05-28-2024 AgendaCITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Paris shall meet in special session
at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The meeting will be held at the City Council
Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman Street, in Paris, Texas. One or all Council Members may be
attending remotely, but the feed will be available for live viewing at
https //paristexas.gov/public. The matters to be discussed and acted upon are as follows:
1. Call meeting to order.
2. Citizens' forum.
(Persons desiring to address the Council must limit their presentation to no more than two minutes. Unless
an item is posted on the Agenda, the Texas Open Meetings Act prohibits the Council from responding to
any comments other than to refer the matter to a future agenda, to an existing policy, or to a staff person
with specific factual information. Claims against the City, Council Members, or employees, as well as
individual personal appeals are not appropriate for citizens' forum.)
If necessary, the City Council may convene into Executive Session under Chapter 551 of the Texas
Government Code regarding any item on this agenda.
3. Discuss and act on a Resolution approving Osei Amo-Mensah as the Director of Planning
and Community Development as recommended by the City Manager in conformance
with Section 21 of the City Charter.
4. Adjournment.
Certification
I certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the bulletin board in the City Hall Annex, 150 First
St. SE, Paris, Texas and on the City's website at www.paristexas.gov, no later than 5:30 p.m. on May 24,
2024.
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
Special Accommodations
This facility is wheelchair accessible and accessible parking spaces are available. Requests for special
accommodations or interpretive services must be made forty-eight (48) hours prior to this meeting. Please
contact Janice Ellis at (903) 784-9248 or jellis@paristexas.gov for assistance.
Item No.
Memorandum
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
Rob Vine, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: Director of Planning and Community Development (DPCD)
Appointment of Osei Amo-Mensah
City Charter Section 21
DATE: May 28, 2024
BACKGROUND:
The Director of Planning and Community Development position has been vacant since October
2023. It therefore became the task of the City Manager and Deputy City Manager to seek out and
select an appropriate candidate to fill this position. A copy of the Job Description is found below.
The City Manager and Deputy City Manager worked with Sandy Collard, Human Resource and
Civil Service Director, to serve as an Interview Team. After an initial unsuccessful attempt through
standard channels of searching for a candidate through TML, Indeed, etc., we contracted with SGR
Executive Recruitment to issue a more targeted search across the nation. This has proven to be a
challenging position to fill. We received several applicants, ultimately interviewing four (4) of
these individuals based on qualifications.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
We are pleased to present to you Osei Amo-Mensah, AICP, as our selection for Director of
Planning and Community Development (DPCD). Mr. Amo-Mensah's resume is attached to this
agenda memo. Mr. Amo-Mensah has a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning (MCRP), a
Bachelors Degree in Law, and is an American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP). He has
approximately 20 years of municipal planning experience spread out across four communities, the
most recent being the Planning Director / City Planner for the City of Aransas Pass, TX. He has
displayed a great depth of knowledge and understanding that matches the job description in a wide
array of planning fields. We are very impressed with this individual, both in his experience as well
as his character. He possesses the right combination of potential, experience, attitude, energy,
professionalism and civility that we want to see as the leader of the Community Development
Departments which consist of the Building Department, Code Enforcement Department, Historic
Preservation, and Main Street. He holds an impressive array of education, experience and training
credentials that have helped prepare him to take on the challenges of leading these departments as
its new Department Head.
Pursuant to the Paris City Charter, Section 21, "Neither the council nor any of its members shall
direct the City Manager or any of his subordinates in the appointment or removal of any city
employee; provided, however, that the appointment o `department heads shall be sub ectmmto the
a Lrova; o '¶the council." Therefore, the job offer to Osei Amo-Mensah is contingent upon the
approval of the City Council as well as some final background checks we are finishing up.
If his appointment is approved by the City Council, Mr. Amo-Mensah plans to start right away,.
BUDGET:
Osei Amo-Mensah will be given a starting salary of Grade 335, Step S, which is $93,349.00. This
is a salaried position. We believe that his years of experience warrant a starting step higher than
step 1.
OPTIONS:
A resolution has been presented to you tonight to appoint the City Manager's selection of Osei
Amo-Mensah as the Director of Planning and Community Development.
1. Approve the resolution as presented.
2. Request edits to the resolution as presented.
3. Request additional information regarding Osei Amo-Mensah or the process.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Resolution to appoint Osei Amo-Mensah as the Director of Planning and Community
Development.
JOB OP PORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT'
EQUAL OPPORIVNITY EMPIA)YER
Appflnflov Des dllncd Opom Undl Fffled
DIRE(TOR OF PLANNI'NG AND, COMMUNITY DIEVEILOPIVIENT
Salary Based on Expenence
Range: $79,081 -4107,618
BRIE', 19 .. 30...11 DESCRJFTION� High level adyninistTiative position tesportsible fbr Om dirern a
tiond cipe][MI.i(Ma of all AI.T. ecis oft1w
..... . ...
nang w.W CommunityTeire.-lowarnt nei-wasinwnt iixfixEng the &ming Omfinaure, Building Permitting and hv�pecfion, Cade
EnlbrccineiAj, Main Strv:tt and the C"Outplichensive. ILwa. Works under the direction of tbe City Managim; however,position requires
extemsive Mls in leadersltip, managemeni, commuji-iiMions, plamwing aud oiVanizin&
ESSENTIAL JOB IASUNCTIONS.- Directs, plans, sujvrvisx., OVM-zW.ft, finplements and fw?'anily= the financial MaTra,en uenA,
work, flow and Maintesmce of the Planrdng mid Community Development Davinwrt, including Code Ehfomerrxmt,
Building Permitting and Jnq)eetioa, and Main Suvmt, R.espousible fbr the., adminiswation of ffie� Ciay's &ning Ordinaire, %yorking. with
the City, Engirmer and Tujltfic Works Dbix-nni, to implenvent. Xmists proqwnfive develolmis throughnut tin p1mming w.id cotnvmrdty
developineni process, AsMsv, the City En&eer and Public Works Dirm-tor to the impleznemlation of the City's SubdiAsion Ordhuwnce
Dirc,cis, overces, administers and tTdates flic ( "Ay's Cos mprelle'nsive Plear andMain Street Progms.n. Serv&s as spice&n`upng Admitdoti-alar
w.u.1 City PlAnnen Conducts backgmund mixarcli and data collection for congm.daensive, plAnning. abes
ctivi, ]Nrflv�,
ectsi
txflicies and
enforcement ofimunicipal codes inchiding but nol hi noted to municipal buOding codes and ivs,-rulations, international hufldlng coMs,
nuisance code -r,:, panynftfing, ijuWefing, and zxnring ivguhdiows, Maliagmvaricus. grant through state to fb-deral projwnss,
ovemeeing apphcafion, award, projif.mt developitient, project cornpletion, and ivqiortffig. Wozky, wilh the City IwubHc Waiks
Director, and odd City Staff in iiw, planaing, desigmng, cost esainasting, and construction an OfFeWeZ Itapital
ponjects 4".'416owites with architeels, contractogs, profewiowil servkx*. wid other consanwtion &W.cialist. Holds consultants,
enginceis, archftects, piofessional services, contratnon and otbicr related finns, scam xintsble to enwre dist all projeru stre in cornpliance
with I.Acal, State and Pedwal Laws mid Agreemmits, Develops and implernents, goals, pliorifi&, policitz and prrx;eAfu:n� relating to
Municipal Planning and CA:)im.mwvnifty DCVCIDPIneM, Direds ongoffig research into vew municipal pluming and community develcqmnent
concepts, terhytologies mid trevAs and T6010minends haiplementation of programs and v;uipmew to lwrlp deliarlintnt achkwc its objectives
more efficiently. DevOops and nuintairts all efficient Complaint tracking system. [by the deparinumt, investip
,atinp issues, ukd irspon&
tan cid"sen concents, Superviscs and monhors staff perforntanre, enswirip
.., that they we in coiqiliaracae with City Poficies, jmvwxdures,
a)rdinwwes mid renolutiorm Selecvs, Proamms" nxfthmtes, evahiates, traimi awl discipfines dq)artmeni pq.-.nQmtrT consistirutwith
N:tphcable laws atal the City's Per,,;tmur.,I Pohciex, and IToccAures. Works w4h and sbxnds City Cconcil; and oda m Be.m.iird ami Commixt".
] tings meq twxded. Advkx* City Manager and depanmeat heads cm Plamiing mid Community Devekipment iss"s avul saalutiom to
ackhwss isaiic& Sal Ves as slaff fialson or fwie,-As as de6gnwe for a number Of IN)ardls and commi&6mm,
ljj.lA,j,!FICAJ1QNS.
A&xhiisuafior4 or a ivIsted field and at lea.q, six (6) yvin of murticipal p1mining experirmce or Yehited planning, zgining and
developme,tat opciations, including considerable ingmagentent tiad ndxnini,;tyative expeTitrrwe. A1101 opnificatiork prnfhrred, Must liave
bmic cAnripurerskilfis with Microsoft Windows ValiA Class "C" Texas driver's flcewe.
TO Ail PILN. .Applications shimild Iv, cornplevd and submim.-A to the Ory of'Pimis, Finance (Vficc, 135 11, S.E ApIARAtions are
avaiinbleinihe City's Fijujux, Offie4mid onow: mpebsite
POSTED, ChIliallAnnex Bull d .N.ald�I)q
. ......... ..... ........ .
BY:
0SE1 AMO-MENSAH, AICP
I have gained continuous eighteen years of public organization servi€ e. experience and
specialized in the following areas:
W Planning Management/Budget
Finance
• Land Use & Code Enforcement
• Community
ActivisTjj,.mpowerment
• Transportation Planning
* Envi ro n mental/ 11 ealth/Satety
Planning
* Economic Development
* Urban Design
In search of an outfit where my skills can be put to optirnum use to achieve the goals anti
objectives of the Land Development. I am ready to exhibit my leadership abilities, as well as
my customer relations to good use. I am looking for an opportunity where I can apply nly
project management skills to create a change for a unique kind of development for the
community.
CITY OF ARANSAS PASS
Planning Director/City Planner
October 2019- March 2024
Duties & Responsibilities
• Reviews all development applications for rezonings, replats, subdivisions and
variances, and coordinates the activities of the Design Review Committee under the
Development Policy for projects that require starf review.
• Prepares department budget and supervises personnel under my department -
Development Services.
• in charge of the NFI P Program ( Floodplain Management) for the City projects,
• Prepares all memos and support information for development applications to be
considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, and the Board of'
Adjustment and makes presentations to those bodies.
• Prepares Budget, ordinances, amendments, policies, resolutions, reports and other
documents for the City Manager and City Council.
• Ilelps navigate developers, homeowners and others through the various rules and
regulations designed to guide our community's growth and development-
Provide, advice and guidance of the comprehensive plan to City Council, other
Boards and Commissions, and other departments on development applications and
regulations.
Prepare text amendments and enforce regulations for land development, building
construction, signs, trash and litter, and other City codes.
Provide inspections of all new residential, commercial, industrial and accessory
building construction.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
SENIOR CITY PLANNER
April -August 2019
Dutie s& Responsibilities
• Led and supervised land development zoning section team for the purposes of
current planning such as review of applications for environmental compliance in
relation to variance, rezoning and subdivision plats.
• Prepared satff report, ordinances, and other related documents and presented
before the Planning & Zoning Commissiorn, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and City
Council.
• Led early assisitance meetings with developers, consultants, property owners and
other groups to review, advice and provide policy guidelines to reach an agreement
for proposed projects.
CITYOFASHLAITD
CITY PLANNER 2005-2019
Ashland '. Kentuck-u is a City, with a voFulation of about 21684 located within Bogd Coun
at the Tri-State of Ohio -West Virginia and Kentucky border along the Ohio river.
Duties & Responsibilities as a City Planner
• In charge of Planning and Zoning Division. Reviews site plans, zoning applications,
properties, and comprehensive plan, planning statute, zoning ordinance, state and
federal regulations for compliance.
• Coordinates with other departments to provide planning information and guidanc,_��
to the public; communicates and works with developers regarding plans submitted
to the City.
• Prepares and administers planning division's annual budget and oversees all
expenditures to prevent over -expenditure of appropriations. Supervises employees
and planning projects.
• Prepares staff reports and present at public hearings and advice the Planning
Commission, Zoning Board of Adju5tment-variances conditional uses, and City
• Commission on planning issues and policies. Processes annexations, econonmic
development programs -TIF, downtown redevelopment, empowerment zone
projects, CIP projects, and gants.
• Acts as researcher for all housing programs. CDBG, public housing, Vouchers, etc.
Represents the City at various meetings at local, state and federal levels.
Created, processed and coordinated 3 RFP's, and hired consultants to produJM
various City Comprehensive Plan Updates. I
0SE1 AMO-MENSAH
• Represented the City as a technical adviser and voting member to the Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) and lobbied transportation funds to help improve City
roads and bus transport infrastructure,
• Part of a team that redesigned stale City River -Front $40 million project
development, to put to use to generate funds for- the city.
• Revised and reduced Division of Planning & Zoning application forms into sets based
on Boards and Commissions that review them and scanning which resulted in
reduced time and paperwork process and retired one-third cosL of paper usage per
ye a r.
• Used AutoCAD and GIS soft wares to help design, review and implement Infill
developments, Neighborhood Housing Revitalization projects within the City that
won an award.
LTVTVFlf�Tfff(7�715 I 0AUfr,_F__,
2004
SENIOR MANNER
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which was incorporated September
29, 1922. The population is estimated to be 32,522.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Reviewed site, building elevation, building permit applications and exhibits to
ensure compliance with city codes, ordinances, and/or conditions of approval.
• Developed short and medium-term plans with the aid of maps.
• Provided information on use applications, ordinances, codes, plans and related
planning programs, services or regulations to architects, engineers, developers,
contractors, owners, community groups, and interested persons that relates to City
maps.
• Managed land development projects, set tip for planning and zoning meetings and
prepare presentation for meeting.
• Represented the department at various meetings as well as evening meetings as
necessary.
• ACHIEVEMENTS
• Used mapping points in the development and implementation of growth management,
land use, economic development, utility, housing, transportation, facilities, solid waste
or other physical plans and codes to meet the City's needs and any inter -governmental
agreements or requirements.
Used GIS software to prepare map amendments to fUtUre land use and zoning map,
prepared location maps for developmera projects, and effectively managed tile city's
GIS data and program.
EMERGENCY MAN AGEMFNT INSTITUTE - FEMA 2024
ManQyin,y Floodplain Development throkgh the NFII
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS (AICP) 2015
THE 01110 STATE UNIVERSTY, COLUMBUS, Oil 2002
MASTER OVCITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING, (MCRP)
(Emphasis on Planning Management and Land Development).
UNIVERSITY OF SCEINCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI- GHAMA 1994 BACHELOR
OF ARTS
(Majored in LAW and minored in SOCIOLOGY)
Elected as high School Association President un college campus (LOSA],
Represented College Hall track team (100,200 meters)
12-11W.2 -111,11, [430FAM111131
• AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS (AICP)
• AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (APA)
(FORMER KENTUCKY REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE- REGION 4- E,XKUTIVE BOARD
MrMBER)
• AMERICAN SOCIETY OF FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS (ASFPM)
K0161
Served as a consulting mortgage specialist to establish close relationships with assigned
business partners, such as Mortgage, Small Business Bankers, Business Banking Officers
and Investment
Executive to ensure that established goals for each business line is met. JPMorgan Chase
Co. is a muldnational banking and financial services holding company headquartered in
New York City.
4-S&MIC1, 2 N
with total assets of US$2.35 trillion.
PROTFAM-AGENCY-STATE DEPARTMENT OF OHIO JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES
2002-2003
PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT ANALYST 1
The Ohio Department of job and Family Services (ODJFS) is the administrative department
of the Ohio State government responsible for supervising the state's public assistance,
Adoption child care, and child support programs. My responsibilities involved
comprehensive desk reviews of provider cost reports (e.g. residential foster care & foster
care networks).
UNILEVER GHANA LIMITED
A CCO UN TS CLERK- A CCO UN TS HF -4 D Q UA R TERS 1994-1995
Processed debit and credit notes to various divisions and prepared balanced sheet at
accounts headquarters Department,
Unilever is a tutch multinational consumer goods company co -headquartered in
Rotterdam, Netherlands, and London, United Kingdom. Its products include food,
beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products. It is the world's third-largest
consumer goods company measured by 2012 revenue, after Procter & Gamble and Nestl6.
Unilever is the world's largest producer of food spreads, such as margarine. One of the
oldest multinational companies, its products are available in around 190 countries.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS, APPROVING OSEI AMO-MENSAH AS THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY MANAGER IN
CONFORMANCE WITH SECTION 21 OF THE CITY CHARTER; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Section 21 of the City Charter provides that the appointment of department
heads by the City Manager is subject to the approval of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended for appointment to the office of Director
of Planning and Community Development, Osei Amo-Mensah; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to approve the City Manager's appointment of Osei
Amo-Mensah as the Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Paris;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things
approved.
Section 2. That Osei Amo-Mensah shall be and is hereby approved as the Director of Planning
and Community Development of the City of Paris, on the recommendation of the City Manager, and
as a consequence of said approval to serve as Director of Planning and Community Development,
said approval to be in conformance with Section 21 of the City Charter, and the aforesaid Osei Amo-
Mensah shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to perform any and all responsibilities and
obligations incident to the office of Director of Planning and Community Development.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED on this 28th day of May, 2024, by the City Council of the City of
Paris, in regular session, following notice and publication as required by law.
Mihir Pankaj, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney