07/22/2019MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
July 22, 2019
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
June 24, 2019, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor Pro -Tem: Paula Portugal
Council Members: Renae Stone; Derrick Hughes; Linda Knox; and
Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; Bob Hundley, Police Chief, Mike
Vogel, Fire Chief; Carla Easton, City Engineer;
Kent Klinkerman, EMS Director; Doug Harris,
Utilities Director; Jerry McDaniel; Public Works
Director; Priscilla McAnally, Library Director; and
Thomas Hunt, Municipal Judge
Absent: Council Members: Mayor Clifford & Bill Trenado
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal led the pledge.
4. Citizens' forum.
Savannah Babb, 321 5h St. S.W. ® she said she was a student at Texas A&M Commerce
majoring in Social Work. In summary, Ms. Babb said the parks did not have much equipment
for disabled persons.
Shelby Jamar, 209 290' St. N.W. - she said she was a student at Texas A&M Commerce
majoring in Social Work. In summary, Ms. Jamar said the solution would be to add more
equipment in the parks for those with disabilities.
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July 22, 2019
Page 2
Natalie Stuart, 105 N.W. 4t' Street - she said she was a student at Texas A&M Commerce
majoring in Social Work. Ms. Stuart said that 23.6% of the population of Lamar County lived in
poverty. She said a possible solution would be to have food closets so that people could access
them all of the time. She also said food closets would include personal hygiene items.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal 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 made by Council Member Hughes and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim.
Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
Approve minutes from the meeting on July 8, 2019.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
(a) Paris Visitors & Convention Council Quarterly Activity & Financial Reports
(b) Love Civic Center Quarterly Activity & Financial Reports
(c) Planning & Zoning Commission (6-3-2019)
(d) Main Street Advisory Board (4-9-2019 & 4-15-2019)
(e) Historic Preservation Commission (6-12-2019)
7. Receive June monthly financial report.
8. Receive June drainage report.
9. Receive June demolition and code enforcement activity reports.
10. Approve Final Plat of Lot 1, Block A of the Tyler's Pizzeria Addition, located at 3610 N.
Main Street.
Regular AYenda
11. Conduct a public hearing, discuss and act on an Ordinance regarding the petition of
James O'Bryan for a change in zoning from a Single -Family Dwelling District (SF2) to
Neighborhood Service (NS), in the Mayer Addition, Block 3, Lot 27, located at 3150
Bonham Street and 10 N.W. 32na
City Manager John Godwin said there were only five council members present and this
item would require six votes to pass. He suggested the public hearing be opened, and continued
until August 12.
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal opened the public hearing at 5:37 p.m. A Motion to continue
the public hearing to August 12 was made by Council Member Pilgrim, and seconded by Council
Member Stone. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
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July 22, 2019
Page 3
12. Conduct a public hearing, discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2019-025: AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY ORDINANCE NO. 1315, SUBDIVISION
REGULATIONS OF THE CITY OF PARIS, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, TO
INCORPORATE THE MASTER THOROUGHFARE PLAN AS PREVIOUSLY
ADOPTED; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager John Godwin explained a thoroughfare plan was an important planning
tool but not an enforceable guide as currently written. He said by amending section 8 of the
subdivision regulations to include enforcement of the thoroughfare plan and required donations
of rights-of-way; the City would fully incorporate that plan into the development requirements.
Mr. Godwin also said that Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval this item.
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal asked for anyone wishing to speak in support or opposition of
this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal closed the
public hearing.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by
Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2019-024: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
AN ADDENDUM TO TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 25,
2008 WITH CAMPBELL SOUP SUPPLY COMPANY LLC RELATING TO THE
COMPANY'S SINGLE SERVE BEVERAGE LINE AND AUTHORIZING AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY TO TERMINATE SAME; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris said on June 24 City Council asked her to draw up the
paperwork to amend and terminate the tax abatement agreement between the City of Paris and
Campbell Soup as related to the Multi -Serve Beverage Line.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by
Council Member Stone. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Receive a presentation from Lisa Mikatrian of the Paris Film Festival Group about
having a 2020 International Film Festival in Paris, Texas.
Mr. Godwin said that Dr. Hashmi could not be at the meeting. Mr. Godwin also said the
festival was tentatively scheduled for April 2020, and that Dr. Hashmi had asked for a
commitment from the City to try to finish all constructions project before April and generally
clean up in downtown.
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July 22, 2019
Page 4
Lisa Mikatarian of the Paris Film Festival Group said the theme was Love and it was
going to be a boutique film festival, so the ambience was very important. She said more green
space would be good. She also asked that around the first of the year the City review what was
going to be complete and what was not, so that they could plan.
15. Discuss and act on a lease agreement with Samantha Hughes for the Event Center.
Council Member Hughes recused himself due to a conflict of interest, and left the
meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Mr. Godwin said in 2015, the Red River Valley Fair Association transferred their Events
Center to the City. He also said the City made repairs to the facility, increased overall rentals,
and developed programming for seniors but the building was still underutilized. Mr. Godwin
explained that Samantha Hughes wanted to lease the facility to prepare and serve meals under a
federal program, and other related uses. He said the monthly rental would be $1,200. Council
Member Stone inquired if the program would be city wide, and Mr. Godwin said initially it
would be the boys and girls club. Council Member Knox inquired if that rental income was
included in the budget, and Mr. Godwin said it was not. She asked where the money was going
to be spent and he said it could be spent downtown or to fix the building. In the interest of
transparency, Council Member Knox said she wanted the income to be reflected in the budget.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Knox and seconded by
Council Member Stone. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays.
Council Member Hughes returned to the meeting at 5:48 p.m.
16. Discuss and act on the fiscal year 2019-20 Annual Program of Work and Budgets for
Love Civic Center and the Visitors & Convention Council.
Chamber President Paul Allen expressed his appreciation for the support shown by the
City. He reviewed the Visitors & Convention Council's income and expenses. He briefly spoke
about the new events they were trying to get to come to Paris, and asked for an additional
$50,000 for this account and if they did not need it, they would not use it. Next, Mr. Allen
reviewed the Love Civic Center budget and said they were going to pull $200,000 out of reserves
and would do a budget amendment in September. He explained that they were going to get
started on the renovations. Mr. Allen reviewed the income and expenses, and said they would be
adding the capital improvement account. Council Member Knox said she was pleased with the
presentation of the budgets and what was taking place, as did Council Member Pilgrim and
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal.
A Motion to approve the budgets was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by
Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Discuss and provide direction to staff on the FY 2019-2020 budget for the City of Paris.
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Page 5
Mr. Godwin outlined the highlights of the 2019-20 recommended budget, beginning with
the general fund. He said there was no change in the existing tax rate of $55.195 per $100 of
valuation; a replacement of outdated phone system at the police and courts building; seniority
pay for police and fire supervisors; programmed increase in debt service for fire apparatuses;
new ambulance and associated equipment; code enforcement equipment; contract mowing; Grant
matches for HOME program, Main Street CDBG sidewalk, and safe routes to school; one new
community service employee, one added code enforcement officer; expanded downtown grants;
mill and inlay miscellaneous streets; park grant match for pump track; pool and park
improvements; revised development fees; no new utilities employees; replacement water and
sewer equipment; capital maintenance improvement sat the water treatment plan, rehab water
treatment plant building, and WTP pumps; lift station rehabilitation; tasks 1-3 of engineering
services agreement for conceptual design of sewer plant; previously implemented water and
sewer rate increase. Next, Mr. Godwin said cities reviewed development fees, and said that a
City did not make money on these fees. He said the fees were to recoup the costs of providing
for inspection type services. Mr. Godwin said a new state law prohibited fees from being used
based on the value of property or improvements. He also said since the City based building fees
on the estimated value of improvements, that they must change the fee structure. Mr. Godwin
said some of Paris' fees had not been adjusted since the 1970s.
Mr. Godwin answered questions from City Council and reminded them that in addition to
their regular September meetings, they would have two special meetings on September 3 and
September 16.
18. Discuss development fees and provide direction to staff.
Mr. Godwin said he discussed this item with the budget, and would bring an ordinance
for consideration at their September 16 meeting.
19. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2019-025: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, FORGIVING CERTAIN CIVIL
PENALTIES ASSESSED AGAINST THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 801 W.
WASHINGTON STREET; FINDING A PUBLIC PURPOSE IN SUPPORT OF SAME;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Godwin apologized for not having the information in the packet, and said this came
up at the last minute. He said from time to time City staff waived code penalties and interest on
properties when those charges become so high as to make a sale impossible. Mr. Godwin said
the costs were far more than the property was worth and because of the amount, these fees
required Council authorization. He explained that the prospective buyers planned to rebuild an
existing house and improve the lot and its taxable value. Ms. Harris said the City would recoup
the demolition fee of $750.00, and explained the BSC orders. Council Member Knox inquired
about the back taxes, and Mr. Godwin said he did not know about the back taxes, but that would
be handled at closing. This was forgiving fees, interest and penalties.
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Page 6
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Hughes and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
20. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
No future events were referenced.
21. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Pilgrim and was seconded by Council Member Hughes. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
PAULA PORTUGAL., MAYORO-TEM
CE ELLIS,