30 Move and approve and ordinance providing for a 50 percent reduction in building, elec,, plumbing and gas, sign, and zoning fees, etc.CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date: Originating Department: Presented By: Agenda Item No.:
March 20, 2008 Historic Preservation Lisa A. Wright, Director of
Council Date: Commission Community Development/Historic 30.
April 14, 2008 Preservation Officer
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move to approve an ordinance providing for a fifty (50) percent reduction in building,
electrical, plumbing and gas, sign, and zoning fees and at-cost water and sewer taps for
properties located within a historic district.
POLICY ISSUE(S~:
Consider a reduction in fees for City services to owners of property located within a
historic district as an incentive to encourage restoration, rehabilitation, and infill within
the districts.
BACKGROUND:
In 2004, the City Council adopted incentives that would provide tax relief to property
owners undertaking historic preservation projects within a designated historic district.
The goal of the Council was to encourage the preservation of historic structures by
providing economic incentives to help owners develop projects for historic buildings that
were worthy of preservation. Since adoption of the tax exemptions by City Council,
eight (8) applications have been approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
BOARD~COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
At its November 26, 2007, meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended that the City
Council approve additional incentives to assist property owners who might not qualify for tax relief
because of the nature or the cost of the work they are undertaking. They have recommended a 50%
reduction in building, electrical, plumbing and gas, sign, and zoning fees and at-cost water and sewer
taps.
EXHIBITS:
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:
The budgetary impact of these reductions should be minimal due to the fact that there only are a limited
number of properties that will qualify for the incentive as well as an even more limited number of
properties from that group that will actually seek the incentive.
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 Revised 2/04/08
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DRAFT
attorney\ordwork\current\incentives for Historic Districts Ord 2008
Apri18, 2008
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AMENDING ARTICLE VII,
CHAPTER 7, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 7-160.1, REDUCED
FEES FOR HISTORIC LANDMARK AND HISTORIC DISTRICT PROPERTY;
PROVIDING FOR A FIFTY PERCENT (50%) REDUCTION IN ALL REQUIRED
BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GAS, SIGN AND ZONING FEES AND AT-
COST WATER AND SEWER TAPS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE
AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, in 2004 the City council adopted incentives that would provide tax relief to
property owners undertaking historic preservation projects within a designated historic
district; and,
WHEREAS, the goal of the Council was to encourage the preservation of historic
structures in the City of Pairs by providing economic incentives to help owners develop
projects for historic buildings that were worthy of preservation; and,
WHEREAS, on November 26, 2007, the Historic Preservation Commission of the city of
Paris recommended that the City Council approve additional incentives to assist property
owners who might not qualify for property tax relief because of the nature or the cost of the
work they are undertaking and have recommended a fifty percent (50%) reduction in building,
electrical, plumbing and gas, sign and zoning fees and at-cost water and sewer taps; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris hereby finds and determines that the
changes recommended herein are in the best interest of the City of Paris and its citizens and
should be adopted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED 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.
Section 2. That a new Section 7-160.1, entitled Reduced Fees for Historic Landmark
and Historic District Property, be added to Article VII Historic Preservation, Chapter 7
Buildings and Building Regulations of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris and that it
should read in its entirety as follows:
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"Sec. 7-160.1. Reduced Fees for Historic Landmark and Historic District
Property.
(a) Property owners undertaking historic preservation projects within a
designated Historic District or on Historic Landmark property will receive a fifty
percent (SO%) discount from standard city fees for building, electrical, plumbing
and gas, sign, and zoning fees and water and sewer taps at City cost."
Section 3. 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 4. 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 S. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its
passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14~ 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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