02-10-2025MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
February 10, 2025
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
February 10, 2025, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Members: Shatara Moore, Rebecca Norment, Alix Putnam,
and Rudy Kessel
City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Rob Vine, Deputy --
City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney;
Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson, Finance
Director; Rich Salter, Police Chief; Osei Amo-
Mensah, City Planner; Todd Mittge, City Engineer;
M.A. Smith, Director of Public Works; Thomas
McMonigle, Fire Chief; Danny Rowell, Interim
Utilities Director; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal
Absent: Council Member: Mickey Ellis
Opening A end" -
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Prior to the invocation, Mayor Pankaj asked for a moment of silence in memory of former
Council Member Bill Strathern, who recently passed away. Following a moment of silence,
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.
Clifton Fendley, 554 S. Main — he said he had called Council Member Norment about
the train that goes through the Historic District at 3:00 a.m. sounding its horn. He said if the
City could do anything about this, he would appreciate it.
Regular Council Meeting
February 10, 2025
Page 2
Karie Raulston, 2419 S. Main — she also referenced the train and said they laid on the
horns and they were loud. She said maybe something could be done.
Alvin Atwood, 2419 Bonham — he said the train horns had awaken him many times. He
also said their water bills were too high right now and people could not afford it.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Pankaj said item 7 was to have been posted for a public hearing, so he needed a
Motion to pull it and table it to the next meeting.
A Motion to remove item 7 and table it to February 24 was made by Mayor Pro -Tem
Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
A Motion to approve the remainder of the consent agenda was made by Council Member
Norment and seconded by Council Member Kessel. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
Approve minutes from the meeting of January 27, 2025.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Love Civic Center Board (11-14-2024)
b. Paris Economic Development Corporation (12-10-2024)
c. Paris Visitors & Convention Council (11-18-2024)
d. Planning & Zoning Commission (1-6-2025)
e. Housing Authority of the City of Paris (10-1-2024 & 11-5-2024)
7. Approve a Resolution Readopting Residential Tax Abatement Guidelines.
8. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2025-008: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING A JOINT ELECTION
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PARIS AND CHISUM INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE MAY 3, 2025, ELECTION DATE; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Receive the December 2024 Financial Report.
10. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2025-009: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACT FOR THE 2024-24 TXCDBG
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND OF THE TEXAS COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE (TDA); MAKING OTER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Regular Council Meeting
February 10, 2025
Page 3
11, Approve Liberty National Bank to serve as the City of Paris depository bank for the
period March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2027.
Regular Agenda
12. Receive presentation of summary of findings on review of Paris TIRZ 41 and overview
of training to be presented to the TIRZ Board of Directors.
Director of Planning & Community Development Osei Amo-Mensah said the TIRZ
Board hired consultant, Forked Pine, LLC, to assist the board with possibly amending the project
and financing plans for TIRZ No. 1. He introduced Consultants Joseph and Cheryl Denny who
gave a summary of the project, which included the boundaries, funds collected and what the
funds could be spent on. Council Member Putnam inquired about the duration of the 50%
increment. Mr. Denny said the timeframe was 2019-2049. Council Member Putnam asked if
private investors could use the TIRZ money and Mr. Denny said yes. Council Member Putnam
asked which zone the money could be spent. Mr. Denny said Zone 2, which was the downtown
area because that is how it was currently set up.
13. Discuss and act on a Resolution approving and authorizing an Economic Development
Agreement and Tax Abatement Agreement with Invest Lamar, LLC pursuant to the 5 in
5 Housing Infill Development Program.
Mayor Pankaj said Staff learned earlier in the day that Invest Lamar, LLC had withdrawn
their application.
14. Discuss and act on the appointment of Paula Portugal to fill the unexpired term of Tylesha
Moseley on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
City Clerk Janice Ellis said staff had been advertising this vacancy for several months
and they had received an application from Paula Portugal.
A Motion to appoint Paula Portugal to the Planning and Zoning Commission was made
by Council Member Putnam and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 6 ayes
— 0 nays.
15. Receive applications for disannexation and provide direction to Staff.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris said the City had received applications for disannexation
from three property owners and grounds cited were lack of access to city water or sewer. She
explained that Dr. Kraft's existing building had both water and sewer service. She also said the
property was subject to imminent domain because of the 271 South widening project. Ms. Harris
explained that the petitions met the criteria for the City to grant disannexation and if the Council
wanted to proceed with doing so, public hearings would be required. She also said the agenda
posting did not allow for action but for direction.
Regular Council Meeting
February 10, 2025
Page 4
Dr. Wally Kraft addressed the City Council and said he was going to have to tear down
his veterinarian clinic and build another clinic further back on the property.
Ms. Harris said if it was a consensus to move forward with disannexation, she could bring
back a resolution to the next meeting. Council Member Putnam said she understood these were
special circumstances but that she was opposed for the City to disannex any property. It was a
consensus of the remainder of the City Council to move forward with disannexation.
16. Receive an update on the Fuel Farm Project, discuss and provide direction to Staff.
Deputy City Manager Rob Vine explained that Lamar County had designed a fuel farm,
and the total cost of the fuel farm was approximately $800,000.00. He reported that discussions
had continued to take place regarding a potential partnership between the City and County to
construct, manage and maintain a share fuel farm with the most recent meeting taking place last
week. Mr. Vine said the next step was to enter into an Interlocal Agreement and the County was
proposing a 50/50 split of the initial investment. Mr. Vine said Staff was looking for direction.
Mayor Pankaj inquired if there would be a joint meeting prior to approval of the
agreement. Mr. Vine answered in the affirmative. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said they would need
enough advance notice so that everyone would be able to attend the meeting.
17. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
With regard to item 13, Council Member Putnam said she wanted to have a discussion
about what the houses look like that were being built and were going into this program. She said
she would like a Council Member to be involved. She referenced building materials. Ms. Harris
inquired if she wanted a future item or if she wanted ideas from staff. Council Member Putnam
said ideas from Staff would be fine and asked that they find out what other cities were doing.
18. 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, 6 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor
Pankaj adjourned the meeting at 6:09 p.m.
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MIHIR P KAJ, MAYOR
CE ELLIS, CITTE
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