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09-09-2024MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS September 9, 2024 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas. Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj Council Members: Shatara Moore, Mickey Ellis, Rebecca Norment, Alix Putnam and Rudy Kessel City Staff: Rob Vine, Interim 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; Thomas McMonigle, Fire Chief; Tom Hunt, Municipal Judge; Todd Mittge, City Engineer; Danny Rowell, Interim Utilities Director; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal Absent: Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage O penin A ends 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. City Council led the United States Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Citizens' Forum. Danny Huff, 625 Beaver Creek Road — he expressed appreciation to City Council for the kind words they had spoken about the employees and retirees. He especially thanked them for the COLA for retirees and pay increase for police officers. Tommy Haynes, 3095 Abbott Lane — he thanked City Council for restarting the COLA for retirees. Carolyn Williams, 44th Street S.W. — she said she had a problem with taxes increasing. Regular Council Meeting September 9, 2024 Page 2 Brian Brumley, Lamar County — he said he had 70 rental homes and thanked the Mayor and others who helped him in getting trash issues resolved. 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 Council Member Moore and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. Approve minutes from the meetings of August 19, 2024 and August 22, 2024. 6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions: a. Paris Visitors and Convention Council (6-25-2024) b. Board of Adjustment (7-2-2024) 7. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2024-041: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, TO NAME THE CITY OF PARIS SPORTS COMPLEX PICKLEBALL COURTS IN HONOR OF CITIZEN SUE HAYS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Regular A enda Receive an update from Garver about the construction and progress of the WWTP Project. Justin Rackley with Garver Engineering firm gave a presentation regarding the progress of Phase I and Phase II of the Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements project. Mr. Rackley began with the construction timelines for both Phase I and Phase 2. He said final completion for Phase 1 was estimated for August 14, 2025, and estimated final completion for Phase 2 was April 14, 2026. He depicted photographs and drawings of the pre -construction site, construction phasing, proposed site overview, aeration basins, blower building, primary clarifiers, the MLSS splitter, RAS/WAS pump station, final clarifiers, and the septage receiving and recycle flow pump. 9. Conduct a public hearing on the advisability of the creation of the Forestbrook Public Improvement District No. 1 and the proposed improvements to be constructed in such District. Interim City Manager Rob Vine explained that the resolution had been passed to accept the PID creation petition, a professional services reimbursement agreement had been approved and tonight was posted for a public hearing only. Mr. Vine said an ordinance approving issuance and sale of Special Assessment Revenue Bonds and an Ordinance levying PID assessments and approving a final service and assessment plan and related agreement would need to be approved Regular Council Meeting September 9, 2024 Page 3 at some time. He also said Staff recommended that the public hearing be opened and that it remain open until a later date. Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and continued the public hearing until a later date. 10. Conduct a public hearing on the City's proposed tax rate for FY 2024-2025. Finance Director Gene Anderson said a hearing on the proposed City tax rate was required by Chapter 26 of the Texas Tax Code. Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the public hearing. 11. Conduct a public hearing on the City Manager's proposed budget for FY 2024-2025. Mr. Anderson said a public hearing on the proposed City budget was required by Section 48 of the City Charter and Section 102.006 of the Local Government Code. Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the public hearing. 12. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2024-029: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PARIS; APPROPRIATING THE VARIOUS AMOUNTS THEREOF; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mr. Anderson said the proposed FY2024-25 City budget was filed with he City Clerk on August 12th and presented to the City Council on August 12th. He also said on August 19th and August 22nd, the City Council held budget workshops and discussed the proposed budget and changes were made to the document. Mr. Anderson said the Ordinance summarized revenues and expenses for all budgeted City funds and departments as amended by the City Council, and provided for certain transfers to be made between various City funds. Council Member Putnam asked if they could first review item 13. A Motion to move item 13 up on the agenda was made by Council Member Putnam and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. After discussing and voting on item 13, Mayor Pankaj redirected City Council to item 12. There being no further discussion on item 12, a Motion to approve this item was made by Regular Council Meeting September 9, 2024 Page 4 Council Member Kessel and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 1 nay, with Council Member Putnam casting the dissenting vote. 13. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2024-030: AN ORDINANCE REGARDING THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM BENEFITS AND AUTHORIZING: (1) NON -RETROACTIVE REPEATING COLAS FOR RETIREES AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES UNDER TMRS ACT §853.404(F) AND (f-1); AND (2) ANNUALLY ACCRUING UPDATED SERVICE CREDITS. Mr. Anderson said in 2004, the City Council adopted Ordinance 2004-051 which repealed the automatic granting of COLAs and employee Updated Service Credits (USC). He also said in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, City Council granted COLAs and USCs. Council Member Putnam expressed concern with approving these items because it would cost the City 1.1 million dollars. She said the police department increase was very much needed, and they had another year to make a decision about the retiree COLA and the USC. Mayor Pankaj said the COLA and the USC were both very much needed, citing the number of vacant positions at the City. He said he believed it would be very beneficial in hiring and retaining employees, as it would make the City more competitive. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 1 nay, with Council Member Putnam casting the dissenting vote. Mayor Pankaj redirected City Council to item 12 for a vote. 14. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2024-031: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, DISANNEXING PORTIONS OF FOUR PARCELS OF PROPERTY EQUALING APPROXIMATELY 170 TOTAL ACRES AND LOCATED ON OR AROUND COUNTY ROAD 22500 (LCAD#s 71112, 71113, 70422 and 70423) WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PARIS CONTINGENT UPON EXECUTION OF A DISANNEXATION AGREEMENT WITH THE PETITIONER; APPROVING SAID DISANNEXATION AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAME; ADJUSTING CITY BOUNDARIES OT REFLECT NEW CITY LIMITS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Stephanie Harris reminded City Council that they had discussed this at two previous Council meetings, and answered questions from City Council. Council Member Norment said that she was pro-business but would never be for disannexation because it did not help pro -growth inside the City limits. She also emphasized the fact that the State did not support disannexation per Ms. Harris. Council Member Moore said she favored it because it would be more tax dollars for Chisum ISD. Council Member Kessel said because of the corner property, this property would not be developed for housing and he thought it was important to keep the project moving. Council Member Putnam said she had received some history about Regular Council Meeting September 9, 2024 Page 5 disannexations from the City Attorney and this was the first time a company had requested for disannexation from the City, and that she was not in favor of it. Council Member Putnam asked Council to make sure to ear mark the $400,000.00 the company was paying to the City, if the disannexation was approved so that the funds did not get lost. Mayor Pankaj said he was also pro-business, and was in favor of this disannexation. Subject to the disannexation agreement being executed by Nexus, a Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Moore and seconded by Council Member Kessel. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 2 nays, with Council Members Norment and Putnam casting the dissenting votes. 15. Discuss downtown trash ordinance, and provide direction to staff. Mayor Pankaj said Council Member Norment placed this item on the agenda. Council Member Norment said she understood that the City did not have an Ordinance addressing the trash and trash bins downtown, and there was a lot of growth downtown. Mayor Pankaj said they needed to take steps to make downtown beautiful and asked how Council wanted to move forward. Council Member Norment suggested they form a committee and Council Member Putnam volunteered to serve on the committee. Council Member Norment also suggested they ask volunteers from the Paris Downtown Association. Mayor Pankaj said they may want to involve Main Street Coordinator Cheri Bedford with regard to possibly doing a survey. 16. Receive presentation about a PEG Channel, discuss and provide direction to City Staff. Public Information Officer Jon McFadden explained that prior to 2005, Texas cities could issue franchise agreements to wire -based cable television. He said subsequently Senate Bill 5 created Chapter 66 of the Texas Utilities Code, providing a State issued cable and void franchise agreement and ending local CATV franchises. Mr. McFadden explained that Chapter 66 addressed Public, Educational Government (PEG) channels provided on a CATV system, and Municipal PEG channels offered televised meetings, videos about services, emergency information and bulletin board content. Mr. McFadden reported that after Chapter 66 took effect and existing local franchise agreements expired, Texas cities could choose to accept a 1 % PEG and Paris chose to do so. Mr. McFadden explained capital costs for operation of a PEG channel, and that the City must utilize the channel for at least eight hours daily, or the cable system could reclaim the channel for other programming. He said there was no cost for the use of a channel for PEG programming. Mr. McFadden reported that as of September 3, 2024, the PEG fund contained $865,231. Mr. McFadden said the PEG channel would improve the City's ability to share information with citizens, particularly adults 65 and up. He said a PEG channel would be another tool for sharing information and could reach many people who were not internet or social media users. He also said equipment purchased for PEG could be used for other purposes when not in use for PEG programming. It was a consensus of City Council that Mr. McFadden move forward with establishing a PEG Channel and bringing back a channel use agreement. Regular Council Meeting September 9, 2024 Page 6 17. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to Resolution No. 2004-081. Mayor Pankaj reminded Council of the short meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. 18. Adjournment. There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Ellis and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor Pankaj adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m. � ���utiirrrrrii vvSHE c I T y . -,0/' CE ELLIS, CIT,VRK 9� Mi-H&PANKAJ, MAY...... OR