03-14-2022MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
March 14, 2022
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 14, 2022, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Paula Portugal
Mayor Pro -Tem: Reginald Hughes
Council Members: Shatara Moore, 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;
Russell Thrasher, EMS Chief; and Clyde Crews,
Fire Marshal.
Openina A enda
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.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes led the pledge.
4. Citizen's forum.
Kari Daniel — owner of Downtown Coffee and Paris Yoga Project, and a downtown
resident. She asked that the City Council be mindful of the additional needed downtown lighting
for safety purposes. She also said the lighting downtown would make it more inviting to those
wishing to visit and shop downtown.
Regular Council Meeting
March 14, 2022
Page 2
Consent Agenda
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
made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6
ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting of February 28, 2022.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Paris -Lamar County Board of Health (12-13-2021)
b. Board of Adjustment (2-1-2022)
c. Planning & Zoning Commission (2-7-2022)
7. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2022-017: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MVBA,
LLC d/b/a ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COLLECTIONS GROUP FOR THE
COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL ACCOUNTS OWED
TO THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ALL
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE CONTRACT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS, AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Re ular A ends
8. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-018: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS RATIFYING THE APPOINTMENT OF
SHATARA "SHA" MOORE TO FILL THE CITY COUNCIL VACANCY IN
DISTRICT ONE AND TO SERVE AS COUNCIL PERSON FOR DISTRICT ONE
UNTIL MEMBERS ARE SEATED AFTER THE MAY 2022 ELECTION; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Janice Ellis said at the last Council meeting they appointed Shatara Moore to
serve the unexpired term of Renae Stone for City Council District One. She said for procedure
purposes they needed to approve the resolution ratifying their prior action.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
9. Administer the Oath of Office to newly appointed City Council District 1, Shatara
Moore.
Ms. Ellis administered the Oath of Office to Shatara Moore.
Regular Council Meeting
March 14, 2022
Page 3
10. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2022-018: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS, DECLARING UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES IN CITY COUNCIL
DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3 AND 6 FOR THE MAY 7, 2022 GENERAL ELECTION TO BE
ELECTED TO OFFICE; DETERMINING THAT NO GENERAL ELECTION BE
HELD IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND 6; DIRECTING THAT A COPY OF THIS
ORDINANCE BE POSTED AT APPROPRIATE POLLING PLACES; DIRECTING
THAT CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION BE ISSUED TO THE UNOPPOSED
CANDIDATES; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO
THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Ms. Ellis said the candidates for Districts 1, 2, 3 & 6 were unopposed and the candidates
were Shatara Moore for District 1, Gary Savage for District 2, Reginald Hughes for District 3,
and Clayton Pilgrim for District 6. She explained this ordinance was needed to declare there
would not be an election in May and these candidates were deemed elected to office.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
11. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2022-012: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE
7.02, SECTION 7.02.001, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE HEAD OF EMS FROM
"DIRECTOR" TO "CHIEF"; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager Grayson Path explained that the Police and Fire Departments had similar
title structures of Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and so forth. He said that he and Russell
Thrasher would like to change the titles of the EMS personnel to more correlate to the Fire and
Police Departments.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Knox and seconded by
Council Member Pankaj. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
12. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-019: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, TO APPROVE AN ESCROW
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND ENNS VENTURES, LLC, RELATING
TO DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY'S 5 IN 5 HOUSING INFILL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ALL
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE AGREEMENT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS
AND PROVISIONS; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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March 14, 2022
Page 4
City Planner Andrew Mack explained that Ronny Enns with Enns Ventures was
requesting full abatement of all demolition liens against the 2.5 -acre property located at the
southeast corner of 7a' St. N.W. & Henderson. He said the two apartment structures were
demolished on this site and the southern site in 2009 as a smaller part of the former Casa Bonita
apartment complex after previous destruction of a portion of the large site from a tornado in
1982, and subsequent fires and deterioration pervaded the development site over time.
Mr. Mack said Mr. Enns entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the property and
planned to build 15 duplexes on the site, and planned to return to the Council in April for the
execution of a proposed 5 In 5 Housing In -Fill Development Program Agreement following his
closing on the property. He also said in order to proceed with the closing, an abatement request
was submitted by Mr. Enns. Mr. Mack said the abatement request was for a demolition lien in
the amount of $76,942.00 plus interest of $164,534.96 totaling $241,476.96. He said the
mowing lien was in the amount of $360.00 plus interest of $882.82 totaling $1,242.82. Mr.
Mack said in order for the City to be assured of Mr. Erns performance under the 5 In 5 Housing
In -Fill Development Program Agreement for Phase I of the development would be completed,
that Mr. Erns had agreed to enter into an escrow agreement with $30,000.00 in security. Mr.
Mack reported if Mr. Enns completed his work, that the $30,000.00 would be returned to Mr.
Enns and if he does not, the City would retain the security. Mr. Mack said a public purpose was
present in this request as this agreement will contribute towards the future maintenance and care
of the existing property and construction of residential units adds value to the neighborhood and
City. With regard to the escrow agreement, Mr. Mack said staff was recommending option 1,
which was to approve a resolution to waive the demolition and nuisance abatement liens in the
total amount of $242,719.78, subject to the execution of an escrow agreement and receipt of
security in the amount of $30,000.00. He said option 2 was the same option as 1, but could
include the full amount of principal or some other figure as determined by the City Council and
option 3 was to reject the resolution and require Mr. Enns to pay the entire balance of principal
and interest of the liens.
Mr. Mack answered questions from City Council and introduced Mr. Ronny Enns.
A Motion to approve an escrow agreement between the City and Enns Ventures, LLC
relating to development associated with the City's Five in Five Housing Infill Development
Program was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes and seconded by Council Member Knox.
Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-020: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARS, TEXAS, TO WAIVE PRINCIPAL AND
INTEREST ON A DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT
LIENS ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS CITY OF PARIS BLOCK 90, LOT 1-A TO
FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF SAID PROPERTY UNDER THE CITY'S 5 IN 5
HOUSING INFILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS
AND PROVISIONS; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Regular Council Meeting
March 14, 2022
Page 5
Mayor Portugal said discussion of this item was included in item 12 and asked if there
were additional information or discussion. There being none, Mayor Portugal called for a
motion on this item.
A Motion to approve a Resolution Forgiving a Dangerous Structure Abatement Lien and
Abatement Lien assessed against the property located at the intersection of 7th Street N.W. and
Henderson, to be developed by Enns Ventures, LLC for the five in Five Program as described in
Option 1 was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim.
Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Council Member Pilgrim asked if they could get downtown lighting on a future agenda,
because it had been brought up several times, and it was his understanding there were several in
the community who wished to donate to the project. Council Member Pankaj said he had visited
several other cities and had ideas he would like to share and inquired who those should be sent
to. Mayor Portugal suggested he share the ideas with Andrew Mack. Mayor Portugal said she
was in favor of additional lighting and there was $50,000 pledged from community members
toward downtown lighting, and that fundraising was continuing. Mr. Path said he would place
this item on the next agenda.
There were no future events referenced.
15. Adjournment.
There being no further business, A Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Pankaj and seconded by Mayor Portugal. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Portugal
adjourned the meeting at 5:55 p.m.
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