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02-24-2025MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS February 24, 2025 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas. Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage Council Members: Shatara Moore, Alix Putnam, and Rudy Kessel City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson, Finance Director; Randy Tuttle, Assistant Police Chief, Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning & Community Development; M.A. Smith, Director of Public Works; Todd Mittge, City Engineer; Danny Rowell, Interim Utilities Director; Thomas McMonigle, Fire Chief, Celso Arrieta, IT Manager; Paul Strahan, Airport Manager; and Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal Absent: Council Members: Mickey Ellis and Rebecca Norment Opening Agenda 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. Vanessa Preston, 1710 MLK — she said she and her husband Herb, along with Louis Yates had been cleaning up the Greenwood Baptist Church Cemetery for the last several years. Ms. Preston said the property was 7 1/2 acres and it was very wooded and thick. She also said they found the grave of the first free slave and there were many more graves. Ms. Preston said about 6 months ago community service workers started coming out to help them the last Saturday of the month. She asked if the City could provide any help and said it would be appreciated. Regular Council Meeting February 24, 2025 Page 2 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 Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. Approve minutes from the meeting of February 10, 2025. 6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions: a. Main Street Advisory Board (1-14-2025) b. Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board (12-12-2024) c. Historic Preservation Commission (10-9-2024 [corrected] & 1-8-2025) 7. Received January monthly financial report. Receive January drainage report. 9. Receive demolition and code enforcement activity reports. 10. Approve the Final Plat of the JMC 112 Homes Addition, Lot 1, Block A, LCAD 15741, located at 1257 E. Sherman Street. 11. Approve the Final Plat of the J&M 213 Homes Addition, Lot 1, Block A, LCAD 17361, located at 560 S.W. 19"' Street. R!jgQ,u1a,r Agenda 12. Discuss, conduct a public hearing, and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2025-004: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE CITY OF PARIS FROM HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL (HDR) TO COMMERCIAL (C) IN THE CITY OF PARIS, BLOCK 315, LOT 13, LCAD NO. 50943, LOCATED AT 4225 LAMAR AVE.; 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. Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning & Community Development, explained that the applicant requested this amendment so he could put in a shop to do brakes and oil changes, and to do that the comprehensive plan and future land use map, as well as the zoning had to first be amended. He also said the Planning & Zoning Commission, as did staff recommended approval. Regular Council Meeting February 24, 2025 Page 3 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. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 13. Discuss, conduct a public hearing, and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2025-005: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 1710 OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AS HERETOFORE AMENDED TO CHANGE THE ZONING FROM A GENERAL RETAIL DISTRICT (GR) TO A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C) IN THE CITY OF PARIS, BLOCK 315, LOT 13, LCAD NO. 50943. LOCATED AT 4225 LAMAR AVE.; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE, A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND PRVDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning & Community Development, said this item was the second part of the previous item. He said the Planning & Zoning Commission, as did staff recommended approval. 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. A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 14. Discuss, conduct a public hearing, and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2025-010: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS RE- AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN RESIDENTIAL TAX ABATEMENTS AND APPROVING GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR THE RESIDENTIAL TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING EFFECTIVE DATE. Mayor Pankaj asked for a Motion to remove this item from the table. A Motion to remove this item from the table was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. City Attorney Stephanie Harris said this was discussed two weeks ago but had not been posted for a public hearing. She also said in order for the City to give residential tax abatements, guidelines and criteria must be re -approved every two years. 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. Regular Council Meeting February 24, 2025 Page 4 A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Moore and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 15. Discuss and act on a RESOLUTION NO. 2025-2011: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, STATING THE INTENT OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7 OF THE CITY CHARTER AND SECTION 43.142 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, TO DISANNEX APPROXIMATELY 71.20 ACRES OF LAND FORMING A PORTION OF THE CURRENT SOUTHEASTERN BOUNDARY OF THE CITY LOCATED ALONG AND SOUTH OF STATE HIGHWAY 271 SOUTH; ESTABLISHING HEARING DATES; PROVIDING FOR PERSONAL AND PUBLISHED NOTICE; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Ms. Harris said they discussed this two weeks ago and the direction Council gave her was to proceed with setting of public hearings. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage inquired if they could table this. Ms. Harris said yes, but that would push out the public hearings. Mayor Pankaj confirmed with Ms. Harris that approving this resolution was not a decision to disannex but to set the two public hearings. A Motion to approve this item as written was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 16. Receive the Paris Economic Development Corporation 2024 Annual Report. Pursuant to the PEDC Bylaws, Paris Economic Development Corporation Director Maureen Hammond said she was presenting the 2024 Annual Report. Ms. Hammond, depicting pictures of the Board of Directors, presented the Mission of PEDC, reviewed the highlights of 2024 and presented opportunities and plans for 2025. City Council expressed appreciation to Ms. Hammond. IT Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2025-006: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS DECLARING UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 4, 5 AND 7 FOR THE MAY 3, 2025 GENERAL ELECTION BE ELECTED TO OFFICE; DETERMINING THAT NO GENERAL ELECTION BE HELD IN DISTRICTS 4, 5, AND 7; DIRECTING THAT A COPY OF THIS ORDINANCE BE POSTED AT APPROPRIATE POLLING PLACES; DIRECTING THAT A CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION BE ISSUED TO THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Clerk Janice Ellis reported that Mihir Pankaj was unopposed in District 4, Rebecca Norment was unopposed in District 5 and Tracy Attebury was unopposed in District 7. Ms. Ellis also reported that the deadline had passed to make application to run for City Council and Regular Council Meeting February 24, 2025 Page 5 recommended that the Ordinance before City Council be approved declaring unopposed candidates elected to office and that the election be cancelled. A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Putnam. Motion carried, 5 ayes 0 nays. 18. Discuss and authorize the City Manager to execute grant documents for funds and forward to TxDOT for the upcoming fuel farm project scheduled for 2026. Airport Manager Paul Strahan said this item was in follow-up to an item presented to City Council in May 2024. He said at that time the City sent a Letter of Interest to TxDOT requesting use of the airport infrastructure funding for a new fuel farm once all funds became available. He said the City budgeted $120,000 for this project, which was a 10% match toward the $1.2 million project. Mr. Strahan informed City Council that the overall project had been lowered to a 5% match, decreasing the City's match to $60,000. He also said the grant paperwork now needed to be signed and returned to TxDOT so the project could be scheduled and the Airport would use fiscal years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to construct a new fuel farm at Cox Field. Mr. Strahan said initially the match was going to come from ARPA funds but those funds had been expended. He also said the $60,000 would now come from the Airport Fund. He also said if this caused the Airport to have a deficit at the end of the fiscal year, a transfer would need to be made from the General Fund to cover the shortfall. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said Paul had filled them in last Thursday about this and he was very excited about it. A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Kessel and seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 19. Discuss a strategic plan for the City of Paris, receive bids, and possibly act on consulting services for strategic plan services. Deputy City Manager Rob Vine said City Council directed staff to speak with consultants about conducting a workshop for the purpose of creating a Strategic Plan for the City. Mr. Vine said he reached out to different consultants and had obtained two proposals for consideration, one was from Engage Solutions Group and the other was Ron Cox Consulting. Mr. Vine said Shane Howard from Engage was at the meeting and introduced him. Council Member Putnam asked if they would be trying to include economics in the plans and Mr. Howard answered in the affirmative. Mr. Howard said he was leaning heavy on housing and workforce. Council Member Kessel inquired of Ms. Beverly and Mr. Vine the strength of both firms. Mr. Vine said both firms would add value, but Mr. Howard's plan was more comprehensive. On the other hand, he said Mr. Cox had been a city manager. Mr. Vine said for an additional fee, Mr. Cox could add an implementation plan and that Mr. Howard's proposal included the implementation plan. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage asked Mr. Vine if the 35% more for Mr. Howard was worth it. Mr. Vine said he personally thought it was because the City would be getting a lot more information. City Manager Rose Beverly agreed with Mr. Vine, citing the longer process would be better allowing City Council more time on-site. Regular Council Meeting February 24, 2025 Page 6 A Motion to approve the proposal submitted by Mr. Howard was made by Mayor Pro - Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Kessel. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. 20. Convene into executive session pursuant to Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code, Consultation with Attorney, to receive legal advice from the City Attorney about (1) pending or contemplated litigation and/or (2) on matters in which the duty of an attorney to her client under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflict with this chapter, to -wit: litigation and pending litigation update. Mayor Pankaj convened City Council into executive session at 6:34 p.m. Mayor Pankaj recused himself at 6:35, and returned to executive session at 7:02 p.m. Council Member Moore recused herself at 7:02 p.m. and returned to executive session at 7:05 p.m. 21. Reconvene into open session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in executive session. Mayor Pankaj returned City Council into open session at 7:34 p.m. 22. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to Resolution No. 2004-081. Mayor Pankaj said he would like for Council to do a tour of the cemetery with Vanessa Preston, Herb Preston and Louis Yates and see what they could do to help. 23. Adjournment. There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by Council Member Moore adjourned the meeting at`7`\3,§kyhC�Ty���,� NICE ELLIS TI��LEP.... Si,T Motion carried, 5 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor Pankaj MINI P ANKAJ, MAYOR