03.25.13 MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
March 25, 2013
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 25, 2013, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: A.J. Hashmi
Council Members: Aaron Jenkins; Billie Lancaster; John Wright;
Richard Grossnickle; Matt Frierson; and Cleonne
Drake
City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Kent McIlyar, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; and Doug Harris, Utilities
Director
Opening A�enda
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Reverend James Price gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Grossnickle led the pledge.
4. Citizen's forum.
James Price, 1230 Shiloh, Paris, Texas — he wanted to know why the work at Westgate
Apartments was taking so long and asked the Council to check into it. He also invited everyone
to the Dream Center in Deport, which is a drug rehab center that recently opened.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Hashmi inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the
Consent Agenda for discussion. A Motion to pull items 13 and 10 was made by Mayor Hashmi
and seconded by Council Member Grossnickle. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Hashmi
said he wanted to pull these items to be explained to the public. City Attorney Kent McIlyar
explained item 13 and City Manager John Godwin explained item 10. A Motion to approve
Regular Council Meeting
March 25, 2013
Page 2
items 10 and 13 was made by Council Member Drake and seconded by Council Member Wright.
Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
A Motion to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda was made by Council
Member Frierson and seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting on March 11, 2013.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees:
a. Historic Preservation Commission (2-25-2013)
b. Paris Economic Development Corporation (1-15-2013 & 2-4-2013)
c. Building and Standards Commission (2-18-2013)
7. Receive February monthly financial report.
8. Receive February drainage ditch maintenance report.
9. Discuss possible future amendments to the City of Paris Charter.
10. Approve a Memo of Understanding for a Multi-Jurisdiction Mitigation Plan between the
City of Paris and Lamar County.
11. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2013-013: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING A PROCLAMATION DECLARING
THE MONTH OF APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH; MAKING OTHER
FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
12. Proclamation declaring the month of April as Safe Digging month.
13. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2013-014: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING A
COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PARIS,
AND 911 RESTORATION INC.; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Regular A�enda
14. Discuss the May 11, 2013 bond election.
Mayor Hashmi reminded Council Members to educate the citizens in their districts about
the upcoming bond election.
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March 25, 2013
Page 3
15. Consider and take action regarding appointing individuals to serve on the Citizen's
Advisory Committee for the new parks, recreation, and open space master plan.
Mr. Godwin explained that the contract with MHS to create a new Parks, Recreation and
Open Space Master Plan mentions the consultant working with a citizens' advisory committee.
He said that staff recommended an ad hoc committee comprised of seven or nine citizens. Based
on prior instruction from Council, Mr. Godwin said Alan Efrussy sent letters to individuals and
civic groups who might be willing to serve on this committee. It was a consensus of the City
Council that each Council Member appoint one member from the list provided by Mr. Efrussy.
Council Member Wright recommended Bart Chadwick; Council Member Lancaster
recommended Richard Hunt; Council Member Drake recommended Pat Cochran; Council
Member Grossnickle recommended Earl Erickson; Council Member Frierson recommended
Dave Osborne; Council Member Jenkins recommended Henry Shaw; and Mayor Hashmi
recommended Mark Rothfuss. It was also a consensus of the City Council that Mayor Hashmi
and Council Member Frierson would serve as the Council liaisons.
A Motion to approve the recommended appointees was made by Council Member Drake
and seconded by Mayor Hashmi. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
16. Presentation and discussion about bicycle trails and accessibility in Paris.
Sahill Prakash, a sixth grade student at Crocket Intermediate School, gave a presentation
about Project Bike, a community service project. He said the project was about bicycle safety,
which included wearing helmets when riding your bike. He asked that the City Council consider
adding bicycle lanes in Paris. Mr. Prakash invited everyone to the bicycle rodeo scheduled for
May 4th between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. at the Sports Pavilion.
17. Discuss and act on one appointment to the Paris Economic Development Corporation
Board.
Mayor Hashmi said Council would take nominations from all Council Members, that
Council Members would vote on the individuals and the frst individual to get four votes would
be the appointee. City Clerk Janice Ellis announced the names of the applicants as Kenneth
Kohls, Vic Ressler, Rickey Richardson, Rebecca Clifford and Mike Anders. Council Member
Drake suggested they hear from the applicants as to why the applicant wanted to be on the PEDC
Board and what can they contribute to the board. City Council heard from applicants in
attendance, which were Vic Ressler, Kenneth Kohls, and Rebecca Clifford.
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March 25, 2013
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Mayor Hashmi opened the floor for nominations. Council Member Frierson nominated
Vic Ressler. Council Member Jenkins nominated Rebecca Clifford. Mayor Hashmi asked if
there were any other nominations and there being none, he closed the floor.
Mayor Hashmi asked for a vote on nominee Vic Ressler. Council Member Grossnickle,
Council Member Frierson and Council Member Lancaster voted for Vic Ressler. Mayor Hashmi
asked for a vote on nominee Rebecca Clifford. Mayor Hashmi, Council Member Jenkins,
Council Member Wright and Council Member Drake voted for Rebecca Clifford. It was
declared that Rebecca Clifford was appointed to the PEDC Board.
18. Receive and discuss report from city manager about the meeting between the City of
Paris and District Judge regarding the probation department buildings.
Mr. Godwin explained that City staff inet with Judge Clifford and worked through the
issue concerning the recent inspection by City staff of the probation department. Mr. Godwin
said the City of Paris and Lamar County reached an agreement that the City would no longer
inspect county buildings within the city limit unless the Fire Department needed access for
mapping purposes in case of a fire or for a safety reason. Mayor Hashmi said the City and
County had a good working relationship. Council Member Wright said he had requested this
item on the agenda, because citizens had been inquiring about it and he had not been briefed by
the city manager.
19. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government
Code to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee as follows: city manager.
Mayor Hashmi convened City Council into executive session at 6:05 p.m.
20. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
Executive Session.
Mayor Hashmi reconvened City Council into open session at 6:30 p.m. and said a
personnel issue had been discussed and dealt with in executive session.
21. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004-081.
Mayor Hashmi said he would like to amend policy for the boards, commissions and
committees. He said in the past he had seen people move from one board to another board which
in effect did not fill the boards, but still left vacancies. Mayor Hashmi said if it was okay with
everyone, he would bring something back to Council at a future meeting.
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March 25, 2013
Page 5
22. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Frierson and was seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carrie� ,�7 ayes — 0 nays. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m. �
A.J. HASHMI,�o��R
. �
NICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK