04/25/2016MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
April 25, 2016
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
April 25, 2016, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: A.J. Hashmi
Council Members: Aaron Jenkins; Billie Lancaster; Benny Plata; Steve
Clifford; Matt Frierson; and Edwin Pickle
City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; Carla Easton, City Engineer;
Larry Wright, Fire Chief; Bob Hundley, Police
Chief; Kent Klinkerman, EMS Director; Doug
Harris, Utilities Director; and Jerry McDaniel,
Public Works Director
Opening Agenda
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Gene Anderson gave the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Council Member Lancaster led the pledge.
4. a. Citizens' Forum.
David Hamilton, 3510 Darnell — he invited everyone to participate in the "Stamp -Out
Hunger" Project. Mr. Hamilton asked anyone wishing to participate to place non - perishable
items in their mailbox on May 14 to be picked up by the mail carriers.
b. Proclaim the month of May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.
After reading the proclamation, Mayor Hashmi presented it to Mr. David Hilton.
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2016
Page 2
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 Pickle and seconded by Council Member Frierson. Motion carried, 7
ayes — 0 nays.
5. Approve minutes from the meeting on April 11, 2016.
6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees:
a. Historic Preservation Commission (3 -28 -2016)
b. Main Street Advisory Board (3 -8 -2016)
c. Planning & Zoning Commission (3 -7 -2016)
7. Receive March monthly financial report.
8. Receive March drainage report.
9. Receive demolition report and code enforcement activity reports.
10. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2016 -013: A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE
PRIVATE RE -SALE OF SIX TRACTS OF TRUSTEE TAX PROPERTIES TO MR.
STEVEN LANDERS FOR $1,000.00, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO
EXECUTE DEEDS.
11. Accept the bid and award a contract in the amount of $15,000 to Municipal Development
Services for administrative services to the Texas Capital Fund Main Street Sidewalk
Grant; and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute all necessary documents.
12. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 2016 -014: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS APPROVING THE SUBMISSION BY THE PARIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT OF AN APPLICATION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DIVISION OF THE GORVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR THE PURCHASE OF BODY
WORN CAMERAS AND UPGRADED COMPUTER STORAGE FOR VIDEOS;
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
NECESSARY FOR ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID GRANT
UPON NOTICE THEREOF; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Regular Agenda
13. Receive update from the staff on inspections performed at Gene's Flea Market.
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2016
Page 3
Fire Chief Larry Wright reported that an inspection was made of the flea market located
at 2810 NE Loop 286 on March 19, 2016, which involved Code Enforcement, the Fire
Department, Fire Marshal, Police Department, Building Inspections, Lamar County Health
Department, and the State Comptroller. He reported that a multitude of violations of the City
Code were discovered, which included faulty and unsafe electrical wiring, structural degradation,
unsanitary conditions of food servers, no certificates of occupancy, sale of illegal merchandise
including pirated DVDs, inappropriate flow of traffic causing an undue hazard to pedestrians,
unauthorized habitation of trailers and structures on the premises, no fire lanes, and no water
source for fire protection. He said the State Comptroller interviewed approximately 70
individuals, who for the most part had no tax identification numbers. Chief Wright also reported
this was a fact finding inspection and no citations were issued but that due to unsafe conditions
of wiring, the electricity to a large majority of the property was disconnected. He said the
property manager informed the vendors they could not actively sell out of the structures until the
required permits were obtained and the structures were brought up to code. Chief Wright
explained that no outside vending was affected by this order. He further explained that the
substandard structures were taken before the Building and Standards Commission for
consideration of demolition on March 18 and they determined the substandard structures were
beyond repair and they should be demolished. Chief Wright said the remaining structures would
be brought into compliance before they could be occupied. He also said he received a phone
call from local attorney A.W. Clem who advised him the control of the property was under CPA
Paul Wells. Chief Wright reported that further work would be done with Paul Wells to ensure
safe ingress and egress from the property and it was not the City's intention to close the market.
Mayor Hashmi invited those who wanted to speak about this subject to come forward.
Marsha Michallek said they were told so many stories and no one knew what was going on. She
said she was surprised that no one came forward and wanted to fix it. Mayor Hashmi reminded
her that it was private property. Chief Wright said there was no way some of the structures could
be saved. John Haliburton said he had been attending the flea market since it had been there,
which was probably forty years. He questioned why officials had not done something before
now if it was so bad, but had only done something since Randy Rader had passed away. Mr.
Haliburton said they were given no notice, but officials just came in and turned off the electricity
and that it was handled unprofessionally. Interim City Attorney Stephanie Harris said it was
handled with an administrative search warrant. Judy Haliburton said she had a stall at the flea
market 30 years ago, and it helped them financially. She said their electricity was turned off on
that Saturday morning without any warning and it hurt their businesses. Mrs. Haliburton agreed
that some of the buildings were in bad shape.
14. Discuss and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2016 -015: A RESOLUTION DIRECTING
ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY, LLC TO FILE CERTAIN
INFORMATION WITH THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; SETTING A PROCEDURAL
SCHEDULE FOR THE GATHERING AND REVIEW OF NECESSARY
INFORMATION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; SETTING DATES FOR THE
FILING OF THE CITY'S ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY'S FILING AND THE
COMPANY'S REBUTTAL TO SUCH ANALYSIS; RATIFYING THE HIRING OF
LEGAL COUNSEL AND CONSULTANTS; RESERVING THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2016
Page 4
THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE CITY OF PARIS; TEXAS' RATE CASE
EXPENSES; SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PURPOSES OF
DETERMINING IF THE EXISTING RATES OF ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY
COMPANY AND UNREASONABLE OR IN ANY WAY IN VIOLATION OF ANY
PROVISION OF LAW AND THE DETERMINATION BY THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS OF JUST AND REASONABLE RATES TO BE CHARGED BY ONCOR
ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY, LLC.; NOTING COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN
MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING NOTICE OF PASSAGE.
Finance Director Gene Anderson explained that a recent PUC proceedings related to
conversion of Oncor into a Real Estate Investment Trust resulted in the Commissioners' desire to
share $200 to $250 million in annual federal income tax savings with Oncor ratepayers. He said
the proceeding for an ownership change was not a rate case, so the commission had no
jurisdiction to order a rate reduction and the new owners of Oncor indicated intent to file a rate
case in mid -2017 to become effective in 2018. Mr. Anderson further explained that the Steering
Committee of Cities served by Oncor decided to initiate a rate case against Oncor instead of
waiting two years, and staff was recommending approval of this resolution.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Frierson and seconded by
Council Member Pickle. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
15. Receive update on the status of the Event Center at the Lamar County Fair Grounds
(previously known as the bingo hall).
Council Member Pickle said he requested this item, because while at a recent VC &C
meetings he learned of a request for a dog show that ended up taking place on 195. He said it
was his understanding that this building would be available for dog shows. City Manager John
Godwin said they had reserved the building but understood that they did not go through with the
rental because of the rental fee. Council Member Pickle said since taking on the building the
City had spent more in expenses than received in income and he said as a Council they needed to
do a better job in promoting the facility. Council Member Lancaster agreed they needed to do a
better job in promotion. Mayor Hashmi inquired if VC &C could help promote the center or
offer it as an alternative to the Civic Center. Public Works Director Jerry McDaniel said they
had recently placed signs on the building. Mayor Hashmi inquired if they could add something
to the water bill about the availability of the event center and Mr. Godwin said that could be
done if there was room. Council Member Pickle said they needed to make sure it was on the
web -site. Citizen David Hughes said they were just now getting into the season where the center
would be rented and was rented last weekend. Mayor Hashmi asked Mr. Godwin to come up
with solutions and place it on a future agenda.
16. Discuss and declare various items /equipment as surplus and authorize the sale by public
auction.
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2016
Page 5
A Motion to declare the items as surplus and authorize the sale by public auction was
made by Council Member Pickle and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried,
7 ayes — 0 nays.
17. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to:
A. Section 551.087 of the Texas Government Code, (1) to discuss or deliberate regarding
financial commercial or financial information that the governmental body has
received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have located,
stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the
governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or (2) to
deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described
by Subdivision (1), as follows:
• Potter's Industries
• Silgan Can Company
B. Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the appointment,
employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public
officer or employee as follows: interim city attorney /city attorney.
Mayor Hashmi convened City Council into executive session at 6:07 p.m.
18. Reconvene into open session and possibly take action on those matters discussed in
Executive Session.
Mayor Hashmi reconvened City Council into open session at 6:43 p.m. He said there
were two items discussed and the first item was with regard to tax abatement requests from
Potter's Industries and Silgan Company.
A Motion to move forward with the tax abatements according to the guidelines was made
by Mayor Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Pickle. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
Mayor Hashmi said they discussed employment of the city attorney and that all of the
Council Members had good reviews on the interim city attorney. He said they would like to
confirm her appointment as the full -time city attorney for the City of Paris and Council had
suggested they enter into contract negotiations with her.
A Motion to confirm Stephanie Harris' appointment as city attorney was made by
Council Member Pickle and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0
nays.
19. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to
Resolution No. 2004 -081.
Regular Council Meeting
April 25, 2016
Page 6
Mr. Godwin reminded everyone of the Wings over Paris Air Show scheduled for May 14
and the Stamp -Out Hunger Project scheduled for the same day.
20. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Pickle and was seconded by Council Member Frierson. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
ICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK