The Port Arthur City Council convened on July 29, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including a proposal for a workshop on ambulance services and the approval of various resolutions related to city projects.

The meeting began with discussions surrounding the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for ambulance services. Council members emphasized the importance of timely submissions from interested ambulance services, urging them to meet the upcoming deadline. A motion was made to approve a workshop to further discuss ambulance services, which was unanimously supported by the council. The workshop is expected to take place within the next ten days, potentially coinciding with a special meeting scheduled for the following Thursday to review the city’s tax rate.

Following the workshop discussion, the council moved on to the consent agenda. Council Member Becca requested to withhold item number four for further discussion. The remaining items on the consent agenda were approved without opposition.

Item number four involved a resolution authorizing the city manager to accept closeout documents from Florida Floats Incorporated for the Pleasure Island Marina rehabilitation project. Council Member Beckham raised concerns regarding the adequacy of repairs completed under the project’s scope of work, citing evidence from local boat owners and residents. She proposed tabling the resolution until further evidence could be gathered to confirm that all necessary repairs had been made.

The council engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the impact of recent natural disasters on the marina's condition, including a hurricane and tornado that had caused additional damage. The city manager confirmed that while the original scope of work was completed, subsequent storms had compromised those repairs. The council ultimately voted to approve the resolution, acknowledging the need for further assessment of the damages caused by the storms.

The meeting concluded with the council reaffirming a resolution advocating for the city’s legislative special session and approving a resolution for engineering services with the Soco Group LLC for transit and equipment planning projects, totaling over $104,000.

Overall, the council's discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to address community needs, particularly in emergency services and infrastructure repair, while navigating the challenges posed by recent weather events.