01/12/2011 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paris and Lamar County Community -Wide Strategic Plan STRATEGY 4 Develop long- and short-range plans to address aging infrastructure (water, sewer, storm water /drainage, roads, sidewalks, electric, gas, etc.) PRESENT STATUS 1. First impression ( "What is wrong with this place ?" Old houses, poorly maintained, detour off 82 entering town.) 2. No direct ways to get anywhere - a maze of roads. 3. No sidewalks. 4. Roads poorly maintained. 5. Trashy looking and no code enforcement. 6. No curbs and gutters. 7. No financial means to solve problems - must find the means. 8. Deterioration so bad, we can't fix. Start over? 9. We are reactive, not proactive. 10. No vision of what we want it to look like and lack of financing. 11. Old housing is cheap rent, and affecting our ability to build new housing. 12. Old in fracture and public image detracts from redevelopment. 13. If city crumbles, so does area outside the loop. 14. Historic inconsistent application of resources, both perceived and real, and intentional or not. PREFERRED FUTURE STATE Wish list: 1. Demolition of condemned structures. 2. Stronger code enforcement. 3. Need workable, efficient, maintainable repairs. 4. Vision is to develop a workable list of short- and long -term priorities. 5. Focus groups with outside oversight, not just internal to government. 6. Paris is a micropolitan center for NE Texas, a genuine, forward thinking city. A place people want to be. 7. We need to create the condition where people say, "This is really nice," and they recognize our history and sense of community. 8. City and county works together on a strategic plan to get infrastructure (water and sewer upgrades) to replace, and not just fix 100 year old clay pipes. 9. All infrastructure (pipes, sidewalks, streets, housing) all work together. 10. We need a public works comprehensive plan... Engineering... A cohesive plan where all infrastructure works together. 11. Need an annual financial plan to work together to 1) fix sewer and 2) fix streets. 12. Technology? Not there. Optical /fiber lines. ACTION STEPS 1. Review current building codes to determine if they have kept pace with development. 2. Evaluate issues related to a new sewer treatment plant for the City of Paris, including the need, cost and the best location. 3. Develop and implement a 10 -year water and sewer, sidewalks and streets, gas and electric infrastructure improvement plan. First Drab: for Discussion Only 4 of 8 January 2011