02/10/2020MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
February 10, 2020
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
February 10, 2020, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Steve Clifford
Council Members: Paula Portugal; Renae Stone; Linda Knox; and
Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff: Gene Anderson, Interim City Manager/Finance
Director; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; Janice
Ellis, City Clerk; Bob Hundley, Police Chief;
Thomas McMonigle, Interim Fire Chief; Kent
Klinkerman, EMS Director; Doug Harris, Utilities
Director; Carla Easton, City Engineer; Priscilla
McAnally, Library Director; and Clyde Crews, Fire
Marshal
Absent: Council Member: Derrick Hughes
O enin , A ends
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Clifford called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Gene Anderson gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Portugal led the pledge.
4. Citizens' forum.
No one spoke during citizens' forum.
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
made by Council Member Knox, and seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 5
ayes — 0 nays.
Regular Council Meeting
February 10, 2020
Page 2
5. Approve minutes from the meetings of January 27, 2020, February 3, 2020 and February
5, 2020.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Paris Visitors & Convention Council (11-18-2019)
b. Main Street Advisory Board (11-12-2019)
c. Planning & Zoning Commission (1-6-2020)
d. Board of Adjustment (12-9-2019)
e. Traffic Commission (1-7-2020)
Approve the proposal from McClanahan and Holmes to perform an independent outside
audit on the City's financial records for the periods ending September 30, 2020,
September 30, 2021, and September 30, 2022.
Regular Agenda
8. Conduct a public hearing, discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2020-005: AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", AS REINVESTMENT ZONE NO.
2020-1 FOR RESIDENTIAL TAX ABATEMENT; DESCRIBING THE BOUNDARIES
THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TAX
ABATEMENT WITHIN SAID ZONE; PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR TAX
ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris explained for the purpose of granting residential tax
abatements, Council authorized a reinvestment zone for Council Districts one through 5 in 2013
and expanded it to include all Council Districts in 2015. She said reinvestment zones expire five
years after creation and to continue the residential tax abatement program, Council would need
to authorize the reinvestment zone for another five years.
Mayor Clifford opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak in
support or opposition of this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor
Clifford closed the public hearing.
Mayor Clifford inquired about the number of tax abatements granted. Ms. Harris said the
City had granted seven in 2015 and all had expired. Council Member Portugal said more
advertising needed to be done for this program. Mayor Clifford confirmed that anyone wanting
to improve the home they owned and lived in, they could apply for a tax abatement. Ms. Harris
said that the homeowner would need to make an application and be approved prior to beginning
any work. Council Member Knox suggested promotion and that staff work with HPC.
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February 10, 2020
Page 3
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Knox and seconded by
Mayor Clifford. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
9. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-008: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF
CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT CITY BLOCK 120, LOT 6, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS 301 BONHAM STREET, PARIS, TEXAS, AND APPROVING THE
RELEASE OF A DANGEROUS STRUCTURE ABATEMENT LIEN ON SAID
PROPERTY; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Ms. Harris said Jack and Laura Hoskins were owners of a vacant lot located at 301
Bonham Street in the downtown area. She further said that in January of 2012, the structure at
that location collapsed into the street. She said the City expended $49,396.80 to complete
demolition and remove debris. Ms. Harris also said the City filed a dangerous structure
abatement lien in the amount plus 10% per annum, which the Hoskins had been unable to pay
and have offered to donate the lot to the City in exchange for the City's releasing the demolition
lien. Ms. Harris explained the City was interested in having the property for parking, as part of
the downtown development.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council
Member Portugal. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
10. Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding tax collection from Aequs Aero Machine,
Inc., formerly known as T & K Machine, in connection with a terminated tax abatement.
Ms. Harris said in December, City Council terminated a tax abatement with Aequs Aero
Machine pursuant to an understanding with the company that it would pay back abated taxes
without need for legal action. Ms. Harris also said that the City agreed to postpone a demand for
repayment to after April 1, 2020 and to accept repayment in two installments. She explained
they currently employ thirty-six people, with five hired on in the last month, as well as they plan
to spend $1.0-1.3 million on additional machines and capital equipment this next fiscal year.
Ms. Harris informed the City Council that Aequs had asked to repay the taxes with one
installment in April, and the second in October and that she was asking for direction.
Mayor Clifford said the company was adding jobs and it this would help them out, he
was in favor of it. It was a consensus of City Council to allow Aequs to repay the taxes with one
installment in April, and the second in October.
11. Discuss and authorize change order #2 in the amount of $57,955.54, authorize final
payment in the amount of $79,899.31 to RBIS, LLC, close out the Johnson Woods Sewer
& Drainage Improvements contract, and accept improvements.
City Engineer Carla Easton said the Johnson Woods Sewer and Drainage Improvement
project was planned and scheduled as part of the 2013 Bond Fund Water and Sewer
Improvements. She explained the project and said RBIS was awarded the contract in April 2019
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February 10, 2020
Page 4
for a contract amount of $1,499,501.00 and not to exceed 1.6 million dollars. Ms. Easton also
said they processed a change order to allowing them to bore, which saved quite a bit of time.
Ms. Easton explained the other changes due to unforeseen circumstances and said there was a
final reconciliation change order in the amount of $57,955.54 that was required to close out the
project. She also said the total contract was $1,597,986.14, which was less than the
$1,600,000,00 not to exceed amount approved by Council. Ms. Easton said RBIS met all of their
obligations under the contract.
Mayor Clifford said he noticed that the previous city manager administratively approved
a change order in the amount of $40,529.60 however, the guidelines say that anything over
$20,000 must be approved by the City Council. He inquired as to why that was done
administratively. Ms. Easton said typically they had a $50,000 allowance in the contract for a
line items. Mayor Clifford inquired why it did not come in front of the Council. Mr. Anderson
said it was a violation of the policy as written but the former city manager signed off on it. Mr.
Anderson said the not to exceed language in the contract might have created confusion. Mr.
Anderson also said he discussed this matter with the city engineer in that staff must follow
policy. Mayor Clifford said policies were in place for a reason and he wanted to see that policies
were followed. Mr. Anderson said he emphasized that to Ms. Easton, and that he did not think it
would come up again. Council Member Knox said this was referenced as part of the 2013 bond
fund however, the funds were in the 2016 bond fund. Mr. Anderson explained bonds were
issued in two different sections, 2013 & 2016. Council Member Portugal asked if final
inspections had been done. Ms. Easton answered in the affirmative and said the City would hold
onto $5,000 to make sure the grass took hold in the spring. Council Member Portugal also asked
if the drainage improvement had been tested by heavy rains. Ms. Easton said it had and she
believed everything was as it should be. Council Member Pilgrim said he looked at it in middle
of January after three or four inches of rain, and he thought it looked good.
A Motion to authorize the change order, authorize final payment, close out the Johnson
Woods Sewer & Drainage Improvements contract, and accept improvements was made by
Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0
nays.
12. Discuss and act on appointment of Tony Clark to the Traffic Commission.
City Clerk Janice Ellis said Kim McCann had recently resigned from the Traffic
Commission and that Tony Clark expressed an interest in serving on the commission. She
recommended Mr. Clark's appointment to the Traffic Commission.
A Motion to appoint Tony Clark to serve on Traffic Commission was made by Mayor
Clifford and seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government
Code, to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee as follows: Selection of candidate
for the position of city manager.
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February 10, 2020
Page 5
Mayor Clifford convened City Council into executive session at 5:50 p.m.
14. Reconvene into open session, deliberate and possibly take action on those matters
discussed in Executive Session.
Mayor Clifford reconvened City Council into open session at 6:23 p.m. Mayor Clifford
said they discussed the city manager candidates. A Motion to enter into contract negotiations
and offer the job to Grayson Path was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council
Member Portugal. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
15. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
No future events were referenced.
16. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Clifford and
was seconded by Council Member Portugal. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was
adjourned at 6:2 p.m.
MAYOR .....
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