04/08/2025 MinutesMEETING MINUTES OF THE MAIN STREET ADVISORY BOARD
UPSTAIRS MEETING ROOM
PARIS CITY HALL
107 E. KAUFMAN,
PARIS, TEXAS
TUESDAY, APRIL S, 2025
PRESENT:
GUEST:
1. Citizen forum:
Glee Emmite, Chair
Mary Hart, Vice Chair
Kevin Moore
Kim Kalina
Tyrone Hayden
Dr. William Walker
Mayor Pankaj
Cheri Bedford, Coordinator
Karen Dougherty, VCC
Melissa Jones, Secretary
Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning and Community Devl.
Suzy Harper
Mayor Pankaj expressed his appreciation for the hard work for the 2025 Wine Fest. Suzy Harper came
to give a report about downtown lighting.
2. Review minutes from March 11, 2025
A motion was made to approve the minutes by Hayden, and seconded by Hart, Motion carried 6-0
3. Committee Reports
a. Workplan updates
Hart gave a report that the murals were complete for Wine Fest that were painted by local artist Suzanna
Coyle, Melissa Jones and herself. They are becoming photo ops.
Doughtery requested photos of the murals for promoting the arts through their Visit Paris Website.
Hart gave the update on the artist who would be on display during the Wine Fest event
Hart reported that the call for artist meet and greet, hosted by Paris Main Street Project has initiated
several projects. The poetry society is now meeting, and there is discussion on various art events.
Another project Hart and the artist have begun research is painting crosswalks (road art) in various
locations around downtown. A proposal is being created and will be given to the board at the next
meeting. Kalina passed around idealization photos.
The committee will look at the an ariel photo of downtown to determine best locations.
Ideas on how to reinvigorate the Arts Fest were discussed- using the connection between Library,
Bywaters, and Farmers Market.
Kalina gave information on the America Connect Art Project that would include art work from around
the country assembled to make a mural. She will be doing more investigation on this as a project for
Paris, potentially in 2026/2027.
Hayden reported that he was still working on food for wine fest. He also gave an update on the NAACP
banquet
Moore locked in the Wine Fest VIP event preparations and is making connections with the servers and
staff from Vin de Paris for set up.
Emmite gave a report on the downtown map project and sharing the cost with the Chamber of
Commerce and the Paris Downtown Associaton. The board discussed the amount needed.
Emmite has secured Wine Fest vineyard and hotel accommodation for them.
b. PDA Report
Emmite reported about PDA events
c. Chamber/VCC- Dougherty
Dougherty gave a report on up-and-coming events.
4. Coordinators Report
Harpers donated the use of the Gibraltar for Wine Fest
DowntownTX.org. database is currently being updated by Kim Kalina.
Farmers Market planning for opening day.
Imagine the Possibilities May 17. Working on planning.
Hyundai commercial was filmed in Paris.
Planted trees around the plaza for those that were hit by cars.
Met with the SBDC, sent out a survey to the downtown merchants and received 12 responses.
Next steps are being discussed.
New businesses opened -Hydrangea Home- Interior design.
I st Street plans bid out.
T -Mobile grant needs to be researched for the Arts initiatives.
Volunteers will meet on Wine Fest to stuff packets on Saturday before the event by volunteers.
5. Hearing no other business the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Glee Emmite, Chair