2011-054 ORD ISSUING SIX MONTH MORATORIUM ON ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY FOR HEAD SHOPS, SMOKE SHOPS, DRUG PARAPHERNELIA SHOPS

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WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and determines that in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Paris, it is necessary to issue a moratorium on the issuance of building permits and new or amended Certificates of Occupancy for businesses which sell or offer for sale illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs which sell or offer for sale drug paraphernalia or other devices used for smoking, inhaling or ingesting illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs in the corporate city limits of the City of Paris, Texas for six months to allow closer evaluation of zoning and permitting processes for these types of businesses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUIVCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS: Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all things approved. Section 2. That for a period of six months from the effective date of this ordinance, no application for a building permit or certificate of occupancy, under the City Code of Ordinances, shall be accepted for the establishment of a business in which illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs are displayed or offered for sale or use or where drug paraphernalia or other devices used for smoking, inhaling or ingesting illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs are displayed or offered for sale upon any property located within the corporate city limits of the City of Paris, Texas. Section 3. That during the term of this moratorium, City staff is hereby directed not to accept any applications for building permits or for new or amended Certificates of Occupancy for a business in which illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs are displayed or offered for sale or use or where drug paraphernalia or other devices used for smoking, inhaling or ingesting illegal smoking products or synthetic drugs are displayed or offered for sale in the corporate city limits of the City of Paris, Texas; any documents received purporting to apply for such a permit shall be returned to the applicant along with a copy of this ordinance and any application for a permit declined for processing pursuant to this ordinance shall be considered administratively incomplete. Section 4. That during the moratorium, the Paris Police Department along with City's Planning and Engineering Department and City Attorney's Office should study the City's zoning and development regulations and communicate with other state and local agencies to develop new methods or approaches for regulating head shops, smoke shops and drug paraphernalia shops to better protect the health and safety of the citizens of the City of Paris. Section S. That the moratorium created by this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect for a period of six months from the effective date of this ordinance, unless earlier repealed by an official act of the Paris City Council or extended by an official act of the Paris City Council.