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Regular City Council Meeting November 12,2007 Page 6 6. ORDINANCE NO. 2007-047: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, OPTING OUT OF THE TERMS OF HB 621, CREATING A SUPER FREEPORT TAX EXEMPTION ALLOWING THE CITY OF PARIS TO TAX TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TEMPORARIL Y WAREHOUSED IN THE CITY A WAITING SHIPMENT TO OTHER LOCATIONS WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mayor Freelen opened the public hearing and asked for anyone speaking in favor of this item to do so. Phyllis Bryan, Chief Appraiser for Lamar County Appraisal District, spoke in support of this item. She explained the Bill would exempt personal property that meets three criteria as follows: 1) has to be acquired or imported into this State for a single storing manufacturing processing or fabricating; 2) has to be detained at a location in the State in which the owner does not have a direct interest; and 3) it must be forwarded to another location inside or outside the State within 175 days. She further stated this could cost the City approximately $400,000.00. Ms. Bryan informed Council should they choose to tax the goods in transit at the time and later decide they want to exempt the property, they can grant the exemption. She went on to say if they chose not to pass an ordinance at this time, there was no provision for taxing the goods after they become exempt. Council Member Biard asked if anyone had spoken with Pete Kampfer. Ms. Bryan said that Pete was in support of opting out of the terms ofHB 621. Kevin Carruth told Council that when the current Freeport went into effect in 1990, the City lost almost $308,000.00 based on the 0.56 tax rate and this year that loss would be $425,000.00. Mayor Freelen asked for anyone speaking against this item to do so. With no one else speaking, Mayor Freelen closed the public hearing. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Strathem and seconded by Council Member Wilson. Motion carried, 7 ayes - 0 nays. 7. Hear request to lease 811 Bonham Street property to non-profit organizations. Sharon Eubanks, representative of Co-Ministries, 2021 N.E. Loop 286, said they lost their building and that many non-profit organizations did not own their buildings. She said it would be profitable for the community of Paris if all ofthe non-profit organizations could be in the same building. Mayor Freelen wanted to know if they would remodel the building and Ms. Eubanks told him that they would. Mayor Freelen inquired about who would be paying the utilities and insurance. Ms. Eubanks said at the time she did not have an answer. Wanda Bayley, representative ofNEA TO, reiterated Ms. Eubanks. Mayor Freelen asked Ms. Eubanks and Ms. Bayley to get with the other organizations to develop a plan and come back to Council.