The possibility of water utility bills going up will be a topic of discussion at the regular meeting of the Port Arthur City Council at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 444 Fourth St. in Port Arthur.

Prior to the regular meeting, a workshop will be held at 3 p.m. to discuss and possibly take action regarding the creation of a new utility rates ordinance and to receive citizen comments regarding any proposed changes in utility rates.

The water department is attempting to get out of the red so it can stand on its own.

The City Council will consider a contract for the relocation of Engine 503 and tender in Bryan Park due to damages from Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey and the mandate of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requiring remediation of the oil spill.

The resolution read detailed specifications were prepared by Soutex Surveyors and Engineers and advertisements were placed in The Port Arthur News on March 13 and March 18.

The contract between the city of Port Arthur and Excavation and Construction, LLC of Nederland, for the city street improvements along Bluebonnet Avenue from Gulfway Drive to Memorial Boulevard. The contract will be increased by 58 days to a new total of 328 days.

On July 27, 2017, City Council approved a contract with Excavation and Construction for the improvements along Bluebonnet Avenue for $1,314,627. The request for time extension is for days due to flooding, delays from existing water leaks, snow and below freezing temperatures and regular working days between August 2017 and February 2018 due to heavy and/or steady rain that prevented the contractor from working at least seven hours a day.

The City Council will consider for approval a grant for rehabilitation and revitalization of “an existing building in our blighted downtown area as a small business incubator.”

Council members will schedule a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 24 at City Hall for the adoption of the city of Port Arthur Master Plan.

The governing body of a municipality may adopt a comprehensive plan for the long-range development of the city, according to the resolution.

The plan may include but is not limited to provisions on land use, transportation and public facilities; consist of a single plan or a coordinated set of plans organized by subject and geographic area and be used to coordinate and guide the establishment of development regulations.

The council will consider for approval designating Capital One Bank as a primary bank depository for the city from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2020 with a provision for three one-year extension under the same terms and conditions of the contract.

The bank previously announced in November 2017 they were permanently closing their downtown branch “following the extensive damage from Hurricane Harvey.”

Willie “Bae” Lewis Jr., District 5 councilman, said under Regulation 42 of the state comptroller of currency, banks are to give a 90-day notice before closing with time to receive public comments.

The Port Arthur City Council also approved a resolution protesting the branch closing to the state comptroller of currency.

Several speakers and presentations are also scheduled for the meeting.