2026-022 - Amending Subdivision Ordinance No. 1315 by adding Article II, “Technical Standards Manual and Engineering Standard Details Book;” adopting the City of Paris Technical Standards ManuORDINANCE NO. 2026-022
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS, AMENDING SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE NO. 1315 BY ADDING
ARTICLE II, "TECHNICAL STANDARDS MANUAL AND ENGINEERING
STANDARD DETAILS BOOK;" ADOPTING THE CITY OF PARIS
TECHNICAL STANDARDS MANUAL (TSM) AND ENGINEERING
STANDARD DETAILS BOOK (ESD) BY REFERENCE AS THE
OFFICIAL ENGINEERING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, TESTING,
INSPECTION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
OF THE CITY; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, by city Ordinance No. 1315, the City Council of the City of Paris
enacted a Subdivision Ordinance to regulate subdivision and development of land
located inside the corporate City limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of
Paris, Texas; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Paris is authorized by the Constitution and laws of the State
of Texas to regulate subdivisions, public improvements, infrastructure development, and
engineering standards within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared a Technical Standards Manual ("TSM") and
Engineering Standard Details Book ("ESD") to establish uniform requirements for
engineering design, plan preparation, construction, testing, inspection, and acceptance
of public improvements and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the TSM and ESD are intended to provide a single, comprehensive
source of engineering standards for the City, replacing reliance upon multiple guidance
documents, legacy standards, and informal practices; and
WHEREAS, adoption of the TSM and ESD will improve consistency, transparency,
predictability, public safety, infrastructure quality, and coordination among City staff,
developers, engineers, contractors, and the public; and
WHEREAS, at its June 1, 2026, meeting, following notice and publication as
required by law, the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on
the proposed amendments contained in this ordinance, including the TSM and ESD,
following said hearing made formal recommendation to the City Council to approve
same; and
WHEREAS, on June 22, 2026, following notice and publication as required by
law, the City Council of the City of Paris conducted a public hearing on the proposed
amendments, and having considered the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning
Commission and the testimony and evidence introduced at said public hearing, found
and determined that the proposed changes to the City's Subdivision Ordinance, as set
out below, are in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens
of the City of Paris by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved and are incorporated herein for all purposes.
Section 2. That Subdivision Ordinance No. 1315 shall be and is hereby
amended by adding a new Article 11, "Technical Standards Manual and Engineering
Standards Details Book," to read as follows, with the remaining Articles to be
renumbered accordingly:
111. Technical Standards Manual and Engineering Standard Details Book.
(1) Adoption.
(a) The City of Paris Technical Standards Manual ("TSM"), together with all appendices,
forms, exhibits, and amendments thereto, is hereby adopted by reference as the official
engineering design, construction, testing, inspection, and infrastructure development
standards of the City.
(b) The City of Paris Engineering Standard Details Book ("ESD"), together with all
amendments thereto, is hereby adopted by reference as the official engineering
standard details for public improvements and infrastructure construction within the City.
(c) The TSM and ESD shall have the same force and effect as though fully set forth
within this Ordinance.
(2) Applicability.
(a) All development, subdivision improvements, public infrastructure, drainage facilities,
stormwater facilities, water systems, wastewater systems, transportation facilities, utility
improvements, and related construction regulated by this Chapter shall comply with the
TSM and ESD.
(b) Compliance with the TSM and ESD shall be required for all engineering plans,
reports, calculations, studies, specifications, construction activities, testing procedures,
inspections, and acceptance documentation submitted to the City.
(c) The requirements of the TSM and ESD shall apply to all improvements intended for
public ownership, public maintenance, dedication to the City, or otherwise regulated by
this Chapter.
(3) Administration.
(a) The Engineering Department, under the direction of the City Engineer, shall
administer, interpret, and enforce the TSM and ESD.
(b) The City Engineer may issue written interpretations, technical memoranda,
administrative procedures, and implementation guidance necessary for administration of
the TSM and ESD.
(c) The City Engineer may approve alternative engineering solutions when determined
to provide equal or greater performance, safety, durability, and public benefit.
(4) Compliance Required. No subdivision plat, construction plan, engineering report,
public improvement, development project, or infrastructure improvement shall be
approved unless it complies with the requirements of the TSM and ESD, except as
otherwise authorized by the City Engineer.
(5) Revisions.
(a) The TSM and ESD may be revised in accordance with the adopted Technical
Standards Manual Revision Procedure.
(b) Proposed revisions shall be reviewed and processed in accordance with the
procedures established within the TSM.
(c) Major revisions affecting engineering policy, design standards, construction
requirements, public infrastructure obligations, or development requirements shall
require City Council approval.
(d) Minor administrative revisions, formatting corrections, typographical corrections,
reference updates, and revisions required by state or federal law may be approved
administratively by the City Engineer and documented within the Record of Revisions.
(6) Publication.
The current adopted versions of the TSM and ESD shall be maintained by the
Engineering Department and made available to the public through the City's official
website.
(7) Conflicts.
(a) Where a conflict exists between the provisions of this Chapter and the TSM or ESD,
the provisions of the TSM or ESD shall govern with respect to engineering design,
construction, testing, inspection, and technical requirements.
(b) Where a conflict exists between the TSM and ESD, the City Engineer shall
determine the applicable requirement.
(c) Nothing herein shall supersede any requirement imposed by federal law, state law,
City Charter provisions, or duly adopted ordinances unrelated to engineering standards.
Section 3. Supersession of Previous Engineering Standards. Upon the
effective date of this ordinance, all previously adopted engineering design criteria,
engineering policies, standard details, specifications, manuals, procedures, and
guidance documents administered by the Engineering Department that conflict with the
TSM or ESD are hereby superseded to the extent of such conflict.
Any engineering standard not in conflict with the TSM or ESD shall remain in effect until
amended, replaced, or repealed.
Section 4. Transition Provisions.
(a) Projects for which a complete engineering plan application has been
submitted to the City prior to October 1, 2026 may continue under the
engineering standards In effect at the time of submission unless substantial
revisions are required, as determined by the City Engineer.
(b) Applicants may voluntarily elect to comply with the TSM and ESD prior to
October 1, 2026.
(c) Projects submitted on or after October 1, 2027 shall comply with the TSM and
ESD.
Section 5. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now
pending under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or
altering any penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality
under any section or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this
ordinance.
Section 7. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity
or partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect
the validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 8. That any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty
of a Misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine in accordance with
provisions of Sec. 1.01.009 of the City of Paris Code of Ordinances, and each and every
day's continuance of any violation of the above—enumerated sections shall constitute and
be deemed a separate offense.
Section 9. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and
publication as required by law and the application hereof shall be subject to the transition
schedule set forth herein in Section 4.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on this 22nd day of June, 2026 by the City Council of the
City of Paris, in regular session, following notice and publication as required by law.
Mihir Pankaj, Ma"y"or
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Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Ste—phhnie H. Harris, City Attorney