02-28-2022MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
February 28, 2022
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
February 28, 2022, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufinan, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Paula Portugal
Mayor Pro -Tem: Reginald Hughes
Council Members: Gary Savage, Mihir Pankaj, Linda Knox, and
Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Robert Vine,
Assistant City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson;
Finance Director; Richard Salter, Police Chief;
Andrew Mack, Director of Planning & Community
Development; M.A. Smith, Public Works Director;
Paul Strahan, Airport Manager; and Clyde Crews,
Fire Marshal.
O penin Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Portugal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes led the pledge.
4. Citizen's forum.
Suzy Harper, 545 Johnson Woods Drive — she asked City Council to consider improving
the lighting downtown.
Consent A »enda
Mayor 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
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February 28, 2022
Page 2
made by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes and seconded by Council Member Savage. Motion carried, 6
ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting of February 14, 2022.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Paris Economic Development Corporation (1-18-2022)
b. Love Civic Center Board (12-9-2021)
c. Paris Public Library Advisory Board (1-26-2022)
d. Building & Standards Commission (11-15-2021)
7. Receive January monthly financial report.
8. Receive January drainage report.
9. Receive January demolition and code enforcement activity reports.
10. Approve an Agreement with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas for lease of a portion of
the City's Lake Gibbons.
11. Approve the Final Plat of East Side Storage Addition, Lot 1R Block A, LCAD Property
ID PT of 50982, and all of 127856, located at 350 N.E. 46a' Street.
12. Approve the Final Plat of the Webb Addition, Lot 1, Block A, LCAD Property ID 17712,
located at 1346 W. Booth.
13. Approve the Replat of AAA Mini Storage Addition, Lot 1, Block A, LCAD Property ID
126622, located at 1301 N.W. Loop 286.
Regular, Agenda
14. Discuss, conduct a public hearing, and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2022-009: AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING THE CITY OF PARIS CODE OF ORDINANCES, ZONING
ORDINANCE 1710, OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AS HERETOFORE
AMENDED SECTIONS 9-102, 9-201, AND 9-301 REGARDING AREA
REGULATIONS FOR MINIMUM LOT AREAS, WIDTHS, AND DEPTHS; TO ADD
SECTION 15-103 REGARDING NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES;
AND TO AMEND SECTION 22-100 REGARDING GENERAL DEFINITIONS;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, SAVINGS
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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February 28, 2022
Page 3
Planning Director Andrew Mack said that over the past year staff and the Planning &
Zoning Commission had been discussing the need to update the zoning regulations regarding
substandard lots. He also said that the City had numerous lots in the interior core that were
slightly smaller than standard requirements, which required variances in order to build upon.
Mr. Mack said the Board of Adjustment had processed numerous variances for cases of lot size,
width and depth. Mr. Mack explained the proposed amendments would give staff the authority
to administratively approve these types of issues, thus eliminating needless delays for building
permits.
Council Member Pankaj expressed appreciation for staff's willingness to make the
process more efficient. Council Member Savage inquired if staff had spoken to any of the
builders about these amendments and Mr. Mack answered in the affirmative. Council Member
Knox said she thought this would be another tool that would assist with the 5 in 5 program, and
the revitalization that was taking place in neighborhoods.
Mayor Portugal opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about
this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Portugal closed the public
hearing.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
15. Discuss, conduct a public hearing, and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2022-010: AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 1710 OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AS HERETOFORE AMENDED, SO AS TO REZONE CITY OF PARIS BLOCK 2,
LOTS 1, 2, AND 3 IN THE CAMPBELL ADDITION, LOCATED IN THE 1200
BLOCK OF S.E. 12TH STREET, FROM A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (LI) TO A
TWO-FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT (2F); DIRECTING A CHANGE
ACCORDINGLY IN THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY; PROVIDING A
REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A
PENALTY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Mack explained that the requested zoning was allowed by the future land use and
expanded on the growth in the area. He said this would also fall under the 5 in 5 program.
Mayor Portugal opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about
this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Portugal closed the public
hearing.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
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February 28, 2022
Page 4
16. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-014: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY A
CHAPTER 380 RETAIL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager Grayson Path outlined the parameters for having Chapter 380 Agreements,
which included a 380 Program. Mr. Path said the City approved a Chapter 380 Program several
years ago, but it was found to be too restrictive. He also said the primary focus involved
calculations from Sales and Property Taxes, as well as several incentive options. He said the
goal was to grow our local economy, thus an increase in public funding coming in. As stated in
the public purpose, Mr. Path emphasized this Retail Economic Development Program was to
protect and enhance the City's fiscal ability to provide high quality municipal services for the
safety, comfort and enjoyment of Paris residents.
Council Member Savage inquired if this would be available for use in the downtown area
and Mr. Path answered in the affirmative, citing any 380 agreement would be brought to the City
Council for approval. Council Member Pankaj said this was an incredible job done by staff.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-015: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ALPHA LAKE, LTD. AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Path explained that Mr. Culpepper approached City Staff on behalf of Alpha Lake,
Ltd., owner of the Paris Towne Center Shopping Center, with a proposal for sales tax and
property tax incentives to assist the company in attracting retail establishments to open stores in
the spaces vacated by J.C. Penney, Office Max, Payless Shoes, and Bealls. Mr. Path said the
vacant spaces total 102,197 square feet according to the LCAD records, and the proposed new
retailers were Ross Stores, TJ Maxx, Ulta Beauty and Big Lots. Mr. Path also said at the time
the City was not collecting any sales taxes but if this agreement was approved, the City would
begin collecting fifty percent (50%) of the sales tax receipts attributable to the new retailers'
sales for the calendar years 2024, 2025 and 2026.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris said City Council had the terms in front of them and said
if there were questions, she would be glad to answer them. She said this agreement is similar to
the one they approved for Spiral Weld and was the first retail agreement the City had done.
Mayor Portugal said it was her understanding that they could not .begin work until this was
approved. Ms. Harris answered in the affirmative and Mr. Path added that each company would
have to first obtain a permit from the City prior to beginning work. Council Member Pankaj said
these opportunities were fantastic, and expressed appreciation to the City Council and City Staff.
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February 28, 2022
Page 5
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes and seconded by
Council Member Pankaj. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
18. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-016: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, DECREASING THE NUMBER OF
MEMBERS ON THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD TO THREE(3);
ESTABLISHING THE RULES AND THE ROLE OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY
BOARD; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Path said on January 12, 1970, the City Council established an Airport Advisory
Board and now, fifty years later things had changed quite a bit. Mr. Path explained that up until
this past fall, the City had contracted for over twenty years with a third party entity to serve as its
Airport Manager and Fixed Based Operator. Mr. Path said Airport Manager Paul Strahan was
hired in October 2021, and had done an outstanding job taking over operations. He also said one
of the changes that needed to be made was the role and responsibility of the airport advisory
board, and that staff proposed to dissolve the current board, reduce the number of members to
three and set up the board to be an advisory board with clearly established roles. He thanked the
current advisory board members for their service, as did Council Member Knox. Mr. Path said
staff would accept applications for the new board and City Council would make appointments
when they appoint all board members.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Knox and seconded by
Council Member Pankaj. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
19. Accept Council Member Renae Stone's resignation from City Council District One,
discuss and possibly act on an appointment to fill the vacant position for City Council
District 1 until the next general election for District 1, which will occur on May 7, 2022.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris said that Renae Stone submitted her resignation in writing
on February 18, and withdrew from the May 2022 Election. Ms. Harris explained that the
Charter allows for the City Council to appoint a qualified candidate to fill that vacant seat until
the next election.
A Motion to accept the resignation of Renae Stone was made by Council Member Savage
and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
Ms. Harris said that Shatara Moore had made application for the May 2022 Election, and
was the only applicant. Ms. Harris also said it was the discretion of the City Council if they
wished to appoint Ms. Moore to the vacant seat, or appoint another qualified candidate. Council
Member Knox said she thought they should go ahead and appoint Ms. Moore to fill the vacant
seat. Council Member Pilgrim confirmed with Ms. Harris that this appointment would not count
against Ms. Moore being able to serve a full term of office.
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February 28, 2022
Page 6
A Motion to appoint Shatara Moore to the District 1 vacant seat was made by Council
Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Savage. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
20. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
There were no future events referenced.
21. Adjournment.
There being no further business, A Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro -Tem
Hughes and seconded by Council Member Pankaj. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor
Portugal adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
PAULA PORT �„�
UGAL, AYOR