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05 - City Council MinutesItem No. 5 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS February 13, 2023 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2023, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas. Present: Mayor Pro -Tem: Reginald Hughes Council Members: Mihir Pankaj; Linda Knox; and Clayton Pilgrim City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Robert Vine, Assistant City Manager; Skylar Unger, Deputy City Clerk; Gene Anderson; Finance Director; Rich Salter, Police Chief; Andrew Mack, Director of Planning & Community Development; M.A. Smith, Public Works Director; Todd Mittge, City Engineer; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal Absent: Mayor: Paul Portugal Council Members: Shatara Moore and Gary Savage Opening A Benda 1. Call meeting to order. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Invocation. Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Pilgrim led the pledge. 4. Citizens' Forum. Don Walker — he presented a letter to City Council pertaining to keeping people off the streets by having a shelter for them. Consent A enda Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the consent agenda for discussion. Council Member Knox inquired about the change order under number seven and also requested that in the future all waiver of civil penalties be placed on the regular agenda. A Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Council Member Knox and seconded by Council Member Pankaj. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays. Regular Council Meeting February 13, 2023 Page 2 5. Approve minutes from the meeting of January 23, 2023. 6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions: a. Paris Visitors & Convention Council Board of Directors (11-21-2022) b. Planning & Zoning Commission (1-3-2023) c. Board of Adjustment (1-3-2023) d. Historic Preservation Commission (1-I1-2023) 7. Approve the final change order for the Love Civic Center Restoration Project with Tegrity Contractors, reducing the contract amount by $20,403.00 from $1,398,454.00 to $1,378.051.00; and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. 8. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2023-009: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, TO WAIVE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON CIVIL PENALTIES ASSESSED AGAINST A DANGEROUS STRUCTURE SITUATED ON PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS CITY OF PARIS BLOCK 1, LOT 2, LOCATED AT 1204 FITZHUGH; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 9. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2023-010: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AMENDED AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) FOR THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF STATE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN SUPPORT OF THE 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 AND 2027 STEAK WARS FESTIVAL; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 10. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2023-011: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PARIS AND THE COUNTY OF LAMAR CONCERNING THE NORTHEAST TEXAS AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 11. Approve a professional services agreement with DeadCat Media, LLC for branding manager service in the amount of $14,000.00; and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents. 12. Receive quarterly update as to the status of the Vacant Building Registration. 13. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2023-012: A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RE- SALE OF THREE PROPERTIES, PREVIOUSLY BID -OFF TO THE CITY OF PARIS, Regular Council Meeting February 13, 2023 Page 3 TRUSTEE, TO PARIS/LAMAR COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PURSUANT TO THE 5 -IN -5 INFILL HOUSING PROGRAM. Re pular A Benda 14. Discuss and award a bid in the amount of $72,225.00 to Adams Lawn Service to mow 89.39 acres, and award a bid in the amount of $14,060.00 to Green's Lawn Service to mow 12.02 acres. Public Works Director Michael Smith said staff sent out a request for bids for ground maintenance on each property, and received the bids before them tonight. Mr. Smith recommended awarding on bid for 21 properties for a total of 89.39 acres to Adams Lawn Service in the amount and another bid for a total of 12.02 acres to Green's Lawn Service. A Motion to approve these bids was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 15. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2023-004: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 2.10, DIVISION 2, SECTION 2.10.033 REGARDING PEACE OFFICERS' TCOLE CERTIFICATION PAY; AMENDING SECTION 2.10.034 THERETO REGARDING LATERAL SENIORITY PAY; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Manager Grayson Path explained that he would present items 15, 16 and 17 together but each item would require a separate vote. Mr. Path said for several years, the Paris Police Department struggled to maintain staffing due to a number of national and local factors. He explained it was challenging to find qualified individualsto serve as police officers and despite constant efforts, the department was currently down approximately 17 police officers. He referenced civil service regulations and the time it takes to refill a position. Mr. Path also said in order to try and reverse the course and build the department back up, management believed it was time to re-evaluate compensation, which included authorization of lateral seniority pay, authorization of a sign -on bonus to be given to both certified and non -certified officers, an increase of the sign -on bonus from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 to be paid over the course of the first year and given only to those who have never been a Paris PD officer, authorization of up to $1,000.00 in moving expenses for anyone who becomes a Paris PD officer and who lives more than one hour away and authorization of an increase in certification pay. Paris Police Chief Rich Salter explained management staff was taking this very seriously and in summary, the City was paying to train officers for free and then they were moving to other agencies. He said there was a nationwide law enforcement shortage. Chief Salter also said the call load for the City of Paris officers was more than the County or the School Districts Departments. He emphasized leaving was not all about the money. Chief Salter said he was planning an online reporting system for things like someone wanted to report a stolen bicycle which would lessen some of the street load. Council Member Knox inquired why they did not Regular Council Meeting February 13, 2023 Page 4 include former officers and Mr. Path said it would prevent officers from leaving and coming back. Council Member Knox wanted to know about the $10,000.00 bonus if an officer quits after one or two years. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said the bonus would not be paid until the third anniversary of the hire date, and all new officers would be required to sign a contract to pay the bonus back should that occur. Chief Salter said he and Lieutenant Bankston planned to begin trying to recruit ex -military and retired police officers. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays. 16. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-013: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE PARIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PAY A HIRING INCENTIVE OF $10,000.00 TO NEWLY HIRED PARIS POLICE OFFICERS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays. 17. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-014: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE PARIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PAY A RELOCATION EXPENSES INCENTIVE OF UP TO $1,000.00 TO NEW HIRE PARIS POLICE OFFICERS WHO LIVE FURTHER THAN ONE HOUR FROM THE PARIS POLICE DEPARTMENT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays. 18. Convene into executive session pursuant to: A. Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the purchase exchange, lease or value of real property. B. Section 551.087 of the Texas Government Code, (1) to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or (2) to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision (1), as follows: Project Clydesdale. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes convened City Council into executive session at 6:12 p.m. Regular Council Meeting February 13, 2023 Page 5 19. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on those matters in Executive Session. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes reconvened City Council into open session at 6:33 p.m. and said there was no action to be taken. 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 Council Member Pankaj and seconded by Council Member Knox. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes adjourned the meeting at 6:34 p.m. REGINALD HUGHES, MAYOR PRO -TEM SKYLAR UNGER, DEPUTY CITY CLERK