07-11-2022MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
July 11, 2022
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
July 11, 2022, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufrnan, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Paula Portugal
Mayor Pro -Tem: Reginald Hughes
Council Members: Shatara Moore; Gary Savage, Mihir Pankaj; and
Clayton Pilgrim
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Robert Vine,
Assistant City Manager; Janice Ellis, City Clerk;
Gene Anderson; Finance Director; Rich Salter,
Police Chief; Andrew Mack, Director of Planning &
Community Development; M.A. Smith, Public
Works Director; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal
Absent: Council Member: Linda Knox
Opening Agenda
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. A. Presentation of Mayor's Yard of the Month Awards
Mayor Portugal announced the Mayor's Yard of the Month Awards as follows:
Patricia Moore - outstanding appearance.
George Tabangora — outstanding appearance
Jim & Sandy Lassiter — outstanding appearance
Trevor & Ashley Norwood — outstanding appearance
Archer Construction — commercial
Sandra Nave - rehabilitation
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July 11, 2022
Page 2
Mayor Portugal presented winners who were present with a Certificate of Appreciation,
as well as a gift card from a local business. She said staff would get the certificates and gift cards
to those who were unable to attend the meeting.
B. Citizens' Forum.
James Belcher, 444-5'h N.E. — he referenced the trash on Fifth and Tudor that was having
to be consistently picked up by the Parks Department. He said instead of the City enforcing big
items people leave out that they should enforce small items and make the owners of the vacant
lots be responsible.
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 June 27, 2022.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Housing Authority (5-17-2022)
b. Planning & Zoning Commission (5-2-2022)
c. Paris Economic Development Corporation (5-17-2022)
d. Traffic Commission (12-7-2021)
e. Board of Adjustment (6-7-2022)
7. Acknowledge Mayor Portugal's appointment of Dewayne Dangerfield to the Housing
Authority of the City of Paris.
8. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2022-048: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTION OF AN ADDENDUM TO ITS AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) FOR THE TEMPORARY
CLOSURE OF STATE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN SUPPORT OF THE 2022, 903 CONCERT
SERIES; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Rey,ular Agenda
9. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-049: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE
BYLAWS OF THE PARIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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July 11, 2022
Page 3
PEDC Executive Director Maureen Hammond explained the amendments and referenced
same as contained in the City Council's agenda packet. Ms. Hammond answered questions from
City Council.
A Motion to approve the amendments was made by Council Member Pankaj and
seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
10. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-050: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF PARIS, TEXAS, SUSPENDING THE AUGUST 1, 2022, EFFECTIVE
DATE OF ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY'S REQUIRED RATE
CHANGE TO PERMIT THE CITY TIME TO STUDY THE REQUEST AND TO
ESTABLISH REASONABLE RATES; APPROVING COOPERATION WITH THE
STEERING COMMITTEE OF CITIES SERVE BY ONCOR TO HIRE LEGAL AND
CONSULTING SERVICES AND TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMPANY AND
DIRECT ANY NECESSARY LITIGATION AND APPEALS; FINDING THAT THE
MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AS REQUIRED BY LAW; REQUIRING NOTICE OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
COMPANY AND LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
Finance Director Gene Anderson said that on May 13, 2022, Oncor filed a statement of
intent to increase rates with all cities in its service area. He also said the company was seeking to
increase rates by approximately $251 million over rates currently in place and that the rate
increase requested by Oncor would become effective on August 1, 2022, unless the City takes
action to suspend the effective date. He recommended suspending Oncor's proposed rate for 90
days in order to examine the validity of the request. Mr. Anderson said staff would bring back to
the City Council a recommendation concerning this issue at a later date.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
11. Discuss and act on the water contract with Paris Generation LP (PGEN) and authorize the
City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
Mr. Anderson explained that Paris Generation was one of several contract water
customers and it was time for their contract to be renewed. He said staff worked with the City's
water rate consultant, Chris Ekrut, and this contract continues the annual rate calculation under
the annual rate study. He said the previous contract was for a three-year period and this contract
was for a five-year period with an option five-year extension.
12. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2022-042: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING ARTICLE 4.03,
"SUBSTANDARD AND DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES," OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES, BUILDING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS," TO
AUTHORIZE A SALVAGE PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES
DEMOLISHED BY THE CITY; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, PROVIDING A
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July 11, 2022
Page 4
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Assistant City Manager Robert Vine said the City of Paris had over 1.00 homes on a list
to be demolished and the list consisted of houses that had burned, partially or completely, houses
that posted a health and safety risk and were unsafe structures. Mr. Vine explained that when the
City demolishes a house or structures, all of the building materials and contents of the structures
were placed in a large commercial dumpster and then taken to the landfill. He said the City pays
a tipping fee for these large dumpsters with the costs calculated by the ton, and the dumpsters
with remnants of the house were emptied into a landfill and eventually covered with more refuse
and earth. Mr. Vine said the City initially pays for the demolition of house, the property owner
is responsible for the cost and a demolition lien is placed on the property. He said if the lien was
not paid, the City did not recoup the initial expense of the demolition.
Mr. Vine explained that the combination of deconstruction and traditional demolition was
a viable combination to increase the number of structures demolished without increasing the
budget this line item. He said deconstruction programs had become popular in larger cities and
that staff was proposing a smaller scale program somewhat similar. Mr. Vine also said that a
deconstruction program would allow a contractor to remove building materials prior to
demolition. He also explained the City planned to engage professional contractors that met the
insurance and program requirements to engage in the process of deconstructing selected houses
on the demolition list. Mr. Vine answered questions from City Council about the process and
advertisement of the process.
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.
13. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2022-051: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT WITH NORTH LAMAR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
RELATED TO A COLLECTOR STREET IN THE DISTRICT'S NEW ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager Grayson Path said the City had worked closely with NLISD to develop an
Interlocal Agreement for the cost sharing of this collector street and sidewalk. He said the City
was agreeing to waive some landscaping requirements as well as the requirement that sidewalks
be on both sides of the street, and that only one side would be served by a sidewalk. He also said
the sidewalk would be phased to time with TxDOT's anticipated sidewalk project along North
Main Street. Mr. Path said NLISD received bids for the collector street and submitted to the City
their estimate for a cost share. Mr. Path also said Hayter Engineering had reviewed the proposed
cost share and determined it to be a fair estimate for the cost to upsize the project, and that staff
recommended approval of the Interlocal Agreement to cost share this project. He said the
agreement called for a City participation of $162,079.71 to upsize the project, that this was not
budgeted, but the City had adequate reserve funds to cover this expense.
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July 11, 2022
Page 5
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071 of the Texas Government
Code, Consultation with Attorney, to receive legal advice from the City Attorney about
(1) pending or contemplated litigation and/or (2) on matters in which the duty of an
attorney to her client under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the
State Bar of Texas clearly conflict with this chapter, to -wit: Houchins v. City of Paris.
Mayor Portugal convened City Council into executive session at 6:10 p.m.
15. Reconvene into open session and possibly act on matters discussed in executive session.
Mayor Portugal reconvened City Council into open session at 6:30 p.m. and said there
was no action to be taken.
16. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
No future events were referenced.
17. Adjournment.
There being no further business, A Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Savage. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor
Portugal adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
PAULA PORTUGAL, AYOR
E ELLIS, CITY CLERK
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