[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. TODAY'S DATE IS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR KIRKLAND HALL OF MOUNT GILEAD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU MAYOR. LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY. GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY. GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD COME FRESH IN THIS ROOM AND GIVE US A MINDSET TO DO YOUR WORK AND YOUR WILL. LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD TOUCH THIS, THIS AGENDA. LORD, BE WITH US. BE OUR MINDS. LORD, GIVE US CREATIVITY. GIVE US A MINDSET OF UNITY, AND LET THE END RESULT BE THAT OF WHICH CAN BE A TESTIMONY TO YOUR WORK AND YOUR WILL. WE THANK YOU AND IT'S IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM TURNER, COUNCIL MEMBER. DORIO HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. HILLIARD. HERE. COUNCILMEMBER. WILLIAMS. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHERWOOD AND COUNCILMEMBER CRENSHAW HERE. THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY OUR CITY OF BEAUMONT COMMUNICATION [ Communication Update] DEPARTMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON. IN THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS, WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT WITH OUR NEW HIRES FROM OUR BEAUMONT FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT. THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE, WE HAVE FILLED 22 OF THE 25 VACANT POSITIONS. SEVEN ENTERED OUR FIRE ACADEMY, 11 ENTERED THE EMT COURSE, AND FOUR DUAL CERTIFIED FIREFIGHTERS WERE HIRED. THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THE NEW FIRE RESCUE EMTS AND FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ZIP, TRANSIT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO STEPPED UP TO HELP OUR UNHOUSED AND THEIR PETS DURING THE RECENT ARCTIC BLAST. WE WERE TOLD AREA SHELTERS WERE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THOSE SEEKING SHELTER DURING THIS TIME. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THE CITY WANTS YOUR HELP PLANNING FOR ITS FUTURE. THE BEAUMONT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A LONG RANGE ROADMAP THAT WILL HELP GUIDE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT ACROSS THE CITY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS. TO KICK THINGS OFF, WE'RE HOSTING A COMMUNITY CHARRETTE FROM FEBRUARY 9TH THROUGH THE 13TH, AND THIS WEEK OF PLANNING BRINGS TOGETHER RESIDENTS, PARTNERS AND STUDENTS TO SHARE IDEAS, SPARK CONVERSATIONS AND IT WILL HELP SHAPE WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BEAUMONT.COM OR SCAN THE QR CODE TO STAY CONNECTED. THE CITY OF BEAUMONT INVITES YOU TO JOIN US AS WE WELCOME IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH AT 5 P.M. AT RIVERFRONT PARK IN DOWNTOWN BEAUMONT. CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE HORSE WITH AN ENERGETIC LION DANCE. THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY, AND CELEBRATION. TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY IS COMING UP MARCH 2ND, COMMEMORATING THE DAY IN 1836 WHEN TEXAS FORMALLY DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM MEXICO. TO RECOGNIZE THE DAY, THE CITY IS HOSTING A TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION, AND EVERYONE IS INVITED TO SHOW OFF YOUR TEXAS PRIDE. JOIN US MARCH 2ND AT 10:30 A.M. INSIDE THE FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM HERE AT BEAUMONT CITY HALL. THERE WILL BE A FORMAL PROCLAMATION READ ALONG WITH SOME AWESOME TEXAS HISTORY HONORING THE SPIRIT, GRIT, AND PRIDE OF THE LONE STAR STATE. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE AS WE CELEBRATE 190 YEARS OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE. YOU ALSO WANT TO BE SURE TO JOIN US ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 11 A.M. AS WE TAKE THE STAGE AT THE HISTORIC JEFFERSON THEATER FOR THIS YEAR'S STATE OF THE CITY, THE BEAUMONT AWARDS. TAKE A LOOK. COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU. THE LIGHTS DIM, THE RED CARPET ROLLS OUT, AND THE STORY OF THE CITY TAKES CENTER STAGE. THIS SPRING, JOIN US FOR THE BEAUMONT AWARDS, AN ACADEMY AWARDS STYLE STATE OF THE CITY CELEBRATION HONORING THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT KEEP BEAUMONT RUNNING EVERY DAY, EXPERIENCE REAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR. A FEW LAUGHS AND A LIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH CITY LEADERS, ALL IN ONE UNFORGETTABLE EVENT. IT'S A PROGRAM YOU WON'T WANT [00:05:05] TO MISS. BIG MOMENTS, REAL RESULTS, FREE CONCESSIONS AND FOOD BITES FROM LOCAL VENDORS. THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND EVERYONE IS INVITED TO BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION. AS WE CELEBRATE THE STATE OF THE CITY, BEAUMONT STYLE. TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 11 A.M. INSIDE THE HISTORIC JEFFERSON THEATER. AND WE ALSO WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR, ENTERGY, AS WELL AS CREWS, EVENTS AND GOLDEN TRIANGLE LIGHTING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT, SO SAVE THE DATE. WE'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 11 A.M. AT THE JEFFERSON THEATER. AND FINALLY, WE WANT TO GIVE A BIG BEAUMONT WELCOME TO ROYAL MANOR, A NEW AFTERNOON TEA ROOM THAT JUST OPENED AT 2090 BROADWAY STREET. IT WAS STARTED BY CHEF KIMBERLY MOYLE, WHO HAS BEEN COOKING PROFESSIONALLY FOR 38 YEARS. I WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS ROBERT REDFORD, PERSONAL CHEF, ROBERT REDFORD'S PERSONAL CHEF, AND SHE'S BRINGING A FUN TRADITION OF HIGH TEA TO BEAUMONT IN A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED HISTORIC HOME. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THIS NEW BUSINESS OPEN IN OLD TOWN. WE APPRECIATE CHEF MOYLE FOR INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR PRESERVING ONE OF OUR HISTORIC PROPERTIES. AND CHEF MOYLE IS HERE TODAY. SO IF YOU WANT TO STAND UP, GIVE EVERYBODY A WAVE. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE SPOTLIGHTING NEW BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT BEAUMONT IS GROWING AND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WONDERING WHY THERE'S NOT ANY PROCLAMATIONS, WE ARE NOW DOING PROCLAMATIONS ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 10:30 A.M. SO WE HAD THEM THIS MORNING. SO JUST FOR A POINT OF INFORMATION, AND NOW [PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, OR OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND WHICH IS, I BELIEVE, NUMBER FIVE, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HAD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR, AND PLANNING AND ZONING. AND WITH THAT, ALSO NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER SEVEN HAVE BEEN PULLED. SO JUST SOME INFORMATION. THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE SAY YOUR ADDRESS, CITY AND STATE. IF IT WASN'T ALREADY SAID, 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. KATE HAMBRIGHT, SEVEN, CHELSEA HOLLOW, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KATE HAMBRIGHT. I'M THE HISTORICAL MARKER CHAIR OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION. I HAVE SOME EXCELLENT NEWS TODAY. AS OF JANUARY 26TH, 2026, THE TEMPLE OF THE BRAVE IN PIPKINS PATRIOT PARK IS NOW OFFICIALLY LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, BRINGING NATIONAL RECOGNITION TO ITS HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. THE COLONEL GEORGE MOFFITT CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, CONSTRUCTED THE TEMPLE TO THE BRAVE IN 1931, ORIGINALLY PLANNING THE SMALL BUILDING AS A MEMORIAL TO OUR TEXAS SERVICEMEN OF WORLD WAR ONE AND WORLD PEACE. THE LATE GOTHIC REVIVAL MEMORIAL BUILDING FEATURES STUNNING STAINED GLASS WINDOWS REPRESENTING THE THREE BRANCHES OF OUR MILITARY DURING WORLD WAR ONE THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, ENCIRCLED BY THE FLAGS OF OUR ALLIES DURING THAT WAR, AS WELL AS SCENES OF TEXAS UNDER SIX FLAGS. IT IS CONSTRUCTED OF ROUGH FINISHED COLORADO GREENSTONE. GRANITE CLADDING OVER COMMON BRICK HAS A HIGH PITCHED GABLE ROOF, TUDOR ARCH ENTRY AND DOUBLE DOORS, QUOINS, WOODEN TRACERY, POINTED ARCH AND CIRCULAR ROSE WINDOWS AND BUTTRESSES ON ITS SIDE AND REAR ELEVATIONS. THE INTERIOR FEATURES AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, VAULTED CEILING, OAK TRUSSES, OAK WAINSCOTING, DECORATIVE PLASTER WORK, AND TERRAZZO FLOORING. AT THE TIME OF ITS DEDICATION ON OCTOBER 19TH, 1932, THE DAR EXPANDED THEIR PURPOSE FOR THE TEMPLE TO THE BRAVE, DEDICATING IT TO TEXAS SERVICEMEN OF ALL WARS, AND TURNED THE BUILDING OVER TO THE CITY AND CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. THE DAR HAS CONTINUALLY OPERATED THE TEMPLE'S MUSEUM SINCE 1932, AND TODAY THE MEMORIAL BUILDING REMAINS ONE OF ITS KEY SERVICE PROJECTS. IN 2006, THE DAR PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO RESTORE THE BUILDING. IN 2007, THE DAR REDEDICATED THE TEMPLE TO THE BRAVE TO AMERICAN MILITARY OF ALL WARS. MORE RECENTLY, IN 2023, THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNATED AS A RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION. MAYOR WEST BRAVED A FLOOD LAST SUMMER [00:10:03] TO HELP US WITH THAT MARKER DEDICATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT. I COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED TO BRING YOU THIS GOOD NEWS TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JONATHAN BENNETT, 4630 COLLIER STREET BY MY TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS JONATHAN BENNETT. I'M THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR FOR FAMILY SERVICES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, AND I'D LIKE TO CORDIALLY INVITE EVERYONE TO OUR SIXTH ANNUAL CLAY SHOOT FUNDRAISER BENEFITING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7TH. WE ORDINARILY HOLD THIS EVENT IN SEPTEMBER, BUT WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR PARTICIPANTS TO HOLD IT IN A COOLER PART OF THE YEAR. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES CAN SIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER EVENTS, OR CALL ME AT (409) 833-2668. EXTENSION 110. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SIR. ALBERT HARRISON 1240 ASHLEY OH MY. TEXAS. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS THAT ARE PRESENT. I SOMEWHAT HATE TO GO INTO AN ISSUE THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR, WHICH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, I WENT INTO THE ACROSS THE HALL TO ASK A QUESTION AND OVERHEARD A YOUNG LADY, WHICH IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS, BUT I THINK Y'ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT. THE YOUNG LADY WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH AND GET AN EXTENSION TO PAY A WATER BILL. OKAY, I HEARD HER SAY, CAN I CHOOSE THE DATE? AND THE CLERK SAID, NO, YOU HAVE TEN DAYS AND YOU HAVE TO REQUEST THAT. NOW, NOWHERE DO I REMEMBER YOU ALL APPROVING OR SAYING THAT YOU HAD TO REQUEST THE TEN DAYS TO MAKE A LATE PAYMENT. NOW, IF Y'ALL DID, I APOLOGIZE. BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT UPON MYSELF HERE. THE ISSUE I WISH TO RAISE IS THAT MY BILL STATE AND SAYS THIS ACCOUNT RECEIVES A SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT. NOW, WHEN I ADD UP THE CURRENT AND PREVIOUS BILL AND COME TO A PARTICULAR SUM AS TO WHAT THAT BILL SHOULD READ, I DO NOT SEE A DISCOUNT. IF IT IS, I DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE THE READING IS THE SAME AS PREVIOUS AND CURRENT. SO IF I'M TO GET A DISCOUNT, WHICH THE CLERK SAYS AND I ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT KIND OF DISCOUNT AM I RECEIVING? I THINK SHE SAID 2400 GALLON. I COULD BE INCORRECT, BUT IT'S SOMEWHERE IN THAT FIGURE. SO IF THAT'S THE ISSUE, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE INDICATED ON MY BILL AND EVERY OTHER CITIZEN'S BILL WHO GETS A DISCOUNT, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M REQUESTING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. CHARLIE CRABBE, 928 EAST DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THANK. MISS BROUSSARD, YOU WILL HAVE 30 MINUTES SINCE I MISSED TEN MINUTES. WELCOME BACK. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD AND A GREAT DAY IN BEAUMONT. OUR TOWN. WELL, MY NAME IS CHARLIE CRABBE. I LIVE AT 928 EAST DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, SEVEN SEVEN, 706, RIGHT DOWN AT THE WEST END OF HARRISON IS EAST DRIVE. LET'S SEE. WHERE AM I AT HERE? OH, YEAH. WELL, IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HIRE NEW PEOPLE WITH A NEW SYSTEM THEY ADOPTED. THAT'S. THAT'S GREAT. THE CITY NEEDS TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES. [00:15:05] AND I SEE ONE OF OUR COUNCILMEN IS PLANNING ON MOVING UP TO THE SOUTH SIDE. AND IT'S GREAT WHEN WHEN A PERSON DOES THEIR THEIR TIME AND DUE DILIGENCE AND AND READY FOR. A NEW SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING. THE ALICE KEITH PLAN FOR THE A PLAN FOR A FEDERAL GRANT AND WHAT HAVE YOU. AND THAT'S SUPER FOR OUR THAT'S THE TYPE OF THING WE NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY IS TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS WITH, WHAT DO YOU CALL THOSE THINGS, PICNIC TABLES AND COVERS AND AND BASKETBALL GOALS AND, AND PLAYGROUNDS THAT THAT FAMILIES CAN ENJOY. AND I'VE BEEN ASKED TO MENTION MAGNOLIA AVENUE. THE FOLKS WOULD LIKE A A NEW COVERING. THEY WANTED CONCRETE, BUT I TOLD THEM THEY THEY BETTER ASK FOR ASPHALT, A NICE SMOOTH LAYER OF ASPHALT GOES A LONG WAY. OKAY, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I ABOUT RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT IT'S IT'S NICE TO SEE THE FUNCTIONS ALL THE. THE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE OF THE CITY THAT FUNCTION AND KEEP THE WATER RUNNING THE SEWER RUN THE, THE, WHATEVER YOU CALL THOSE STREETS AND DRAINAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT'S THAT SHOW UP FOR WORK AND THEN AND DO THAT FOR US. AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR YOUR SERVICE AND ALL THE THE COMMITTEE, I MEAN, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT DIRECT ALL THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SIR. ERIC ARIEL CHAPMAN, 1075 PINCHBECK ROAD, BEAUMONT, TEXAS. GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL. THIS WAS ACTUALLY PERTAINING TO THE. I'M NOT SURE IF WE ARE THERE ON THE AGENDA YET FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TIMBERS EDGE APARTMENTS FOR ETEX GROUP. BUT I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ MY STATEMENT. I WANT TO BEGIN BY STATING THAT ALL PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS FOR THE PROPERTY. THEY HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. A TEMPORARY SAFEGUARDS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO PREVENT ANY ADDITIONAL OVERFLOW INCIDENTS, SO OWNERSHIP IS ALSO PREPARING TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS TO FURTHER STABILIZE THE PROPERTY. THIS WAS AT THE VERY END OF THE AGENDA, SO I'M NOT SURE BEEN PULLED. OKAY, OKAY, SO DO I STILL NEED TO DO AM I GOOD? WELL LOOK AT GOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. IF THERE'S NO ONE [CONSENT AGENDA] ELSE HERE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE ITEM F SO THAT WE CAN JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION ON IT, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN TELEVISION INTERVIEWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STAFF PRESENT THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE ON ITEM F. SO IF I COULD GET A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS ITEM F. IS THERE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. REMOVING ITEM F. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCILMAN DORIA, SO ARE WE GOING TO VOTE ON ITEM F SEPARATELY OR ARE WE JUST PULLING IT. YEAH. AND WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IT SEPARATELY AND JUST HAVE SO THAT THEY CAN KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO PREPARE IT, MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING GOOD INFORMATION. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? [F. Council to consider a resolution approving the City of Beaumont’s request to submit a $1.9 million grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife by way of Legislative Rider sponsored by State Representative Christian Manuel for Alice Keith Park enhancements.] THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER F? THANK YOU. MAYOR. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF BEAUMONT'S REQUEST TO SUBMIT [00:20:06] A $1.9 MILLION GRANT APPLICATION TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BY WAY OF LEGISLATIVE RIDER, SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE CRISTIAN MANUEL FOR ALICE QUAY PARK ENHANCEMENTS. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE MOVE INTO DISCUSSION, CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM F? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER F, AND THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL, BUT BEFOREHAND COULD WE GET A REPORT FROM. I THINK JUNE'S ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ELLIS. I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO COME UP AND GIVE AN OVERVIEW. HALIMA WILSON, SHE'S THE CITY'S GRANTS COORDINATOR, AS WELL AS KENNETH RAGUET, THE PARKS, GREEN SPACE AND FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR. THEY CAN BOTH GIVE AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THE PLAN IS FOR US TO DEVELOP ENHANCEMENTS AT ALICE PARK THAT INCLUDE TWO PAVILIONS WITH BENCHES UNDERNEATH, AS WELL AS CONVERTING TWO EXISTING TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL COURTS INTO TENNIS COURTS, INTO ONE BASKETBALL AND ONE PICKLEBALL COURT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE A DESIGNATED SOCCER FIELD, AND WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO RAISE THE FENCE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH THE NEIGHBORS. AND WE'LL HAVE A DESIGNATED FOOTBALL FIELD THERE AS WELL. IN ADDITION TO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, WILL HAVE A DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN BUILT BETWEEN BOTH OF THE PAVILIONS. AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN ADDITION MADE TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT ALREADY EXISTS. THAT ADDITION WILL INCLUDE A SPACE FOR A COMPUTER LAB THAT WILL HOUSE 15 TO 20 STUDENTS AT A TIME, AS WELL AS THREE INDIVIDUAL SPACES FOR AUDIO RECORDING, SUCH AS PODCASTS OR MUSICAL OR WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AT THAT POINT. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. AND MR. RIGUET, ALSO, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN A NEW PLAYGROUND AS WELL. IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE THE RUBBER FLOORING, WHICH WAS ONE THING THAT COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW HAD MENTIONED. RIGHT NOW WE ONLY HAVE IT AT ROTARY PARK, SO WE'D BE ACCESSIBLE BY ALL IN THE CITY. ALSO, A NEW SPLASH PAD WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED OVER THERE, AS WELL AS RENOVATIONS TO THE RESTROOMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS OF EITHER ONE OF THEM? YES, COUNCILMAN DARIO, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED AT THE POOL THERE AS WELL. WOULD THAT BE ADDRESSED? NO, ACTUALLY, IN 2028, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE HAVE FUNDS ALREADY ALLOCATED TOWARD GOING THE POOL REPAIRS, BUT WE'LL PROBABLY ADDRESS SOME ISSUES LIKE THE FENCING. I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE FENCING, BUT FOR THE POOL ITSELF, NOT AT THIS TIME, NOT UNDER THIS FUNDING. OKAY. YES. AND I'LL ADD TO THAT, COUNCILMAN DARIO, MR. REGATTA IS CORRECT IN OUR CURRENT CIP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN, WE DO HAVE FUNDING, AND THESE ARE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION DOLLARS. AND THEY'VE BEEN FUNDED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FOR ALICE KEITH PARK. AND THE YEAR IS 2028 THAT WE HAVE THOSE DOLLARS AVAILABLE. SO WORK IS PLANNED TO BE DONE AT THE POOL AT THAT LOCATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN TURNER. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE MOMENT OUT TO RECOGNIZE AND SHOUT OUT NATHAN HAWKINS AND THE REASON I WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME OUT TO DO THIS. MY BROTHER IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY IS I REMEMBER ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN ME AND CHRISTIAN CHRIS, WE CAME TO SOUTH PARK BLOCK PARTY. CHRISTIAN WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR ELECTION. AND YOU TOLD HIM YOUR VISION, YOUR CONCERNS, AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE CRIME RATE AND SOME THINGS THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE KIDS AND JUST SOME THINGS THAT WASN'T GOING ON. THE GRANT WAS APPLIED FOR BEFORE IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL, APPLIED FOR A SECOND TIME, WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT GOD SHOWED US THE THIRD TIME IT WAS. AND JUST FOR THAT PERSISTENCE FOR WHAT YOU STAND FOR IN THE COMMUNITY, I RESPECT YOU FOR THAT. AND I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY, WHEN YOU WORK HARD AND YOU STAY PERSISTENT, YOU CAN'T GET GOOD RESULTS. SO I RESPECT YOU AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, MAN. MUCH RESPECT. DID AN EXCELLENT [00:25:02] INTERVIEW YESTERDAY ON CHANNEL SIX, AND I NOTICED THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME INFORMATION, A LITTLE BIT OF MISINFORMATION IN THE MIDST OF THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE HOUSE PASSED, THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIAN MANUEL HAD PRESENTED AS COUNCILMAN TURNER HAD SAID ON PRIOR OCCASIONS, TOO, BUT HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT. AND THEN THE SENATE PASSED AND THE GOVERNOR HAD SIGNED IT. THIS ALL OCCURRED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO THAT MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED. IT IS STATE MONEY DESIGNATED FOR HERE. AND THE PART OF THIS IS HAD TO BE DETERMINED ON THE DIRECTION THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO BE GOING ON, SO THAT IT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR A RESOLUTION TO RECEIVE IT. SO IT'S IT'S NOT NEW TO US KNOWING THAT IT WAS COMING BECAUSE IT WAS REPORTED EARLIER, BUT NOW WE'RE WE'RE SEEING IT COME TO LIFE. SO AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. AND BECAUSE ONCE THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE, THEN YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND HOW FAR YOU CAN STRETCH THAT DOLLAR. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES. ALSO, I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. HAWKINS. WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL, NOT ONLY WAS THIS A DREAM OF HIS, HE ALREADY HAD ALL THE PLANS DRAWN UP, EVERYTHING THAT WE WANTED TO OUT THERE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. ALL OF THAT. AND HE JUST HE NEVER, NEVER STOPPED. EVERY TIME HE WOULD SEE US, HE WOULD REMIND US ABOUT IT. AND HEY, I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT? HEY, THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO DO. YOU KEEP IT ON EVERYBODY'S MIND. AND FINALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH THE PARKS DEAL NOT PASSING ON THE BOND, BUT WE SAID, HEY, WE GOT THIS MONEY. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT. AND SO WE CONTACTED REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND WE HAD A MEETING AND WE GOT TOGETHER WITH NATE, MYSELF, AJ, AND I THINK LADONNA WAS THERE. AND MR. REGGIE AND MISS WILLIAMS. AND WE WENT OUT TO THE PARK AND WE WALKED AROUND AND WE LOOKED WE SAT DOWN AND SAID, HEY, WE WANT TO DO THIS. AND WE WENT OUT TO ELLIS PARK AND WE WALKED AROUND THERE AND SAID, HEY, WE CAN DO THIS HERE. WE CAN DO THAT HERE. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT TO SAY THANK YOU, STAFF, BECAUSE WE Y'ALL Y'ALL CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. APPRECIATE IT. THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. ONE MORE. YES. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS AND WELL, WELL DONE TO STAFF FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH IN GETTING THIS THIS DONE AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED US WITH IT. SO WHEN DOES THIS KICK OFF? WHEN DO WE BREAK GROUND ON THE IMPROVEMENTS? WELL, WE'RE ALREADY OUT GETTING BIDS AND DESIGN WORK IS BEING DONE NOW FOR THE PLAYGROUND SPLASH PAD AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO ONCE WE GET ENOUGH DESIGNS AND BIDS IN, WE'LL PRESENT IT TO MR. HAWKINS AND BASICALLY GO FROM THERE. SO WE THINK WE COULD HAVE SOME OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS STARTED AND MAYBE DONE BY SUMMER. OH YEAH. MOST DEFINITELY. GREAT. THANK YOU, THANK Y'ALL. THANKS, MAYOR. JUST. YEAH. OH, COUNCIL, GET THE OFFICIAL CITY MANAGER. YES. FROM THE STATE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL BE READY TO GO. WE'LL BE. WE'LL BE MOVING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I'D LIKE TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE MANUEL FOR THIS WORK, BECAUSE THIS IS HE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY. MR. HAWKINS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THIS MONEY WAS DESIGNATED JUST FOR THIS AREA BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THEY DESIGNATED THE DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS AREA. SO I COMMEND HIM AND EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED ON THE PROJECT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY [6. Council consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with ExxonMobil Corporation for the Todd Street and Josey Street Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project.] MANAGER. I'M GOING TO TAKE THINGS OUT OF ORDER. IF WE COULD HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE. COUNCIL, CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION FOR THE TAJ STREET AND JOSE STREET SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX? MOVE TO APPROVE. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SIX. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION. YES. COUNCILMAN HILLIARD, SO IF I READ THIS RIGHT, MOBILE WILL PAY UP TO $300,000. SO WHAT IF THEY GET UNDERGROUND, LIKE WE SEE A LOT, AND THEY FIND OUT THAT THERE'S MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WILL THE CITY BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MONEY? YES, THAT IS THE PLAN. THE COST ESTIMATE WE PREPARED WAS AT ABOUT $300,000. WE HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDING. IF IT ENDS UP EXCEEDING THAT AMOUNT IN OUR ANNUAL SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT, TO MEET THE NEEDS [00:30:07] TO COMPLETE THE WORK. BUT EXXONMOBIL WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY MORE THAN THE 300,000. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCILMAN TURNER, CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN TO RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND KIND OF WHAT IT'S ABOUT? HOW DOES IT WORK? IT'S JUST AGREEMENTS BETWEEN TWO ENTITIES. IT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER AGREEMENT. WE'VE OUTLINED THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. LIKE ANY OTHER CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT. WE'VE OUTLINED AND EXPLAINED WHAT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, WHAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. IT'S NOTHING FANCY. ALL RIGHT. AND MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, JUST WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, IT WON'T BE A DRASTIC IMPACT ON NEIGHBORS IS SOMETHING WE CAN KIND OF ANTICIPATE OR WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE SO THEY KNOW WHAT MAY BE COMING. THEY WILL SEE A REGULAR PIPE BURSTING PROJECT TO DO THE SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT THAT EXXONMOBIL NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY DISCHARGE TO THE CITY SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM. SO THE NEIGHBORS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THAT LINE AT THE END OF THE PROJECT WILL SHOULD SEE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THEIR SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN EVENTS, SO IT CAN HELP ADDITIONALLY, WITH FLOODING AND THINGS OF THAT MAGNITUDE, THOUGH, IT'S BENEFITING THE ENTITY IS ALSO BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. NOT NECESSARILY FLOODING, BUT FOR SEWER BACKUPS IN THAT IN THAT AREA. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. NOW WE WILL MOVE BACK TO ITEM NUMBER [1. Council consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to award a contract to Texas Materials Group, Inc., of Beaumont, for the Highland Avenue Roadway Rehabilitation Project.] ONE. AND MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING? SURE. YES. BACK TO THAT PAGE. COUNCIL, CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP, INC. OF BEAUMONT FOR THE HIGHLAND AVENUE ROADWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT, AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? MOVE FOR APPROVAL? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. THIS IS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS TAUGHT BEEN TALKED ABOUT SINCE. PERHAPS I EVEN GOT ON ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO. SO IT'S I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCILMAN TURNER, PASTOR KENNY ANDREWS, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, WE'RE VOTING ON IT TODAY. HE SENT OUT A TEXT THIS MORNING. HE SAID HE WISHED HE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE, BUT HE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE VOTING ON IT. YES. HAVE HAVE WE ALREADY STARTED ON THIS PROJECT? WE STARTED ON THE STORM SEWER CLEANING. AND AS PART OF THE ENGINEERING PROCESS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO RESTORE FLOW CAPACITY TO THAT STORM SEWER. AND WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN FLOODING COMPLAINTS ALONG HIGHLAND AVENUE. SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO SEE SOME BENEFIT TO THIS WORK. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE [2. Council to consider an ordinance authorizing the City to participate in the regulatory proceedings for Entergy Texas, Inc., in 2026.] THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO? COUNCIL, TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS FOR ENTERGY TEXAS, INC. AND 2026, AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? MOTION WE APPROVE. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN? I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT ALL THIS MEANS FOR THE FOR OUR CITIZENS AND MYSELF. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL DOES PRETTY REGULARLY. WE ROUTINELY REJECT THEIR INITIAL OFFER TO ALLOW US TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETTER TERMS. SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROCESS THAT COUNCIL HAS TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE NEGOTIATE THE BEST RATES POSSIBLE FOR OUR CITIZENS. AND I THINK I'VE USED THIS EXAMPLE BEFORE, BUT THE CITY IS A PART OF A STEERING COMMITTEE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CITIES WITHIN OUR AREA THAT NEGOTIATE ENERGY RATES ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS, SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH FOR COMPETITIVE ENERGY IN HOUSTON, SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES. THAT'S WHY THAT'S NOT AVAILABLE HERE. YES. SO BUT [00:35:04] WHAT THAT DOES OFFER IS THAT WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE'S POWER'S GETTING SHUT OFF, OURS IS. SOUNDS GOOD. SO SO WE DON'T THEY WE DON'T HAVE TO OPERATE ON THEM HAVING COMPETITIVE RATES AMONGST THEMSELVES WITH MULTIPLE COMPANIES. WE ACTUALLY NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF OUR CITIZENS TO ENSURE THEY GET THE BEST LOWEST RATE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO FORM SHOPS. SO WE ROUTINELY REJECT THE INITIAL FIRST OPTION TO ALLOW FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN. OTHER NEGOTIATIONS. THAT'S IT. SO THE REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS. THAT'S THE NEGOTIATIONS? YES, SIR. OKAY. YES, SIR. THIS THIS ORDINANCE THAT YOU WILL BE DOING TODAY WILL ALLOW A GIVE ACCESS FOR OUR UTILITIES COUNCIL TO OPERATE ON OUR BEHALF IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE WE WORK AS A COLLECTIVE. SO THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CITIES IN THAT STEERING COMMITTEE THAT BASICALLY INCREASES OUR STRENGTH FOR NEGOTIATION. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ME FOR THE. YES. BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE. YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THE STEERING COMMITTEE A LITTLE BIT. SO THE STEERING COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF SEVERAL OTHER CITIES IN OUR AREA. SO BASICALLY BEAUMONT, PORT ARTHUR, ORANGE, SOUR LAKE, LIBERTY, ALL OF THOSE AREAS ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. YES, SIR. SO ALL OF THOSE, ALL OF THOSE COLLECTIVE CITIES WITHIN THAT, WITHIN THAT SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND BEYOND PARTICIPATE IN STEERING COMMITTEE. THEY ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE CONSIDERED NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF THEIR CITIZENS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER 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 [3. Council consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the Advanced Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).] READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE? SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY [4. Council consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Maguire Iron, Inc, of Sioux Falls, SD.] OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH MAGUIRE IRON, INC. OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND IT'S A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY [WORK SESSION] MANAGER, WOULD YOU TAKE US INTO THE WORK SESSION? WE'RE SETTING A RECORD SO FAR. COUNCIL, TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS REFORMING THE BEAUMONT ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD. AND I'M GOING TO COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW AND IT WAS SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN TURNER. SO I'M GOING TO DEFER TO COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THAT CURRENTLY THE MAYOR MAKES THOSE APPOINTMENTS, BUT I HAVE I HAVE NO PROBLEM AT ALL WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL HAVING APPOINTMENTS, AND THEN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THE DISCUSSION ON HOW THAT WOULD BE CREATED. BUT COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW, GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OTHER THAN MAYBE THE THE WATER DEPARTMENT, I WOULD THINK THAT THE BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER IS ONE OF THE MAIN SOURCES OF CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS THAT I GET AS A COUNCILMAN. AND I THINK OUR BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER DOES A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO I DO WANT TO COMMEND OUR STAFF. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB AND RESOURCES ARE VERY LIMITED. AND BUT WITH ANY GOVERNMENT ENTITY THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. RIGHT. AND SO I'VE RESEARCHED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CURRENT COMMITTEE. AND IT IS, I THINK, STATE LAW THAT EVERY CITY THAT HAS A CITY RUN SHELTER HAS TO HAVE CERTAIN MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE LAST YEAR WE DID NOT MEET THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF MEETINGS. AND SO I AM PROPOSING A BIGGER, LARGER, IMPROVED COMMITTEE TO BRING IN MORE ANIMAL ADVOCATES MORE HOPEFULLY SOME RESCUE [00:40:05] GROUPS. IS THERE A CHANCE THAT CARLOS DAVIS WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TODAY? I KNOW WE HAD HE'S RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND. UNDERSTOOD. AND SO MY PROPOSAL IS IS RIGHT NOW IT'S A SEVEN MEMBER COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THAT TO 15 MEMBERS. THAT WOULD ALLOW EACH COUNCIL MEMBER THEN TO HAVE AN APPOINTEE. SO THAT WOULD BE SIX NEW MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE. IN ADDITION, WE ALREADY, BY STATE LAW, HAVE TO HAVE ADVOCATES. I'M ALSO ASKING THAT WE HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL POSITIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT RUN RESCUES, BECAUSE THE MISSION OF THE RESCUES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK HAVING THOSE TWO POSITIONS AND WHILE THERE IS A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT THAT EVERYONE ON THE COMMITTEE GENERALLY RESIDE IN THE CITY LIMITS, I WOULD ASK FOR THE RESCUE SPOTS FOR THE TWO SPOTS. IF THAT IS ULTIMATELY APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, THAT WE NOT HAVE A RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT BECAUSE THIS GENTLEMAN, CARLOS DAVIS, WHO IS OF THE ANIMAL RESCUE KINGDOM, I BELIEVE LIVES IN THE HOUSTON AREA. AND MR. MAYOR, HE WAS AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD, AND HE JUST HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW OTHER CITIES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THEY HAVE. AND I THINK THAT HE WOULD JUST BE AND IF HE'S WILLING, WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THAT COMMITTEE AND A GREAT RESOURCE. SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING THAT WE EXPAND THE COMMITTEE FROM 7 TO 15. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN PERSON THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO APPOINT, AND THAT WE THEN HAVE TWO MEMBERS FROM RESCUES. ANOTHER PERSON THAT I THINK WOULD BE GREAT FROM A RESCUE ORGANIZATION IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, MISS KRISTIN BEALE, SHE IS ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF WARD ONE, AND SHE OPERATES THE THREE W FARM AND RESCUE RANCH RANCH RESCUE AND DOES A GREAT JOB. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING AND WOULD LIKE TO DO MORE. AND WITH AN IMPROVED COMMITTEE AND LARGER COMMITTEE, I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE AS TO HOW OFTEN THEY MEET. BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE EXPAND IT FROM THE MINIMUM OF THREE MEETINGS A YEAR TO TO SIX. MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE THEY CAN START OFF AT THE BEGINNING BY MEETING ONCE A MONTH UNTIL SOME OF THESE MORE IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE MET, BUT AT A MINIMUM, WE WOULD HAVE A MEETING EVERY OTHER MONTH. AND AGAIN, THIS COMMITTEE, IMPROVED AND EXPANDED, CAN MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO DO A BETTER JOB. AND THEN AT SOME POINT, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE STAFF. I THINK THAT OUR SHELTER IS DOING AS GOOD OF A JOB AS THEY CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE, BUT I THINK THAT THEY'RE DESPERATELY, DESPERATELY IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL STAFF. AND I DON'T WANT TO INCREASE STAFF AND HAVE TO RAISE TAXES. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TO HAVE FEES AND REVENUE THAT WOULD FUND THAT STAFF WITHOUT US HAVING TO INCREASE THE BUDGET AND, AND TAKE THAT MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER PLACES OR RAISE TAXES. AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER FUNDING STRUCTURES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT. LASTLY, I THINK THAT WE HAD THE ANIMAL SHELTER WAS PART OF THE BOND PACKAGE THAT FAILED. AND SO I THINK THAT IN MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, IF WE ARE GOING TO MAYBE HAVE A TEMPORARY OR IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR CURRENT FACILITY, WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED, WE NEED MORE ROOM. I'M HOPING THAT LEGALLY, IF WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND FEES, THAT THAT'S NEW MONEY, THAT'S NOT BORROWED MONEY, AND THAT WOULD GET US AROUND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. YOU JUST CAN'T ISSUE ADDITIONAL DEBT. OKAY. SO WE JUST CAN'T BORROW THAT MONEY TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS. BUT IF WE HAD ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM FEES THAT COULD BE USED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE ON EXISTING FACILITIES, GREAT. AND AND WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD HOPE THAT WITH SOME OF THESE CHANGES, WE CAN REALLY SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND POLICY AND OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND, AND MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL STRIDES TO PROTECT OUR ANIMALS, IMPROVE OUR SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS, ENSURE THAT ALL ANIMALS THAT CAN BE VACCINATED ARE PROPERLY VACCINATED. AND AND WE GET SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OUT THERE TO, TO TO GET THE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM DONE. AND WITH THAT, THAT'S KIND OF THE OVERVIEW OF WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN. AND I [00:45:01] HOPE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY FELLOW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AND COUNCILMAN HILLIER, THEN COUNCILMAN TURNER, THEN COUNCILMAN DORIO. AND I'LL GET OVER HERE IF Y'ALL HAVE. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS HAVING A PLACE ON THE WATER BILL WHERE PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY GIVE EXTRA MONEY, CHECK A BOX AND SAY, I WANT TO GIVE $100 TO THE BEAUMONT ANIMAL SHELTER IF THAT'S A VIABLE OPTION, THAT THAT WE COULD DO WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE FEES ON. LET IT BE A VOLUNTARY THING. THE PEOPLE OF BEAUMONT LOVE TO HELP AND TO GIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES PART OF WHAT MAKES OUR CITY SO AMAZING. SO IT'S A THAT'S ANOTHER AVENUE THAT WE COULD EXPLORE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN TURNER AND I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT COUNCIL MEMBER CRENSHAW. I GOT TAGGED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND I CALLED HIM KIND OF EARLY IN THE MORNING WHILE I WAS GETTING MY KIDS TOGETHER FOR SCHOOL. AND HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND ASKED ME WHAT I SUPPORTED. I SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO. ANOTHER THING THAT I DID SEE IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY, I NOTICED I SEE THE ATTORNEY SAID, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT ADDITIONAL REVENUE, WELL, IT COULD BE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT CAN GO TO IT. I SEEN A PARKS GALA THAT A CITY PUT ON OR OR ELECTED OFFICIALS PUT ON, AND YOU CAN ALSO DO THINGS LIKE AN ANIMAL SHELTER GALA WHERE WE CAN KIND OF RAISE FUNDS FOR THINGS TO THIS MAGNITUDE. I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN RAISE REVENUE SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS OR BE A BURDEN ON THE TAX BASE. BUT ONE THING I DO SUPPORT AS WELL IS I DO THINK OUR ANIMAL SHELTER DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT I DO ADVOCATE AS WELL FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. ONE THING I NOTICED, EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN IT COMES TO RESCUES, YOU KNOW, WITH THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THEY HAVE, IT'S LIMITED STAFF AND THEY CAN'T STRETCH AS FAR AS WE MAY NEED THEM TO STRETCH. SO I AM IN SUPPORT IF WE CAN LOOK AT SOME WAYS WITHIN THE BUDGET OR REALLOCATE SOME FUNDS WITHIN THE BUDGET, THAT'S NOT MAY NOT BE UTILIZED TO GO TOWARDS GIVING MORE SUPPORT TO THE STAFF OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE CAN, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE USED AS A BEAUTIFUL TOOL WHEN WE USE IT. RIGHT. AND I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE INSTANCES WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA WAS ACTUALLY PRODUCTIVE FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND NEW APPOINTMENTS DON'T NECESSARILY MEAN A BAD THING. WHAT IT DOES IS YOU GIVE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE OR OPPORTUNITY TO PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAINS OF THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DO EVERY DAY, AND MAYBE THAT PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE WAY MORE POSITIVE WHEN THEY GET TO PUT FIRSTHAND ON BOARD ON HOW HARD YOUR WORK DAILY. AND I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING OPEN TO IT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER. COUNCILMAN DORIA, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT. SO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL GET ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE TO THE COMMITTEE. OKAY. THAT'S ANOTHER THING. THEY SEEM TO BE SHORT STAFFED. I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THAT, WHERE THEY'LL NEED SOMEBODY FROM ANIMAL CONTROL TO COME OUT. AND THEY MIGHT COME OUT THAT DAY. THEY MIGHT NOT. THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WHICH WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT. I THINK GETTING MORE STAFF SO HE'LL BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN THEY CALL 311, SOMEBODY SHOWS UP TO COME TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBLEM. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. ALL RIGHT. I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM ENERGY THAT THEY WILL SPONSOR THE PET SHELTER GALA THAT COUNCILMAN TURNER HAS. SO. THERE'S OUR FIRST SPONSOR. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN, AND I KNOW THAT ON THE 22ND OF JANUARY, THERE WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING OF THE BEAUMONT ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY BOARD, AND SEVERAL COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO BE THERE. AND HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT KIND OF NUMBER AND PARTICIPATION AS WELL. I THOUGHT IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. ALL RIGHT WITH THAT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSIONS, WE'LL JUST WAIT FOR THAT TO GET BROUGHT BACK TO US. WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA AGENDA. [COUNCIL COMMENTS] OTHER THAN COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS, AND I THINK IT'S COUNCILMAN DARIO'S TIME TO GO FIRST. ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS I WANT TO ONCE AGAIN, THANK MR. HAWKINS FOR BRINGING HIS HIS VISION TO US, FOR SOUTH PARK AND FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND DO WHAT COUNCIL IS SUPPOSED TO DO. WE SUPPOSED TO FIND WAYS TO FIX PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID. IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE, BUT BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK CITY STAFF FOR THEIR WORK DURING THE COLD WEATHER OUTBREAK. YOU KNOW, GETTING FOLKS TO WARMING STATIONS AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY WAS TAKEN CARE OF AND, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THEM WARM AND GETTING THEM FED AND MOVING THEM AROUND WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO. WE MADE IT THROUGH, REALLY, I THINK JUST FROM SEEING OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WE MADE IT THROUGH FAIRLY WELL. AND I THINK SOME OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR STAFF AND EOC WAS PREPARED. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY PREPARE FOR THIS AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. SO I THINK I WANT TO SAY [00:50:06] THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND ALSO BECAUSE SOMEBODY LOOK INTO THE TO THE TEN DAY WATER BILL EXTENSION, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE REQUESTED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET. SO THERE'S A TEN DAY GRACE PERIOD BEFORE THE LATE FEE IS APPLIED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE INQUIRED. IT'S JUST THERE'S NO LATE FEE ASSESSED UNTIL THEY AFTER THE TEN DAYS. IF YOU WANT AN EXTENSION TO PAY, THAT'S SOMETHING SEPARATE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILMAN HILLIARD. MOLLY, CAN CAN I GET A UPDATE ON OUR QUIET ZONES? SO THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE QUIET ZONE PROJECT BEGAN ON JANUARY 12TH. CONTRACTORS COMPLETING THE WORK IN PHASES. SO THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON TWO RAILROAD CROSSINGS AT A TIME. GET THOSE COMPLETELY DONE. THIS IS BEING DONE THIS WAY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AND COORDINATION WITH THE RAILROAD OPERATIONS. AND SO CURRENTLY THEY'RE WORKING ON THE KEITH ROAD AND TODD STREET CROSSINGS. NOW, WITH THE DELAYS DUE TO THE WEATHER AND THIS ONGOING COORDINATION WITH THE RAILROAD TRACK AND THEIR FLAGGING OPERATIONS AND CONTRACTOR AVAILABILITY, THE ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LATE MARCH AND EARLY APRIL. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND AND THIS IS SOMETHING I HAD BROUGHT UP WHEN I HAD FIRST GOTTEN ON COUNCIL, BUT LOOKING INTO A CHARTER CHANGE COMMITTEE, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION AND KIND OF TWEAK THE CHARTER UP A LITTLE BIT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TERM LIMITS ON COUNCIL AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK THAT EACH OF US HAS SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO SEE DONE DIFFERENT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I, I DON'T BELIEVE. DID WE EVEN HAVE DO WE HAVE ANY FATALITIES DUE TO HYPOTHERMIA IN BEAUMONT? I THINK THAT'S A WIN. I THINK THAT OUR CITY DID A GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE OUR LESS FORTUNATE ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THAT WE PROVIDED THEM A ROOF AND AND A WARM PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, THE ANIMAL SHELTER WORKING TO GET THE THE PETS OF THE HOMELESS TAKEN CARE OF. IT'S WAS WAS PRETTY AWESOME. SO WE WE DID WE DID AS A CITY. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, I DEALT WITH DEMI AGAIN THIS PAST WEEK WITH OUR OFFICE AND THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS TRANSITION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN TURNER. THANK YOU. MAYOR. MISTER MANAGER, IF YOU CAN CHECK INTO THE SENIOR CITIZEN WATER BILL BREAKDOWN, MAYBE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KIND OF EXPLAIN OR MAKE SURE OUR SENIORS THAT ARE GETTING THAT DISCOUNT, NOT ONLY THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME, BUT THEY KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT IT ENTAILS. AND WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON IT. OR MAYBE I CAN GET AN EMAIL IF WE CAN'T ANSWER IT TODAY. OR I CAN KIND OF RELATE THAT TO THE RESIDENT. I SEEN THAT. COME ON. SO SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. SO IT DOESN'T SHOW ON THE WATER BILLS AS A NEGATIVE AMOUNT, AS A DISCOUNT BECAUSE IT'S A DISCOUNTED RATE STRUCTURE. THE SENIOR CITIZENS GET. SO IT DOESN'T SHOW LIKE YOU MIGHT EXPECT AS A NEGATIVE, BUT IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT RATE STRUCTURE. OKAY, A DISCOUNTED RATE STRUCTURE. AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT. BUT MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT OUT A VIDEO THROUGH OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT JUST TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT. BECAUSE IF IT'S 300 AND THEY PROBABLY THINK IT'S $10 OFF, IT DOESN'T SHOW. BUT IF THE RATE STRUCTURE IS DIFFERENT, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE KIND OF EDUCATE THEM ON HOW THAT WORKS. SO WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO COMMUNICATE THAT, WHETHER IT'S ON THE BILL ITSELF OR IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO WITH A CAMPAIGN. BUT WE'RE COMMUNICATE THAT HOW IT'S DONE AND WHAT IT HOW MUCH IT IS. THANK YOU, MISTER MANAGER. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THANK YOU, STAFF FOR EXPLAINING THAT AGAIN. WANT TO SHOUT OUT NATHAN HAWKINS FOR PERSISTENCY AND, YOU KNOW GETTING IT DONE. NICE AMOUNT OF YEARS. AND SHOUT OUT TO STATE REP CHRISTIAN MANUEL. BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING. BUT HE WAS PERSISTENT AND HE ACTUALLY DID IT. SO AND MR. KENNEDY, ANDREWS, I CAN'T GO ON HOLIDAY WITHOUT HIM STOPPING ME ABOUT THE ROAD ON HOLLAND AROUND LAMAR UNIVERSITY. LITERALLY. HE WOULD TEXT ME AT LEAST EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR UPDATE AND SEE WE ACTUALLY VOTED ON IT TODAY. YOU KNOW, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES. ANOTHER THING THE STAFF I NOTICED TODAY AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, A LOT OF GRANTS. AND I [00:55:06] JUST WANT TO SAY SHOUT OUT TO OUR GRANT COORDINATOR BECAUSE IT WAS A NICE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I ADDED UP WITH GRANTS. WOULD IT BE ENERGY? HEB, THE FOUNDATION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, THE PORK GRANT, AND I SEEN SOMETHING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECT WITH SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I LOVE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY OUT THERE THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT WE'RE COMPETING FOR. AND IF WE DON'T GO AFTER IT, OTHER PEOPLE WILL GET IT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND LASTLY, YOU KNOW, SHOUT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUE COREY, YOU KNOW, FOR EVEN PROPOSING TO CHANGE AND SHOUT OUT TO THE MAYOR FOR BEING OPEN TO IT, BECAUSE NOW, NOT ONLY DID WE COME UP WITH A CHANGE FOR THE ANIMAL COMMITTEE, BUT WE ACTUALLY GOT A GALA THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF THE GROUND. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND LASTLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO SAY A NAME, BUT JUST BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS NOT EASY. GOT TO HAVE TOUGH SKIN TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. IT AIN'T ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY. YOU KNOW WHO YOU. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL OF THAT. ALL RIGHT, BLOCK OUT THE NOISE AND JUST KEEP DOING THE WORK. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. YEAH, GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED ON THE ALICE KEITH PROJECT. ANYTIME WE CAN UPGRADE OUR CITY WITH STATE DOLLARS, THAT'S THAT'S A WIN FOR EVERYONE. AND WANTED TO RECOGNIZE BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW CANCER FACILITY. I HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUR IT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND IT REALLY IS FIRST CLASS. AND IT'S GOING TO REALLY BENEFIT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS THAT MAYBE NO LONGER HAVE TO TRAVEL TO HOUSTON FOR TREATMENT. AND THIRD, I'LL ECHO COUNCILMAN HILLIARD, I WOULD LIKE TO ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE JUST TO SEE WHERE WE STAND. AND I KNOW WE HAD ONE A FEW YEARS AGO AND WHAT THE TIMING OF CONVENING SUCH COMMITTEE AND AND HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND WHAT THE SCHEDULE TIMELINE WOULD LOOK LIKE. SO ANY UPDATES ON THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN SHERWOOD, CONGRATULATIONS, CLASSMATE. GOOD JOB. WAY TO STAY COMMITTED. WAY TO PERSEVERE. WAY NOT TO GIVE UP. CONGRATULATIONS. WARD THREE. EVERY TIME I GO DOWN THE STREET, I SEE DITCHING PROJECTS UNDERWAY. WE HAVE PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED AS FAR AS SEWAGE DRAINAGE IS CONCERNED. AND HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WE'RE CELEBRATING A HISTORY OF TRADITION AND CULTURE ROOTED IN STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. OUR FIRST COMMUNITY PRAYER WILL BE THIS THURSDAY AT HARVEST FOR THE LOST SOULS, 3395 HIGHLAND, AT 6 P.M. LET'S GET TO WORK. BEAUMONT. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I GUESS AS MY FIRST COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT WE PUT ON THE MARCH 3RD AGENDA ACTION VOTE. FOR THE IMPROVED COMMITTEE FOR THE ANIMAL SHELTER, PLEASE. AND, CARLOS, YOU'RE A LITTLE LATE TO THE MEETING, BUT IT'S OKAY. WE'VE BEEN BRAGGING ON YOU WHILE YOU WERE MAKING THE DRIVE FROM HOUSTON. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. I BELIEVE YOU'VE TAKEN OVER 100 DOGS FROM THE THE BEAUMONT TO TO BE RESCUED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. IS THAT WHAT YOU TOLD US AT THE FIRST MEETING? THAT'S ABOUT MONTHS AGO. THAT'S ABOUT MONTHLY. WOW. WOW. SO WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU'VE GOT A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND ALL KINDS OF GREAT IDEAS. SO I'M GOING TO HIT YOU UP AFTER THIS MEETING ABOUT SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACCEPT THAT. PLEASE, SIR, AND AND HELP US MAKE OUR, OUR SITUATION FOR OUR ANIMALS HERE BETTER IN BEAUMONT. ANYTHING ELSE? OH, AND MY SECOND. MR. TURNER, WILL YOU PLEASE, COUNCILMAN TURNER, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME ON SECOND IN THE ITEM AGENDA FOR MARCH 3RD? SECOND. GREAT, GREAT. AND THEN LASTLY ON THE ON THE WATER BILLS. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ISN'T SO MUCH A SENIOR DISCOUNT AS IT IS. IT WAS A RATE FREEZE, RIGHT? AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WE FROZE THE RATES THAT WERE INCREASING FOR SENIOR ACCOUNTS. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO COSTCO AND YOU HAVE A SENIOR DISCOUNT OF 15%, IT'S YOUR RATE WAS FROZEN BEFORE WE DID INCREASES. YEAH. WE HAD WE HAD THE DISCOUNT FIRST. I THINK WE HAD THE SENIOR DISCOUNT. YES, WE HAD A SENIOR. BUT THEN THIS COUNCIL FROZE RATES. RIGHT. OR THEN WE CAME BACK THIS LAST BUDGET YEAR AND FROZE THE RATES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. OKAY. I THINK THAT [01:00:05] MAYBE IS CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE CONFUSION. SO YES. AND ESPECIALLY CITIZENS LIKE SAMMY PARIGI OUT IN THE AUDIENCE WHO'S ELDERLY AND WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO, WOULD LIKE TO GET HIS WATER RATES FROZEN AND DISCOUNTED IF POSSIBLE. SO I PROMISE YOU, MR. PARIGI, WE WILL WE'LL BE SURE THAT THE WATER BILLS REFLECT YOUR YOUR DISCOUNT MOVING FORWARD. SO WITH THAT SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE VOTED ON AND DISCUSSED TODAY. AND THANK YOU CITY STAFF FOR YOUR GREAT JOB DURING THE FREEZE. WHILE BEAUMONT WAS VERY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ICE AND STAFF DID A GREAT JOB, I BELIEVE ENERGY DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER OUTAGES IN THE BEAUMONT AREA. AT LEAST AT ONE POINT I GOT AN UPDATE THAT THERE WERE ZERO OUTAGES AND STAFF DID A DID A GREAT JOB. SO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YES, SIR. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO UNITED WAY OF BEAUMONT FOR HOSTING AN AMAZING LUNCHEON THIS AFTERNOON AND FOR EXCEEDING THEIR GOAL. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MY BABY BROTHER, JARVIS, ON BEING AWARDED THEIR HEART OF SERVICE OR HEART OF CHAMPION AWARD THIS AFTERNOON. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT CAMPAIGN. THEY WERE ABLE TO EXCEED THEIR FUNDRAISING GOAL, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT THING TO SEE PEOPLE COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVING BACK TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE UNITED WAY THAT POUR BACK INTO THE LESS FORTUNATE. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YES, PUBLIC WORKS. HOWDY. SO TWO QUICK UPDATES, THE SOUTH 23RD STREET ROAD CLOSURE DUE TO THE WEATHER. HAS THAT OPENING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY THE 12TH. AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE CONTRACTOR HAS STARTED PAVING ON PINE STREET. SO LONG SECTION THAT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR PAVING IS UNDERWAY. THANK YOU. I JUST GOT MOVED TO FEBRUARY 12TH, THE SOUTH 23RD STREET. YES, YES ABOUT IT. SO IT WILL NOW REOPEN ON FEBRUARY 12TH. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THE CONTRACTING COMPANY ON FRIDAY, HE SAID THAT FEBRUARY THE 12TH AND AT ANY TIME ARE PROLONGED ROAD CLOSURES THAT ARE GOING TO LAST IN EXCESS OF 48 HOURS. IF YOU GO TO THE PUBLIC WORKS WEBSITE ON THE CITY'S WEB PAGE, THERE IS A LARGE BOX THAT SAYS ROAD CLOSURES. YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT. THERE IS A GOOGLE MAP AND YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY OF THE RED ROAD SEGMENTS, AND IT'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND WHEN THAT ROAD IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPENED. AND SO THAT IS A LIVE MAP. AS WE RECEIVE UPDATES WE UPDATE THAT MAP. THANK YOU MAYOR. CAN I ASK MOLLY. NO. GO AHEAD. NO. NO QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THEY STARTED THE THE ROADWORK DITCHING DRAINAGE PROJECT ON PHELPS ROAD. AND, AND NEIGHBORS SEEM TO BE PRETTY SATISFIED BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING, LIKE ONE DRIVEWAY AT A TIME AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE STREET. AND THEY'RE DOING EACH DRIVEWAY, GETTING IT DONE IN A DAY, AND IT'S MOVING PRETTY FAST. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER BOONE. NOTHING, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. ELLIS. OKAY. REAL QUICK, JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE FIVE DAY CHARETTE THAT'S COMING UP, STARTING ON ON MONDAY. AND REAL QUICK, A CHARETTE IS AN INTERACTIVE MEETING BASICALLY BRINGS IN COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE TO GATHER INPUT PRIOR TO DOING A PLAN OR DRAFTING A PLAN. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO COME OUT. IT'S FIVE DAYS LONG. WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING HERE IN DOWNTOWN, ALL ACROSS TOWN. IF YOU GUYS WANT ANY INFORMATION ON THAT, PLEASE VISIT PLAN BEAUMONT.COM. THANK YOU. OUR CITY CLERK, MR. CITY MANAGER, MAYOR, JUST ON BEHALF OF MY RESCUE RAIDER DOG, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE GALA THAT HE'S GOING TO ATTEND. WE'RE GOING TO DRESS HIM UP. HE REALLY LIKES TO PUT ON CLOTHES AND THIS WILL GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRESS UP. BUT DOES HE REALLY LIKE IT? OR DOES YOUR WIFE, JUST LIKE SHE LIKES TO DRESS HIM UP? OKAY. BUT ANYWAY, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GROUP, BEAUMONT. REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A TOP QUALITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST STARTED. FOR YEARS, BEAUMONT HAS BEEN KNOWN ■AS ONE OF THE BETTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS. EVEN EVEN BEFORE I GOT HERE, I HEARD [01:05:01] ABOUT IT AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I INTERACTED WITH THEM SOME BECAUSE I WAS EMERGENCY COORDINATOR IN ANOTHER COUNTY. SO I COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR WORK. THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY HAVE THINGS LAID OUT AND, YOU KNOW, NOBODY CAN GO AGAINST ANYTHING. BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. AND AGAIN, SHEKINAH NOBLES IS OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB. AND I GET TO OBSERVE. AND IT IS QUITE AN OPERATION ACROSS ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR CITY STAFF ON THE WORK THAT THEY DO, MAKING THINGS GO AS WELL AS THEY DO, AND ALSO CONTINUING TO CHECK ON THOSE THAT ARE MEDICALLY FRAGILE, THAT IT'S REPORTED TO THE THE CITY THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THROUGH STEER. AND I SEE OUR FIRE CHIEF BACK THERE AND IT'S IT'S THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MOST OF THOSE CONTACTS ARE MADE, WHICH CAN BE PRETTY HEAVY LIFTING. BUT IT'S IT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT. AND BUT THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I KNOW I WENT OUT TO THE SHELTERS ON A COUPLE OF THE NIGHTS WHERE IT WAS FREEZING IN BOTH HENRY'S PLACE AS WELL AS HOME SWEET HOME WITH THE SALVATION ARMY, AS WELL AS WARM, WARM HANDS AND WARM HEARTS CHURCH ON 11TH STREET IN BEAUMONT STREET. PETS YOU KNOW, ALL TRUE COLLABORATION AND THEY WORK SO WELL TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW AND CITY STAFF ARE ZIP OPERATING AS WELL AS BEAUMONT POLICE. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE AS WELL. WHEN THEY OBSERVE HOMELESS ON THOSE COLD NIGHTS, THEY REACH OUT TO THEM TO SEE IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B. SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WITH OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY, THERE ARE SOME THAT CHOOSE NOT TO GO INSIDE, WHICH IS CERTAINLY THEIR RIGHT. BUT I KNOW THAT CITY STAFF AND THESE 501 C, THREE S REALLY WORK HARD TO BRING PEOPLE INSIDE, AT LEAST ON THOSE REALLY COLD NIGHTS. AS WELL AS PROVIDING SHELTER FOR THE PETS. WARM HANDS AND WARM HEARTS OPENED UP THEIR SHELTER FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEM. THEY HAD CRATES THERE, BUT BEAUMONT STREET PETS WAS ABLE TO RAISE A GOOD BIT OF MONEY THAT ALSO THEY PUT PEOPLE THAT WERE HOMELESS IN HOTEL ROOMS WITH THEIR PETS FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S NOT SEEN A LOT, BUT A LOT OF GOOD WORKS DONE. A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE AND DO IT BEHIND THE SCENES. A LOT OF DONATIONS WERE MADE TO THOSE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS DURING THAT TIME, TO THE POINT WHERE AT SOME POINT THEY ALMOST WANTED TO SAY, WE GOT SO MUCH. RIGHT NOW IT'S COLD AND WE'RE TRYING TO SORT THROUGH IT, BUT THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD NATHAN HAWKINS. I MET HIM WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND HE HAS BEEN PERSISTENT, BUT HE'S ALSO DONE IT WITH PATIENCE AND HE'S BEEN HE'S BEEN VERY FAITHFUL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEE OTHER PEOPLE DO THIS. IT'S REALLY NICE WHEN IT WORKS OUT. BUT IT WAS THROUGH HIS PATIENCE. I NEVER SAW HIM GET FRUSTRATED THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. AND AND THINGS DID TAKE A WHILE. BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A WIN. AND AND YOU KNOW OUR STATE REPS YOU KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT CHRISTIAN MANUAL CONTINUING TO STEP UP ON THAT. AND AGAIN UNITED WAY THEIR EMPTY BOWLS LUNCHEON WAS TODAY. UNITED WAY DOES SO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK. THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. BUT WITH SOME OF THE GRANT REDUCTIONS THEY'VE STEPPED UP AND OFFERED MORE. AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY CAME IN FIRST ON INDIVIDUALLY, ON RAISING THE MOST MONEY TODAY FOR THE WOMEN IN RED. SO SO WE OWE HER SOME APPLAUSE. AND OUR BROTHER ALSO WAS AN AWARD WINNER. SO THEY WERE KIND OF WALKING AWAY WITH ALL THE PRIZES TODAY. BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS UPSET ABOUT IT. AND WITH THAT, AT * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.