10-23-2023MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
October 23, 2023
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
October 23, 2023, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Reginald B. Hughes
Council Members: Shatara Moore, Gary Savage, Rebecca Norment,
Clayton Pilgrim, and Rudy Kessel
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Doug Harris,
Assistant City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson;
Finance Director; Rich Salter, Police Chief; Todd
Mittge, City Engineer; and Michael Smith, Public
Works Director
Absent: Mayor Pro -Tem: Mihir Pankaj
O penin, A,enda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Hughes called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation.
3. United States Pledge of Allegiance & Texas Pledge of Allegiance.
Boy Scout Troop 2 led the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge of
Allegiance.
4. A. Veterans Memorial Day Remembrance.
Mayor Hughes said it was an honor to pay tribute to the dedicated veterans who had
served this great nation with such distinction, both in peacetime and in war. On behalf of the
Paris City Council, he invited everyone to the Veterans Day Remembrance Memorial on
Saturday, November l lt" at 2:00 p.m. at the Love Civic Center.
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October 23, 2023
Page 2
B. Citizens' Forum.
Alvin Atwood, 2419 Bonham — he said the water and sewer rates continued going up. He
said this hindered him to provide for his family and he was going to put in his own harvest
system and he was willing to fight over it in court.
James O'Bryan, 3150 Bonham — he said the basic needs of citizens should be addressed
and that a single complaint did not warrant regulation by municipal governments. He said
municipal governments had gone too far and urged everyone to vote for proposition 1 in the
Texas Constitution Amendment Election.
Randy Hider, 120 Eastland Ave. — he said City Staff had been amazing in helping him
work through the platting process.
Consent A Benda
Mayor Hughes inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the
consent agenda for discussion. Council Member Savage asked that item 8 be pulled and the
report of demolition and code enforcement activities read. He said the public needed to know
what had been done because these items had come up in the West Paris Town Hall meetings.
City Manager Grayson Path read the report. No other items were pulled for discussion. A
Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting of October 9, 2023.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Main Street Advisory Board (9-12-2023)
b. Historic Preservation Commission (9-13-2023)
c. Paris Visitor & Convention Council Quarterly Reports
d. Love Civic Center Quarterly Reports
7. Receive September drainage report.
8. Receive demolition and code enforcement activity reports.
9. Approve the Final Plat of the Huey Addition, Block 102, Lot 1, LCAD 15580-582,
located in the 1400 Block of Lamar Ave.
10. Approve the Final Plat of the Asay Polk Street Addition, CB 253B, Block A, Lot 1,
LCAD 18085, located in the 2100 Block of E. Polk Street.
11. Approve the Final Plat of the Sky Sherman Street Addition, CB 102, Block A, Lot 1,
LCAD 15396-340, located in the 300 Block of West Sherman Street.
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October 23, 2023
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12. Approve the Final Plat of the Hider 158 Addition, Block A, Lot 1, LCAD 16556, located
in the 1000 Block of S. Church Street.
Re pular A ends
13. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on an ORDINANCE NO. 2023-066: 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 ALLOW A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT
(SUP) FOR AUTO FUEL SALES IN A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C) IN THE CITY
OF PARIS BLOCK 251, LOT PT OF 27-B, LCAD #53673, LOCATED AT 2335 N.
MAIN STREET; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Community Development Coordinator Triniti Frazier explained that the applicant
requested a Specific Use Permit to remodel an existing building, which was formerly Church's
Chicken and the Shell Station, located at 2335 North Main Street. She said the site plan reflected
no changes to the site. She also said City Staff had been notified that removal of the fuel tanks
had been completed. Ms. Frazier also said planned improvements included repair and
replacement of broken pavement, including the driveway approach and where feasible, some of
the pavement would be replaced with green space in order to bring this legal non -conforming site
closer into conformity with the buffer yard, green space, and planting requirements. Ms. Frazier
reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval with the seven
conditions listed on the memo in their agenda packets.
Mayor Hughes opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak in favor
or opposition of this item to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Hughes closed
the public hearing.
A Motion to approve this item with the conditions set out was made by Council Member
Pilgrim and seconded by Council Member Savage. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-046: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, NOMINATING HUHTAMAKI, INC.
TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
TOURISM (OOGEDT") THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK
("BANK") FOR DESIGNATION AS A QUALIFIED BUSINESS AND AN
ENTERPRISE PROJECT ("PROJECT") UNDER THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE
PROGRAM UNDER THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT, CHAPTER 2303,
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE ("ACT"); AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
PEDC Executive Director Maureen Hammond said to approve this item would be no cost
to the City. She said to approve this Resolution would simply be supporting and assisting with
Huhtamaki's application to Texas Enterprise Zone, which was a program used by the State of
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October 23, 2023
Page 4
Texas to stimulate investment, job retention and creation. Ms. Hammond explained projects
were eligible for refunds of the state -portion of sales and use taxes paid on taxable purchases
made for the designated facility for a five-year period. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said an
Ordinance in 2016 was approved that allowed the City to participate in the program and
nominate projects.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
15. Discuss and approve an agreement with Garver Engineering in the amount of
$118,158.00 for performing a lead service inventory; and authorize the City Manager to
execute all necessary documents.
Public Works Director Michael Smith said EPA initiated the Lead and Copper Rule on
June 7, 1991 to protect public health by minimizing lead and copper levels in drinking water. He
also said a recent revision made to LCR mandated public water suppliers to complete a Lead
Service Line Inventory of their distribution system. Mr. Smith said staff's recommendation was
to enter into an agreement with Garver to perform a lead service line inventory.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Pilgrim and seconded by
Council Member Kessel. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
16. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2023-067: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF
A SOLID WASTE COLLECTION PERMIT TO NETX DUMPSTER RENTALS, LLC
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN THE BUSINESS OF COLLECTING
AND/OR TRANSPORTING SOLID WASTE FROM COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL UNITS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS; FINDING A PUBLIC NECESSITY AND CONVENIENCE FOR ISSUANCE
OF SAID PERMIT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO
THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Janice Ellis said NETX Dumpster Rentals had filed for an application for a
solid waste collection permit and had submitted the required certificate of liability insurance.
Ms. Ellis said this company was new to Paris, and that staff recommended approval of this item.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by
Council Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2023-047: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS, TO REPEAL RESOLUTION 2023-045 NOMINATING PAT
MURPHY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE LAMAR COUNTY APPRAISAL
DISTRICT; NOMINATING BRYAN GLASS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE
LAMAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR A TERM OF OFFICE OF TWO
YEARS BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2024; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
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PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Ms. Ellis said on October 91h the City Council nominated Pat Murphy to serve on the
Lamar County Appraisal District Board of Directors and subsequently, the City Staff learned that
a State statutory provision rendered Mr. Murphy ineligible to serve. She also said that Council
Member Pilgrim and Mayor Pro -Tem Pankaj had been working together to bring a name forward
for consideration. Council Member Pilgrim said their recommendation was Bryan Glass, a local
realtor.
A Motion to repeal Resolution 2023-045 and to Nominate Bryan Glass to serve on the
Board of the Lamar County Appraisal District was made by Council Member Pilgrim and
seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
18. Discuss and act on an Agreement with Placer.ai in the amount of $5,000.00 (total cost of
$15,000.00), for a joint program with Paris Economic Development Corporation and the
Lamar County Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of collecting area analysis.
City Manager Grayson Path explained that Placer.ai was a location analytics company
that collected geolocation data from mobile devices, and supported needs to measure store
traffic, foot traffic counts and provided insight to understand how promotions, holidays,
seasonality and events impact business. Mr. Path said the City of Paris wanted to partner with
the Paris Economic Development Corporation and the Lamar Chamber of Commerce to fund the
purchase of a one-year subscription with each organization providing $5,000.00. Lamar County
Chamber President Paul Allen said the detail of this data provided a lot of information, and gave
an example of 10,000 people attending the Festival of Pumpkins, where they are from and where
they spend their money in the City. He said this information was gathered from "pings" on cell
phones.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by
Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
19, Convene into executive session pursuant to:
A. 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: City of Paris v. Essent PRMC.
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
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October 23, 2023
Page 6
financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision (1), as
follows:
1) Economic Development Agreement with Emerald Hospitality, LLC re: Home 2
Suites Development;
2) Tax Abatement Agreement with We're Going to Paris, LLC re: Westgate Apartments
3) Project Vine to Paris;
4) Project Green House.
Council Member Norment said she needed to be recused from item 19A. A Motion to
recuse Council Member Norment from item 19A was made by Council Member Pilgrim and
seconded by Council Member Kessel. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
Mayor Hughes convened City Council into executive session at 5:50 p.m. Mayor Hughes
reconvened City Council into open session at 6:35 p.m. A Motion to bring Council Member
Norment back to the meeting was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by Council
Member Pilgrim. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Hughes convened City Council into
executive session at 6:36 p.m. for the remainder of the items.
20. Reconvene into open session and possibly act on those matters discussed in executive
session.
Mayor Hughes reconvened City Council into open session at 6:50 p.m. and said there was
no action to be taken.
21. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Mayor Hughes reminded everyone that the fourth West Paris Town Hall meeting was
scheduled for Tuesday, October 31S` at 2:00 p.m. at the Historic Union Depot, and the fifth and
final West Paris Town Hal meeting was scheduled for Thursday, November 2"d at 9:00 a.m. at
City Square.
Council Member Savage said he would like for the City Council to receive quarterly
reviews of the demolitions and code reports.
22. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
g J ,i�gl y y Mayor
Hughes adjourned the meetCouncil Member Kessel. Motion carried, a
Pilgrim y es — nays.
LD B. HUGHES, MA"`O °
ICE ELLIS, CITY �LE�
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