06-24-2024MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
June 24, 2024
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
June 24, 2024, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Members: Rebecca Norment, Alix Putnam and Shatara
Moore
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Rob Vine, Deputy
City Manager; Doug Harris, Assistant City
Manager; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; Janice
Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson, Finance
Director; Rich Salter, Police Chief; M.A. Smith,
Public Works Director; Osei Amo-Mensah, City
Planner; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal
Absent: Council Members: Rudy Kessel
Opening A enda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj 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.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage led the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge
of Allegiance.
4. Citizens' Forum.
Larry Schenk, 3765 Dawn Drive — he said he had spoken four other times about a COLA
adjustment for retired employees and the last time was 2008. He referenced HB 2464 passing
recently which now allows cities to participate in giving retired city employees a COLA without
having to do so for cumulative years.
Linda Knox, 655 Church Street — she said she supported moving forward with rezoning
as outlined in item 15. She expressed appreciation to City Council for addressing this so quickly,
as she spoke about it two weeks earlier.
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June 24, 2024
Page 2
John Lestock, 477 Dogwood Circle — he asked that Council consider giving retired
employees a COLA and cited the City had recently received 2 million dollars from the federal
government and referenced the Rainy Day Fund as sources where the COLA could be funded.
Carolyn Williams, 5044 -3rd S.W. — she said she was going to court on July 1St at 2:30
p.m. for a mowing lien or code violation against her and invited the City Council to attend.
James Smith, 1933 Cedar — he said he recently made a post on face book about audible
signals on walking signals and that the Mayor gave him an update prior to this meeting. He said
he understood TxDOT was working on this. He said he was glad the Mayor addressed this and
would appreciate the Council making all of Paris more accessible for the disabled.
Skipper Steely, 801 W. Sherman — he asked that the City spray for mosquitoes.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Pankaj inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the
consent agenda for discussion. There being none, a Motion to approve the consent agenda was
made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried,
5 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting of June 10, 2024.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Main Street Advisory Board (3-12-2024)
b. Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board (5-9-2024)
c. Building & Standards Commission (5-20-2024)
7. Receive April monthly financial report.
Receive demolition and code enforcement activity reports.
9. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2024-029: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, RECOMMENDING KEVIN ASHMORE TO THE
LAMAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE
SULPHUR RIVER REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY BOARD OF
DIRECTORS; DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS
RESOLUTION WAS PASSED COMPLIED WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS
ACT; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE
SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
10. Approve Change Order #1 with Pro Tech Track & Tennis, Inc. and an amendment to the
contract with Paris Texas Pickleball (for construction of eight pickleball courts),
Regular Council Meeting
June 24, 2024
Page 3
increasing the amount by $25,628.00 to be funded by the City from Paris Texas
Pickleball.
11. Authorize the expenditure of TIRZ Funds for the May 9, 2024, Texas Comptroller Office
presentation in the amount of $87.27.
12. Approve a Maintenance Agreement with Moonlighting, Inc. in the amount of $10,000.00
for the maintenance of the plaza tree lights, with the term dates of October 1, 2023 to
September 31; and authorize the City Manager to sign.
13. Approve a Water Meter Replacement Agreement with JB & L Utility Contractors in an
amount not to exceed $48,000.00; and authorize the City Manager to sign.
Regular Agenda
14. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2024-030: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, INITIATING THE DISANNEXATION
PROCESS FOR FOUR PARCELS OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON OR AROUND
COUNTY ROAD 22500 (LCAD#S 71112, 71113, 70422, AND 70423) WITHIN THE
CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS AND SETTING PUBLIC HEARINGS
REGARDING SAME; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED
TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Deputy City Manager Robert Vine said that Nexus Renewable Power, LLC ("Nexus")
on behalf of Robert Moore, the property owner, had submitted a petition to disannex four parcels
of property located west of Paris, and parts of the property were inside the City. He also said that
Nexus had leased the parcels from Mr. Moore as part of the MRG good Solar Project. Mr. Vine
reported that the primary issue with disannexation of the proposed area as far as the City was
concerned was loss of potential property tax revenue. Mr. Vine explained the estimated taxes
on the parcels for the next 30 years was estimated between $307,267.00 and $768,167.00. He
said that Nexus had proposed entering into an agreement where the City could disannex the
property and Nexus would pay an agreed sum of three installments beginning 30 days after
disannexation and ending 30 days after beginning of operations, anticipated to be in December
of 2025. He also said in addition to, or in lieu of a portion of agreed upon taxes, Nexus was also
open to developing of the proposed extension of the Trail de Paris that runs through the property.
Mr. Vine reported that Nexus had estimated the 2026 taxable value of parcels after installation
of the Project at $15,800,000.00 and depreciating to $3,713,000.00 by year ten.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris reviewed the timeline should Council wish to undertake
disannexation proceedings with respect to this property.
Saragon Daniel spoke on behalf of the Project. He said they bought the land in 2012,
and had developed solar all over Texas. He said the agreement they were proposing to the City,
would keep the City tax revenue neutral. Mr. Daniel answered questions from City Council about
benefits of disannexation, distance from other property owners, liability insurance and benefits
to Chisum ISD.
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June 24, 2024
Page 4
Following additional discussion, a Motion to initiate the disannexation process was made
by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 3 ayes —
2 nays, with Council Members Norment and Putnam casting the dissenting votes.
15. Discuss rezoning from (217) Two -Family Dwelling District to (SF -1) One -Family
Dwelling District in the Church Street Historic District, and provide direction to staff.
Planning Director Osei Amo-Mensah explained the City's Future Land Use Map called
for Low Density development that constitutes Single -Family Dwelling units and not Two -Family
Dwelling units. He said that Section 9B-21 of the Zoning Ordinances required that this must first
go before the Planning and Zoning Commission to review and send a recommendation to
Council. He also said in the past, City Council had been directed to not initiate zoning changes
without the property owner's involvement. He referenced a stake -holder meeting.
Mayor Pankaj inquired how Council wished to proceed. Council Member Norment
recommended they go ahead and start the process of rezoning. She inquired about the area this
would cover. Mr. Amo-Mensah said it was subject for review and they were looking at the area
but that it could change. Council Member Norment said she thought it covered the entire Church
Street Historic District area and asked if they could hear from Linda Knox. Ms. Knox said the
Church Street Historic District also included South Main. She also said at the last Council
meeting, residents from both South Main and Church Streets spoke. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage
asked how far east the district went. Ms. Knox explained that if a property on Church Street
contained property that went all the way to 3`d Street, then that part of 3`d Street was also in the
Historic District. Council Member Norment said it would not do anything to existing structures
but only affect new construction. Council Member Norment said the Historic District residents
were trying to protect the entire district. Council Member Savage said when he was looking at
it, he thought it was just Church Street. City Manager Grayson Path recommended letting the
Planning and Zoning Commission vet this for them. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said staff
needed clarification as to if they wanted the City Staff to initiate re -zoning for the entire district
or conduct a stake -holder meeting. Council Member Moore said she thought they should have
a stake -holder meeting. Council Member Savage said there were several Historic Districts and
inquired which district. Council Member Norment said it was Historic District Two.
A Motion to start the proceedings of rezoning Historic District Two for single family
dwellings was made by Council Member Putnam. Mr. Amo-Mensah inquired about the stake-
holder meeting. Ms. Harris said there would be a public hearing at the Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting. Council Member Norment seconded the Motion. Motion carried, 5 ayes
— 0 nays.
16. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
No future events were referenced.
Regular Council Meeting
June 24, 2024
Page 5
17. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro -Tem
Savage and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor
Pankaj adjourned the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
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MHIR PANKAJ, MAYOR
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