01/26/2015MINUTES 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. Kaufman, 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
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pro -Tem 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.
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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 -Tem 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.
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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 -Tem 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 16th. 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.
RI HARD GROSSNICKLE, MAYOR PRO -TEM
NICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK