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November 2, 2009

Downtown revitalization on PA agenda Tuesday



By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Establishment of a seven-member board to develop a revitalization plan for Port Arthur’s downtown area is ongoing. Port Arthur’s City Council will consider the appointment of two members at their regular meeting Tuesday.

Kerry Thomas and Vicki Derese are nominated to serve on the Downtown Redevelopment Organization board. They were nominated by the city’s Economic Development Corporation.

Developing a board to plan the redevelopment came at the recommendation of the International Economic Development Council, a national group hired to deliver a strategy report for revitalizing the city’s downtown area.

The Council recommended the board be comprised of members nominated by the city, the EDC, Chamber of Commerce, and Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

Fitzgibbons said the board members will volunteer their time, but a full-time staff and executive director will need to be hired.

Thomas is an EDC member and Derese is a representative of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP. If approved, they will be the first appointed to the board, Steve Fitzgibbons, city manager, said.

In other matters, Council will consider hiring Brown Reynolds Watford Architects, Inc. of College Station to provide design services for Fire Station No. 4 in Sabine Pass. Cost for those services should not exceed $136,000.

Sabine Pass’ fire station has been destroyed twice during the past five years — first from Hurricane Rita in 2003, then again in 2008 from Hurricane Ike.

When rebuilt this time, the station will be smaller and elevated, Larry Richard, Port Arthur fire chief, said.

Since Ike, Sabine Pass’ fire station has been housed in a temporary trailer set up on the school grounds. The new building will be built on Texas 87, at the same site as the old building.

Richard said until the architect presents plans, it is too early to predict the exact cost. The building constructed after Rita cost $1.5 million.

The city’s claim with FEMA has not yet been finalized, Fitzgibbons said.

Among other agenda items, City Council will consider an interlocal agreement with the Pleasure Island Commission for park maintenance. The city has appropriated $41,200 for maintenance costs.

City Council will also consider a bid for fencing replacement at Washington Park, and approval of $5,000 from PAEDC money to fund public broadcasting on Radio Station 107.LPFM “The Breeze.”

The funding will pay for 1,200 public broadcasts during the 12-month period from Nov. 4, 2009 until Nov. 4, 2010 and to inform residents about EDC programs.

Also on the agenda, the City Council will consider an agreement with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a Supplemental Environmental Program. The city was granted $950,000 by TCEQ from fines assessed Premcor Corporation.

The SEP will be used for the Port Arthur building and infrastructure energy efficiency upgrades program.

skoonce@panews.com











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