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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPRIL 11, 20033OINT SPECIAL MEETING - April 11, 2003 I. ROLL CALL, 1'NVOCATt'ON & PLEDGE The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Friday, April 11, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Oscar G. Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Tom Henderson; Councilmembers Craig Hannah, Tom Gillam, IlI., Rev. Ronnie Linden, Robert A. Bowers and Michael "Shane" Sinegal; City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Evangeline Green and City Attorney Mark T. Sokolow. The invocation was given by Councilmember Bowers followed by the pledge to the flag. The Section 4A Economic Development Corporation of the City of Port Arthur joined the City Council in Special Session with the following members present: EDC Directors Martin Flood, Paula Richardson, Allen ~1. Watson, Sr.; Executive Director Ike Mills; EDC Attorney Jim Wimberly and EDC Secretary Bobby Mitchell. Mayor Ortiz and EDC Director Martin Flood filed a "Conflict of Interest" document with the City Secretary and recused themselves from discussion on Section 551.087. Mayor Pro Tem Henderson took the chair to preside over the meeting. I'1'. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTtVE SESSION) Closed Meetinq: Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Economic Incentives As It Pertains To Healthcare And Commercial Projects. The City Council along with the Section 4A Economic Development Corporation Directors recessed their meeting at 11:10 a.m. to consider the above-mentioned topic, and reconvened their meeting at 12:28 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tern Henderson; Councilmembers Hannah, Gillam, Linden, Bowers, Chaisson and Sinegal; City Manager Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Green and City Attorney Sokolow and EDC Directors Flood, Richardson, Hathaway and Watson; Executive Director Mills, EDC Attorney Wimberly and EDC Secretary Bobby Mitchell. Councilmember Rose M. Chaisson arrived at the meeting at 11:10 a.m. at the commencement of the Executive Session. EDC Director _1. B. Hathaway arrived during the Executive Session at approximately 11:15 a.m. ITEM REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION A. Resolution (1) P.R. No. 12133 - A Resolution Authorizing The Executive Director Of The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation To Execute A Design/Builder Agreement, Upon Approval From The Board Of Directors Of The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation. Mayor Ortiz and EDC Director Martin Flood recused themselves from discussion or action regarding Proposed Resolution No. 12133. Mayor Pro Tem Henderson took the chair to preside over the meeting. The City Attorney read the following language added to Proposed Resolution No. 12133 into the record: (i) To the greatest extent feasible, opportunities for training and employment arising in connection with the planning and carrying out of any project assisted with EDC funds provided under this Agreement be given to City of Port Arthur residents, including but not limited to, minorities; and (ii) To the greatest extent feasible, contracts for work to be performed in connection with any such project be awaroeo to City residents, including, but not limited to, minorities ancJ businesses, including, but not limited to, individuals or firms doing business in the field of planning, consulting, design, architecture, building construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, or repair, which are located in or owned in substantial part by persons residing in the City of Port Arthur; and The Parties shall notify the EDC of employment opportunities as to give the EDC reasonable opportunity to forward names and resumes of City of Port Arthur residents, including, but not limited to, minorities; and (iv) The Parties sha advertise in the Port Arthur News as to all contracting employment ano/or training opportunities. Also, a "siamese connection" would be needed on the fire line. We are making the final changes in the ~AS]S and Design/Build Contracts. The motion was made by EDC Director Richardson and seconded by EDC Director Hathaway that Proposed Resolution No. 12133 be adopted with the added language read into the record by City Attorney Sokolow. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12133: EDC Director Richardson EDC Director Hathaway EDC Director Watson -Yes~ "Yes" "Yes" The Section 4A Economic Development Corporation adopted proposed Resolution No. 12133. EDC Executive Director Ike Hills stated his appreciation to the EDC Board and City Council as well as staff for their combined efforts to make the project a reality and expressed his goals for the utilization of local citizens, businesses and contractors within the City of Port Arthur to complete that purpose. Mayor Pro Tern Henderson introduced Proposed Resolution No. 12133. The motion was made by Councilmember Linden and seconded by Councilmember Gillam that Proposed Resolution No. 12133 be adopted with the added language read into the record by City Attorney Sokolow. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12133: City Council Minutes April 11, 2003 2 Councilmember Bowers Councilmember Chaisson Councilmember Gillam Councilmember Hannah Councilmember Linden Councilmember Sinegal Mayor Pro Tem Henderson "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" Prooosed Resolution No. 12133 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 03-083. The caption of Resolution No. 03-083 reads as follows: RESOLUTI'ON NO. 03-083 A RESOLUTI'ON AUTHORi'ZI'NG THE EXECUTZVE DI'RECTOR OF THE CZTY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTZON 4A ECONOMTC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATTON TO EXECUTE A DESI~GN/BUZLDER AGREEMENT, UPON APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD OF DI'RECTORS OF THE CiTY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTI'ON 4A ECONOMI'C DEVELOPMENT CORPORATI'ON. TV. DI'SCUSSZON AND RECEPTZON Discussion Regarding ZAS[S And Williams And RAO, L.P. Announcement Mayor Ortiz returned to the chair and presided over the meeting. Hayor Ortiz made the following statement: There's no doubt in my mind, and ! hope in yours that this is a great historica day for the City of Port Arthur. This project that is going to come in the City of Port Arthur--most probably we'll never see another project like that for at least the next twenty-years possibly. And so we're very thankful to a lot of people. [ want to thank Hr. Hills and his EDC Board (and) his attorney. Thank our City Council (and) our attorney because this has really been an attorney thing. These guys have spent so much time together I think they're thinking about e~oping. They've been together so much tl~e last few days--or divorcing one of the two. But ] want to tell you that there's been a tremendous effort by the EDC Board and by the City Council. !t has been a long hard struggle. But T think when people get together and they out their heads together and they decide that a project such as this--that it's going to be so beneficial to our people--and ! say that because we're having an aging popu ation nere in the City of Port Arthur. And when you're talking about bringing n a medical center and a hospital that's going to meet the needs of the people here in the City of Port Arthur that's a great advantage that this city's go~ng to have. And so, !'m going to adjourn this meeting now and then /'m going to come down below to the podium. ! have a letter to read from Senator 3anek and then I'm going to invite the man that is probably the most imoortant man to the City of Port Arthur...Mr. David White. City Council Minutes April l l. 2003 3 Councilmember Gillam made the following statement: Mayor, again I want to reiterate from the other night, ! want to thank you Mayor, the City Flanager, Ike Mills with the EDC, and City Attorney and Hr. Wimberly and the to the EDC Board, and to the entire City Council, and to the citizens of Port Arthur this is a great day for the citizens of Port Arthur .... ! kind of differ with the terminology that it was a struggle it was relatively gratifying. That we were able to go out and negotiate a project of this magnitude to come to the City of Port Arthur. So again, 1' want to express my gratitude to the citizens of Port Arthur for such a project and the opportunity that this is going to afford not only for the citizens of Port Arthur but for the businesses of Port Arthur. That's the most gratifying part that we're stimulating economic growth by enhancing our small business climate within the confines of our city. So again, ! want to say thank you Council and EDC for the citizens of Port Arthur. Councilmember Sinegal made the following statement: Mayor, T'd like to say when 1' came on Council back in May, this is what ! envisioned--the EDC, the Council, the citizens, the hospital--citizens, ! would encourage all the employees that are here to move back to Port Arthur if you're not living here--because we're on the move and this is going to be an exciting time for the City of Port Arthur and this is what T envisioned when ! came on the Council. ! want to say thank you to the Council and the EDC and all those involved--Mr. Wimberly and Hr. Sokolow and Mr. Fitzgibbons. Mayor Pro Tem Henderson made the following statement: Mayor, ! just wanted thank all the people in attendance for being patient with us. ! know it seemed like we were doing an awful lot of foot-dragging but we wanted to be sure that we understood--we had the understanding of this contract that we should have in order to vote intelligently on it. And we feel like that we have done the very best that we could here. But again we do thank you for your patience. ZX. ADIOURNMENT OF MEETI'NG Upon the motion of Councilmember Gillam, seconded by Councilmember Sinegal and carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their meeting at 12:38 p.m. Upon the motion of EDC Director Richardson, seconded by EDC Director Hathaway and carried unanimously, the Section 4A Economic Development Corporation also adjourned. 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. NAYOR City Council Minutes April 11, 2003 4 A~E~: CITY SECRETARY END OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD April 11, 2003 APPROVED: City Council Minutes April 11. 2003 5