05 - City Council MinutesItem Na. 5
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
April 9, 2018
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 pm. on Monday,
April 9, 2018, at the City Council Charnber, 1017 E. Kaufi-nan, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Steven Clifford
Council Members: Aaron Jenkins; Billy Trenado; Linda Knox; and
Paula Portugal
City Staff'. John Godwin, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; Bob Hundley, Police Chief, Larry
Wright, Fire Chief-, Carla Easton, City Engineer;
Jerry McDaniel, Public Works Director; Alan
Efrussy, Planning Director; and Clyde Crews; Fire
Marshal
Absent: Council Member: Billie Sue Lancaster
Opening Agenda,,,
I . Call meeting to order.
Mayor Clifford called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Reverend Slaughter gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Drake led the pledge.
4. Citizens' Forum.
Dr. Amanda Green — she expressed appreciation to the City Council for approving a no
smoking ordinance several years ago, and asked that they reconsider making us I 00f % smoke
free.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Clifford inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the
consent agenda for discussion. There being none, a Motion to approve the consent agenda was
Regular Council Meeting
April 9, 2018
Page 2
made by Council Member Knox and seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 6
ayes -- 0 nays.
5, Approve minutes from the meeting of March 26, 2018,
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, and commissions:
a. Housing Authority (12-19-2017)
b. Paris Visitors & Convention Council (2-19-2018)
c. Planning & Zoning Commission (2-5-2018)
Regular Agenda
7. Consider and take action on ORDINANCE NO. 2018-010: AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2018; LEVYING AN ANNUAL AD
VALOREM TAX FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE BONDS; ENGAGING
CONSULTANTS WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS; AND ENACTING OTHER
PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT.
Finance Director Gene Anderson said city staff was working with Sainco, Capital
Markets, Inc., the City's financial advisors and McCall, Parkhurst & Horton, the City's bond
attorneys, and were proposing to sell the small unissued portions of the 201:3/2016 and 2017
bonds issues, which were authorized by citizen vote. Mr. Anderson explained the 2018 bond
issue would be mostly water and sewer related in the amount of $1.2 million, but a small portion
would be for streets in the amount of $190,000. Mr. Anderson also said the City was seeking
private placement of the bonds through a bid process as a cost savings, measure, which meant the
City would not have to pay for a bond rating or issue an official statement on the bonds, and the
bonds would have a ten-year payoff scheduled. Mr. Anderson said the interest rates were
excellent.
A Motion to authorize the issuance and sale of the City of Paris, Texas' General
Obligation Bonds, Series 2018 to fund costs of street and road improvements and improvements
to, the City's water and sewer system, and approving all other matters pertaining thereto was
made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0
nays.
8. Discuss and receive public comment on the Parks, Recreation and Opens Space Master
Plan Update.
City Manager John Godwin said this plan was a five-year update to the Plan of 2013 and
was needed prior to the City applying for grants through the Texas Parks and Wildlife. He
explained that the next grant round was in October and staff hoped to get this Plan adopted in
May or June. Mr. Godwin said it was important to receive public input, Mr. Godwin said he
would cover a couple of the priorities with Council, but the actual plan was over eighty pages.
Mr. Godwin said Oak Park was selected because of high visibility, and that it had been renovated
Regular Council Meeting
April' 9, 2018
Page 3
and was opened a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Godwin further said new playground equipment
was installed, the pavilion was renovated and in the future staff would like to install additional
sigi,tage, additional tree planting and landscaping, as well as a restroom facility. Next, Mr.
Godwin reported that Market Square was not originally included as a park. He said the
downtown group and the parks committee each meet once a month and try to come up with
creative ideas that do not involve a lot of money. He explained that the Parks Group began
meeting about I V2 years go and his charge to, them was figure out a way to make our Parks better
without spending any money. He said Market Square was becoming a real park, and that
playground equipment from Wade Park had been placed there, along with an awning, a sign,
additional parking, and grass. Mr. Godwin explained the bigger plan was to develop space at the
library to include an amphitheater, climbing features, swings or benches and then connect it with
creative cross walks to the market square. Mr. Godwin referenced the sports complex and the
possibility of relocating the skate park there because there was a lot of space. He also referenced
a pump track trail with bike lanes, adding a full size playground, partnering with another entity to
light softball field #7 so that the City could get more tournaments. Mr. Godwin said Lake Crook
was also on the list and although progress had been made, a plan for trails development was
needed. He said there was a three mile trail there already that went through the woods and down
by the water.
Council Member Portugal said she was glad to see a dog park in the plans and would like
to get the names of those who served on the conunittee, as they had done a great job. Council
Member Knox inquired who was on the parks committee and Mr. Godwin said it was an
employee group he put together. Council Member Trenado said he liked the plan and it was so
good to see families at the new parks. Council Member Knox inquired about Culbertson Park,
and said she was glad to see that some tennis courts, had been converted into basketball courts.
Mr. Godwin said Culbertson was discussed a lot by the parks committee, and part of the
discussion was to not abandon the park but to make it a high quality neighborhood park,, Council
Member Trenado asked if the City consider doing more programs. Mr. Godwin explained the
City was trying to build additional programs and was trying several different programs at the
event center located at the Fairgrounds.
Mayor Clifford asked if anyone from the public wanted to comment. There being no
comments from the public, Mayor Clifford moved to the next itern.
9. Discuss and act on the second meeting, in May.
Mr. Godwin said the second meeting in May was Memorial Day and that staff
recommended cancelling the meeting.
A Motion to cancel the second meeting in May was made by Mayor Clifford and
seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes - 0 nays.
10. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Regular Council Meeting
April) 9, 2018
Page 4
Mayor Clifford reminded everyone about the ongoing clean-up project through Saturday,
in which citizens could take their unwanted items and trash to drop-off sites. Mayor Clifford
said all you needed was a current utility bill, and the two drop-off sites were 25t" N.E. and the
Depot.
11. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Clifford and
was seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was
adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
STEVEN J. CLIFFORD, M.D., MAYOR
JANICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK