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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 16, 2003 Joint Special3OINT SPECIAL MEETING - December 16, 2003 I. ROLL CALL~ INVOCATION & PLEDGE The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 11:30 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Oscar G. Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Tom Gillam, III.; Councilmembers Craig Hannah, Felix A. Barker, Thomas ]. Henderson, John Beard, ir., Ronnie Thompson and Michael "Shane" Sinegal; City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Evangeline "Van" Green and City Attorney Mark T. Sokolow. The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation joined the City Council in a Special Session on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 11:30 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Board Chairman Martin Flood; Board of Directors Bill Fours, Deborah Khalajabadi and Allen _1. Watson, Sr.; Advisory Directors Morris Carter and Maria Block, former Board Director Paula Richardson; Executive Director Ike Mills; Attorney Jim Wimberley and Secretary Bobble Mitchell Ms. Paula Richardson gave the invocation and followed with the pledge to the flag. II. PRESENTATION Port Arthur Redevelopment Initiative Consultants Irving Henderson and Dr. Forrest Toms of Henderson and Co., appeared before the City Council to conduct a presentation regarding the Port Arthur Redevelopment Initiative. The consultants distributed demographic information. Mr. Henderson spoke of performing feasibility studies, evaluations, and developing concepts to facilitate commercial, industrial, residential, community and economic development. Dr. Toms discussed the importance of skills, talents and human resources. Dr. Toms and Mr. Henderson requested the City Council and the Economic Development Corporation to appoint Community Foundation Board Members, or appoint an existing non-profit organization, to begin the master application process. The Consultants suggested establishing the Community Foundation by ]anuary 20, 2004 and scheduling a Funder's Forum on February 18, 2004. Mr. Henderson stated that the Community Foundation grant funds would assist non- profit operations, down payment assistance program~,;'workforce development, youth enrichment, deferred mortgages and tourism developm~"nt. The Consultants discussed plans for a commercial plaza, a downtown entertainment district, and waterfront and industrial development. Councilmember Sinegal requested Dr. Toms and Mr. Henderson to state for the record: Mr. Henderson and Dr. Toms, I have one question. I appreciate your presentation. I understand everything that is going on. But, I have one question. And, you know I have been supportive of you guys and I think you are doing a fine job. There has been mention of $300,000 given to you guys. And, I have heard it from several people, from citizens and you know. And, it is just like you just stated that what you have provided us may be worth more than that. Why you are still here? Can you leave today and we never see you again? Are you here because you are compassionate about fulfilling what you are obligated to do, or are you here because you are under contract? I want this to go on the record as why you are here today. Mr. Henderson's for the record response: ! appreciate you asking that. We very much feel that everything that we talked about has to be completed before we finish what we promised to do. Have we done what the letter of the contract says, absolutely. Will ! leave without completing this process and seeing the capital come and say yea or nay, absolutely not. Because no, it is more than a professional commitment, it is a commitment to you all. T cannot stress that enough. But people in the class that we got close to, the people that we have dealt with here, the leadership that we have gotten close to. ! mean we are committed to you guys. You know this is not about, you know, trying to do something for your career, or trying to make sure that no one has any qualms with you about a contract that you signed. !f we get this project done, it will be one of most important things to happen in community development in this country. That's not lost on me. So ! have personal and public reasons for staying. !t is public because of the importance and it is personal because of the legacy T know can be created. Dr. Tom's for the record response: Well, ! would agree with that, but ! would also say that for me, it is probably it is more personal because ! have a good friend here, Reverend Vaughn. We have done a lot of things together. It is no way that ! will walk away from him or let the people down that we have met. This stuff, you know, your reputation is all you got. This is what we do. You know we come here, we come here sick and not feeling well because ! understand public attitude. They don't care whether if you feel good or not, ! just want what I want. ! mean that is just the reality of it. ! understand it and it doesn't bother me. By the same token, as !rving said, this is something that is a little bigger than us that we got involved in that, you know, we are suppose to be here in Port Arthur, Texas from North Carolina. There is a good timing with it, like everything in community economic cI~velopment, there are gonna be roadblocks, there are gonna.~e barriers, there are gonna be some things you can't control, some things you cannot control. On the other hand, ! think there is enough work relationship, enough wanting to have the same thing, the same goal, that if we can sit down and come up with a team of people to implement one, two, three, four, five. The time line is a given, it can be done. Councilmember Sinegal's concluding statement for the record: ! just wanted to say that to alleviate some of the issues that we discussed this morning about who should take the lead. ! have no problem, from this seat, you calling me up and say guys you need to get this done, we can't do it. Feel free to call me personally. And, say listen, we asked you do it. !f you are not going to do it, let us know why. Thank you guys. Mr. Henderson discussed expediting incorporation of the Community Foundation and requested the City Council provide guidance of the boards composition with three appointments by the first week of.lanuary 2004. 3oint Special Meeting City Council Minutes December :1.6, 2003 IV. *EXECUTIVE SESSION (1) Section 551.071 and 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives For Commercial Development And Procedures To Avoid Litigation Thereon. (2) Section 551.071 Government Code - To Discuss With The City Attorney Procedures To Avoid Litigation As It Pertains To The IASIS Project And Ancillary Public Infrastructure. The City Council recessed their meeting at 12:56 p.m. to meet in Executive Session to consider the above-mentioned topics, and reconvened their meeting at 2:48 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tern Gillam; Councilmembers Barker, Henderson, Beard and Sinegal; City Manager Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Green and City Attorney Sokolow. The Port Arthur 4A Economic Development Corporation recessed their meeting at 12:57 p.m. to meet in Executive Session consider the above-mentioned topics, and reconvened their meeting at 2:49 p.m. with the following members present: Board Chairman Flood; Board of Directors Khalajabadi and Watson; Advisory Directors Carter and Block; Executive Director Mills; Attorney Wimberley and Secretary Mitchell. III. ITE[4S REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION (1) P. R. No. 12464 A Resolution Pertaining To The Participation Of The City of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation In The Target Project. The Board Chairman introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. The motion was made by Board Director Watson and seconded by Board Director Khalajabadi that Proposed Resolution No. 12464 be adopted. Board Chairman Flood stated for the record the following: That them is some concern about thl~ cash, the $300,000, given to the Target project and based on the City Attorney's opini~.n, we have agreed to approve the resolution. · The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12464: Board Chairman Flood "Yes" Board of Director Khalajabadi "Yes" Board of Director Watson "Yes" Proposed Resolution No. 12464 was adopted by the Port Arthur 4A Economic Development Corporation. (1) P. R. No. 12464 A Resolution Pertaining To The Participation Of The City of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation In The Target ProJect. The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. Upon the motion of Councilmember Henderson, seconded by Councilmember Sinegal, and carried unanimously, Proposed Resolution No. 12464 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 03-371. .loint Special Meeting City Council Minutes December 16, 2003 Voting Yes: Mayor Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Gillam; Councilmembers Barker, Henderson, Beard and Sinegal. Voting No: None. The caption of Resolution No. 03-371 reads as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 03-371 A RESOLUTION PERTATNING TO THE PARTIC]PATTON OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTION 4A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATZON I'N THE TARGET PROJECT. City Attorney Sokolow stated for the record "that P. R. 12464 is for both the $300,000 and the rebate". (2) P. R. No. 12473 - A Resolution Pertaining To The Storm Sewer Lines And System At The IASIS Project. The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. Upon the motion of Councilmember Beard, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Gillam and carried unanimously, Proposed Resolution No. 12473 was removed. Voting Yes: Mayor Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Gillam; Councilmembers Barker, Henderson, Beard and Sinegal. Voting No: None. IX. AD3OURNMENT OF MEETING Upon the motion of Board Director Watson, seconded by Board Director Kalajahbadi and carried unanimously, the EDC Board of Directors adjourned their meeting at 2:53 p.m. Upon the motion of Councilmember Sinegal, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Gillam and carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their me,ting at 2:54 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 OSCAR G. ORTIZ A~E~: CITY SECRETARY END OF JOINT SPECIAL MEETING HELD December 16, 2003. APPROVED: ]oint Special Meeting City Council Minutes December 16, 2003 4