|
|
|
Marketplace
|
|
Sections
|
|
Customer Service
|
|
 |
|
Council to wade in on adoption of fire code
By Mary Madewell
Published June 21, 2009
The Paris City Council will consider increasing water and sewer fees and the adoption of a 2006 International Fire Code when the council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in chambers at City Hall.
An extension of a memorandum of understanding with the City of Irving for the sale of water from Pat Mayse Lake also may be in the works. The current extension ends June 30.
Mayor Jesse Freelen said Friday he is in favor of extending the contract through the end of the year.
“That would get us past a vote by the people in November,” Freelen said. A recommendation from a council-appointed study group on whether to sell water to Irving is expected in July. Paris residents must approve any proposal to sell water outside Lamar County.
The proposed water and sewer fee increase comes on the heels of a cost of service study presented by a water rate consulting firm June 8. This is the first reading for proposed rates and can only be approved by a super majority of the council.
Based on the cost of service study, city staff recommends a 1 percent increase in residential and commercial water rates and a four percent increase in wastewater rates. This translates to an increase of $1.27 a month for the average residential customer and $1.63 for the average commercial customer, according to finance director Gene Anderson.
In a council briefing sheet, Anderson states the city needs to continue replenishing its Water and Sewer Fund operating reserves, now at $620,000 below the 45-day minimum reserve and $1,013,400 below a “more comfortable 60-day reserve.”
“Adequate reserves are critical for the city since five customers provide 45 percent of the utility’s rate revenue,” Anderson stated. Proposed increases do not affect contractual customers.
An ordinance to adopt the 2006 International Fire Code is before the council for a second reading and possible passage.
Concerns about a change in the city’s 1994 fire code were addressed at a recent Downtown Association meeting and Councilman Will Biard had requested he be given time to answer questions presented him.
City Manager Kevin Carruth said Friday he has received three letters, all focused on the perception the 2006 code is the first to require fire sprinkler systems.
“That is not the case,” Carruth said. “Sprinkler systems already are required under a state mandate to comply with the 2003 International Building Code; so adopting the 2006 fire code is not going to have an impact on whether someone may have to install a sprinkler system.”
Carruth said several factors trigger a sprinkler system requirement including changing the occupancy load of a building or changing walls and travel paths.
“There are so many variables that kick in,” Carruth said.
Many times the installation of a sprinkler system during renovation relieves a building from meeting more stringent requirements in other parts of the code, Carruth said.
“You do get a break on fire insurance and it does eventually pay for itself,” Carruth said. He also mentioned the city is looking at tax relief.
“We are still working on a partnership with downtown property owners to mitigate some of that cost through some sort of an incentive program,” Carruth said. “We are still working on that.”
Other agenda items follow.
•report on city of Paris Departmental Business Plan;
•budget amendment for Paris Economic Development Corporation;
•speed limit on FM 905 from Loop 286 south for almost a mile;
•sublease approvals for bingo operations between the Red River Valley Fair Association and the American Legion Post of Deport and Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department;
•surplus property designations from fire and police departments;
•dilapidated houses demolition report;
•public hearing, first reading on a 6.5 acre track in the 4500 block of Lamar Avenue for a change from low density residential to high density residential;
•public hearing and first reading on zoning change at 3070 Lamar Avenue from planned development retail shopping center to a general retail district;
•second reading on site plan for 625 25th N.E. St.;
•water service contract with Marvin-Jennings-Clardy Water Corporation;
•new hangar construction and lease agreement at Cox Field with William T. Boothe;
•agreement for professional services for management and administrative assistance related to the Grand Theatre Texas Capital Fund Project;
•deliberate and seek direction on a construction project to widen a portion of Collegiate Drive in front of the new Paris High School and a portion in front of Love Civic Center;
•executive session to deliberate an offer of financial or other incentive to a business prospect and to receive legal advice relating to a possible extension of the MOU between Paris and Irving;
•possible action on MOU between Paris and Irving;
•discussion about the collection of solid waste;
•discuss District 6 Councilman Edwin Pickle’s recommendations for the 2009-2010 budget; and
•approval of future vents for council and/or city staff.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
