19 Ordinance that prior to future decision to sell or to negotiate the sale of raw water from source of water in Lamar County and election shall be called and the issue be voted on my the voters of the City of ParisCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date: Originating Department: Presented By: Agenda Item No.:
4-7-2008
Council Date: Legal Kent McIlyar 19.
4-14-2008
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
POLICY ISSUE~S~:
Ordinance
BACKGROUND:
On or about March 18, 2008 an Initiative Petition was filed with the City Clerk of the
City of Paris proposing a City Ordinance, which among other things, would require that
prior to any future decision to sell or to negotiate the sale of raw water from Lake Pat
Mayse, Lake Crook or any other source of water in Lamar County to any person, entity or
corporation, an election shall be called and the issue shall be decided upon by the
majority vote of the duly qualified and registered voters of the City of Paris.
In response to the Initiative Petition filed with the City Clerk, City Council directed staff
on March 24, 2008, to bring back an ordinance for Council's review and consideration.
BOARD~COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
EXHIBITS:
Proposed ordinance
ACTION: BUDGET INFO:
^ Financial Report ^ Minute Order Expense $
^ Department Report ^ Resolution Budgeted Amt. $
^ Presentation ®Ordinance YTD Actual $
^ Public Hearing ^ Other Acct. Name
Acct. Number
FISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
®Administration ®City Clerk ^ Community Development ^ EMS/IT ^ Finance ^ Fire
^ Municipal Court ®Legal ^ Library ^ Police ^ Eng./Public Works ^ Utilities
City of Paris ~ 11 ~ , Revised 2/04/08
DRAFT
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
REQUIRING THAT NO ADDITIONAL RAW WATER FROM LAKE PAT
MAYSE BE SOLD BY THE CITY OF PARIS TO ANY PERSON CORPORATION
OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY OUTSIDE OF LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
WITHOUT FIRST PUTTING THE ISSUE TO A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED
VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PARIS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2008 the City Council of the City of Paris entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Irving to study the feasibility of selling
excess raw water, if any, from Lake Pat Mayse and to exclusively negotiate with Irving a
possible water supply agreement for any excess water from Lake Pat Mayse; and,
WHEREAS, in consideration of the City of Irving's payment of $40,000 cash and
commitment to fund up to $160,000 of the City of Paris' engineering, financial, legal,
legislative, public education and consulting expenses related to determining the feasibility
of selling and supplying excess raw water from Lake Pat Mayse to the City of Irving, the City
entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the City of Irving for a period ending
December 31, 2008; and,
WHEREAS, on or about March 18, 2008 an Initiative Petition was filed with the City
Clerk of the City of Paris proposing a City Ordinance, which among other things, would
require that prior to any future decision to sell or to negotiate the sale of raw water from
Lake Pat Mayse, Lake Crook or any other source of water in Lamar County to any person,
entity or corporation, an election shall be called and the issue shall be decided upon by the
majority vote of the duly qualified and registered voters of the City of Paris: and
WHEREAS, the City Council cannot agree with the proposed ordinance submitted by
the Initiative Petition, because the ordinance would hinder the City in meeting the
additional water needs of local industry and business and would also block efforts to
attract new industry and business to the City of Paris and Lamar County; and
WHEREAS, the City Council agrees that Lake Pat Mayse and its fresh water supply is
one of the City's most valuable resources and that the condition and capacity of the lake, as
well as, the local need for a reliable raw water supply be carefully studied before entering
into any contracts to sell raw water from Lake Pat Mayse to any person, entity or
corporation outside of Lamar County; and
WHEREAS, in order to insure that the City of Paris maintains a safe, sufficient and
reliable raw water supply to meet the future needs of its residents, businesses and industry
and to protect and preserve the recreational function and beauty of Lake Pat Mayse, the
w
City Council of the City of Paris, Texas does hereby propose an ordinance to prohibit the
sale of additional raw water from Lake Pat Mayse, beyond what is needed by the City or its
current water customers, to any person, entity or corporation outside Lamar County,
Texas; except upon a special election and vote of the duly qualified and registered voters of
the City of Paris, Texas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS THAT:
Section 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. No raw water from Lake Pat Mayse shall be sold by the City of Paris to
any person, corporation or other legal entity located outside of Lamar County, Texas,
without first putting the issue of such sale to a vote of the registered voters of the City of
Paris, Texas.
Section 3. The approval or denial of any such proposed sale submitted to the
registered voters of the City of Paris, Texas, shall be decided by a simple majority of those
registered voters of the City of Paris, Texas who vote in any election called hereunder.
Section 4. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the City of Paris
from unilaterally selling treated water from Lake Pat Mayse.
Section 5. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon passage.
DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14ei day of April, 2008.
Jesse James Freelen, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent McIlyar, City Attorney
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