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05 - CITY COUNCIL MINUTESItem No. 5 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS January 26, 2015 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2015, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufinan, Paris, Texas. Present: Mayor Pro -Tem: Richard Grossnickle Council Members: Aaron Jenkins; Sue Lancaster; Benny Plata; Edwin Pickle; and A.J. Hashmi City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Kent McIlyar, City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson, Finance Director; Shawn Napier, City Engineer; Jerry McDaniel, Public Works Director; Larry Wright, Fire Chief; Bob Hundley, Police Chief, Doug Harris, Utilities Director; Kent Klinkerman, EMS Director; Alan Efrussy, Planning Director; and Priscilla McAnally, Library Director Absent: Council Member: Mayor Frierson Opening Agenda Call meeting to order. Mayor Pro-Tern Grossnickle called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Invocation. Gene Anderson gave the invocation. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Plata led the pledge. 4. Citizens' Forum. Kenny Kammer, 1778 Maple Ave — he said he purchased property from the City through the bidding process and was not made aware that taxes were owed on the property until he was going through the re- surveying and re- platting process. Mr. Kammer said the bid advertisement did not reflect that taxes were due on the property. He asked the City Council's help in getting this issue resolved so that he could complete the process of re- surveying and re- platting the property. Regular Council Meeting January 26, 2015 Page 2 Council Member Hashmi asked that an item be placed on the next agenda about Mr. Kammer's property so that Council could address it. Consent Agenda Mayor Pro -Tem Grossnickle 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 Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 5. Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting on January 12, 2015. 6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees: a. Main Street Advisory Board (12 -9 -2014) b. Paris Economic Development Corporation (12 -9 -2014) c. Building and Standards Commission (11 -17 -2014) 7. Receive December monthly financial report. 8. Receive December drainage report. 9. Receive demolition report. 10. Appoint one member to the Civil Service Commission. 11. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2015 -003: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR HOME FUNDS; GRANTING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS REQUISITE IN IMPLEMENTING SAID RESOLUTION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK OR THE CITY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OT AUTHENTICATE THE CITY MANAGER'S SIGNATURE TO ANY AND ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS REQUISITE IN IMPLEMENTING SADI RESOLUTION; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Regular Agenda 12. Consider and approve extension of the home repair loan program. Regular Council Meeting January 26, 2015 Page 3 City Manager John Godwin said Carl Cecil of Liberty National Bank had spoken to the other three participating financial institutions and all were in agreement to extend this program until the end of December 2015 or until all funds were expended. Mr. Godwin expressed appreciation to Liberty National Bank, First Federal, Guaranty Bond Bank, and Lamar National Bank for participating in this program. A Motion to continue this program to the end of December 2015 was made by Council Member Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Pickle. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 13. Receive a presentation about the wastewater treatment plant infrastructure. Utilities Director Doug Harris said in September 2013, the City advertised for statements of qualification for a project for the wastewater treatment plant for either construction of a new plant or complete rehabilitation of the current plant. He said after extensive evaluation, Garver was selected in October of 2014. Mr. Harris introduced Jeff Sober of Garver Industries. Council Member Hashmi asked prior to the presentation if he could ask questions of city employee James Hinkle. Mayor Pro -Tern Grossnickle said that was fine. Council Member Hashmi asked Mr. Hinkle about his tenure with the city and his opinion about the infrastructure. Mr. Hinkle said he had been with the city 23 years, that new infrastructure was needed and within the next 10 years there would be catastrophic failure. Council Member Hashmi inquired about package plants. Mr. Hinkle said packaged plants were computerized and would be constantly changing. Council Member Hashmi inquired about phasing out lift stations and placing a plant in a different location. Mr. Hinkle said that would require additional man power. Mr. Hinkle said he thought one centralized plant was the best for Paris and he thought it was best in the current location. Council Member Pickle asked if closing of the Sara Lee had an impact and Mr. Hinkle informed him there was very little impact. Council Member Plata asked how much had been spent on maintenance of the plant and Mr. Hinkle said 6 million dollars was spent in the early 90s. Mr. Sober said Garver had teamed with Hayter Engineering and Freese & Nichols, Inc. for this project. Mr. Sober gave an outline of the project work plan and in summary told the City Council the plan was to decommission parts of the plant and rebuild on top of it as it continues regular business. He said it would save a lot of money and the City would not be required to go through the process of getting land licensed for a wastewater plant, which was an extensive process. Mr. Sober said when the City was ready to move forward, he recommended starting the feasibility study and the remodel. Council Member Hashmi asked Reeves Hayter about the 4 million gallons of affluent water and if it was possible to conserve and re -use the water instead of sending it down the river. Mr. Hayter said that was studied several years ago and the plan was to build some type of holding place to recapture that water. Council Member Pickle asked about grants and loans, to which Mr. Sober informed him that grants were very competitive but they were making application. Council Member Plata inquired if a new plant would require less man power and Mr. Sober said that could potentially be the case. Council Member Hashmi asked if they had looked at solar and wind energy options for operation of the plant and Mr. Sober that the feasibility study would cover such alternatives. Regular Council Meeting January 26, 2015 Page 4 Mr. Godwin told the Council they would see this item several more times over the next several months prior to considering action on it. 14. Discuss and act on creation of a dog park, and receive presentation by Dr. Hashmi. Council Member Hashmi said during discussion of the Paris Park Plan there was interest expressed about a dog park among the committee members. Council Member Hashmi presented to the Council a slide show which depicted dog socialization advantages, people socialization advantages, educational advantages, community advantages, disadvantages, financial issues, potential sites, and a dog lovers volunteer group which included the possibility of corporate sponsors. Council Member Hashmi said for location they might want to look at land adjacent to the swimming pool, land at the new EMT station site, tax foreclosed properties, and city owned land. Council Member Hashmi inquired from the city manager about costs. Mr. Godwin estimated $12,000 for fencing and gates and $12,000 for benches, soil testing, drinking fountains and a pick -up station. He said the maintenance costs would be fairly low. Council Member Hashmi asked Planning Director Alan Efrussy if he thought a dog park was needed or if it was a luxury. Mr. Efrussy said he thought it was good idea, that he did not consider it a luxury and during park planning discussions four or five people expressed an interest in creation of a dog park. Council Member Pickle favored the idea and said he would like to the community to come up with the features. He thought next to the swimming pool was a good location. Council Member Plata agreed that it was a good idea but said he did not want to hire an additional employee. Council Member Lancaster liked the idea and said she had seen successful dog parks. Council Member Jenkins also favored the idea. Mayor Pro -Tern Grossnickle inquired if it was common for cities the size of Paris to have a dog park. Mr. Godwin said it had become more and more common. Mayor Pro -Tem Grossnickle said he wanted to continue to support the shelter and the spay /neuter program. Council Member Hashmi asked that this item be placed on the next agenda, so that Council could receive input from the citizens. 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: Paris Warehouse 107, Inc. Tax Abatement Agreement. Mayor Pro -Tem Grossnickle convened City Council into executive session at 6:35 p.m. 16. Reconvene into open session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in Executive Session. Mayor Pro -Tem Grossnickle reconvened City Council into open session at 6:51 p.m. He said during executive session they discussed Paris Warehouse 107 rebating to the City taxes they owed for being slightly under the number of jobs created as required by the tax abatement. Regular Council Meeting January 26, 2015 Page 5 A Motion to direct the City Attorney to send a demand letter to Paris Warehouse 107 was made by Council Member Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 17. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to Resolution No. 2004 -081. Council Member Hashmi asked when they would get the list of tax delinquent properties that were to be sold. Mr. Godwin said it was in the process and he would get an updated list to Council. Mr. McIlyar said that in order to move forward with a future annexation of a skilled nursing facility on Stillhouse Road, two public hearings were required within a certain timeframe and they would need to have a special meeting the week of February 16t ". Mayor Frierson said the city clerk would coordinate schedules with the Council for a special meeting date. 18. Adjournment. There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Pickle and was seconded by Council Member Plata. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m. RICHARD GROSSNICKLE, MAYOR PRO -TEM JANICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK