* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:02] GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO TODAY'S CITY OF BEAUMONT PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION. TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, 2026. UH, WE'RE GONNA... IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES, AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GATHER HERE TODAY. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PRESENT THIS MORNING AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES THAT THEY TOUCH. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, AND FOR THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL. I PRAY IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM CRENSHAW, ABSENT. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DURIO, ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS? YES. AND COUNCIL MEMBER SHERWOOD, ABSENT. AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING TODAY, CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND DUTIES OF THE CITY CLERK POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.074 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE PERSONNEL MATTERS. AND NOW WE'RE [PROCLAMATIONS] GONNA MOVE INTO THE SEVEN PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE HAVE. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I ASK THAT YOUR GROUP COME FORWARD AND EVERYBODY WITH YOU IS CERTAINLY WELCOME TO COME FORWARD, UH, AND, UH, RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION AND YOU WILL BE, UH, WE ARE GONNA GET A PHOTOGRAPH, UH, UP AT FIRST AND THEN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ADDRESS, UH, EVERYONE AFTER THAT IF YOU WOULD. AND, UH, THE FIRST WILL BE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE LIFESAVING MISSION OF THE JULIE ROGERS GIFT OF LIFE PROGRAM IN BEAUMONT. AND I SEE ACCEPTING WILL BE MRS. NORMA SAMPSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GIFT OF LIFE, AND ALSO MS. REGINA ROGERS, AS WELL AS A HOST OF OTHERS. SO Y'ALL, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, MA'AM. NICE OF YOU TO WORK INSIDE. IT WAS A BUSY SATURDAY, WHICH IS. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL SCOOT OUT. REGINA, YOU NEED TO SCOOT BACK. SURE. YEAH. THERE WE GO. AND THEN I GOT UNITED IN. UH-HUH. LOVE IT. THIS IS WELL STAGED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL. YOU WANT THIS BACK? YEAH. [00:05:11] NO, Y'ALL HAVE TO STAY HERE. YOU CAN'T GO SIT DOWN. MY, MY, MY GRAND, THE BIG CHEESE HAS TOLD ME WE NEED TO MOVE IT ON FASTER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR, ON BEHALF OF THE GIFT OF LIFE, REGINA ROGERS AND MYSELF AND THIS ILLUSTRIOUS WONDERFUL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WITH ME. THESE ARE TRULY SISTERS AND AMBASSADORS OF OUR CAUSE. WE ARE SO HONORED THAT TWO OF OUR OFFICERS ARE WITH US, OUR PRESIDENT, LINDA DOMINO, AS WELL AS DORA NISBE, WHO'S OUR TREASURER, AND VERY SPECIAL AND NEAR AND DEAR TO OUR HEART ARE TWO ANGELS AMONG US. OF COURSE, THE VIRTUE ALEXANDER, WHO I UNDERSTAND IS Y'ALL'S ANGEL AS WELL. AND THEN OF COURSE, SHERRY PIERCE. SO WE FEEL SO BLESSED AND HONORED THAT WE HAVE THIS LEVEL OF SUPPORT OF OUR INITIATIVE. THIS IS OUR 16TH YEAR TO HOST THE RIBBON RUN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S ABOUT AWARENESS OF BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER. AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR, THAT THIS IS A SILENT DISEASE, OVARIAN CANCER, ONE OF WHICH TOUCHES LIVES THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS. AND CERTAINLY FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACCESS OUR FREE SERVICES THAT INCLUDE OUR BREAST HEALTH SCREENINGS, DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, ULTRASOUNDS AND BIOPSIES. SO WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE FREE LIFE SAVING SERVICES TO WOMEN THROUGHOUT SOUTHEAST TEXAS AT NO COST. SO FROM OUR HEARTS TO YOURS, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US EVERY YEAR AND PROVIDING THIS PLATFORM IN HOPES THAT WE WILL ENCOURAGE ALL WOMEN TO GET SCREENED. EARLY DETECTION IS CERTAINLY THE BEST PROTECTION. AND SO WE ALSO HOPE THAT YOU'RE GONNA LACE UP AND JOIN US IN, ON OCTOBER THE 31ST. IT IS HALLOWEEN, IT'S A MONSTER DASH, COSTUME CONTEST, TRICK OR TREATING, 3.2 MILES. SO YOU CAN WALK, SAUNTER OR RUN, WHATEVER WORKS OUT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE. AND WE JUST APPRECIATE YOU, LOVE YOU, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SUPPORTING OUR CAUSE. CAN YOU MENTION THE OTHER TWO ANGELS? OH. OH, YEAH. WELL, OKAY, I'M SORRY. THE TWO ANGELS THAT ARE NOT WITH US TODAY, UH, THEY COULDN'T COME. IT'S SARAH WELLS, WHOM I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW AS WELL, AND, UH, JANCY KIMBALL. SO THEY WILL BE WITH US THAT, UH, FOR THE RIBBON RUN, AND WE'LL CERTAINLY BE RECOGNIZING THEM AS OUR ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. SO, UH, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SHARE, REGINA? I'LL JUST SAY ONE OTHER WORD. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I ALSO WANNA, WANNA MENTION JULIE RICHARDSON PROCTOR FOR WHOM THE 5K IS NAMED. SHE WAS ONE OF SEVERAL OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS WHO VERY INVOLVED WITH OUR PROGRAM AND SHE PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 53. GEORGIE BOLTS, 54. WE HAVE SO MANY, AND NORMA, YOU CAN NAME A FEW BECAUSE WE WALK NOT ONLY IN TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISEASE, BUT IN HONOR OF THOSE VERY PRECIOUS PEOPLE WHO MEANT SO MUCH, NOT ONLY TO OUR PROGRAM, BUT TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS THAT I'M NOT THINKING OF AT THIS POINT. CAN YOU MENTION A COUPLE MORE THAT - WELL, WE ALSO HAD, EXCUSE ME, NORMA FORAY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN OUR PROGRAM, LOLA CAMPBELL. AND SO THESE ARE REALLY THE FUEL THAT, UH, PUTS THE STEP IN TERMS OF OUR MISSION AND WHAT WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY, IN ADDITION TO THE 22 WOMEN, UH, LAST YEAR THAT WERE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AND THE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OUR FREE SCREENING. SO, UH, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE SUPPORT, FOR GIVING US THIS PLATFORM TO ENHANCE AWARENESS AND FURTHER THE LIFE SAVING SERVICES. WE JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR THE MESSAGE AND CALL US. WE DO PROVIDE FREE SCREENINGS WITH OUR PARTNER, BAPTIST HOSPITALS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SO EVERY MONTH WE'RE AT THEIR CAMPUSES IN BEAUMONT AND ORANGE, AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED ANOTHER, UH, PRESENCE IN PORT ARTHUR THAT WILL BE MAKING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ON OCTOBER THE 15TH. SO THIS EXTENSION OF BASICALLY BRINGING HEALTH CLOSER TO HOME IS WHAT THE GIFT OF LIFE IS ABOUT THROUGHOUT OUR SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BELIEVING IN US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. AND NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 9TH, 2026 AS SOUTHEAST TEXAS ENERGY DAY, AND ACCEPTING WILL BE DR. JOBY JOHN, DEAN OF LAMAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS. COME ON UP. AND ANYBODY ELSE WITH YOU? [00:10:41] YOU NEED TO GET ANOTHER ONE? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND Y'ALL FEEL FREE TO GO TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR WEST AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND, UH, ADMINISTRATORS OF THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR, UH, HONORING, UH, THE DAY THAT WE, UH, WANNA CALL SOUTHEAST TEXAS ENERGY DAY AND FOR ACCEPTING OUR PETITION AND ENDORSING IT. UM, I WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON HOW THIS CAME ABOUT. UM, THIS YEAR IN JANUARY, UH, WE GOT APPROVED A PROGRAM FOR THE DOCTORATE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT LAMAR UNIVERSITY. AND IT IS THE 125TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SPINDLE TOP. AND WE WERE ONE WEEK AWAY FROM THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY TO THE DAY TO GET THE PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE TEXAS STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD. AFTER GOING THROUGH A YEAR LONG PROCESS OF GETTING IT APPROVED AT VARIOUS LEVELS WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE, UH, STATE BOARD OF REGENTS, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND THEN THE TEXAS STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD AFTER AN EXTERNAL REVIEW OF MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION. UH, AND AS A DOCTORATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ENERGY MANAGEMENT, THIS IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD, ACCREDITED BY OUR ACCREDITATION BODY. AND IT CELEBRATES ALL OF THE YEARS THAT LAMAR UNIVERSITY HAS ALSO BEEN IN EXISTENCE. UM, THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING THIS YEAR. UH, AND EVERY YEAR IN BETWEEN, WE HAVE PROVIDED, UH, QUALIFIED GRADUATES FOR THE WORKFORCE IN THIS AREA. AND THAT, UH, PRIMARILY IS TO THE ENERGY SECTOR. AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ENERGY CORRIDOR, AND WE NEEDED TO PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND AND CELEBRATE ALL THESE YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT, UH, THE CITY AND THE AREA HAS HAD. AND WE WILL DO THIS EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD. ON THE SECOND FRIDAY OF OCTOBER, WE PLAN TO HAVE A FULL DAY CONFERENCE WHERE WE INVITE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE ACADEME, ACADEMIC, UH, S - AREAS IN, IN EVERY DISCIPLINE THAT TOUCHES ENERGY, WHICH IS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE, AT ANY UNIVERSITY. AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, ENERGY POLICY, SOCIOLOGY, UH, GEOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, AND OF COURSE, BUSINESS. AND WE HOPE TO HOST, UM, MASTER'S THESIS CANDIDATES FROM AROUND THE STATE, AS WELL AS PHD DISSERTATION PROPOSALS THAT ARE READY TO BE PRESENTED. AND WE, WE WILL ALSO BE INVITING NEIGHBORING STATES FROM NEW MEXICO, UH, OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, AND, AND THEY, THESE WILL BE COMPETITIVE SESSIONS, AND WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THIS WILL DRAW FOLKS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EVENTUALLY. AND EVERY YEAR, WE'LL CELEBRATE THIS WITH A DAY LONG CONFERENCE. WE'LL HAVE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND WE'LL HAVE COMPANIES REPRESENTED THIS YEAR, UH, COMING FRIDAY, THIS WEEK. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE SPONSORED BY ENTERGY AND, UH, PORT ARTHUR LNG AND, UH, THE CENTER FOR MIDSTREAM, UH, MANAGEMENT IN OUR UNIVERSITY. AND WE'LL BE, UM, DECLARING THE PROCLAMATION FOR, AS A NEWS MEDIA EVENT. AND WE WILL MENTION, OF COURSE, THAT BEAUMONT CITY AND CITY COUNCIL HAS, UH, ALSO APPROVED THIS, UH, ENERGY DAY. WE HAD ALSO HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE OF GETTING IT ENDORSED BY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT AS WELL. SO, UH, BOTH BEAUMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE WELL PLACED AND REPRESENTED, UH, THIS WEEK. AND ON SATURDAY, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST COHORT OF DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM PARTICIPATE IN A DAY-LONG, UH, MEETING WITH, UH, PRESENTATIONS [00:15:01] AND SPEAKERS, AND THAT WILL BE REPLICATED EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD. AND THIS, AS YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO PLACE US IN, IN SOME SORT OF MEDIA ATTENTION THAT'S GOING TO DESERVE ITLY ATTRACT ATTENTION TO BEAUMONT AND THIS AREA, BECAUSE WE ARE THE PIONEERS OF ENERGY, AND NOBODY ELSE CAN CLAIM THAT POSITION BUT US. AND IF WE DIDN'T DO IT, SHAME ON US. SO FROM THIS WEEK ONWARDS, THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT BEAUMONT CONTINUES TO CELEBRATE ALL OF THESE SUCCESSES THAT IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. AND, UM, YOU ALL ARE COMPLETELY AWARE, I'M SURE, WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR ENERGY IS GOING TO, UH, DEMAND AS MUCH AS THE ENERGY NEEDED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF JAPAN IN JUST ONE YEAR. AND EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD, THEY EXPECT UNTIL 2030 AND BEYOND, THAT'S THE AMOUNT, AND IT'S GOING TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. AND THAT'S JUST THE ENERGY NEEDED FOR DATA CENTERS IN THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UM, ERA THAT WE'RE GETTING INTO. SO IF ANYTHING, ENERGY IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE FRONT CENTER GOING FORWARD. AND WE ARE GOING TO CLAIM THE STAKE IN THE GROUND AND SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH ENERGY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT BEAUMONT AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SO THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE OUR FIRE CHIEF, UH, EARL WHITE WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS WITH HIM. THANK YOU. Y'ALL COME FORWARD. THERE HE IS. MORNING. YES, SIR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU KNOW THE DRILL. COME ON. RIGHT HERE. IN ONE, TWO, THREE. GOOD MORNING. I'M GONNA LET OUR FIRE MUSEUM CURATOR SPEAK, UH, DANA EDGAR FIRST, AND THEN I'LL ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. WELL, I JUST WANNA THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS WELL AS CITY STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING OUT THIS MORNING. UM, IT'S FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. IT'S THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. IT'S OUR BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR. UM, THE MUSEUM IS REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN TOURS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH. ON AVERAGE, WE USUALLY SEE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 14 TO 16,000 KIDS COME THROUGH OUR DOORS TO WHERE WE TEACH ON FIRE EDUCATION, SAFETY TIPS, AS WELL AS MEETING OUR FIREMEN. UM, THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD, UM, OUR FIRE SAFETY PREVENTION, UM, CELEBRATION, WHICH IS OUR KICKOFF PARTY FOR FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. IT WAS A FIRE FESTIVAL. UM, RAIN OR SHINE. WE'RE HAPPY THAT THE WEATHER HELD OUT FOR US. WE'RE VERY BLESSED. UM, BUT WE SAW A BIG CROWD AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT EVERYBODY CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE US. UM, THIS IS KIND OF OUR MISSION WHERE WE CELEBRATE FIRE SAFETY, WHERE WE TEACH OUR KIDS DIFFERENT SAFETY TIPS IN A FUN WAY AND BE ABLE TO MEET OUR FIREMEN AND JUST ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE DAY. SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CHIEF WHITE. THANKS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CAPTAIN BARNES AND CAPTAIN BLAND. THEY'RE PART OF OUR FIRE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION, UH, OFFICE. THEY HELP IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. THIS YEAR'S STEM FIRE PREVENTION IS CHARGING TO FIRE PREVENTION. AND THINGS THAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT, CHARGING OUR CELL PHONES, CHARGING OUR SCOOTERS, NUMEROUS SCOOTERS THAT YOU SEE AROUND THE CITY AND THE LITHIUM-ION CARS. WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THEY'RE A TOOL THAT MAKES OUR LIFE GREAT, BUT THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS TO OVERCHARGE. SO LET'S BE AWARE WHEN WE'RE CHARGING OUR PHONES, OUR SCOOTERS AND OUR CARS AND CHARGING THE FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK Y'ALL. NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH AS INTERNATIONAL INFECTION PREVENTION WEEK. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE CARRIE SINGLETON WITH THE INFECTION PREVENTION LEAD FOR CHRISTUS, UH, HEALTH AND OTHERS. SO Y'ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD. [00:21:19] WE'VE GOT PLENTY FOR THE AUDIENCE. RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. SO ON BEHALF OF THE INFECTION PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH, UM, 2026 AS, UM, IP WEEK. UM, I HAVE MY FEARLESS LEADER HERE, MARY GOODWIN OF OUR QUALITY DEPARTMENT, RACHEL HENLEY, UM, A FELLOW INFECTION PREVENTIONIST. MARY MCGINNIS WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US. UM, WE REPRESENT THE CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS IP UNIT. UM, INFECTION PREVENTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROOTED IN SCIENCE, VIGILANCE, AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND OUR COMMUNITIES. AS HEALTHCARE PRACTICES, RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, OUR ROLE REMAINS CONSTANT, AND THAT IS TO FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE, ADAPT WHEN THE SCIENCE CALLS FOR CHANGE, AND ADVOCATE FOR PRACTICES THAT KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THIS RECOGNITION REMINDS US THAT INFECTION PREVENTION IS NOT SIMPLY A DEPARTMENT OR A WEEK IN THE CALENDAR. IT'S A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SAFE, HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE. UM, THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE IMPORTANT, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT WORK OF INFECTION PREVENTIONISTS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THEY HAVE THESE INDIVIDUAL PURELL SINGLES, WHICH WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, SO THAT CREATED... TRUE. THESE ARE PRETTY COOL. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OC- OCTOBER AS NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, THE 2026 WHITE CANE WALK ON VALEN. AND, UH, ACCEPTING WILL BE MR. UH, KENNETH SIMEON, SENIOR PRESIDENT WITH THE BEAUMONT AREA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, THREE. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, MAYOR, UH, WEST AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HELPING US TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY. 62 YEARS AGO ON THIS DAY, OCTOBER, UH, 6TH, 1964, PRESIDENT LINDA B. JOHNSON SIGNED INTO LAW, [00:25:01] UH, THROUGH A PROCLAMATION THAT THERE WILL BE, UH, ON OCTOBER 15TH OF EVERY YEAR, WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY FOR THE BLIND WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED, ACKNOWLEDGED. AND SO THIS WILL BE THE 62ND YEAR THAT AROUND THE NATION, WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY WALKS WILL TAKE PLACE IN MOSTLY EVERY CITY AROUND THE NATION. AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATING THOSE WHO ARE DRIVING IN CASE YOU SEE SOMEONE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET WITH A WHITE CANE, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THEY ARE, THEY ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION, AND THEY MAY NEED YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER THEM AS A PEDESTRIAN, UH, CROSSING THE STREETS. AND SO WE'LL BE WALKING ON OCTOBER 15TH. WE'LL BE MEETING AT, UM, I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT, JASON'S DELI ON DOWLING ROAD TO BEGIN OUR WALK UP DOWLING ROAD AND BACK AND HAVE LUNCH THERE. BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND WE'LL HAVE A, A EDUCATION SEGMENT ONCE WE GET BACK TO THE RESTAURANT. BUT EVERY YEAR IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION, UH, LIVE HERE AND WE ARE ACTIVE AND WE WANT TO BE IN CONNECTION WITH EVERYONE ELSE. SO WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING US AND, UH, CELE - HELPING US TO CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL DAY. OKAY. NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMA- PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND COMMEMORATING FAMILY SERVICES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN THEIR NEW BUILDING. UH, ACCEPTING WILL BE, UH, MS. LATOYA YOUNG WITH FAMILY SERVICES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS. AND WELL, YEAH, WE GOT THE EXECUTIVE DIR - WE GOT, WE GOT A WHOLE HOST. YES. THERE YOU GO, DEBORAH MAY. YEAH. DEBORAH, GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU'VE NEVER GONE. NEVER GONE. MAYBE SHIFT THIS WAY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE. JUST LET'S GO. GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SCOOT IN. OKAY, PERFECT. RIGHT THERE. LEGS GOOD. READY? AND ONE, TWO, THREE. OH MY GOODNESS. ON BEHALF OF FAMILY SERVICES OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK FOR HAVING US TODAY, OTHER DIRECTORS PRESENT AND STAFF. UM, WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEBORAH TOMOV, HER ASSISTANT MS. KUSHI LAKEL, AND OUR BOARD MEMBER, FIRE CHIEF WHITE. UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW OR DON'T KNOW, WE EDUCATE AND STRENGTHEN AND EMPOWER FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED SOME TYPE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SO AS WE CELEBRATE EVERYTHING FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT US IN OUR 10-DAY CALL TO ACTION, WHICH WILL LAUNCH AFTER OUR MONTHLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE MEETING ON OCTOBER THE 20TH FOR A 10-DAY LEAD IN PURPLE, SO WE CAN TOGGLE BETWEEN THE PINK AND THE PURPLE THIS MONTH. AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE LEFT YOU GUYS WITH SOME PURPLE PENS, AND WE HAVE A CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERY DAY. YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON OUR WEBSITE, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO P, TO PARTNER WITH US. UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR ONE YEAR IN OUR NEW FACILITY HERE IN BEAUMONT, WHICH HAS TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A CONFIDENTIAL TO A SECURED FACILITY SO PEOPLE KNOW WHERE WE ARE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE GIFTED THE COMMUNITY WITH A POLICE SUBSTATION IN THAT COMMUNITY TO PROTECT NOT ONLY OUR SHELTER RESIDENTS, OUR NON-RESIDENTIALS, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY. WE, UH, THERE AT OUR NEW FACILITY IN BEAUMONT, WE CAN HOUSE 140 APPROXIMATELY, AND IN OUR CONFIDENTIAL FACILITY IN JASPER, WE CAN HOUSE 20. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR RESIDENTIAL SHELTERS, BUT WE ALSO WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A NON-RESIDENTIAL SIDE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE THREE THAT FITS OUR MISSION CAN COME IN FOR MORE OF A OUTPATIENT COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, AND ANY OTHER SERVICES AND RESOURCES WITH OUR CASE MANAGERS. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT AS WELL. AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR BIP, OUR BATTERED INTERVENTION PREVENTION PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN CLASSES. SOME ARE COURT MANDATED, SOME ARE NOT. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATOR THAT CAN GO OUT AND SPEAK TO ANYONE ABOUT WHAT DV IS, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT DOES SEXUAL ABUSE LOOK LIKE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AS WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TONIGHT. SHE WILL BE EDUCATING, [00:30:01] UM, WITH THE DELTA SIGMA THETAS THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY, SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. IT IS A PUBLIC EVENT HOSTED BY DELTA SIGMA THETA. SO IF YOU NEED US FOR ANY SERVICES, WE INVITE YOU TO GIVE US A CALL. WE HAVE A TWENTY FOUR SEVEN HOTLINE FOR INTAKE, AND WE ARE NOT ONLY JUST EMPOWERING AND STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUALS, WE ARE DOING COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S A MAN, A WOMAN, OR A CHILD. UM, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN PARTNER WITH US AND YOU CAN VISIT US AT WESTRENGTHENFAMILIES.ORG. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE INVITE YOU TO LEAD IN PURPLE IN OUR 20-DAY CALL TO ACTION, UM, WHAT HAPPENS BEYOND THE CALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SALVATION ARMY SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND ACCEPTING WILL BE, UH, JESSICA KRAMER, REGIONAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND, UH, HERE WITH SALVATION ARMY. THANK YOU. JESSICA, DO YOU WANT ME TO GET ONE WITH YOUR CAMERA TOO? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, RIGHT HERE REAL QUICK. AND THREE, TWO, ONE. OKAY. OKAY, ONE THIS WAY. OKAY, GOOD. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. UM, I'M JESSICA KRAMER. I'M THE REGIONAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, AND WE ARE VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE IN THAT THE COUNCIL, UM, AND MAYOR DECIDED TO BRING NOTICE TO US BEING PRESENT HERE IN BEAUMONT FOR 125 YEARS. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, CAPTAIN KENNY COULD NOT BE PRESENT BECAUSE OF A SITU - UNFORESEEN SITUATION AT THE SHELTER, ALTHOUGH HE MAY POP IN. UM, SO IF YOU SEE HIM COME IN BEHIND ME, JUST LET ME KNOW. ALL RIGHT. UM, YES. SO, UH, FIRST OFF, WHAT AN AMAZING DAY TO SEE ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GIVING BACK TO BEAUMONT AND THE COMMUNITY HERE. UM, THE COMMUNITY, THE CITY IS WHAT REALLY DRIVES US AS NONPROFITS TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING. UM, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR Y'ALL. UM, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN BEAUMONT FOR 125 YEARS, AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, TALK TO YOU ABOUT TWO OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, ALTHOUGH WE OFFER QUITE A BIT. UM, WE DO HAVE A HOME SWEET HOME SHELTER HERE WHERE WE HELP HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING TO, UM, GET THEMSELVES OUT OF THAT SITUATION. WE BRING HOPE TO INDIVIDUALS, UM, WHEN THEY'RE HOPELESS. AND WE DON'T TRY TO BANDAID THE SITUATION. WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME INTO OUR SHELTER, THEY MEET WITH A CASE MANAGER, THEY SET GOALS FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY WORK A PLAN. UM, THEY DO THAT FOR 30 DAYS, AND THEN THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN IS ASSESSED. AND IF THEY ARE STILL WORKING THEIR PLAN, THEN IT RE - ALLOWS THEM TO STAY FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS. THAT CONTINUES UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM INTO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO GET A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD. UM, SO OUR SHELTER IS OPEN FROM 1:00 PM TO 7:30 AM, AND WE OFFER BREAKFAST AS WELL AS DINNER, NOT JUST TO INDIVIDUALS AT OUR SHELTER, BUT ALSO COMMUNITY MEALS AS WELL FOR ANYONE WHO MAY NEED TO COME IN AND JUST GET A HOT MEAL. UM, AND WE, AT OUR SHELTER, WE HAVE 24 BEDS FOR MEN, 16 FOR FEMALES, AND FOUR FOR FAMILIES. UH, WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT COMES TO US IS SERVED, WHETHER WE CAN PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THEM OR NOT. UM, BUT OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO SET THEM UP, REBUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE, UM, AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THEM STILL AND THAT WE'RE HERE TO HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY. UM, SO THAT IS A SERVICE, UH, THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR 125 YEARS, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT MOVING FORWARD. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CENTER OF HOPE, RED SHIELD CENTER OF HOPE. IT IS OUR YOUTH PROGRAM WHERE WE HELP AT-RISK YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMERTIME. UM, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LIGHTS ON AFTER DARK THIS YEAR NATIONALLY, AND OUR FALL FESTIVAL WILL BE ON, I WANNA SAY, OCTOBER 22ND AT 5:30, AND THAT WILL BE OPEN NOT JUST TO THE FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY. UM, OUR CORE BUILDING IS LOCATED OFF OF I-10, UM, AND OUR SHELTER IS LOCATED AT 1094 MCFADDEN. IN CASE YOU'RE UNAWARE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US IF ANYBODY COMES TO YOU WITH A NEED. [00:35:01] UH, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY, FOR YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR STAFF, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY MOST OF ALL, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 125 YEARS BECAUSE OF THEM, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT MOVING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY [EXECUTIVE SESSION] MUCH. AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GONNA RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THIS MORNING. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.