12.02.2013 MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
December 2, 2013
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
December 2, 2013, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufrnan, 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;
Larry Wright, Fire Chief, Bob Hundley, Police
Chief; Kent Klinkerman, EMS Director; and Alan
Efrussy, Planning Director
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Reverend Price gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Grossnickle led the pledge.
4. a. Citizens' Forum.
Kristy Foster, 777 Bonham Street — on behalf of the New Hope Center, she asked that the
City consider allowing community gardens on a couple of the vacant lots.
Kari Daniel, 111 Lamar — on behalf of the Paris Downtown Association, she invited
everyone to the downtown parade on Friday beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Cheri Bedford, Main Street Coordinator — she announced there were many holiday
activities scheduled in December. Ms. Bedford referenced the Holiday In Paris website and
specifically mentioned Wassail Fest and Santa Paws for a Cause Dog Parade, both scheduled on
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Saturday, December 14
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December 2, 2013
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b. Proclamation declaring December 7, 2013 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance
Day.
Mayor Hashmi declared December 7, 2013 at National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
and presented Bud Mackey with a proclamation.
c. Mayor's report on trip and speaking engagement in Singapore.
Mayor Hashmi said he recently was at a speaking engagement with the President of
Singapore, the Prime Minister and dignitaries from other countries. He said he was pleased he
was given the opportunity to introduce the City of Paris to other countries.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Hashmi inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the
Consent Agenda for discussion. There being none, a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda
was made by Council Member Drake and seconded by Council Member Frierson. Motion
carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting on November 11, 2013.
6. Receive reports and /or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees:
a. Paris Convention and Visitors Council (8 -22 -2013)
b. Board of Adjustment (8 -27 -2013)
c. Traffic Commission (9 -3 -2013)
d. Building and Standards Commission (10 -21 -2013)
e. Paris Economic Development Corporation (10 -8 -2013 and 11 -6 -2013)
f. Planning and Zoning Commission (10 -7 -2013)
g. Main Street Advisory Board (10 -15 -2013 and 10 -23 -2013)
h. Airport Advisory Board (10 -17 -2013)
7. Appoint one member to the Historic Preservation Commission to fill an unexpired term
and appoint one member to the Civil Service Commission.
Regular Agenda
8. Presentation of awards to Fire and Police Department employees.
Mayor Hashmi, Fire Chief Wright and Police Chief Hundley praised Police Dispatcher
Tony Foreman, Fire Captain James Dority, Firefighter Heath Humphrey and Firefighter Trey
Unruh for saving a local resident's life during a structure fire. Mayor Hashmi and Chief
Hundley presented Mr. Foreman with a life saver award. Mayor Hashmi and Chief Wright
presented Mr. Dority, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Unruh with Distinguished Service medals.
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December 2, 2013
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9. Discuss, conduct a public hearing and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -040: AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
ADOPTING A PARKS, RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN, 2013-
2023; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Planning Director Alan Efrussy explained that the last Paris Parks Master Plan was
completed in 1996 and was updated in 2001 by MHS Parks Consultants. He further explained
that November 11, 2013 a discussion session was held with the City Council, the planning
manager and president of MHS Parks Consultants, and the appointed Parks Master Plan Citizen's
Advisory Committee. Mr. Efrussy provided City Council with a revised Paris Future Parks and
Open Space Map citing minor revisions that were made to the map reflecting the most current
implementation schedule. He recommended adoption of the Plan.
Mayor Hashmi opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak in
support of this item, to please come forward. Mayor Hashmi asked for anyone wishing to speak
in opposition of this item, to please come forward. With no one speaking, Mayor Hashmi closed
the public hearing.
Subject to the inclusion of the revised map, a Motion to approve this item was made by
Council Member Grossnickle and seconded by Mayor Hashmi. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
10. Discuss and possibly act on an indoor recreation center plan.
Mayor Hashmi referred this item to Council Member Wright, as he requested that it be
placed on the agenda.
Council Member Wright said there was a wide - spread interest in a recreation center and
the city could not afford to build a recreation center at the current time. He also said that
someone had suggested they might consider using the Civic Center as a recreation center and he
thought it was a good ideal. Mayor Hashmi asked if there were restrictions using the Civic
Center as a recreational facility and Mr. McIlyar said he would have to research this issue.
Council Member Frierson said he realized there was a desire and a need for a recreation center
but questioned the ties between the Chamber and the Civic Center. Mayor Hashmi said it was
his understanding the City owned the property and leased it to the Chamber. Council Members
Frierson, Grossnickle and Lancaster said options should be explored. Council Member Jenkins
said this was a wonderful ideal for the kids and the facility could be used every day. Council
Member Wright said they would be remised not to explore the possibilities. Mayor Hashmi said
he thought it was a good ideal and they should also get opinions from people who work at the
Civic Center. It was consensuses of City Council to have the City Manager explore the
possibilities of using the Civic Center as a recreation center and to bring this item back to
Council.
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11. Receive update from Chief Hundley on the ongoing murder investigation.
Chief Hundley stated that on October 9 four citizens were murdered and it was the most
heinous act. He reported that immediately ten detectives began working the scene. Chief
Hundley said that the Texas Ranger, patrol officers, and investigators were continuing to track
down leads. He also said there had been several federal officers working on this case. He said
there were certain aspects that he could not discuss, because this was an open investigation and
he did not want to jeopardize prosecution of this case. Chief Hundley expressed confidence in
the investigators in finding out who committed these crimes and stated they would continue to
actively work this investigation until those responsible were brought to justice.
12. Discuss and approve a Lease Agreement with Maxey Rifleman Gun Club for property
located at Lake Crook to use as a gun range.
Mayor Hashmi said at the City Council meeting of October 28, Maxey Gun Club
requested a five year extension of their current lease agreement and at that time the gun club was
asked to bring back a five year plan. He said that plan was included in the agenda packets and
that Mr. Osborne from Maxey Gun Club was present to answer any questions from Council. Mr.
Osborne explained the gun club was self-funded and had been improving the property every
year. He said they rebuilt the berms every two years and added additional gravel to the parking
lot as needed.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Frierson and seconded by
Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
13. Discuss and act on a professional services contract with AECOM to design city -wide
municipal infrastructure project(s).
City Manager John Godwin said he and Council Members Wright and Lancaster met
several times with AECOM. He said the contract calls for construction to be divided into five
phases, with the first set of projects ready to be advertised for bid in March and the other four
divided out over the subsequent two years. Mr. Godwin said the proposed cost was an amount
not to exceed $4,500,836, which resulted in a new contract of $447,474 less than originally
requested by AECOM. Mayor Hashmi asked for assurance from AECOM they would be timely
with each phase of this project and AECOM Representative Mr. D'Adam answered in the
affirmative. Mayor Hashmi referenced Exhibit B and said he would like language included that
the 4% maximum increase is effective January 1, 2015 and will be in effect each calendar year
thereafter. Mayor Hashmi asked Council Members Wright and Lancaster if they were
comfortable with the contract, to which both replied yes. Mayor Hashmi inquired of Mr.
Holland Harper it was helpful to have Council Members involved in the contract negotiations.
Mr. Harper said at first he was apprehensive, but that it did work out well having involvement of
Council Members. He explained that with Council Members being active in the negotiations, it
assured Council buy -in of the process and contract terms. Mayor Hashmi said the City saved
$500,000 and he appreciated that fact.
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December 2, 2013
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Subject to language being added to Exhibit B to include that the 4% begins January 1,
2015 and will be in effect each calendar year thereafter, a Motion to approve this item was made
by Mayor Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
14. Discuss amendments to the sign ordinance and provide direction to city staff.
City Engineer Shawn Napier said the sign committee composed of Council Member
Drake, SCS Graphics owner Alex Pickering, Kent McIlyar, Joey Sleeper and himself met several
times. Mr. Napier also said the current ordinance would allow three more billboards to be
constructed along the SW Loop and there were currently 47 billboards in the city. He said the
committee discussed a new policy to possibly not allow billboards within the city limits, allow
the current ordinance to remain, modify the existing ordinance to allow more billboards, and the
election of a yearly inspection fee. Mr. Napier said the committee was seeking direction from
the Council. Council Members Frierson, Grossnickle and Lancaster favored keeping the current
ordinance. Council Members Jenkins and Wright, along with Mayor Hashmi expressed they
wanted the committee to make recommendations to the Council. Council Member Drake said
they brought this up tonight, because they had mixed thoughts as to what should be done.
It was a consensus of City Council for this issue to be returned to the sign committee to
further discuss and make recommendations to the City Council.
15. Convene into Executive Session:
• Pursuant to Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code, Consultation with
Attorney to receive legal advice from the City Attorney about pending or
contemplated litigation and /or on matters in which the duty of an attorney to his
client under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar
of Texas, clearly conflict with this chapter, as follows:
a. Update on claims filed by Richardson, Pardue and Leavitt;
b. Boomer Trends Magazine, Inc. and Kenneth Kammer v. City of Paris.
• Pursuant to Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the
purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.
Mayor Hashmi convened City Council into Executive Session at 6:43 p.m.
16. Reconvene into Open Session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
Executive Session.
Mayor Hashmi reconvened City Council into open session at 7:15 p.m.
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December 2, 2013
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17. Consider and approve future events for City Council and /or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004 -081.
None were referenced.
18. 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 7:15 p.m.
A.J. HASHMI,
J NICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK