The Port Arthur City Council took a series of formal actions on Oct. 21, 2025. The measures below summarize each voted item, the stated agenda identifier when available, the council’s recorded outcome and key details from the meeting record.

Votes at a glance

1) Museum of the Gulf Coast contract — PR 24554 — approved
- What: Contract to fund the Museum of the Gulf Coast for FY2025–26 in the amount of $296,336 from hotel‑occupancy tax.
- Outcome: Approved. (See separate article for presentation context.)

2) Arbitrage rebate compliance services — PR 24557 — approved
- What: Two‑year contract with Hilltop Securities Asset Management LLC for arbitrage rebate compliance services; projected annual budgetary impact $16,000; funding subject to annual budget approval.
- Outcome: Approved by motion and vote.

3) Notice of intent to issue combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation (2025b) — PR 24553 — approved
- What: Publication of notice of intent to issue up to $32,500,000 in combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation for water/sewer and related public works; preliminary official statement authorized.
- Outcome: Approved by roll call vote after staff clarified that waterworks and sewer system improvements are the intended uses in the body of the document.

4) Notice of intent to issue combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation (2026) — (agenda page 9, item 13) — approved
- What: Publication of notice of intent to issue up to $5,000,000 in combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation, described in meeting as tied to a Texas Water Development Board package (mix of loan and principal forgiveness).
- Outcome: Approved by roll call vote; staff noted much of the amount may be principal forgiveness and that a portion is a 0% loan according to staff remarks.

5) Ordinance to issue tax note series 2025b (tax note $20,000,000) — PO 7372 — approved
- What: Ordinance authorizing issuance of $20,000,000 tax note, levying continuing ad valorem tax for repayment and related delegations.
- Outcome: Approved by roll call.

6) Budget amendment / appropriation ordinance (PO 7373) — approved
- What: Amend FY2025–26 budget to increase Water and Sewer capital fund by $10,000,000 and increase CDBG fund per agenda; motion and passage recorded.
- Outcome: Approved. Council discussion noted prior award dates for some grant funds and a request for improved tracking of awarded grants.

7) Multiple procurement and construction approvals — approved (consent and individual items)
- Contract with Construction Managers of Southeast Texas for Phase 2/3 roadway and drainage reconstruction at H.O. Mills Boulevard — contract awarded ($1,114,939.19).
- Change Order #1 for pier/gazebo (South SETEX Construction Corp.) — final payment and closeout accepted; final totals adjusted by contingency funds per agenda.
- Contract award to Norman Highway Constructors for storm‑sewer manhole replacement project ($1,118,000) — project completion period per agenda; funding in drainage account.
- Grouped mowing contracts awarded to multiple vendors for city properties and rights‑of‑way (projected FY budget ~$179,193).
- Lease‑purchase agreement for landfill equipment (Mustang Cat) — 24‑month lease to purchase for $667,664.88; monthly payments cited.
- Peterbilt dump trucks purchase (Rush Truck Center) for wastewater division via BuyBoard ($358,483.44).
All the above were moved and approved during the meeting; specific contract amounts and procurement references are on the agenda.

8) Water meter / AMI system contract — PR 24539 — approved (contingent)
- What: Contract with Ferguson Water Works for water meter and automated meter infrastructure (AMI) replacement and upgrade, total $9,836,584.12.
- Condition: Funding and execution contingent on approval of the related budget amendment (PO 7373). Council voted to approve the contract contingent on the budget action.

9) Contract change order — PR 24567 — approved
- What: Change Order #4 for the Atlanta Waterline Improvement Project with Global Drilling, increasing contract by $166,500 and extending contract time by 75 days (new contract time 480 days).
- Outcome: Approved.

10) Housing Finance Corporation appointments — PR 24598 — approved
- What: Reappointment of all members listed on the agenda to the Port Arthur Housing Finance Corporation board.
- Outcome: Approved by motion and second.

Notes and context

- Several of the financial and capital items were discussed with staff clarifying captions and statutory language: bond counsel advised that the caption term “public works” is a recognized phrase for the attorney general’s office, and staff pointed to more specific language within the documents limiting some proceeds to waterworks and sewer system improvements.
- Council flagged a need for improved tracking of grants and project timelines after some grants cited on the agenda dated back multiple years; staff said several projects were recently readied for bid and award.

Ending

The council approved a broad package of financing authorizations, contracts and capital purchases at the Oct. 21 meeting. Several items require post‑meeting implementation steps — contract execution, grant closeouts and the budget amendment that enables the water‑meter program — and staff confirmed follow‑up and reporting would be brought to council as those steps are completed.