05 Council Minutes from June 9, 2008

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Regular City Council Meeting June 9, 2008 Page 6 Shawn Napier explained to Council that the Parks Department had a backlog of 59 work orders for ditches and that they were diligently working through the work orders. He further explained that in 2004 there was a 42 percent reduction in the Parks Departments staff, while at the same time the department was charged with the added responsibilities of the Trail de Paris and the Sports Complex. Additionally, a drought ensued for two years following the reduction but brush continued to grow in the ditches, creating problems this last year when the rains resumed. Mayor Freelen moved to item 15 a. and convened City Council into Executive Session at 8:06 p.m. 16. Reconvene in Open Session to take possible action regarding those matters discussed in Executive Session. a. To receive Attorney advice regarding legal issues related to a contract with Housing Associates, Inc. and Eastgate Subdivision. Mayor Freelen reconvened City Council into open session at 8:42 p.m. Mayor Freelen announced there would be no action taken at the time. He stated that Kent McIlyar would update the City Council on issues in the future. 17. RESOLUTION NO. 2008-046: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COLJNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE PETITION FILED MARCH 18, 2008 PROPOSING A LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT OF AD VALOREM TAXES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED AGAINST A RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD OF A PERSON AGE 65 YEARS OR OLDER OR A DISABLED PERSON WAS NOT SIGNED BY FIVE PERCENT (5%) OR MORE OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AND, THEREFORE, DOES NOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT OF ARTICLE 8, SECTION 1-b(h) OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Kent McIlyar said that under the City Charter, that the City Council was required to review and/or take action within sixty days of receiving a petition. He further said that Council could adopt the petition as written, or not adopt it and allow the issue to go to a vote at the next uniform election date. Mr. McIlyar stated the tax freeze initiative petition was different than most initiative petitions, because the State regulated the tax freeze petition process. Mr. McIlyar advised Council that Article 8, Section 1-b(h) of the Texas Constitution required a tax freeze petition to contain signatures of 5% of the total number of registered voters in the City of Paris. He said the City Clerk issued a certificate saying that the petition contained 655 signatures, 80 of which were disqualified leaving a total of 575 qualified voter signatures. Mr. McIlyar said he asked the City Clerk to determine the number of registered voters in the City of Paris and she determined through her research there were 14,235 registered voters in the City of Paris as of March 18, 2008, the date the tax freeze petition was filed. ' OOOP) 0 %