HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 20, 2014 JOINT EDC SPECIAL MEETING JOINT EDC SPECIAL MEETING — March 20, 2014
I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL
Reverend Ransom Howard gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the flag.
The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Thursday, March
20, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following
members present: Mayor Deloris "Bobbie" Prince; Councilmembers Raymond Scott, Jr.,
Elizabeth "Liz" Segler, Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr. and Morris Albright, III.; Interim City
Manager John A. Comeaux, P.E., City Secretary Sherri Bellard and City Attorney Valecia
Tizeno.
Mayor Pro Tem Williamson was absent from the Special Meeting.
Councilmembers Derrick Freeman and Kerry "Twin" Thomas were absent from the
Special Meeting.
The following EDC Board members were present: Vice President Pat Holmes, Secretary
Richard Wycoff, Ransom Howard, Aletha Kirkwood and Carol Womack; EDC Executive
Director Floyd Batiste and EDC Attorney Guy Goodson.
EDC Board members Treasurer Christy DeRouen, Langston Adams and Shade Wise
were absent from the Special Meeting.
II. DISCUSSION
(1) Discussion And Possible Action Regarding The Use Of Funds
Pursuant To HB 2473 And Potential Agreement With Lamar
State College, Port Arthur For Student Housing
EDC Executive Director Floyd Batiste appeared before the City Council to answer
inquiries regarding the above - mentioned student housing.
Lamar State College — Port Arthur President Dr. Sam Monroe appeared before the City
Council to answer inquiries regarding the above - mentioned student housing.
EDC Attorney Guy Goodson appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries
regarding the above - mentioned student housing.
MOTION IN OPEN SESSION:
Motion To Approve The City Of Port Arthur To Give Its Full Support Of
The Concept Of A Grant /Loan In An Amount Not To Exceed Two Million
Dollars For The Purpose Of Student Housing In Conjunction With Lamar
State College Port Arthur
The motion was made by Councilmember Albright and seconded by Councilmember
Scott that the above - mentioned motion be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the above - mentioned motion:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Segler "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
The above - mentioned motion was adopted.
(2) Discussion Regarding The Use Of Funds Pursuant To HB
1966 And Potential Agreement With Mardi Gras Of
Southeast Texas DBA Port Arthur Downtown Renewal
Association For Downtown Revitalization And Economic
Development
Planning Director Ron Burton appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries
regarding the above - mentioned HB 1966.
Freeze and Nichols Representative Shade Comeaux appeared before the City Council to
answer inquiries regarding the above - mentioned agreement.
Mardi Gras President Floyd Marceau and Secretary Laura Childress appeared before the
City Council to answer inquiries regarding the above - mentioned agreement.
III. ITEM REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION
P.R. No. 18255 — A Resolution Accepting A Grant From Mardi
Gras Of Southeast Texas D.B.A. The Port Arthur Downtown
Renewal Association For The Purpose Of Providing Professional
Planning For Downtown Revitalization And Economic
Development In The Not To Exceed Amount Of $200,000.00
The Mayor introduced the above - mentioned Proposed Resolution.
The motion was made by Councilmember Albright and seconded by Councilmember
Scott that Proposed Resolution No. 18255 be adopted.
Planning Director Ron Burton appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries
regarding the above - mentioned agreement.
Freeze and Nichols Representative Shade Comeaux appeared before the City Council to
answer inquiries regarding the above - mentioned agreement.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No.
18255:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Segler "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Resolution No. 18255 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 14 -149.
The caption of Resolution No. 14 -149 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 14 -149
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM
MARDI GRAS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS D.B.A. THE
PORT ARTHUR DOWNTOWN RENEWAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL PLANNING FOR
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE NOT TO
EXCEED AMOUNT OF $200,000.00
IV. *CLOSED MEETING — EXECUTIVE SESSION
Closed Meeting
Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives For
Commercial, Residential, And /Or Industrial Business Prospects (Lamar
State College, Port Arthur)
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
March 20, 2014 2
The above - mentioned closed meeting was not held.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Upon the motion by Councilmember Albright, seconded by Councilmember Scott and
carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their Special Meeting at 6:28 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:
CITY SECRETARY SHERRI BELLARD
END OF JOINT SPECIAL MEETING HELD: March 20, 2014.
APPROVED:
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
March 20, 2014 3