEN TO ME DOES NOT INCLUDE THE DATES REQUESTED AND WHAT WAS GIVEN. THE PHONE NUMBERS WERE REDACTED. WHY? THEY DON'T WANT ME TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE FIRE MARSHAL ENGAGED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. IN THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, THERE WERE TWO COUNCILMEN WHO WERE ATTORNEYS. WHY NOT REVEAL THE NUMBERS TO THE CALLS? THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DID THAT. THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS COVERED AS COVERED IN THE FIRE MARSHAL. THANK YOU SIR. YOU GOT THE REST OF IT IN YOUR HAND. JIMMY. PETE, 23, 98, GOLIAD. BEAUMONT, TEXAS. HELLO. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I WAS BORN IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, IN 1959. VERY GOOD YEAR. LEFT WHEN I WAS NINE AND A HALF. AND 55 YEARS LATER, I'VE JUST MOVED BACK. JUST WANTED TO MENTION SOMETHING REGARDING THE ISSUE OF GAMING. I MIGHT BE A LITTLE LATE, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THE LOOK AT YOUR MINUTES TODAY.
SOMETHING I DIDN'T HEAR MENTION WHEN A BEVY OF GENTLEMEN BACK HERE WHO WERE BUSINESSMEN WHO WERE SUPPORTING, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR OPPORTUNITY, THEIR SOLIDARITY, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE GAMING. AND WHAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS, YOU KNOW, IN MANY METROPOLITAN CITIES, YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM OF GREAT ABUNDANCE OF LIQUOR STORES IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT A SAD SCARCITY OF PRODUCE MARKETS, PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. AND SO, IN YOUR CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT, I'D HEARD SOMEONE MENTION POSSIBLY RUBBER STAMPING. I'M HOPING I'M HOPING I DIDN'T HEAR IN PERPETUITY SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO HAVE GAME ROOMS. BUT IN YOUR CONSIDERATION, I HOPE YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC LOCATION IN WHICH THESE GAME ROOMS OPERATE. I SUSPECT THAT THERE AREN'T MANY, AREN'T ANY ON STREETS LIKE THOMAS OR GLADYS, WHERE THE MARVELOUS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE, SO I'D LIKE YOU TO HAVE THAT IN MIND. THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY. CONSIDER THAT IN YOUR PLACEMENT OR ALLOWING PLACEMENT OF GAME ROOMS IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU. EDDIE ALLEN, 9695 GROSS, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. MY NAME IS EDDIE ALLEN. 9695. GROSS. I THINK THE LAST TIME THAT I STOOD BEFORE YOU, I ASKED THE QUESTION, IF THE CITIZENS HAVE TO SAY THEIR NAME, THEIR ADDRESS, WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED, WHY NOT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WILL KNOW WHERE YOU ARE? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF INFORMATION IN RESPONSE. THE OTHER REASON I'M STANDING HERE IS TWO TUESDAYS AND THANK
[00:40:03]
GOD THE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD RIGHT NOW. BUT I HAVE ASKED THAT WE CONSIDER A CYRENE IN THE CITY.YESTERDAY I DID NOT KNOW, OTHER THAN WATER DIVULGING ON MY HOUSE THAT WE WERE UNDER A SEVERE FLOOD WARNING IN OUR EVACUATION PLAN. I'VE BEEN TOLD 311I DID NOT GET A CALL. THANK GOD FOR NATIONAL ALERT SYSTEM. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY HAS NOT MOVED ON THIS. I EVEN BROUGHT A PROPOSAL TWO YEARS AGO ON COMPANIES THAT WILL DO ALARM SYSTEMS. JUST LOOK AT IT, MAYBE TALK ABOUT IT. LET US KNOW THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SO I'M ASKING AGAIN STANDING HERE, IF WE HAD TO EVACUATE YESTERDAY, THERE WERE STREETS THAT WERE FLOODED.
PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT LIGHTS. MAY STILL BE SO ARE WE EVACUATION READY? SO I'M ASKING TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE CITY ON THOSE TWO PROPOSALS THAT I PRESENTED. AND IT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY MANAGER. SO THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, BUT THE CITIZENS DESERVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF NOTIFICATION BECAUSE TELEPHONES GO OUT, CELL PHONES GO OUT, TVS GO OUT, CABLE GOES OUT. AND WHAT ELSE WE KNOW? GO OUT. THE LIGHTS ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE FOUR WAY AND WE GOT ALL KIND OF CONSTRUCTION. SO IF WE HAD TO EVACUATE, HOW WOULD WE BE NOTIFIED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO I'M GOING TO HAVE THE OATH ADMINISTERED, AND I'M GOING TO ASK JUDGE BRANICK TO COME FORWARD. ONCE THE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. OH, YEAH. FOLLOW THE ITEM ONE. SORRY, SHERRY. THANK YOU. CITY
[REGULAR AGENDA]
MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE? THANK YOU. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU'RE READY FOR THIS. WELL, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL. THAT'S RIGHT. ITEM ONE. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE CANVASING THE RESULTS OF THE JUNE 7TH, 2025 RUNOFF ELECTION.CITY CLERK. THE CAPTAINCY TOTALS ARE AS FOLLOWS. ROBIN MOUTON, 6271 VOTES WITH 49.19% AND ROY WEST, 6478 VOTES, 50.81%. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? I MAKE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. IS THERE ANY THAT MOTION IS TO APPROVE COUNCIL APPROVED MOTION TO APPROVE AND SECONDED BY LADONNA. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT AT SOME POINT TODAY. YEAH.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION IS CARRIED. NOW AT THIS TIME WE'LL ADMINISTER THE OATH. AND ALSO
[SWEARING-IN CEREMONY]
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TEN MINUTE RECESS. AND I'LL SET MY TIMER ON MY PHONE FOR A LITTLE RECEPTION IN THE LOBBY AFTER THAT. AND THEN WE WILL MEET BACK IN HERE FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO. SO ACTUALLY. OH, I'M STANDING UP LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE. YEAH, WE SIT RIGHT HERE.LET YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I, ROY WEST, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. I, ROY WEST, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND THAT HE WILL FIND THAT. OKAY, CHAIRMAN. AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STATEMENT OF OFFICER.
[00:45:25]
ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE. YES. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. WE GOT TO GET IT BACK. LET'S GET A QUICK PICTURE WITH PAM HERE, TRACY, IF YOU DON'T MIND. TO HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS. I'M SAYING I AIN'T TRYING TO HIDE YOUR PICTURE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW? LOOK.SAYS TO RECESS TILL 225. YES. I KNOW, THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE MEETING IS RESUMING, SO I NEED YOU TO REMAIN IN DECORUM. PLEASE HAVE A SEAT AND BE QUIET. YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO. I SAID THE MEETING IS RESUMING, SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR SEATS AND LOWER YOUR VOICE. THANK YOU. MAY WE HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST, PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER. HILLIARD, ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER.
SHERWOOD. COUNCIL MEMBER. CRENSHAW. ABSENT. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION? AND WE'RE MOVING
[CONSENT AGENDA]
TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED TO APPROVE SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, COUNCILMAN, YOU WILL QUICKLY, I GUESS COUNCILMAN HILLIARD, ONE OF YOUR APPOINTEES. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE SAME ONE, BUT IS HE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? YOU'D HAVE TO CLARIFY WHICH ONE. IT'S ON THE CDBG. CAN YOU JUST SAY THE NAME JOSH DAVIS? YOU KNOW, IF HE'S A CITY EMPLOYEE, THE ONE I KNOW IS. I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT JOB. OKAY. HE ASKED THE QUESTION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON THE RECORD SO WE CAN CLOSE IT. ARE YOU AWARE IF THAT'S A CITY EMPLOYEE? NO. NO, I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S A CITY EMPLOYEE. OKAY, SORRY, I JUST SAID IT'S A COMMON NAME. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY[REGULAR AGENDA]
MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO? THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND THE RESOLUTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR IN THE MOTION WILL REQUIRE NAMES AND ENDING TERM WHICH WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN AS WELL. SO WE NEED MOTION WITH THE NAMES. AND WHO ARE WE LOOKING TO APPOINT TAYLOR NEILL. NO NO NO REPLACEMENTS. THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE ONE OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR A TERM ENDING AS FOLLOWS. CAN I GIVE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW, MAYOR? YES, SIR. CAN WE EXPLAIN IT? YEAH. THE CITY HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE AUDIT PROCESS AND GETS REPORTS FROM THE AUDITORS BEFORE THE REPORT SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL. IN THE[00:50:04]
PAST, WE HAD THREE MEMBERS ON THAT AUDIT COMMITTEE. IT WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, TAYLOR NEILL, MIKE GETS AND COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, AJ TURNER, OF COURSE COUNCIL MEMBER NEILL AND GETS ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE. SO WE REALLY NEED TO REPLACE THE TWO OF THEM ON THIS COMMITTEE. IF COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER IS GOING TO SERVE AND BE REAPPOINTED. BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE JUST REAPPOINTING THIS COMMITTEE. YOU MEET ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES PER YEAR, SO MOSTLY DURING THE AUDIT TIME. WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A MEETING ON THAT. SO TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT, IT'S ONLY TO REPLACE COUNCILMAN NEILL AND COUNCILMAN GATES. COUNCILMAN TURNER IS UP. APPOINTMENT IS STILL GOOD. SO IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE TERM ENDING ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2025, WHICH WAS HELD BY COUNCILMAN NEILL, AND TO REPLACE A TERM ENDING ON OCTOBER 5TH 15, 2026, WHICH WAS HELD BY COUNCILMAN GATES. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, CAN I MAKE A MOTION? YES, SIR. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MAYOR ROY WILSON, COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN COREY CRENSHAW TO FULFILL THE EXPIRING TERMS. WHICH FOR WHICH COREY CRENSHAW WOULD TAKE. COUNCILMAN COREY KERSHAW WILL REPLACE TAYLOR NEILL AND MAYOR ROY, WHICH WILL REPLACE MIKE GATES. SO THAT WOULD BE COUNCILMAN NEILL WILL BE TERM EXPIRES ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2025 AND COUNCILMAN GETS TERM EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2026. CORRECT.ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND FOR APPROVAL? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO IS READ. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TWO PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED. THE MOTION IS CARRIED. AND WE'RE
[COUNCIL COMMENTS]
GOING TO MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AT THIS POINT. SO I WILL START WITH COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. I THINK LAST TIME I GOT COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, NO, I DIDN'T THAT'S WHY I COUNCILMAN DARIO MAN, GOING TO VACATION LATER TODAY. OH, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS THANK STAFF AND EMILY FOR THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. I THINK MOVING IT INDOORS WAS A GREAT, GREAT IDEA.AND I THINK IT SHOULD STAY INDOORS. BUT A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. THAT'S IT MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. COUNCILMAN HILLIARD, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. MAYOR WEST, ON A ON A HARD FOUGHT VICTORY. I WOULD ALSO ASK IF WE CAN LOOK INTO MR. REYNOLD JUNIOR'S REQUEST. CAN WE KIND OF SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? AND ALSO, MISS ALLEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A QUITE A CONCERN. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE IN THE EVENT OF A OF A CATASTROPHE THAT THEY COULD, THEY COULD GET OUT AND MAYBE FIND SOME WAY OF, OF EARLY NOTIFICATION. OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK IT'S A, IT'S WISE. THERE WERE A LOT OF STREETS THAT WERE FLOODED AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. SO BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN TURNER. WELL HAPPY EARLY JUNETEENTH TO EVERYBODY.
SHOUT OUT TO OUR SEASONED CITIZENS. THAT PAVED THE WAY TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS AND BEING SOME OF THE POSITIONS WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I TAKE EXTREME PRIDE IN, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED LEGACY AND DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME. SO MUCH RESPECT TO JUNETEENTH STAFF. YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB AT JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL. WE GOT SOME GOOD FEEDBACK AT IT BEING OUTSIDE, I MEAN INSIDE VERSUS OUTSIDE. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 4TH OF JULY. LET'S JUST KEEP THE EVENTS GOING. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE BEAUMONT RENEGADES AS AS ROUGH AS YESTERDAY WAS WITH THE STORM. WE GOT A LITTLE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WITH OUR TEAM ACTUALLY WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP. SO SHOUT OUT TO BEAUMONT RENEGADES. I'M MORE THAN CONFIDENT WE'LL CELEBRATE THEM SOON AS A COUNCIL. AND MR. WILLIAMS, WE SPOKE RECENTLY ABOUT GOING OVER OUR FLOOD PLAN. IF WE CAN KIND OF GET THAT ON THE AGENDA SOON. IN REFERENCE TO SOME OF THE THINGS MISS EDDIE ALLEN SPOKE ON. I KNOW WE GO OVER IT EVERY YEAR, BUT WITH THE SEASON KIND OF START AND I LIKE TO KIND OF GET THAT IN FRONT OF THE CITIZENS SO THEY CAN BE MORE INFORMED. AND LASTLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY, MR. CRABB SAID. BUT BUT CONGRATS, MAN. YOU DONE A GREAT JOB. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR MORE IN THE FUTURE. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. YEAH, JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU. AND I'VE ENJOYED IT SO FAR. SO I'M I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE THAT. AND YOU KNOW SUNDAY WAS WAS FATHER'S DAY. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A, YOU KNOW, AGAIN TO TELL MY DAD HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. AND JUST TO ALL THE DADS IN THIS ROOM, IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT, THAT I
[00:55:06]
ENJOY AND CHERISH. AND I'M, YOU KNOW, LOVE SERVING THE CITY. BUT BEING A DAD IS THE FAVORITE THING THAT I, I GET TO DO. AND SO TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SHERWOOD. WELL, FIRST, THANK YOU CITY STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT'S WORKING REAL HARD TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. I HEARD VERY GOOD THINGS ABOUT JUNETEENTH, SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. HAPPY JUNETEENTH EARLY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHO WE ARE TO CELEBRATE THAT HOLIDAY. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. I'M ALSO GLAD TO BE BACK HOME. AND WHILE WE DIDN'T WIN OUR 13 YOU WORLD SERIES, I DID REMIND THE YOUNG MEN THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO WIN AND LOSE WITH GRACE. SO SHOUT OUT TO THE BEAUMONT RENEGADES BECAUSE WE NEED THE WIN. I APPRECIATE THAT.I ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE GOOD. WE CAN ALL BE FOUND DOING GOOD, FOR GOODNESS SAKE. AND REMEMBER, INTEGRITY IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN NOBODY'S WATCHING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. YES. AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR WEST, ON YOUR REELECTION. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS ON FATHER'S DAY. AND HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. BELATED TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE. AND TODAY IS MY DAD'S BIRTHDAY. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAD. I'M SORRY I MISSED LUNCH BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING READY FOR THIS MEETING, BUT. AND ALSO, HAPPY EARLY JUNETEENTH TO EVERYONE IN OUR GREAT CITY THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING THAT HOLIDAY. COMING UP ON THURSDAY. AND THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS AGENDA DID NOT HAVE THE GAMING ORDINANCE BACK ON IT AFTER IT WAS TABLED TWO WEEKS AGO, SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE GET THAT BACK ON THE NEXT AGENDA MEETING, PLEASE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW, ON THE AGENDA FOR JULY 15TH. GREAT. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK COUNCIL TO GO UPSTAIRS EXPEDITIOUSLY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MOLLY, OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, CITY ATTORNEY. I HAVE A BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT. BRIEF, BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT. SO YESTERDAY'S RAIN EVENT IS ONE THAT HAS PILED ON FROM THURSDAY'S RAIN EVENT. SO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS, WHEN WE GOT THE HEAVY RAINS ON THURSDAY, THEY WERE ON THE MAGNITUDE. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE OF SIGNIFICANCE ON THURSDAY. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REALIZED THAT THE COUNTRY CLUB AREA RECEIVED FOUR INCHES OF RAIN IN 30 MINUTES. SO THAT IS AN EXCEEDINGLY INTENSE RAIN FOR OUR AREA. PAR ON THE COURSE OF THESE FLOODING DISASTERS THAT YOU SEE IN OTHER AREAS, WE BENEFIT FROM THE FACT THAT OUR TERRAIN IS SO FLAT THAT IT DOES NOT RUN OFF WITH THAT HIGH VELOCITY CAUSING INJURY AND LOSS OF PROPERTY AND LOSS OF LIFE. SO THAT HAS BEEN WHERE THE GROUND HAS REALLY STARTED TO SATURATE. THE GROUND REALLY WAS ABLE TO ABSORB THAT RAINFALL EVENT. THE DELAYS IN TRAVELING ON THESE ROADS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO CONVEY THIS RAINWATER WAS NOT AS LONG LIVED, BUT OVERALL THE RAINS ON THURSDAY DID LAST ABOUT TWO HOURS. SO WE HAD THE RAIN ON SATURDAY, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THE RAIN ON YESTERDAY WITH A SMALLER RAIN EVENTS HAPPENING IN BETWEEN. ALL THAT TO SAY THAT THE GROUND IS SATURATED IS STARTING TO REALLY SATURATE. SO NOW THE RAIN THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY, BASED ON THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TRACKING THEIR DATA. BEAUMONT RECEIVED FROM ABOUT THE AIRPORT, WESTBROOK AREA, ANYWHERE FROM THREE AND A HALF TO NEARLY FIVE INCHES OF RAIN. AND MOST OF THAT HAPPENED AGAIN IN ABOUT A 30 MINUTE PERIOD. SO AGAIN, AN EXCEEDINGLY INTENSE RAIN EVENT THAT IS UNUSUAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. I WON'T THROW OUT THE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY YEARS STORM, BECAUSE THAT THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY DESCRIBE IT, BUT IT WOULD BE A WHAT WE WOULD BE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. YOU WOULD HAVE A 2% CHANCE OF SEEING THAT TYPE OF RAIN EVENT. SO IT WAS NOT A TYPICAL SUMMER RAIN. AND SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IF THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE STILL SEEING WATER THAT IS NOT DRAINING OFF, WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE WHAT I DID I
[01:00:07]
DID SEE IS ALTHOUGH THE UNDERPASSES DID FLOOD, THEY WERE OVERWHELMED BY THIS INTENSE RAIN. THEY RECOVERED. THEY RECOVERED WITHIN AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS OF WHEN THE RAIN STRUCK.AND SO THAT SHOWS THAT THEY ARE THEY ARE FUNCTIONING. THE LARGE DITCHES ARE PARTNERS AT DRAINAGE DISTRICT SIX. THEIR THEIR CHANNELS DID CARRY OFF THE WATER ONCE THE WATER REACHED THEM. BUT IT'S GETTING THAT WATER TO THOSE DITCHES. I'M WRAPPING IT UP SHAHRAM I PROMISE I'M LANDING THE PLANE. SO. BUT PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE WHEN THERE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FLOODING OR CONCERNS ABOUT FLOODING, PLEASE NOTIFY 311. BECAUSE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US IS NOT JUST THE LOCATION. ADDRESSES ARE ALWAYS HELPFUL, BUT THE TIME BECAUSE THAT TELLS US THAT HELPS US IDENTIFY THE INTENSITY OF THE RAIN JUST SO THAT WE HAVE THAT DATA FOR OUR FUTURE DESIGN PLANS. SO I JUST ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. NOTHING, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR REELECTION AS MAYOR. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY CLERK WHO'S LEFT THE BUILDING. BUT I WANTED TO THANK HER AND HER STAFF FOR A GREAT JOB THEY DID TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS. THE GENERAL AND THE RUNOFF A GREAT ELECTION. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK HER. THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CVB AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE AWARDS THEY WON AT THE PRESS CLUB THE OTHER NIGHT. THEY REALLY CLEANED UP, WON NUMEROUS FIRST PLACE, A LOT OF SECOND PLACE. WELL, THE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WON THREE, FIRST PLACE, SECOND PLACE, THREE THIRD PLACE AND THREE HONORABLE MENTION. SO AT THAT, AT THAT AWARD. SO TRACY AND HER CREW DID A GREAT JOB. AND ALSO THE CVB ON THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR. THE LAST TIME THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY MISS ALLEN, WE DID HAVE OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR COME AND GIVE CITY COUNCIL A REPORT, REVIEW THAT WORK AND GIVE A REPORT SO WE WILL HAVE THEM COME BACK AND GIVE THIS COUNCIL A REPORT ON THEIR FINDINGS AND WHAT THEY DID, AND ALSO GIVE YOU A REPORT ON OUR EMERGENCY WARNING. SYSTEM. SYSTEM IS A GOOD WORD. OKAY. JUNETEENTH WENT GREAT. THANKS, EMILY. AND YOUR CREW WAS FANTASTIC. RESPONSE EFFORTS WERE GOOD YESTERDAY. THAT WAS AN INTENSE RAIN. CITIES CAN REALLY COME UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE WITH THOSE TYPE OF EVENTS. IT'S THE TIMING IS FIVE INCHES OVER TWO DAYS IS NOT BAD.
FIVE INCHES IN 30 MINUTES IS HORRIBLE. SO THANKS TO OUR STAFF FOR RESPONDING. AND LASTLY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELL, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER. I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING TO COUNCIL, AS THEY DO EVERY WEEK, AND THANK THE VOTERS FOR TURNING OUT AND CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE MORE IN THE FUTURE AND GET MORE TURNOUT IN OUR CITY ELECTIONS. IT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO GET TO SERVE AS THE MAYOR FOR A SECOND TERM, AND I TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS, AND THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS PAST WEEK. THE EVENT STAFF DID A GREAT JOB BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EVENT FRIDAY NIGHT GETTING READY FOR SATURDAY, AND CERTAINLY I'M JUST SO PROUD OF CITY STAFF AND THE STRIDES WE'VE MADE IN OUR DRAINAGE AND WATER AND SEWER OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THE REDUCTION IN CALLS AND ANY CALL IS TOO MANY. BUT IT CERTAINLY IS GOOD WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE NATIONAL ARENA LEAGUE WAS WON RIGHT HERE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN CRENSHAW. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE. AND WITH THAT WE ARE
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RECESSED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL MOVE UP THERE EXPEDITIOUSLY. AND I'M* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.