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Home My WebLink About(02) 09/17/2024 SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING — September 17, 2024 I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL Councilmember Kinlaw gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the flag. The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Tuesday, September 17, 024 at 10:16 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie; Mayor Pro Tem Doneane Beckcom; Ccuncilmembers Harold Doucet and Thomas Kinlaw, III.; Assistant City Manager Albert Thigpen; City Secretary Sherri Bellard; Assistant City Sherry Vital and Sergeant At Arms Police Chief Tim Duriso. Councilmember Tiffany Hamilton Everfield joined the meeting via Zoom. Councilmember Willie "Bae" Lewis joined the meeting at 11:35 a.m. Councilmember Donald Frank Sr. joined the meeting via Zoom at 12:53 p.m. II. PRESENTATION A Presentation To Provide An Update On The City's Animal Services Center Located On Gates Boulevard (Requested By Councilmember Kinlaw) Code Compliance Officer Darlene Thomas-Pierre, City Consultant Hani Tohme, Construction Zone Representatives and the PGAL Architect appeared before the City Council to give the above-mentioned presentation and answer inquiries regarding the project. Councilmember Kinlaw requested the following inquiry be made a part of the record: Councilmember Kinlaw: In the last two weeks, how many days have you worked on the site? We have been shut down. Councilmember Kinlaw: I would like to hear from you why we were shut down? Well due to the underground Obstruction we encountered and then the architect and engineer redesigning to go with the spread footings instead of the drill piers there was some time there. We were going to have some cost involved in this that we need to get approved by the City Council as well before we move forward. Councilmember Kinlaw: Something of that magnitude I think should have gotten to council a lot sooner. So, in the last two weeks when was the last time you guys worked on the site? We have been out there on certain days trying to pump water because as soon as we get the go ahead to proceed, we want to. We want to get back on site. IV. ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION A. Resolutions (1) P.R. No. 23910 — A Resolution Approving The Continued Use Of The City Of Port Arthur Type A Economic Development Corporation Sales And Use Tax Funds To Be Used For Enhancements At Adams Park, Rose Hill Park, And The Recreation And Senior Citizens Center Pursuant, To §505.152 Of The Texas Local Government Code At A Rate Of $1,000,000.00 Per Year For An Additional Three (3) Year Period As Authorized By The Voters At The May 1, 2021 Election The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. The motion was made by Councilmember Kinlaw and seconded by Councilmember Doucet that Proposed Resolution No. 23910 be adopted. Finance Director Lynda Boswell appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries regarding the above-mentioned proposed resolution. Voting Yes: Mayor Bartie; Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom; Councilmembers Hamilton Everfield, Doucet and Kinlaw. Voting No: None. Proposed Resolution No. 23910 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 24-363. The caption of Resolution No. 24-363 reads as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 24-363 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONTINUED USE OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TYPE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SALES AND USE TAX FUNDS TO BE USED FOR ENHANCEMENTS AT ADAMS PARK, ROSE HILL PARK, AND THE RECREATION AND SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER PURSUANT, TO §505.152 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE AT A RATE OF $1,000,000.00 PER YEAR FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE (3) YEAR PERIOD AS AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS AT THE MAY 1, 2021 ELECTION B. Ordinances (1) P.O. No. 7280 — An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) And 110-92 (Consumers Outside City Not Having Special Contracts) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To A 7.5% Rate Increase For Residential, Commercial And Industrial Customers, And Providing For Publication The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance. Upon the motion of Councilmember Doucet, seconded by Councilmember Hamilton Everfield Proposed Ordinance No. 7280 was removed from the agenda. Voting Yes: Mayor Bartle; Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom; Councilmembers Hamilton Everfield, Doucet and Kinlaw. Voting No: None. City Council Minutes Special Meeting — September 17, 2024 2 (2) P.O. No. 7281 — An Ordinance Amending Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Division 3 (Service Charges And Billing), Sections 110-91 (Rate Schedule) And 110-92 (Consumers Outside City Not Having Special Contracts) Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Port Arthur, As It Pertains To A 7.0% Rate Increase For Residential, And An 8.5% Rate Increase For Commercial And Industrial Customers, And Providing For Publication The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance. The motion was made by Councilmember Kinlaw and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom that Proposed Ordinance No. 7281 be adopted. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopted Proposed Ordinance No. 7281: Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom "No" Councilmember Doucet "No" Councilmember Hamilton Everfield "Yes" Councilmember Kinlaw "No" Mayor Bartie "Yes" The motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No. 7281 failed. The City Council recessed their meeting at 10:59 a.m. and reconvened their meeting at 11:02 a.m. with the following members present: Mayor Bartie; Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom; Councilmembers Hamilton Everfield, Doucet and Kinlaw; Assistant City Manager Thigpen; City Secretary Bellard; Assistant City Attorney Vital and Sergeant At Arms Chief Duriso. III. WORKSHOP To Discuss The Proposed Budget For Fiscal Year 2024 — 2025 Finance Director Lynda Boswell and Assistant City Managers Albert Thigpen and Pamela Langford appeared before the City Council to conduct the above-mentioned workshop. Councilmember Doucet called for a Point of Order for the Council to take a vote whether or not to proceed with the budget or hear the presentation regarding the budget impact of raising the water rate or not. The Mayor left the meeting and there was not a physical quorum present in the Council Chambers. The meeting was recessed at 11:31 a.m. and reconvened at 11:35 a.m. with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom; Councilmembers Lewis, Hamilton Everfield, Doucet and Kinlaw; Assistant City Manager Thigpen; City Secretary Bellard; Assistant City Attorney Vital and Sergeant At Arms Chief Duriso. Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom chaired the meeting. The following staff members appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries regarding their respective budgets: Assistant City Manager Pamela Langford — Development Services Police Chief Tim Duriso — Police Department City Engineer John Cannatella and Public Works Director Flozelle Roberts — Streets City Council Minutes Special Meeting — September 17, 2024 3 The City Council recessed their meeting at 12:18 p.m. and reconvened their meeting at 12:28 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Bartle; Councilmembers Hamilton Everfield, Doucet and Kinlaw; Assistant City Manager Thigpen; City Secretary Bellard; Assistant City Attorney Vital and Sergeant At Arms Chief Duriso. City Consultant Hani Tohme appeared before the City Council to give an overview regarding the budget impact of raising the water rate or not raising the water rate. IV. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING The Mayor adjourned their meeting at 2:04 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 THURMAN BILL BARTIE ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY SHERRI BELLARD END OF SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD September 17, 2024 APPROVED: October 7, 2024. City Council Minutes Special Meeting — September 17, 2024 4