08/20/2018 MinutesMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
JOINT WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 20, 2018
The City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Paris met for a
joint work session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 20, 2018, at the City Council Chamber, 107
E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Steve Clifford
Council Members: Renae Stone, Billy Trenado, Linda Knox, and Paula
Portugal
Commission Chair: Keith Flowers
Commission
Members: John Lee, Chad Lindsey, Rick Hundley, Mihir
Pankaj, James O'Bryan, and Sims Norment
City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Carla Easton, City Engineer; Alan
Efrussy, Planning Director; and Janice Ellis, City
Clerk
Absent: Council Member: Clayton Pilgrim
Call meeting to order.
Commissioner Chair Flowers and Mayor Clifford called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Receive presentation and discuss the City's proposed Comprehensive Plan.
City Manager John Godwin explained the Comprehensive Plan was one of the most
important documents for a city, and should be implemented. He explained the last plan was done
in 2001, and he was disappointed to learn how many recommendations were not implemented.
Mr. Godwin said the City Council conducted a workshop in December and instructed him to
bring an updated comprehensive plan to them. Mr. Godwin said Planning Director, Alan Efrussy
and City Engineer, Carla Easton had put a lot of hours into this project and the City was
fortunate to have both of them.
Mr. Efrussy reviewed the work session outline and explained that a Comprehensive Plan
was a long-range plan for growth and development, and that it was comprise of a Future Land
Use Plan, Park Plan, and a Major Thoroughfare Plan. With regard as to why a comprehensive
plan mattered, Mr. Efrussy said it achieves consensus for future vision of the city, it helps
develop compatible land uses, guides the framework of development regulations, and provide
Joint Work Session
August 20, 2018
Page 2
direction for zoning and development decisions. Mr. Efrussy emphasized that the comp plan
impacts zoning decisions, in that it proposed best land uses in the interest of the entire
community, it reflects compatible land uses for adjacent areas, provides opportunity to evaluate
short term requests with the long term vision, and should be considered with every zoning
decision. Next, Mr. Efrussy explained how the plan impacts the development community. He
said the best developers want quality codes, the plan promotes quality growth, it maintains and
improves property values, enhances development potential, and protects investments. Mr.
Efrussy said the update was needed because land uses had changed, there was a renewed interest
in downtown and park plans, and there were missed opportunities from the 2001 plan.
City Engineer Carla Easton summarized the 2018 plan update as having modifications to
irrelevant or outdated direction in the 2001 plan, the addition of the downtown plan and
recommendations for implementation. She also reviewed map updates of the Future Land Use
Plan Map, the Master Thoroughfare Plan Map, the Parks Plan Map, and Trails & Linkages Map.
Mr. Godwin stressed the importance of linking the Master Thoroughfare Plan to the
City's Subdivision Regulations. Next, Ms. Easton went over the Downtown Vision which
included being more pedestrian friendly, reducing speeds, improved street design and new
activities and programs. She explained that Mr. Godwin, the Toole Design Group and several
groups had put together this plan, which would revitalize downtown once implemented. Ms.
Easton said there were forty-one recommendations in the plan and most would require additional
action, such as Ordinance revisions, development of design standards, creation of TIRZ, and
adoption of plans.
City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission expressed their appreciation to
staff for the work done on the plan update. Mr. Godwin told them they would see the plan
several more times and would be asked to vote on it in the near future.
3. Adjournment of Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commissioner Flowers adjourned the Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:46 p.m.
4. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.087 of the Texas Government
Code (1) to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the
governmental body has received from a business prospect that he governmental body
seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and
with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or
(2) to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described
by Subdivision (1), as follows: American Spiral Weld.
Mayor Clifford convened City Council into executive session at 6:48 p.m.
5. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
Executive Session.
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August 20, 2018
Page 3
Mayor Clifford reconvened City Council into open session at 7:09 p.m. and said they
discussed American Spiral Weld and there was no action to be taken at that time.
6. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Hughes and was seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. The
meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
ELLIS, CITY
E J CLI D� 1VI.D.. MAYOR