08-25-2025MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 25, 2025
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
August 25, 2025, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Council Members: Rebecca Norment, Alix Putnam, Mickey Ellis, and
Tracy Attebury
City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Stephanie Harris,
City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Rich Salter,
Police Chief; Michel Sorrell, Interim Finance
Director; Osei Amo-Mensah, Director of Planning
& Community Development; Todd Mittge, City
Engineer; M.A. Smith, Director of Public Works;
Thomas McMonagle, Fire Chief; Danny Rowell,
Utilities Director; Celso Arrieta, IT Manager; and
Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal
Absent: Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Member: Shatara Moore
O enin A ends
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
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.
Jana, Carla and Janet of Baby Gunn's Animal Rescue — explained that Baby Gunn's had
been helping adopt animals from the animal shelter for some time and if allowed to have a desk
at the shelter, they could do more through videos of the animals. Carla also said they had started
a feral cat program and had a vet coming in September to spay/neuter feral cats and planned to
do 100 cats that day.
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August 25, 2025
Page 2
City Clerk Janice Ellis — informed everyone of the Hatch Chili Festival on Saturday
beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Farmer's Market.
Consent A Benda
Mayor Pankaj said that the city engineer asked that item 15 be pulled as it was not
approved by P&Z as a replat. Mayor Pankaj inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull
any additional items from the consent agenda for discussion. There being none, with the
exception of item 15, a Motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Council Member
Ellis and seconded by Council Member Nonnent. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting of August 11, 2025.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards and commissions:
a. Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) Board (7-10-2025)
b. Main Street Advisory Board (7-8-2025)
c. Paris Economic Development Corporation (7-15-2025)
7. Receive June monthly financial report.
8. Receive Love Civic Center and the Visitors & Convention Council's Approved Plan of
Work for FY 2025-2026.
9. Receive Love Civic Center and the Visitors & Convention Council's Approved Budgets
for FY 2025-2026.
10. Re -appoint Tom Hunt as the municipal court judge and Don Biard as the associate
municipal court judge for the City of Paris.
11. Approve the Final Plat of the El Aguilar Addition CB 52, Lot 1, Block A, LCAD 142240,
vacant lot on NW 71n
12. Approve the Final Plat of the Cultiv8 Community E. Houston Street Addition, CB 32B,
Lot 1, Block A, LCAD 13830, 1025 E. Houston St.
13. Approve the Final Plat of the Cultiv8 Community NE Addition, CB 269, Lot 1, Block A,
LCAD 18376, 1351 N.E. 12" St.
14. Approve the Final Plat of the Cultiv8 Community 171" NE Addition, Lot 1, Block A,
LCAD 14733, 513 17tH NE.
15. Approve the Replat of the Restlawn Cemetery 306-c, 5 & 6 Addition, LCAD 50110,
4190 N. Main Street.
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August 25, 2025
Page 3
Re alar A enda
16. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on an Ordinance regarding the petition of Paul
Stoll of Plan Z Developments LLC for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment from Low
Density (Residential (LDR) to Retail (R) on part of LCAD 18277 (5.97 acres). Legal
Description: City of Paris, Block 259, Lot PT of 14, N. Collegiate Dr. & Pine Mill Rd.
Director of Planning & Community Development Osei Amo-Mensah said the applicant
and owner Paul Stoll was seeking an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan being low density
residential to retail for future land use of the property. He said a portion of the 5.97 acres was
currently zoned One -Family Dwelling District and explained there were several zoning change
requests that applied to the same and adjoining properties. Mr. Amo-Mensah said this was
approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for those who wished to speak on this
item, to please come forward.
Mary Hart, 3095 Briarwood Dr. — she said there were 55 commercial properties in Paris
that were empty. She expressed concern about increased traffic in their neighborhood, safety of
the children and an increase in noise level. Steve Ekstrom, 725 Medalist — he said no one thought
about what it would do by putting commercial in a residential area when 22 years ago this began.
He also said there were 92 homes in the Spring Lake Division which was approved 45 years ago
and there was not supposed to be commercial around there. Wanda Stephens, 915 Fairway — she
said they wanted houses and not commercial.
With no one else speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the public hearing. Council Member
Ellis said he would like to see what happened 45 years ago and asked if there were any kind
studies on pollution or traffic. Mr. Amo-Mensah said they were going to rely heavily on buffers.
Council Member Norment asked about buffers. He said they were fences and/or shrubs. Mayor
Pankaj said citizens had expressed concern and there were thirty-one oppositions. Council
Member Norment inquired if there was a planned road. City Engineer Todd Mittge said the road
would be closed off and commercial traffic would not go through the neighborhood. Council
Member Ellis expressed concern about the houses behind Ashley Furniture and the drop off. Mr.
Mittge said staff wanted to limit light pollution. Council Member Ellis asked if they could table
this because it was more confusing.
Owner/applicant Paul Stoll spoke and said it was not their intention to diminish the
property value and there would be a gentle slope from the property and a six foot fence. He said
the traffic flow would be decreased in the neighborhood. Council Member Norment inquired if
it were possible to build homes on the property. Mr. Stoll said it could be done but would be
difficult because of the elevation. Mayor Pankaj inquired of Mr. Mittge about the best plan for
drainage and Mr. Mittge explained engineer stream design and they hoped to use a new ditch
line technique. Council Member Putnam confirmed there would be no cut through road through
Springlake. She said having thirty people oppose this was concerning and she was not
comfortable with approving it.
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August 25, 2025
Page 4
It was a consensus of City Council for staff to get together with the property owner and
neighborhood citizens for a meeting to see if they could work this out. Mayor Pankaj said he
thought TxDOT should be included.
Following additional discussion, a Motion to deny this item was made by Council
Member Putnam and seconded by Council Member Norment. Motion failed with Mayor Pankaj,
Council Member Ellis and Council Member Attebury casting the dissenting votes.
A Motion to table this item was made by Council Member Attebury and seconded by
Council Member Ellis. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on an Ordinance regarding the petition of Paul
Stoll of Plan Z Developments LLC for a Zoning Change from a One -Family Dwelling
No. 2 (SF2) to Commercial (C) on part of LCAD 18277 (5.97 acres). Legal Description:
City of Paris, Block 259, Lot PT of 14, N. Collegiate Dr. & Pine Mill Rd.
Mr. Amo-Mensah said this was a part of item 16 and 18.
A Motion to table this item was made by Council member Norment and seconded by
Council Member Attebury. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
18. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on an Ordinance regarding the petition of Paul
Stoll of Plan Z Developments LLC for a Zoning Change from Planned Development
(PD) to Commercial (C) on LCAD 121806 (8.12 acres). Legal Description: Paris Towne
Crossing Addition, Block 1, Lot 613, N Collegiate Dr & Pine Mill Rd.
Residents of the neighborhood asked if they could speak again.
Mayor Pankaj opened the public hearing and asked for those who wished to speak on this
item, to please come forward.
Steve Ekstrom — he said several years ago they presented a petition and referenced
property sold out of the HWH trust and since then, the property had been strip mined which was
illegal. Wanda Stephens, 915 Fairway — she asked Council to please come down Fairway and
look at their alley and how tight it already was.
With no one else speaking, Mayor Pankaj closed the public hearing.
A Motion to table this item was made by Council Member Norment and seconded by
Council Member Ellis. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
19. Receive presentation from Thomas McMonigle about the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Thomas McMonigle gave a presentation about the fire department, which
included reporting on fire department status, addressing concerns on social media and the
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August 25, 2025
Page 5
challenge of recruitment and retention of firefighters. He reported that a survey revealed
communication gaps in the fire departments and message boards at stations had been installed
for better information flow and positive feedback had been received regarding communication
improvements. He said firefighters desired to change the work schedule from 24/28 to 48/96 and
they would be sitting down to discuss this. Chief McMonigle addressed the fire apparatus status
and squad response for medical calls. Following the presentation, Chief McMonigle answered
questions from City Council.
20. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2025-039: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE OF PARIS, TEXAS, CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025, ON THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26.
Interim Finance Director Gene Anderson said a public hearing on the proposed city
budget was required by Section 48 of the City Charter and Section 102.006 of the Local
Government. He said the resolution called for a public hearing on September 8, 2025.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Ellis and seconded by
Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
21. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2025-040: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING TO
RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX
RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26.
Mr. Anderson said a public hearing was required on the proposed City tax rate pursuant
to Chapter 26 of the Texas Tax Doe. He also said the resolution called for a hearing on
September 8, 2025, with an adoption of the rate on September 9`'
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Putnam and seconded by
Council Member Attebury. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
22. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
There was no reference of future events.
23. Adjournment.
There being no further bus ��qs, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Ellis
and seconded by Council lel Ate�t. Motion carried, 5 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor Pankaj
adjourned the meeting at
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