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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Apri128, 2008 <br />Page 5 <br />Council gave an additional $10,000.00 deduction to persons over 65 years of age and disabled persons <br />instead of initiating a tax freeze. He said the $20,000.00 would affect everyone equally and some <br />living in smaller houses would be completely exempt. Council Member Strathern said if the vote has <br />to happen, they could have a major problem no matter which way it goes. Kent McIlyar said that a <br />different petition committee could bring forth a competing tax freeze ordinance that could also go to <br />the ballot in November, and the voters could vote for the ordinance they deemed best. Mr. McIlyar <br />reiterated in the alternative, that Council could adopt their own ordinance in conformance with state <br />law. He said if Council adopted their own ordinance, he would suggest conducting public education <br />between now and the November election, and hopefully the voters would not pass an ordinance that <br />was not in conformance with state law. Kevin Carruth expressed concern if they adopted their own <br />ordinance and should the proposed ordinance set out in the petition pass, then it would supersede the <br />adopted one. Council Member Wilson said it was beyond their control. <br />Council Member Biard stated he wanted Kent McIlyar to draft a proposed ordinance and <br />present it to Council at some point in the future. <br />Mayor Freelen opened the discussion far public hearing. Belinda Zanfardino, 3160 Mahaffey, <br />said she signed the petition and she did not know that it conflicted with state law. Also, speaking was <br />David Nabors, 1822 E. Polk, who stated he did not defend nor promote the petition. He also said he <br />thought the Council should propose their own ordinance and educate the public about the proposed <br />ordinance contained in the initiative petition. <br />Council Member Wilson said two years ago Council discussed this subject and received input <br />from the citizens. He went on to say that Gene Anderson had discussed with Council the impact that <br />a tax freeze would have on the city operating budget. Council elected not to pass a tax freeze at that <br />time, but passed an ordinance for an additional $10,000.00 tax exemption on residence homestead <br />for persons over 65 and disabled persons. Council Member Wilson asked Kent McIlyar had he <br />informed the Council or the public at the time the petition was filed that the petition was not <br />compliant with state law, if it would have changed the process. Mr. McIlyar said it would not have <br />changed the process. Kent McIlyar said his duty was to advise the Council and help them to develop <br />ordinances that were correct and compliant with the Texas Constitution and other state law. <br />Council directed staff to place the proposed ordinance as written in the initiative petition on <br />the May 12`h agenda for an action item. Council also directed staff to draft a proposed ordinance for <br />their consideration to be placed on a future agenda. <br />13. Deliberate and act on nominations of a non-Paris resident and a representative of Lamar <br />County Water Supply to serve on the Lake Pat Mayse Study Committee. <br />Mayor Freelen announced that the Commissioners' Court had appointed Ray Ball as their <br />representative. He also sought the Council's approval to appoint Bob Campbell to the Committee <br />as the representative for Lamar County Water Supply, because Reeves Hayter was serving on the <br /> <br />~ ~J{i!J~j <br />