05-B4 Task Force on Code Enforcement Minutesi
MINUTES
V~'4RK SESSION
CITY COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON CODE ENFORCEMENT
107 E. KAUFMAN STREET
PARIS, TEXAS
THURSDAY JANUARY 3 2008
1• Call meeting to order and roll call.
The City Council Task Force on Code Enforcement was called to order by Chairman Wilson
at 5:05 p.m.
A• The following members were present:
Don Wilson, Chairman
Will Biard
Steve Brown
Bruce Frazier
Jim Lassister
John S. House
Cheryt Moore ~
Marilyn Bellevance
Pete Kampfer
Bee Garmon
B. The following members were absent:
Oscar Johnson
Don Taylor
Zachary Saffle
Jerome Pipkins
Chris Brown
c. Also present was Lisa Wright, Director of Communit Develo ment•
City Attorney; Kevm Carruth, City Manager; Janice Ellis, Cit pClerk• Tod McIlyar,
Code Enforcement Officer; Robert Talley, Code Enforcement Officer•~,1o~ V~er,
Assistant City Attorney/Municipal Court Prosecutor; Ronnie Grooms Fireestock,
and Matt Birch, Police Officer. ~ Chief;
~ Chairman Wilson announced that he had received a resignation from Charles Richards and
expressed appreciation for the work he had done. Mr. Richards said the newspaper thou ht he
should resign to avoid a possible conflict, because he was the reporter assigned to wnte about cit
business. y
2. Approval of minutes from previous meetings (December 11, 2007).
Bee Garmon said that Bruce Frazier came late to the meeting, but was listed as being absent.
She also suggested that Chairman Wilson be inserted as the person showing the slide show, as well
as inserted in place of the word "He." Subject to the corrections, a Motion to approve the minutes
was made by Bee Garmon and seconded by Jim Lassister. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Discussion of and possible action on recommending the adoption of fencing regulations.
Chairman Wilson referred the Committee to the proposed Fencing Ordinance and asked Lisa
Wright to display the slides depicting various fencing throughout the city. The slides reflected fences
constructed of chain link, pvc, barbed wire, chicken wire, fencing in front yards, fences built out of
different types of material and placed together (hodgepodge), and illegal fencing, which consisted
of fences over 40" in height. Chairman Wilson inquired of the Committee if they wanted to proceed
with a fencing ordinance and it was a consensus of the Committee to do so. Chairman Wilson also
inquired of the citizens in attendance if they thought it was necessary to have a fencing ordinance.
John Fuston commented that after reviewing the slides, he thought it was necessary to have a fencing
ordinance.
Kent McIlyar and Lisa Wright expressed concern over disallowance of picket fences in the
Historic District. Cheryt Moore said she was concerned about telling someone they could not have
chain link fence over 40" that was well maintained. Chairman Wilson questioned how they could
grandfather chain link fences that were less than 40" in height but not 48" and 60" height fences.
Lisa Wright informed the Committee that the fencing ordinance was adopted in the 1970s; however,
she added that it had been difficult to monitor when fences were installed, because the City did not
and does not require a permit.
Mrs. Rita Kammer, a citizen, stated she did not like the ideal of paying taxes and not having
the right to building a little white fence in her front yard. Cheryt Moore said she understood;
however, there needed to regulations, because everyone had a different opinion as to what was or
wasn't an eyesore. Council Member Biard suggested they might allow fencing in the front yard, but
regulate the height and material. Ms. Moore and Ms. Bellevance both stated they did not like any
type of fencing in front yards. While working with another city, Kent McIlyar pointed out that
citizens became very upset when they were told they had to remove fencing from their front yards.
Lisa Wright added they would have to prove in Court when the fence was built, and that would be
nearly impossible to do. Council Member Biard suggested they consider not taking action against
fences built in the past, but set regulations for any fences to be built in the future.
There was additional discussion concerning residential fencing and the possibility of
requiring a permit before building a fence, whether or not to allow fencing in front yards, various
types of fencing materials, and grandfathering fences.
It was a consensus of the Committee to make the following changes:
General standards for fencing and other screening.
(a)(4) Barbed wire fences shall be permitted only in L1 districts, H 1 districts, and agricultural
zoned areas of property that exceeds four acres. Barbed wire fences will not be permitted adjacent
to residential zoned property at it applies to agricultural lots.
(a)(7) The Committee decided on 100'.
(8) Items a, b. (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) were deleted.
(b) fence heights:
(1) was deleted
(2) a. thirty-six inches was changed to forty inches.
4. Staff updates on junk vehicles enforcement for Task Force.
Lisa Wright handed out a memorandum to the Task Force advising of the procedure that will
used for the upcoming junked vehicles push. She also provided the Task Force with a copy of the
courtesy door hanger that will be used. She advised that the door hangers should be delivered next
week something, and that the push would begin shortly thereafter. She told the Task Force that no
other code enforcement cases would be worked during this period unless they were deemed an
immediate hazard.
Chairman Wilson inquired if staff needed volunteers to ride with them and log information
into the computer. Lisa Wright said there were potential liability issues with citizens riding along;
however, because the way the courtesy notice was designed, it would only take the code enforcement
officer a few minutes to complete each address. She stated that it would be most beneficial for staff
to have volunteers to come to the office to log information into the computer from the courtesy
notices issued by staff. Chairman Wilson asked if there were any volunteers. Cheryt Moore,
Marilyn Bellevance, Bruce Frazier, Bee Garmon, and Chairman Wilson volunteered to help staff.
Citizen Benny Gray also volunteered to help.
5. Discussion of demolition by neglect.
Chairman Wilson advised the Task Force that this was on the agenda should anyone have any
questions. He said he believed they could accomplish the goal by making some minor amendments
to existing ordinances. Lisa Wright added that she had spoken with the Chairman of the Historic
Preservation Commission, and they were going to look at this issue again at their meeting on the
fourth Monday of this month to recommend revisions to the historic preservation ordinance. She
recommended that, since the HPC was the group requesting the changes, the Task Force wait and
put this back on their agenda next month.
6. Request items for future agendas.
Chairman Wilson scheduled the next meeting for Tuesday, January 22°d at 5:00 p.m. He
stated at the next meeting they would discuss fences in the front yard. He asked staff to research
what other cities were doing and to bring examples with them. Chairman Wilson asked that they
research what type of fencing material was being used and how they handled maintenance issues.
Pete Kampfer requested that staff call other cities to see how they dealt with implementation of
ordinances like this. Lisa Wright told him that she would contact other cities.
7. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Pete Kampfer and
seconded by Bee Garmon. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
APPROVED THIS 22"d DAY OF JANUARY, 2008.
Don Wilson, Chairman