05 - City Council MinutesItem No. 5
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 10, 2020
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
August 10, 2020, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Steve Clifford
Council Members: Paula Portugal; Renae Stone; Derrick Hughes; Gary
Savage; Linda Knox; and Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff. Grayson Path, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Randy Tuttle,
Interim Police Chief; Kent Klinkerman, EMS
Director; Doug Harris, Utilities Director; Carla
Easton, City Engineer; M.A. Smith, Public Works
Director; Tom Hunt, Municipal Judge; Clyde
Crews, Fire Marshal; and Skylar Hoskins, Deputy
City Clerk
Owning Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Clifford called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
City Manager Grayson Path gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Portugal led the pledge.
4. A. Citizens' forum.
Michael LeCornec — he said the Council's suspension of the concrete contractor until
2021 was an inappropriate decision. He said he represented 1,500 homeowners and they were
asking that the City immediately resume work on concrete approaches, gutters and sidewalks.
Carol Hufnagel, 720 Bunker — she asked that Council Members put aside personal
vendettas and encouraged they increase the number of the PEDC Board from five to seven.
B. Proclamation honoring the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th
Amendment.
August 10, 2020
Page 2
Mayor Pro -Tem Portugal read the proclamation. Subsequently, Mayor Pro -Tern Portugal,
Council Member Stone and Council Member Knox presented the proclamation to the group,
"The 19ffi Amendment: Hard on, Not Done" which was led by Ruth Ann Alsobrook.
Consent A2enda
Mayor Clifford said he wanted to pull item 8 for discussion. He asked Doug Harris if
bids were advertised on a public website, and Mr. Harris answered in the affirmative. 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, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting on July 28, 2020,
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Historic Preservation Commission (7-8-2020)
b. Traffic Comm.ission (2-4-2020)
7. Receive the 2020 tax appraisal roll from the Lamar County Appraisal District.
8. Approve the lowest bids received for water and wastewater treatment chemicals for use
in FY 2020-21
9. Pursuant to Texas Local Civ exit Code §392.031(a), appoint T.K. Haynes to fill the
vacant position on the Housing Authority of the City of Pan"s.
10. Approve the purchase and installation agreement with Smith Pump Co. for the purchase
of the replacement pump for Pat Mayes Intake Pump No. 1, in the amount of
$132,820.00.
11. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2020-038: A RESOL' TION 01 "I'AT CITY' COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
WITH RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING COMPANY TO
IMPLEMENT A CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM UNDER THE
GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE TXCDBG MAIN STREET PROGRAM; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
IDQECLA21NG AN EFFECTJVZDA-TF-. M
12. Approve a contract with Resource Management and Consulting Company for the
administration of the City's CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund Program.
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2020
Page 3
Regular Agenda
13. Conduct a public hearing, discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-039: A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL
JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM, GMS APPLICATION NUMBER
2020 -H8874 -TX -DJ; AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH
LAMAR COUNTY; AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS; ACCEPTING
SAID GRANT AWARD UPON NOTICE THEREOF; AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR ACCEPTANCE
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID GRANT UPON NOTICE THEREOF; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Interim Police Chief Tuttle explained this was an annual grant and that if awarded, would
be equally split with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. He said the City's portion would be
used to purchased. Automatic External Defibrillators. that were budgeted in the grant.
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.
A Motion to approve this item wasshade by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council
Member Savage.. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Conduct a public hearing to receive public input regarding the community's participation
in Community Development Block Grant programs, needs, and activities.
City Engineer Carla Easton explained that the Texas Capital Fund Program required the
City to take public input regarding the community's participation in TxCDBG Programs.
Mayor Clifford opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about
this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Clifford closed the public
hearing.
15. Discuss and possibly act on RESOLUTION NO. 2020-040: AMENDING THE
BYLAWS OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS
FOLLOWS:
a. By amending Sec. 4.02 to increase the number of Directors from five (5) to seven
(7)
b. By amending Sec. 4.12 to specify that the requirement that the Board obtain
Council approval for any expenditure over $400,000.00 on a project that extends
not only to funds from the Corporation's undesignated fund balance, but to any
obligation of any asset or thing of value at over $400,000.00, including but not
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2020
Page 4
limited to land, other in-kind assets, and to the extent allowed by law, if any, the
extension of the Corporation's credit to another entity or person.
Mayor Clifford said he placed item b on the agenda to better define what they had
previously approved. Council Member Pilgrim said he placed item a on the agenda. Council
Member Savage inquired as to how long PEDC had been in existence and whether or not there
had always been five directors. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said the election was in 1993 and
since the board had been in existence, there had always been five directors. Council Member
Knox said she thought the reason PEDC requested to expand to seven board members was so
they could form committees. Ms. Harris confirmed that PEDC had to have a minimum number
of five directors, but could have more. Council Member Pilgrim said the past and the present
PEDC board directors had reached out asking that the number of directors be increased to seven.
He said seven minds were better than five minds, and that the PEDC had a lot going on. Council
Member Stone said there had been communication issued within the PEDC and expressed
concern that adding two more directors might add to the communication issues. Council Member
Hughes said he served on the PEDC Board and five was fine. Council Member Savage asked
them to help him to understand after thirty years ,why, now they wanted to increase the number of
Directors.
PEDC Board Member Mihir Pankaj asked ifhe could address the Council and Mayor
Clifford said that was fine. Mr. Pankaj said they had, many projects at the time and increasing
the number to seven would allow them to form committees. He said they really needed more
help. Council Member Pilgrim asked aboutthe number of new projects. Mr. Pankaj said the
PEDC had two or three companies wanting to gets deals done and a couple of more prospective
companies.
Council Member Stone inquired if other board members felt the same way. Mr. Pankaj
answered yes, and said !former board member Marion Hamill was present at the meeting to
speak. Mr. Hamill asked what it would cost to have two more board members? He said the
biggest concern was always having a quorum because there were five members and seven would
make it better. Mr. Hamill also said being on the board took a lot of time. Council Member
Hughes said he believed people contacted Council Member Pilgrim about this but he had not
received any phone calls. Council Member Stone said she never gets calls from anyone.
Council Member Hughes said he trusted Josh Bray and they had been friends a long time and he
was surprised that Josh had not called him. City Attorney Stephanie Harris reminded City
Council this item was brought to them on June 22 because PEDC unanimously requested that
City Council increase the board to seven members. Council Member Knox said she was at the
PEDC meeting when they unanimously voted to increase the number to seven, and she was
going to support the PEDC Board. Council Member Portugal said she was also at the meeting
where PEDC unanimously voted to increase the number to seven.
PEDC Board Member Josh Bray said Derrick Hughes was correct, and they had known
each other for twenty-five years. Mr. Bray said he did not call anyone about this. He also said
he would love to go from five to seven, because seven minds were still better than five minds.
Carol Hufnagel said yesterday was gone and business trends change, and that having seven
members was good for their future. Council Member Savage said the future is important but you
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2020
Page 5
never get to the future without remembering the past. He said he wanted to do what was best for
Paris. PEDC Board Member Curtis Fendley said he was on the original board in 1994. He
explained that initially the Paris Industrial Foundation was a group of twenty men who went
together and combined their resources to get industry to Paris, and from there PEDC was
originated. He said the business climate had changed and referenced it was very difficult to go
from twenty to five, and encouraged the increase from five to seven board directors. Kelli
Mallicote said in 2011 her company received incentives through PEDC but the process was
delayed several times, due to PEDC being able to get a quorum together. She encouraged
increasing the board from five to seven. Mayor Clifford said he was in support to increasing the
number from five to seven.
A Motion to amend the bylaws to increase the number of Directors from five to seven
was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried,
5 ayes — 2 nays, with Council Members Hughes and Savage casting the dissenting votes.
With regard to 15b, Mayor Clifford said this language better defines what they previously
approved.
A Motion to amend the bylaws as set out in 'item 15b was made by Mayor Clifford and
seconded by Council Member Hughes. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
16. Subject to the outcome of Item 15, discuss and appoint Chase Coleman and one other
person to the Paris Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, and
determine whether and how to stagger the terms of the new appointees.
Mayor Clifford said since they increased the PEDC Board, they would need to add two
additional people and then asked how Council wished to proceed. Council Member Knox
recommended they went with the next people in line according to the points received by
applicants. Council Member Pilgrim said that was his thought too. Mayor Clifford said Chase
Coleman would be number three and Stephen Terrell would be number four. Council Member
Hughes said he wanted to nominate Tim Hernandez, and Mayor Clifford said that was fine.
Mayor Clifford asked for a vote on Chase Coleman, who received 7 votes and was appointed to
the PEDC Board. Next, Mayor Clifford asked for a vote on Stephen Terrell, who received 4
votes. Stephen Terrell was appointed to the PEDC Board. Following a brief discussion about
staggering the terms, a Motion to appoint Chase Coleman to the three year term and Stephen
Terrell to the two-year term was made by Mayor Clifford and seconded by Council Member
Hughes. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Discuss and provide direction to staff on moving forward with forgiving civil penalties
on appropriate properties.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris explained the process over the last several years with
regard to Building and Standards Commission issuing demolition orders, and assessing civil
penalties in the amount of $1,000 per day. She said as a result, most of the properties now have
civil penalties that with interest far outstrip the actual value of the property, making resale very
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2020
Page 6
difficult. Ms. Harris said Council had agreed to forgive these civil penalties on about five
properties and there were about a 1,000 of these type properties, and that staff was seeking
direction as to how to proceed. Ms. Harris confirmed that forgiveness of these civil penalties did
not include back taxes, demolition liens or mowing liens. Council Member Knox said she would
rather see these on a case-by-case basis instead of a huge amount at one time. It was a consensus
of the City Council for Ms. Harris to bring ten cases at a time to them for consideration.
18. Discuss and approve RESOLUTION NO. 2020-041: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
THE DESIGNATION OF A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ROUTE THROUGH THE
CITY OF PARIS ALONG LOOP 286; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Ms. Easton said this request was formally sent to NRHM in 2018, and the City received
approval this month. She explained having this route would allow larger signage along the
incoming highways and would direct truck traffic, along Loop 286 rather than through town.
A Motion to approve this item was made by.Council Member Savage and seconded by
Council Membef,Portug4l. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0,nays.
19. Receive presentation from the City Manager, discuss and provide direction on the FY
2020-2021 budget for the City of Paris.
Grayson Path presented the proposed 2020-2021 budget to City Council. Mr. Path
reviewed the property tax rate, the balance of operational funds, and creation of a Financial
Policy. He outlined and gave details of priorities as follows: employee pay, replacing outdated
equipment, new positions, realignment of line item budgets, maintaining operational services and
the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019. In concluding his presentation,
he inquired if City Council wanted to conduct budget workshops, have one on one meetings, or
proceed with scheduling required public hearings. Mayor Clifford said he was impressed with
what Mr. Path had done with the budget and expressed appreciation for the many hours
expended by Mr. Path. Council Member Stone said she also appreciated all of Mr. Path's hard
work.
Following a brief discussion about how to proceed, it was a consensus of City Council to
conduct a budget workshop on Monday, August 17 at 5:30 p.m. City Council asked that all
department heads attend the workshop.
20. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government
Code, (1) to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, as follows:
a. Annual evaluation of the municipal judge;
b. Annual evaluation of the city attorney
Regular Council Meeting
August 10, 2020
Page 7
Mayor Clifford convened City Council into executive session at 7:31 p.m.
21. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
Executive Session.
Mayor Clifford reconvened City Council into open session at 9:00 p.m.
22. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
No future events were referenced.
23. 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, 7 ayes — 0 nays. The
meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. '
STEVEN J CLIFFORD, M.D., MAYOR
...........��....,.m.m........................................... . ...... .............................
ELL.....m
JANICE IS, CITY CLERK