03/17/2014MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
March 17, 2014
The City Council of the City of Paris met for an special meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 17, 2014, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
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Present: Mayor:
Council Members:
City Staff-
Absent: Council Member:
Call meeting to order.
A.J. Hashmi
Billie Lancaster; John Wright; Richard Grossnickle;
Matt Frierson; and Cleonne Drake
John Godwin, City Manager; Kent McIlyar, City
Attorney; and Janice Ellis, City Clerk
Aaron Jenkins
Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Receive briefing and discuss various retail incentives, including Chapter 380 agreements,
with the retail committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Hashmi said this meeting was requested by the Chamber of Commerce retail
committee. Chairman Erik Roddy said the purpose of the committee was to encourage more
local shopping and to partner with the City for retail recruitment. Mr. Roddy asked City
Manager John Godwin to share his knowledge about retail recruitment. Mr. Godwin said 65% of
the economy was retail. He emphasized with retail that fits Paris, you can bring money in from
the outside helping to keep the tax rate low. Mr. Godwin said one of the tools available was 380
agreements as allowed by Title 12 Chapter 380 of the Local Government Code. He said that
retail agreements between municipalities and the private sector gave a lot of flexibility, such as
rebates for future sales tax. Mr. Godwin said for the most part contact should be made with
developers instead of the actual businesses. He said when companies looked at a city they
looked at code enforcement, housing, parks and restaurants. He said a policy was need as to
what the City was willing and not willing to do. He also said it was important to know what we
need, not so much what we want. Mr. Godwin said a retail consultant with experience would be
an asset. J.D. Davidson said this was not a job for the chamber alone and they wanted input from
the Council. Several committee members stated they wanted to make sure current businesses do
well and they were aware of gaps in retail. Jeff Martin said the Chamber does not have the funds
to move forward with retail development. Council Member Wright said he likes the approach of
contacting developers. Council Member Lancaster said they needed to recruit a motivational
consultant. Council Member Grossnickle cited Mr. Godwin's retail experience and that he might
know an experienced consultant. Council Member Drake said a policy was needed and thought
they should learn why and how to keep current businesses from leaving Paris. Council Member
Frierson said retail was an important feature to the economy. Mayor Hashmi said he did not
want to see the 380 agreement used for a competitor of an existing business, because that would
Special Council Meeting
March 17, 2014
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not be fair to the existing businesses. He said to use 380 agreements to entice companies to
come to Paris that would fill the gaps would be good for the local economy. Mayor Hashmi
asked that the Chamber bring to the Council a 380 agreement outlining what they wanted the
City to support. Mayor Hashmi said when selecting a retail consultant, the contract should be for
a specific time period and an out clause included. It was a consensus of City Council that the
City Manager formulate a policy and get input from the Chamber. Greg Wilson said a study was
done in 2008 and there was a lot of information contained in it with regard to gaps. Mr. Wilson
said he did not think the Chamber should spear head this but assist the City. Mayor Hashmi said
it should be a partnership between the Chamber, the City Manager and City Planner but that the
Chamber should take the lead with support of the City Council. Mr. Godwin said he would bring
several consultants in for interviews, the Chamber could recommend who they wanted to hire
and the City could pay the consultant. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Roddy agreed with this approach.
Mayor Hashmi said these meetings should include the City Planner. Robert High suggested the
individual have a vested interest in the community, have bench marks reflecting visible efforts.
Following additional discussion, it was a consensus of City Council that two people from
the Chamber and two people from the City interview and recommend who to hire as a retail
consultant. It was also a consensus that the City Manager formulate a policy after receiving
input from the Chamber; that the City Manager and City Attorney draft a 380 agreement; and
bring a policy to the City Council within thirty days.
3. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the meel
N CITY CLERK