20 - Key to the City of Paris PolicyItem No. 20
Memorandum
TO: Mayor Pro Tem, City Council
FROM: Reginald B. Hughes, Mayor
SUBJECT: KEY TO THE CITY OF PARIS
DATE: April 22, 2024
BACKGROUND:
The granting of the Key to the City is a symbolic presentation which represents the highest honor
that the City of Paris can confer on to any individual or organization for outstanding civic
contributions resulting in an improved quality of life of our citizens, making our community a
better place to live. It does not bestow any special privilege to any recipient, but instead is a
ceremonial procedure and honor.
While in office, Mayor Hashmi purchased several ceremonial "Keys to the City" to distribute to
eligible individuals. The last key to the city would have been issued over five years ago. The City
still has 17 keys remaining in storage.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
Working alongside Mayor Pro Tem Pankaj, I would respectfully request permission to approve
the attached policy, providing a committee that consists of MPT Pankaj, myself, and a third council
member to identify and award a key to the city. There are of course other methods of selecting
individuals. Some cities have the City Council authorize the final selection in a public meeting.
Other cities give discretion to the Mayor. The attached proposed option blends the two routes by
making it a non -quorum committee of three councilmembers with discretionary authority, thus
allowing the matter to reasonably remain confidential until the public surprise announcement at
the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. This does not prevent verbal
conversation to happen involving staff and other councilmembers if necessary. The City Council
could always call this item to the agenda for discussion if ever a concern were to arise.
My request is that we discuss the attached policy including any edits anyone would like to see, but
otherwise if it looks good to everyone, we approve and consider selecting a third council member
to serve on this committee so that we can begin the process of identifying candidates for the Key
to the City award. Please see the policy for more infon-nation about the process, selection,
nominations, etc,
The City currently has 17 keys to the city available for this program. I do not foresee us giving out
all 17 keys this year, so at this time there does not appear to be any known expense. When this
supply is exhausted, and should we wish to continue with the program, we can purchase more keys
at that time.
1. Approve the attached Key to the City Policy and select a third council member to join
Mayor Hughes and Mayor Pro Tern Pankaj as a selection and award committee.
2. Request edits to the attached policy.
3. Reject the policy and/or do not have aK.ey to the City Policy.
RFCOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the attached Key to the City Policy and select a third council member to join.
Mayor Hughes and Mayor Pro Tern Pankaj as a selection and award committee.
Key to the City of Paris
City Council Policy
April 22, 2024
Introduction
The granting of the Key to the City of Paris (KCP) is a symbolic presentation which represents the highest
honor that the City of Paris can confer on to any individual or organization for outstanding civic
contributions resulting in an improved quality of life of our citizens, making our community a better place
to live.
Procedure
The City Council herby authorizes the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and one other City Councilmember,
selected annually by the City Council, to serve as the KCP Committee. This committee is authorized to vet
potential candidates at their discretion, whether identified directly by the committee or presented by any
person or organization, and select an individual and/or organization for award. The committee is
authorized to make more than one selection when appropriate. The awarded person(s) and/or
organization(s), shall be announced publicly at the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet,
at which time they shall receive a KCP and appropriate paperwork honoring the event.
Any member of the community may send in written recommendations to any member of the KCP
Committee for consideration, at any time.
Eligibility
The granting of a KCP is intended to be rare and shall be restricted to instances of exceptional and/or
outstanding civic service and contribution to the community as determined by the KCP Committee. A KCP
shall not be issued in recognition of ideological, political or religious beliefs. Unless special circumstances
warrant otherwise at the discretion of the KCP Committee, it is also the intent that any individual person
who receives a KCP be a resident of the City of Paris and not having substantially received compensation
for their recognized service. Award of a KCP bestows no special privilege to any recipient beyond that
which is given to any member of the community.
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