24 - Key to the City PolicyItem No. 24
Memorandum
TO: Mayor Pro Tem, City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
SUBJECT: KEY TO THE CITY OF PARIS
DATE: May 13, 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.
A draft policy was presented by Mayor Hughes to the City Council on April 22, 2024. The
following items were discussed as needing edits made to be brought back:
1. Allowance for non-residents to receive a KCP.
2. Use of the word "impactful" in the description.
3. Not requiring that a KCP be given out each year.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
The City Manager believes he has edited the policy to incorporate the above edits. The following
summarizes the edits made:
1. Introduction Section — N/A
2. Procedure Section
a. Deleted the third and fourth sentence of the first paragraph.
b. Awarding a KCP, particularly to a distinguished non-resident, may not be
conducive to a singular event, but may be better left flexible in order to determine
what moment in time, and where, is most meaningful and appropriate.
c. By removing the fourth sentence, it allowed us to remove the third sentence while
also addressing the reality that perhaps no KCPs will be issued in any given year
because this policy is no longer tied to a specific event like the annual banquet.
3. Eligibility Section
a. Added "impactful" to the first sentence.
b. Deleted the third sentence.
c. Needed to remove the language limiting the KCP to residents, thus opening it up to
distinguished non-residents. But it would therefore be appropriate to remove the
language prohibiting compensation for the act being honored as some (including
distinguished non-residents such as the President, Governor, Athlete, etc.) may
have been compensated for the work they did. That doesn't make their work any
less impactful to the community and worth honoring with a KCP.
BUDGET:
The City currently has 17 keys to the city available for this program. When this supply is
exhausted, and should we wish to continue with the program, we can purchase more keys at that
time.
OPTIONS:
1. Approve the attached Key to the City Policy and select a third council member to join
Mayor Hughes and Mayor Pro Tem Pankaj as a selection and award committee.
2. Request edits to the attached policy.
3. Reject the policy and/or do not have a Key to the City Policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve the attached Key to the City Policy and select a third council member to join
Mayor Hughes and Mayor Pro Tem Pankaj as a selection and award committee.
Key to the City of Paris
City Council Policy
Aj;IN4, 2, 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.
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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, dirrri actfi,,4
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. S] Pa;4p, iu,i
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x;;ei xi e, 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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