01-30-2026MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING & WORKSHOP
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
January 30, 2026
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special meeting at 1.2:00 p.m. on Friday,
January 30, 2026, at the City Council Chamber, 107 Kaufman Street, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
Council Members: Rebecca Norment, Alix Putnam and Tracy
Attebury
City Staff: Rose Beverly, City Manager; Janice Ellis, City
Clerk; Stephanie Harris, City Attorney; Rich
Salter, Police Chief; M.A. Smith, Chief Operating
Officer; and Osai Amo-Mensah, City Planner
Absent: Council Members: Shatara Moore and Mickey Ellis
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
2. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2026-002: An Ordinance of the City Council of
the City of Paris, Texas, extending the Mayor's Declaration of Local Disaster for Public
Health Emergency and Order dated January 24, 2026, for an additional thirty days.
City Attorney Stephanie Harris reported that on January 24, 2026, Mayor Pankaj
determined from statements and information provided by the Office of the Texas Governor, City
of Paris Emergency Management personnel, the Texas Department of Emergency Management,
and the National Weather Service that over the next several days, severe winter weather posed
an imminent threat of wide spread and severe property damage, injury and loss of life due to
prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow, icy conditions, and freezing rain. Ms. Harris
stated the City did experience extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, sleet, and ice resulting in power
outages to the water treatment plant and to residents, downed trees and power lines, water and
sewer main breaks, and treacherous roadways into the following week. She also said conditions
required significant expenditures of City resources, including but not limited to payment of staff
overtime. Ms. Harris explained that in order to try to recoup some of these expenses if FEMA
assists, then the City would need to have this in place. Ms. Harris said the 'extension would
expire February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Mayor Pro -Tem Savage and seconded by
Council Member Norment. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
3. Adjournment.
Special Meeting
January 30, 2026
Page 2
There being no further business, Mayor Pankaj adjourned the meeting at 1:32 p.m.
WORKSHOP SESSION
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m.
2. Discuss downtown parking ordinance revisions and enforcement.
City Manager Rose Beverly said she placed this item on the agenda to get direction. She
said the City had an ordinance on the books and the main issue was whether or not Council
wanted staff to enforce it and also to make sure they had everything in order. She said the police
department issued warnings several monihs ago to those who were parked for more than two
hours, and half of the people were happy while the other half were not. Ms. Beverly said the
governing body heard from a lot of people about this. Police Chief Rich Salter explained that
the last time the map was,updated was in the eighties, that it did not reflect parallel parking and
needed to be updated. Ms. Beverly said they might want to go from two hours to three hours,
change the hours and include residential parking for residents living in downtown lofts. Chief
Salter explained to enforce parking would require an officer be downtown all day chalking tires.
Ms. Beverly,said they had a lot of ideas to vet. Mayor Pro -Tem Savage said the spirit of parking
downtown was created for people to eat and shop, and he thought that is how it should be. As
to downtown residents, parking spaces should be permitted, and they should pay for permits.
With regard to business owners, they should have a different lot to park in and could be permitted
as well, like many other cities. Mayor Pankaj said there was a lot of growth, and it was a good
problem to have. Council Member Norment asked for additional ADA parking spaces. Mayor
Pro -Tem Savage said the parking lot at Belford could be available for business owners. Ms.
Beverly said staff could work up a map and bring back to City Council.
3. Discuss land purchase for a possible expansion/connection of the West side of the Trail
de Paris.
Pat Bassano of Greater Paris Foundation explained they had been trying to close a 3 mile
gap in West Paris to connect the trail from Farmersville to New Boston. He explained that there
were a number of people involved and they had made application through TxDOT and Union
Pacific were involved as well. Mr. Bassano said it took one year to get a meeting with Union
Pacific. He explained in,the meantime, TxDOT connected the West side going around the South
Loop and Greater Paris Foundation no longer needed the meeting. Mr. Bassano reported there
were 37 acres that the City might want that was being offered by Union Pacific which would still
allow a connection at 4t1' and Hearne creating possibly a safe route to school for children. He
inquired if the City wanted them to go to the meeting and make application for this land. Dick
Amos said the minimum for the application would be $50,000.00 to $61,000.00 but they did not
know the maximum.
Special Meeting
January 30, 2026
Page 3
Mayor Pankaj spoke about grant opportunities but said the City was not eligible unless
they secured the property. Council Member Norment inquired about the timeframe and Mr.
Amos said as soon as possible. Ms. Harris wanted to know what they needed from the City to
move forward with the meeting. Mr. Amos said they could submit the City's name in place of
the Greater Paris Foundation but needed to know as soon as possible. City Council said that
should be explored. Mr. Bassano said if the City was interested, the Foundation was willing to
volunteer to negotiate and deal and then come back to the City.
4. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Pankaj adjourned the meeting at 2:16 p.m.
MIHIR AN AJ, MAYOR
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