01-13-2025MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
January 13, 2025
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
January 13, 2025, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor:
Mayor Pro -Tem:
Council Members
Opening Agenda
Mihir Pankaj
Gary Savage
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; Randy Tuttle,
Assistant Police Chief; Osei Amo-Mensah, City
Planner; Todd Mittge, City Engineer; Danny
Rowell, Interim Utilities Director; and Clyde
Crews, Fire Marshal
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.
No one spoke during citizens' forum.
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 Norment and seconded by Council Member Kessel. Motion carried,
7 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meetings of December 9, 2024, and December 30, 2024.
Regular Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Page 2
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Paris Economic Development Corporation (10-15-2024)
b. Main Street Advisory Boad (11-12-2024)
c. Historic Preservation Commission (11-13-2024 & 11-25-2024)
d. Paris Public Library Advisory Board (10-16-2024)
e. Traffic Commission (10-2-2024)
f. Board of Adjustment (11-5-2024)
g. Tax Increment Zone "TIRZ" (11-14-2024)
7. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2025-001: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS RENAMING THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 150
IST STREET SOUTHEAST THE GENE ANDERSON CITY HALL ANNEX.
Approve the City of Paris 2025 Investment Policy.
9. Receive the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Fiscal Year ending 9-30-
23.
10. Approve a Professional Services Agreement in the amount of $33,930.00 with Hayter
Engineering for services related to the Belford Building Park Lot Design; and authorize
the Interim City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
Regular Agenda
11. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2025-001: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AMENDING THE TRAFFIC
CONTROL MAP ADOPTED IN SECTION 11.02.005 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS ADDING STOP SIGN ON WEST
WASHINGTON STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH 4TH S.W. STREET
STOPPING EAST AND WEST -BOUND TRAFFIC ON WEST WASHINGTON
STREET.
Assistant Police Chief Tuttle said complaints were received from citizens on W.
Washington Street concerning the speed of vehicles travelling east and west on that street. He
reported that the Traffic Commission considered this issue and voted unanimously to make it a
four-way stop.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Ellis and seconded by
Council Member Savage. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
12. Discuss, accept the bid, and approve an Agreement with Pridemore Construction, LLC
to perform structural demolition services in the amount of $54.00 per ton, with the
contract term of three years; and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute all
necessary documents.
Regular Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Page 3
Code Enforcement Supervisor Robert Talley said the current contact for demolishing and
removing debris of condemned structures would expire this month. He said a bid was advertised
and three bids were received for this service. Mr. Talley said the lowest bid was from Pridemore
Construction, LLC in the amount of $54.00 per ton.
Council Member Norment wanted to know what the city was currently paying, and Mr.
Talley said $36.65. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage inquired if Pridemore had the equipment needed to
do the job, and Mr. Talley answered in the affirmative. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage wanted to know
if $54.00 per ton included everything. Mr. Talley said it did not and that the city had to pay all
landfill fees. Mayor Pankaj had Mr. Talley walk the Council through the bidding process. Mayor
Pro -Tem Savage inquired if he reached out to the current company to find out why their bid was
nearly three times as they were currently charging. Mr. Talley said he did not. City Attorney
Stephanie Harris said that would not have made a difference.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by
Council Member Ellis. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Discuss and act on adopting a fine free policy (retroactive) at the Paris Public Library.
Library Director Connie Lawman explained that the library had a practice of charging
daily circulation fines to patrons who were late in returning their items, and the current rate was
.20 cents per day. She said adopting a fine free policy would attract more patrons and reduce
barriers to the collection at the library.
A Motion to adopt a fine free policy and make it retroactive was made by Mayor Pro -
Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2025-022: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY
OF PARIS, TEXAS AND AUDAX ENTERPRISES, LLC; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris said Audax acquired the Williamsburg Shopping Center
and had spent over $1 million in improvements to the property. She also said Audax learned of
the City's retail economic development program and applied for incentives. Ms. Harris reported
Council direct staff to prepare a Chapter 380 agreement with the developer to incentivize and
aid in its attraction of new retailers to fill 9 empty retail spaces within the Center. She said the
agreement before them represented the staff's negotiations with Audax and was consistent with
the retail incentives policy. She reviewed the terms of the agreement with Council.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
Regular Council Meeting
January 13, 2025
Page 4
15. Discuss and act a RESOLUTION NO. 2025-003: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS AMENDING THE GUIDELINES AND
CRITERIA OF THE 5 IN 5 HOUSING INFILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Planning Director Osea Amo-Mensah explained the 5 in 5 Housing Infill Development
Program was adopted in January of 2022 for the purpose of incentivizing the redevelopment of
neighborhoods in the City's core. He said City Staff proposed revisions to the Guidelines which
would apply the 80% construction requirement only to developers with existing agreements
pursuant to which the City conveyed Trustee properties. He said this revision would allow
applicants with multiple development involving their previously owned properties to enter into
additional agreements regardless of the completion rate of the improvements required under their
existing active agreements.
Mayor Pro -Tem Savage asked for clarification of taking 80% and using your own
property or trustee property. Ms. Harris said if it was a mix, that the 80% would apply to the
trustee properties and the City would not lose anything. Council Member Kessel inquired about
new applications and Ms. Harris said they were posted for the first meeting in February. Mayor
Pro -Tem Savage wanted to know how many trustee parcels could someone have. Mr. Amo-
Mensah said there was no limit to parcels but on units. Ms. Harris said the agreement limits ten
units. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage reiterated no more than ten units.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by
Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
16. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Council Member Putnam referenced the fires in LA and asked that an item be place on
an agenda at a future meeting regarding the maintenance of fire hydrants.
17. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro -Tem
Savage and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 7 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor
Pankaj adjourned the mee�jtig' l 1&Q4,p.m.
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jAA ICE ELLIS, CITY C.
TEXAS
MIHIR ANKAJ, MAYOR