07.22.13 SPECIALMINUTES OF THE JOINT SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AND CITIZENS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
July 22, 2013
The City Council of the City of Paris and the Citizens Capital Improvement Program
Committee met for a joint workshop session at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 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. Gene Anderson, Interim City Manager; Kent
McIlyar, City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk;
and Shawn Napier, City Engineer
CIP Committee: Ruth Ann Alsobrook; Cheyney Bryan; J.D.
Davidson; Charles Richards; and Bobby Smallwood
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pro -Tem Wright called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
2. Discuss infrastructure improvements in the City.
Tracy Hicks of KSA Engineering explained they were hired by the City Council to put
together a ten -year Capital Improvements Plan and gave a short presentation. Mayor Hashmi
arrived to the meeting at 4:35 p.m. Mr. Hicks said the bonds were sold in a way that were
primarily for construction of water and sewer lines. Ms. Alsobrook said the committee wanted to
look at replacement of the worst water and sewer lines. Mr. Hicks said KSA provided a list of
the 48 neediest projects two months ago. He said that the project list would cost $9.6 million for
the new water lines, $5.5 million for the new sewer lines and $30.3 million for a complete
reconstruction of the street for a total of $45.4 million. Mr. Hicks said reducing the paving in the
budget by patching the streets would enable the City to replace two or three times as many water
and sewer projects if bond money did not need to pay for streets. Mr. Davidson said he thought
it would be a waste of money not to repair and construct streets in the very worst areas. Mr.
Napier added that KSA also looked at the most traveled areas. Mr. Hicks stated that the revised
budget without reconstruction of streets would be nearly 6 miles each of water and sewer lines.
Council Member Lancaster inquired about the possibility of placement of lines under the
sidewalks. Mr. Hicks said in some places there was not enough room because of utility lines,
Special Council Meeting
July 22, 2013
Page 2
such as gas. Mr. Smallwood said he thought curbs and gutters were going to be reconstructed
when lines were replaced. Mayor Hashmi explained the ballot language that the voters passed
did not include complete construction of entire streets. Mr. Napier added that entire roadways
might have to be replaced in instances where the lines were deep. He said the committee had not
met since the meeting with all of the water and sewer operators had taken place.
Mayor Hashmi asked that everyone remain focused on the language of the bond to ensure
they kept their word to the voters. Council Member Drake read the ballot "the issuance of $45,
000, 00 tax bonds for replacing and extending water and sewer lines and making repairs to
streets and drainage infrastructure necessitated by such construction." Mr. Hicks said when the
committee was originally convened there was going to be three ballot propositions, but that was
changed through the bond counsel. Mr. Hicks also said this could potentially be one very large
project. Mr. Napier said it would be tough for one engineering firm to do multiple projects and it
could possibly take up to fifteen months before construction began. Mayor Hashmi said they
may divide the town into sections and have several firms working on different projects as
recommended by Mr. Hayter. Mr. Napier added staff had all the data at this point and the CIP
Committee needed to schedule a meeting and then bring something back to the council. Mayor
Hashmi asked that Council be included in that meeting. Mr. Davidson asked about a graph
indicating growth of the City. Mayor Hashmi asked that the planner be at the next meeting to
inform everyone of potential growth of in areas. Mayor Hashmi expressed if everyone works
together and does well, that they will gain the confidence of the citizens which would help in
getting future projects for the City done. Discussion continued with regard to purchase of pipe,
the requirement of bidding it out, and storage problems. Citizen Don Wilson said he thought it
was smarter to do four or five projects, let the CIP Committee figure out which project to do first
and then determine how far the money would go for the projects. Mayor Hashmi said there were
pros and cons to both and a final decision had not been made by the City Council, but they would
do whatever worked best for the City. Mr. Davidson asked for the ten year summary to be
forwarded to the committee members and Mr. Hicks said he would e -mail it to them.
It was a consensus to schedule a joint session for Monday, July 29th at 4:30 p.m.
3. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
A ICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK