03/26/2020MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
March 26, 2020
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special session at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday,
March 26, 2020, by video conference.
Present: Mayor: Steve Clifford
Council Members: Paula Portugal; Renae Stone; Derrick Hughes;
Linda Knox; and Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff: Gene Anderson, Interim City Manager/Finance
Director; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; and
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Clifford called the meeting to order at 5:13 p.m. and asked Mr. Anderson to give
an invocation. Interim City Manager Gene Anderson gave an invocation.
2. Citizens' forum.
Mayor Clifford confirmed with City Clerk Janice Ellis that she did not receive any e-
mails for the citizens' forum.
3. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-011: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, EXTENDING AND AMENDING THE
MAYOR'S DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY AND ORDER DATED MARCH 19, 2020 FOR AN ADDITIONAL
THIRTY (30) DAYS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED
TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Clifford said the declaration he issued was to expire today, unless the City
Council wanted to extend it. Mayor Clifford said he thought they should extend the declaration
for an additional thirty days and include the County's declaration issued two days earlier. City
Attorney Stephanie Harris said the documents she prepared did include the County's declaration
as an exhibit. Council Member Hughes inquired how it would be enforced. Mayor Clifford said
most of what was contained in the document was not mandatory but strongly suggested. He also
said there was a prohibition against gathering of ten or more persons inside or outside. He stated
that to do so was a Class C Misdemeanor and carried a fine, and that the police department
would be enforcing this. Ms. Harris said the County Declaration prohibited the gatherings, and
the police were getting good cooperation when visiting with these folks.
Mayor Clifford said help from the community was needed and that meant every single
person, in an effort to keep this virus from spreading. He said he could not stress how important
it was for everyone to do their part in social distancing. Council Member Pilgrim reiterated
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March 26, 2020
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Mayor Clifford and said if the progression of this virus continued, the United States would need
1 million ventilators. Council Member Portugal stressed the importance of social distancing too.
Mayor Clifford said if the community does not get behind the efforts that Paris would not stay
ahead of this virus. Council Member Stone said her biggest fear was that the younger generation
was not taking this serious. She encouraged people to call the police when they saw gatherings
of ten or more people. Council Member Knox said this was serious and because Paris did not
have the outbreak that other cities did, that people were not taking it serious.
Mayor Clifford said there was no question that there were other people in the community
that were positive and that the City of Paris could end up with a complete lockdown. Mayor
Clifford said he was inclined to go with the Commissioners Court on this, but the Council had
the power to order a lockdown if they decided to do so today or at a later day. Council Member
Portugal said she felt they should continue to monitor the numbers and if those increase, that
they could come back with something stronger. Mayor Clifford said if the County comes up
with more restrictions, his intention would be to do the same.
A Motion to extend the Declaration for thirty days and to amend their Declaration to
adopt the County's Declaration, was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member
Portugal. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
4. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-012: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ORDERING THAT THE GENERAL
ELECTION SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2020, TO ELECT
ONE (1) CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO DISTRICT 2; BE POSTPONE TO
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2020; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Clifford said Governor Abbott gave permission to municipalities and school
districts to postpone their elections to November. He also said if they passed this, Council
Member Hughes would stay on the Council through the November election. Council Member
Hughes said he was willing to do that. Council Member Portugal said she felt like it would
impact the voter turnout out and favored postponing it to November. Council Member Stone
said she agreed with the Governor's recommendation. Council Member Knox said they should
err on the side of caution in keeping citizens safe, and she favored the November election.
Council Members Pilgrim and Hughes also favored the November election.
A Motion to postpone the election to November was made by Mayor Clifford and
seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-013: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; APPOINTING BENNY PLATA TO
FILL THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY IN DISTRICT 3 AND TO SERVE AS
COUNCIL PERSON FOR DISTRICT 3 UNTIL MAY 2, 2020; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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March 26, 2020
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Mayor Clifford said that Mr. Trenado had resigned and it was in the best interest for the
Council to appoint someone to fill the vacancy in District 3, so that the district would have
representation. He also said that Benny Plata made application to run for City Council District 3,
and did not have any opponents. Mayor Clifford said he thought they should move forward with
the appointment Benny Plata.
A Motion to appoint Benny Plata to fill the vacancy in City Council District 3 was made
by Council Member Portugal and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes
— 0 nays.
6. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Clifford and
was seconded by Council Member Hughes. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was
adjourned at 5:42 p.m.
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STEV CLIFF — M.D., MAYOR