01-09-2023MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
January 9, 2023
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
January 9, 2023, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufinan, 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; 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
Opening 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.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes led the pledge.
4. A. Recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
On behalf of the Paris City Council, Mayor Portugal recognized Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day scheduled for January 16, and his contributions to the American Civil Rights movement in
the 1960s.
B. Citizens' Forum.
Alvin Atwood, 2419 Bonham — he said it was a waste putting in the sidewalks on N.
Main and said the train that comes by his house and wakes him up.
Don Walker, 248 2nd S.W. — he said the City was asking for 27 million dollars and it
looked like the City could make a shelter for the homeless.
Regular Council Meeting
January 9, 2023
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 Knox. Motion carried, 7
ayes — 0 nays.
Approve minutes from the meeting of December 12, 2022.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Housing Authority (9-20-2022)
b. Historic Preservation Commission (11-9-2022)
c. Paris Economic Development Corporation (9-26-2022, 10-18-2022 & 11-17-2022)
7. Re -approve the City Investment Policy.
Receive the November 2022 monthly financial report.
9. Approve a request for an easement in favor of the Greater Paris Development Foundation
in the vicinity of the Woodard Lift Station.
10. Approve an amendment to the professional services agreement with Jason Hart
Engineering, PLLC for the Belford Building Demolition Project, to include asbestos
survey and reporting services from ERI Consulting in the amount of $1,850.00; and
authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
Re gular Agenda
11. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and possibly act on an Ordinance setting forth
Registration Requirements and Credit Extension Guidelines for Credit Access Businesses
by adding Article 5.12, "Credit Access Businesses," to Chapter 5, "Business
-Regulations," of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances.
City Manager Grayson Path said nothing had changed in the ordinance since the last time
Council had seen it. He also said notices were sent to the Credit Access Businesses and staff had
been contacted by several of the businesses which had resulted in healthy discussion. Mr. Path
said staff was asking for direction on this item.
Mayor Portugal opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about
this item to please come forward.
Shelby Wilson, Sumner, Texas - she said she had been with Title Max almost three years
and she was there to help their customers. She said a customer's wife died and he needed help
paying the rent, electric bill and getting groceries, and they were able to help him.
Regular Council Meeting
January 9, 2023
Page 3
Savannah Kitchens, Tyler, Texas ® she said she worked for Title Max in the regional
office and this ordinance could create more issues for their customers, and referenced the 25%
down requirement could cause defaults. Ms. Kitchens appreciated the City staff working with
Title Max.
Rob Norcross, 817 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas. Mr. Norcross said he was the
executive director of Consumer Services Alliance of Texas, which was the state-wide association
for Credit Access Businesses. He also said Paris was the first city since 2011 to notify industry
before they passed an ordinance and expressed appreciation for the notification. He said several
of the ordinances passed in other cities had been in litigation. He explained they were required to
file a quarterly report with the State with regard to these type loans and that installments were
authorized in 2011. He said they would like the opportunity to work with City staff to revise the
ordinance to reflect what is allowed by law, and could get something to staff within the next
couple of weeks. Mayor Portugal expressed appreciation for the information.
Council Member Savage inquired of staff what they thought of the idea of sitting down
with the CAB's and going through the ordinance. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said that staff
had received a red -line and that the process had begun. She said it was a good idea to have an
opportunity to visit with the stakeholders. Council Member Pilgrim said he does not want to do
what Austin and Dallas were doing. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes said the stakeholders and the City
should work together. Mr. Path asked that prior to leaving the meeting, that the CAB's give their
contact information to Assistant City Manager Rob Vine if they wanted to be a part of the
process.
12. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-001: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, RECOMMENDING CHRIS DONNAN
TO THE LAMAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO
THE SULPHUR RIVER REGIONAL AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS;
DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS RESOLUTION WAS
PASSED COMPLIED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk City Clerk said at the December 12' City Council meeting SuRRMA
Presiding Officer Jay Hodge gave a presentation about the Sulphur Regional Mobility Authority
including completed and ongoing projects. She also said at that meeting he informed City
Council that Board Member Curtis Fendley no longer wished to serve, and he had a
recommendation for the Board vacancy. Ms. Ellis explained that an elected official could not
serve on the Board because SuRRMA's Bylaws would not allow it. Mayor Portugal confirmed
with Ms. Ellis the process was that the City Council would make a recommendation by
Resolution as to who they wanted to represent the City's interests, and that the Resolution would
be forwarded to the Lamar County Commissioner's Court for consideration of an official
appointment.
Regular Council Meeting
January 9, 2023
Page 4
SuRRMA Presiding Officer Jay Hodge recommended Chris Donnan for the SuRRMA
Board and gave a brief background about Mr. Donnan. Council Member Pankaj said Mr. Donnan
was a good choice and Council Member Pilgrim said he was a stellar person.
A Motion to approve a Resolution recommending Chris Donnan to serve on the Sulphur
River Regional Authority Board of Directors was made by Council Member Savage and
seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2023-001: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING APPENDIX A, "FEE
SCHEDULE," SECTION A10.002, "WATER AND SEWER TAPS," OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED
OT THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Public Works Director Michael Smith explained that the fee for the Water and Sewer
Taps were not included by the ordinance approved by City Council on December 12a' amending
the Community Development Building and Planning and Zoning, Public Works, Fire and
Engineering permit and service fees. Mr. Smith said staff recommended an increase of the water
and sewer tap fees by $400.00 each.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Members Pankaj and Pilgrim and
seconded by Council Members Savage and Knox. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-002: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ADOPTING A STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR THE YEARS 2023-2033; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED OT THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager Grayson Path said that the City Council met in June 2022 for the purpose
of identifying a Strategic Plan made up of a Vision, Mission Statement and Goals for the City of
Paris. He explained the Strategic Plan was intended to guide the City in the development and
implementation of its fiscal budget for the next ten years. H said some of the goals were
budgeted this year and next year they would hit more of the goals. Mr. Path said the City
Council identified the following as their shared Mission Statement for municipal operations and
activities: "Our mission is to serve with professionalism and integrity, promote a safe and
prosperous community for all citizens, and provide efficient and effective services for an
excellent quality of life."
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
15. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Regular Council Meeting
January 9, 2023
Page 5
There were no future events referenced.
16. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Savage and seconded by Council Member Pankaj. Mayor Portugal adjourned the meeting at
6:12 p.m.
l7Y0, PAULA PORTUGAL, M "OR
•Y. �A99
JICE ELLIS, CITY