07/10/2025 MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING FOR
TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE (TIRZ) BOARD
PARIS, TEXAS
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 1.07 E. KAUFMAN ST, PARIS TEXAS
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025
4:00 O'CLOCK P.M.
Members present: Cody Head, Chairman; Miles Mathieu, Vice -Chairman; Maureen
Hammond, Reeves Hayter, Dillon Cecil, Pam Norwood, and Brad Archer
City Staff: Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning
and Community Development; Skylar Unger, Deputy City Clerk; Triniti
Frazier, Planning Technician; and Cheri Bedford, Main Street
Coordinator
1. Call meeting to order.
Chairman Head called the meeting to order at 4:02 P.M.
2. Citizens' input.
No one came forward during citizens' input.
3. Welcome new Board Members.
Chairman Head thanked Thomas McMongile for his service on the board and welcomed new member,
Brad Archer.
4. Approve minutes from the Meeting on May 8, 2025. (No meeting in June)
A Motion to approve the Minutes was made by Ms. Hammond and seconded by Mr. Mathieu. Motion
carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Appoint a Chairman, Vice -Chairman and Secretary to the TIRZ Board of Directors.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris clarified that the Chairman of the Board must be officially appointed by
City Council; however, the Board may nominate an individual for the position, and that nomination will be
presented to Council for consideration.
Board Member Miles Mathieu nominated Cody Head to serve as Chairman. The nomination was seconded
by Maureen Hammond, The Board voted unanimously in favor of the nomination, pending approval by City
Council.
Ms. Hammond inquired whether the other officer positions were necessary. In response, City Attorney
Stephanie Harris explained that while a Secretary is not essential, it is advisable to appoint a Vice -Chair, as
that individual would assume the duties of the Chairman in their absence.
Chairman Head nominated Miles Mathieu to serve as Vice -Chairman. The nomination was seconded by
Maureen Hammond. The Board voted unanimously in favor of the nomination, appointing Miles Mathieu as
Vice -Chairman of the Board.
6. Approve Residential Tax Abatement Agreement with Invest Lamar, LLC under the 5 in 5 Housing Infill
Development Program.
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Ms. Harris stated that on June 9th, 2025, City Council approved an agreement with Invest Lamar, LLC
which includes a residential tax abatement on 10 parcels within the 5 in 5 program area. One of those parcels,
LCAD #19930, located at 115 W. Neagle St., is within TIRZ Sub -Zone 5. As of 1/1/2025, the assessed taxable
value of the parcel was $2,250.00, and Invest Lamar, LLC plans to construct a single-family home with an
estimated investment of $220,000.00 thereon. Tax abatements granted on residences constructed under the 5
in 5 program are for 5 years at 100% per year. The Texas Tax Code requires that the TIRZ board approve any
tax abatement agreements on property in the Zone. Very little of the 5 in 5 program area overlaps with any of
the TIRZ Sub -Zones, but this particular agreement has the one parcel that is in both.
A Motion to approve the Residential Tax Abatement Agreement with Invest Lamar, LLC under the 5 in 5
Housing Infill Development Program was made by Ms. Norwood and seconded by Mr. Cecil. Motion carried
6 ayes — 0 nays.
7. Overview of Current TIRZ Account Balance and projected revenue.
Ms. Harris reported that the current TIRZ fund balance is $252,097.66. She noted that the bank
statement may reflect a balance of $272,097.66; however, she discovered that a $20,000.00 payment to
Forked Pine Consulting had been mistakenly charged to the General Operating Fund instead of the TIRZ
Fund. After making the appropriate correction, the accurate TIRZ balance is $252,097.66.
Ms. Harris further explained that she, Mr. Mathieu, and Mr. Hayter have been working with the Financial
Projection Tool and have identified an error in the spreadsheet. She advised that all financial discussions
and projections be paused until the data can be fully verified.
Mr. Mathieu recommended tabling Agenda Item 8 (Finance Plan) until he can speak with Mr. Denney
regarding the tool.
8. Discussion and approval of revised Finance Plan including discussion of timeline for annual review of
same and review of Forked Pine Consulting's Summary and Recommendation Report.
A Motion to table this item was made by Mr. Mathieu and seconded by Ms. Hammond. Motion carried 6
ayes — 0 nays.
9. Approve allocating $100,000.00 of TIRZ funds to support the 1 st Street Renovation Project.
Following some discussion, a Motion to approve allocating $100,000.00 of TIRZ funds to support the 1 st
Street Renovation Project was made by Ms. Hammond and seconded by Mr. Mathieu. Motion carried 6 ayes
— 0 nays.
Mr. Hayter arrived at 4:22 P.M.
10. Discuss next steps for updating the TIRZ Project Plan.
Ms. Harris stated that City Manager Rose Beverly had been in contact with Mr. Chris Lambka of Chris
Lambka & Associates and invited anyone interested to attend a workshop he will be conducting in August
in Denison. She noted that Mr. Lambka has a history of assisting cities by breaking plans into smaller,
manageable steps, making them more achievable.
Mr. Hayter suggested the board consider pausing until it is decided which zones the funds should be
allocated to. Chairman Head stated that since the available funds are less than originally expected, it would
make more sense to focus on projects that would benefit all zones, even if they are in Zone 2, rather than
splitting the money into smaller portions.
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Ms. Norwood stated she has been on the board for 12 months and felt that the board had not thoroughly
discussed "the plan," suggesting a workshop dedicated solely to that topic. Mr. Mathieu noted that progress
has been made, even if it may not feel like it. Ms. Hammond questioned how the board could determine
what is best for the community without first knowing its needs.
Chairman Head asked whether the board is responsible for creating the plan or simply providing funding for
already established projects. Ms. Harris explained that the TIRZ board approves a plan which City Council
then adopts by ordinance. Ideally, the plan is developed through collaboration between staff and the board ---.-
with or without a consultant—to determine what should be included before it goes to Council. Chairman
Head then asked whether the board should wait to speak with Mr. Lambka or proceed and later refine it with
consultant input. Ms. Hammond agreed that the process was confusing.
Ms. Norwood stated it would be helpful if the board were more aware of the City's plans to better
coordinate efforts. Ms. Harris affirmed that staff wants to collaborate with the board, not work against it,
and explained that Ms. Beverly's intent in speaking with the consultant was to gather information and
determine whether the consultant would be a good fit for Paris.
Mr. Hayter stated that the Toole Plan is the pian. Mr. Archer added that certain parts of the plan could
attract private investment if the City demonstrates a commitment to protecting that investment, and those are
the projects worth pursuing. Ms. Harris stated that the plan is a work in progress and should be evaluated
every 2-5 years.
Chairman Head stated that the board should hold a workshop to identify catalyst projects already listed in
the plan and determine which are feasible. Ms. Harris stated that a Notice of Possible Quorum would be
posted if the board wished to attend the Denison workshop to ensure compliance with the Open Meetings
Act. She asked whether the board preferred to hold its workshop during the next scheduled TIRZ meeting or
on a separate date. Chairman Head responded that the next meeting would be best.
Mr. Hayter asked who would prepare the agenda for the workshop, and Ms. Harris stated that staff would
prepare it based on topic suggestions or specific questions from the board.
Chairman Head left the meeting at 5:05 P.M.
Following further discussion, Vice -Chairman Mathieu moved on to the next item.
11. Discuss potential dates and goals of a Community Workshop.
This item was discussed in conjunction with item 10.
12. Request future agenda items.
Other than the workshop item, there were no future agenda items requested.
13. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Hammond and seconded by Ms.
Norwood. Motion carried, 6 ayes – 0 nays. Vice -Chairman Mathieu afljourned the meeting at 5:16 P.M.
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