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Regular Council Meeting February 27, 2012 CONTRACTORS IN CITY PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING; MAKING OTHER t 4 8 1 FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE; A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Council Member Pickle said he brought this forward as a result of discussion that Council had a couple of weeks ago at a Council meeting. He said he would like to consider Hiring Paris first, which is modeled after the City of Houston which gives local contractors preferential treatment. Council Member Pickle cited the Chamber's encouragement to citizens to "Shop Paris First." Council Member Pickle said passing this type of Ordinance would keep money in Paris. Council Members Frierson and Wright expressed they would also like to give preference to local companies. Council Members Avila and McCarthy expressed that the City should go with the lowest bidder. Council Member Grossnickle suggested looking at sending this item to the voters. Mayor Hashmi said he had faith in the integrity of all Council Members, but he thought the City Council should make sure that City Council's perception when passing an Ordinance should not give the residents any impression that the Council wanted to favor or not favor any particular individual. Mayor Hashmi said he felt like it should be kept with the lowest bidder. Council Member Pickle asked if State Law allowed cities to award contracts under $500,000. City Attorney Kent McIlyar said that State Law allowed cities to award contracts of up to $500,000 within 5% of the low bid, but that was not true for construction contracts. Council Member Pickle asked if that was for personal property. Mr. McIlyar answered in the affirmative, and further stated it was for items such as vehicles and supplies. Mayor Hashmi said in the future when the City bids out projects, that he would like for the bids to be for an entire project and not subtract portions of a project out of the bid. Council Member Pickle said he would like for the Ordinance to include all of Lamar County. A Motion to accept the lowest bid on any project for the City was made by Council Member McCarthy. Council Member Grossnickle asked about amending the Motion to allow the citizens of Paris to vote on this item. Mayor Hashmi asked if there was a second on Council Member McCarthy's Motion. A second was made by Council Member Avila. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 3 nays, with Council Members Pickle, Frierson and Wright casting the dissenting votes. City Clerk Janice Ellis clarified that City Council denied the local preference Ordinance. 31. Deliberate on funding for the Clarksville Street Sidewalk Project; and provide direction to City Staff. Gene Anderson explained that Paris Economic Development Corporation had declined the City's request to support the growing economic development of downtown Paris by funding