HomeMy WebLinkAbout(5) OCTOBER 27, 2008 SPECIAL MEETINGSPECIAL MEETING -October 27, 2008
I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL
Councilmember Henderson gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the 1=1ag.
The Port Arthur City Council met in Special Session on Tuesday, October 27, 2008 at
1:09 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present:
Mayor Deloris "Bobbie" Prince; Mayor Pro Tem Jack Chatman, Jr., Councilrriember's
Elizabeth °Liz" Segler, Morris Albright, III, Mairtin Flood, John Beard, Jr., Robert E. ~~Bob"
Williamson, Dawana Kay Wise and Thomas J. "Tom" Henderson; City Manager Steve
Fitzgibbons, Acting City Secretary Terri Hanks and City Attorney Mark T. Sokolovv.
II. *CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION
Closed Meetin4:
(1) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives
For Commercial, Residential, And Industrial Business
Prospects
(2) Section 551.072 Government Code - To Discuss The Value
Of Land In The City's ET]
The City Council recessed their meeting at 1.:11 p.m. to meet in Executive Session to
consider the above-mentioned topics, and reconvened their meeting at 2:15 p.m. with
the following members present: Mayor Prince; Mayor Pro Tem Chatman,
Councilmember's Segler, Albright, Flood, Beard, Williamson, Wise and Henderson; City
Manager Fitzgibbons, Acting City Secretary Hanks and City Attorney Sokolow.
III. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) Report As To Existing "In Lieu Of Tax" Agreements And
Prospective "In Lieu Of Tax" Agreements
Former Senator Carl Parker, 3838 ChandellE~, appeared before the City Council as a
legal representative for Valero. Mr. Parker spoke on the misconceptions related to
people in this area not getting jobs and industrial employment opportunities. He
expressed a need to attract new jobs here far the future. Mr. Parker stated that there
is a need to fix the unemployment by raising awareness community wide.
Mr. Parker announced that industry represE~ntatives and Lamar State College would
collaborate to finance and participate in a training institute. He stated that the training
would assist citizens in the submittal of employment applications and that the group
would fund the drug screens, and background and security clearances. Mr. Parker
commented that industry wishes to collaborate with the city to create a Joint Task
Force.
Mr. Parker hoped that everything that has been said would be taken into consideration.
He requested consideration in approving a policy that would be set at a reasonable level
for everyone and that City Council would sho~nr concern regarding their relationship with
industry. He noted that industry is watching ~Nhat happens here today.
Total Representative Pat Avery appeared be~Fore the City Council to address industrial
employment concerns. She commented that she is in the process of hiring 40 operators
and that she received 876 applications for' those 40 jobs. Ms. Avery statted that
approximately 400 of the applicants are qualified. The applicants have college hours,
technical degrees, and experience in the oil refining industry. She noted that after
testing had been completed, the applicant number was approximately 273, and of those
applicants, 151 will be invited to be interviewed.
Ms. Avery stated that they do not have the same requirements as other businesses.
She noted that when TOTAL hires a new employee, they usually receive discrimination
or EEOC claims from applicants who are not hired based on race, age, religion, or
national origin.
Ms. Avery commented that it is a competitive employment hiring process and TOTAL
makes every effort to hire employees that: represent the entire community. She
emphasized that it takes six months from thE~ time they start the hiring process to the
time the employee begins their employment. She stated that TOTAL includes a variety
of aspects in the hiring process and that it is Extremely competitive.
Ms. Avery acknowledged that TOTAL included community religious leaders, local high
schools and students from Lamar Institute of Technology in their efforts to make
citizens aware of employment opportunitiesc in the refinery. Ms. Avery extended
invitations for anyone to look at their hiring process documentation. She exclaimed that
the refineries are not making any money right: now.
Former Senator Parker stated that he thinks that industry would be willing to <~gree to
contract language, within legal limits, that is <_~pecific to Port Arthur as it relates ito hiring
professional, contracting and vending services. Mr. Parker confirmed that he vvas only
speaking as a representative for Valero.
Mr. Parker stated that management is willing to adjust contracts into smaller segments
and that they would direct their major cointractors to make efforts in segmenting
contracts to be bid separately. He encouraged City Councilmembers to maximize the
opportunity of the Lamar State President (Dr. Sam Monroe) in providing a 30-day
course to obtain industrial certification and with industry willing to fund the employment
endeavor.
II. *CLOSED MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION
Closed Meeting:
(1) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives
For Commercial, Residential, And Industrial Business
Prospects
(2) Section 551.072 Government Code - To Discuss The Value
Of Land In The City's ET7
The City Council recessed their meeting at 3:46 p.m. to meet in Executive Session to
consider the above-mentioned topics, and reconvened their meeting at 4:38 p.m. with
the following members present: Mayor Prince; Mayor Pro Tem Chatman,
Councilmember's Segler, Albright, Flood, Beard, Williamson, Wise and Henderson; City
Manager Fitzgibbons, Acting Assistant City Secretary Bellard and City Attorney S~okolow.
Acting Assistant City Secretary Sherri Bellard replaced Acting City Secretary Hanks
during the Executive Session at 4:15 p.m.
City Attorney Sokolov read the following motiion into the record:
Regarding companies participating with Lamar State College and a Joint Task Force as
to hire procure, retain and solicit Port Arthur residents, contractors, subcontractors,
vendors and professionals; the industrial .agreement will be 75% for one (1) year,
otherwise, it will be 82.5%; during the term of the agreement their progress will be
monitored.
The companies will immediately begin work with Lamar State College and the city to
form the Joint Task Force; and will work with Lamar State College to form the
programs. The companies will also work with SBE (Small Business Enterprise) and
historically under utilized businesses to increase their participation.
City Council Minutes -Special Meeting Page 2
October 27, 2008
A motion was made by Councilmember Wise, seconded by Councilmember Williamson
and unanimously carried, authorizing the City Manager and the City Attorney to
negotiate one (1) year industrial agreements at 82.5% for existing properties and then
analyze the hiring practices and utilization oaf Port Arthur businesses of the company
prior to entering into new industrial district agreements.
The following roll call vote was taken on the above motion:
Councilmember Albright
Councilmember Beard
Mayor Pro Tem Chatman
Councilmember Flood
Councilmember Henderson
Councilmember Segler•
Councilmember Williamson
Councilmember Wise
Mayor Prince
IV. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Yes"
Upon the motion by Councilmember Williamson, seconded by Councilmember V'Jise and
unanimously carried, the City Council adjourned their meeting at ~i:50 p.m.
An audio-tape of this meeting is on file in the office of the City Secretary and is made a
part of the official minutes of this meeting.
MAYOR DELORIS "BOBBIE" PRINCE
ATTEST:
ACTING CITY SECRETARY TERRI HANKS
END OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD OCTOBER 27, 2008.
APPROVED:
City Council Minutes -Special Meeting Page 3
October 27, 2008