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05.20.13 MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS May 20, 2013 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 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; Shawn Napier, City Engineer; Priscilla McAnally, Library Director; Larry Wright, Fire Chief; Bob Hundley, Police Chief; Alan Efrussy, Planning Director; and Doug Harris, Utilities Director Openin� Agenda 1. Call meeting to order. Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Invocation. Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Grossnickle led the pledge. 4. a. Citizen's forum. Ray Banks, 3450 Robin Road, Paris, Texas — he inquired if those who requested disannexation were informed those who were paying sewer and water, were subsidizing other departments in the City. He also called the Council's attention to item 14 on the agenda and specifically asked them to read the original resolution authorizing the bonds to be sold, their use, and repayment of the bonds. Mr. Banks said the resolution adopted September 28, 2009, related to Hayter Engineering and S. Collegiate Drive from Loop 286 to the bridge just east of Dragon Park. He said the money was to be used was only for Collegiate Drive and its right-of-ways. He said the projects on the agenda tonight were great projects and needed to be funded, but not with the bond money that was issued in 2009. He also said that a couple of ineetings ago, they Regular Council Meeting May 20, 2013 Page 2 discussed requesting an Attorney General opinion, but that had not been received yet. Mr. Banks also said the City received word from the bond attorney that this would be okay, but questioned his opinion. Mr. Banks said the citizens felt that Mayor Hashmi was open, above board and had done more for the City in two years than has been done in the past ten years. Mayor Hashmi said they had not received the Texas Attorney General's opinion, but were in the process of getting it. He said more than likely the item would be tabled pending receipt of the opinion. Mayor Hashmi recognized Dr. Surber for his years of service to the community, and presented him with a key to the city and a certificate of recognition. Council Member Drake expressed appreciation to all of the volunteers who assisted in the clean-up of Pride Cemetery. b. Proclamation recognizing Municipal Band Director Tom Neugent. Mayor Hashmi read the proclamation and presented it to Tom Neugent. Consent A�enda 5. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees: a. Board of Adjustment (4-2-2013) b. Paris Economic Development Corporation (4-9-2013) 6. Receive April monthly financial report. 7. Receive April drainage ditch maintenance report. 8. Receive dilapidated structure report. Regular Agenda 9. Discuss and act on a Resolution canvassing the returns for the Bond Election held on May 1l, 2013. Mayor Hashmi said that on May l lt" the residents of the city considered a proposition for the issuance of $45,000,000 tax bonds for replacing and extending water and sewer lines and making repairs to streets and drainage infrastructure necessitated by such construction. The proposition passed 869 votes cast for the proposition and 77 votes cast against the proposition. Mayor Hashmi referenced Sixth Street as related to these projects. He said there was a concern raised that Sixth Street was unnecessarily repaired or replaced. Mayor Hashmi said that Council approved it; however, Council did so based on the recommendation of the Engineering Regular Council Meeting May 20, 2013 Page 3 Department. He said at the next meeting they would appoint some members of the Council, so that there were no issues and to insure which projects should move forward. Mayor Hashmi said he wanted to assure citizens that the Council would carefully and appropriately expends funds from the $45,000,000 bond that was approved by the citizens. City Manager John Godwin explained that Sixth Street was a construction project and the foundation was horrible. He said it had been repaired thirteen times in the last few years and a lot of money had been spent on repairs for that one block. Mr. Godwin said the base of the road was so bad that when it rained the alligator cracks would fill up with dirt coming from underneath the pavement. A Motion to approve the Resolution canvassing the returns for the Bond Election was made by Council Member Drake and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 10. Discuss and act on a Resolution canvassing the returns for the Regular Municipal Election held on May 11, 2013, for Council Districts 4, 5 and 7. Mayor Hashmi said on April 8, 2013, the City Council received a certificate of unopposed candidates for Districts 4 and 7 from the City Clerk and the Council declared Council Members A.J. Hashmi and Richard Grossnickle elected to office. He said on May l lih the residents in District 5 voted for a council member to serve in their district. Mayor Hashmi said Danny Booth received a total of 24 votes; Matt Frierson received a total of 82 votes; and that Matt Frierson received the majority of the votes cast. A Motion to approve the Resolution canvassing the returns for the Regular Municipal Election was made by Council Member Wright and seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 11. Issuance of Certificate of Election; Administer Statement of Elected Officer to Council Members; and Administer Oath of Office to newly elected Council Members. City Clerk Janice Ellis administered the Statement of Elected Officer and Oath of Office to A.J. Hashmi, Richard Grossnickle, and Matt Frierson. 12. Election by City Council of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to serve the City of Paris for the next year. Mayor Hashmi opened the floor for nominations for mayor. Council Member Wright nominated A.J. Hashmi for mayor. Mayor Hashmi asked for any other nominations. With no further nominations, Mayor Hashmi closed the floor for nominations. A Motion to nominate A.J. Hashmi as mayor was made by Council Member Wright and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Hashmi opened the floor for nominations for mayor pro tem. Council Member Lancaster nominated John Wright for mayor pro tem. With no further nominations, Mayor Hashmi closed the floor for nominations. A Motion to nominate John Wright as mayor pro tem Regular Council Meeting May 20, 2013 Page 4 was made by Council Member Lancaster and seconded by Council Member Jenkins. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 13. Presentation of the 2013 Water and Rate Study. Finance Director Gene Anderson explained one of the provisions of the city's contracts with local industries, requires the city to have an independent consultant perform a cost of service study each year. Mr. Anderson said the primary purpose of the study is to verify and determine what the rates are under those contracts and it also determines what the rates should be for non-contract customers. Chris Ekrut, Manager for J. Stowe & Co. presented the Council with results of the water and rate study. In summary, Mr. Ekrut reported that the City's current wastewater rates, on a stand-alone basis were slightly below the level needed to meet the City's current rate maintenance policy. However when considered in combination, he said the current water and wastewater rates were sufficient to meet the test year budgeted revenue requirements and the City's rate maintenance policy. Mr. Ekrut said the recommendation was that the City should keep retail rates at current levels, but continually monitor rates as new debt was issued by the City. 14. Award a bid to the lowest responsible bidder for reconstruction of the South Collegiate Drive Project Phase II. Mayor Hashmi said there was concern about this item with regard to construction of a parking lot and extending a driveway to the Police Department. Mayor Hashmi said an Attorney General opinion had been requested. Mayor Hashmi said Council could still discuss this item if they desired to do so, but his preference was to table it to the next Council meeting, pending receipt of the opinion. City Council discussed duration of bid prices, construction while school was recessed for summer, desire to stay within the covenants of the bond, approving the project pending the AG opinion, tabling this item, and calling a special meeting if the AG approved this project prior to the next council meeting. A Motion to table this item was made by Council Member Jenkins and seconded by Council Member Wright. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 15. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to Resolution No. 2004-081. Nothing was referenced. 16. Adj ournment. There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Frierson and was seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was adjourned at 6:22 p.m. � � J ICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK Regular Council Meeting May 20, 2013 D-�.�., [ 1 �_ � �