Paris City Council approves tax notes, developer agreement, new donation-box rules, fee changes and 2024 building codes

The Paris City Council on April 27 voted unanimously to approve a package of financing and regulatory measures, taking steps the city said will fund building repairs and clarify construction and public-rights-of-way rules.

Council accepted a bid for City of Paris, Texas, tax notes series 2026 and authorized issuance to raise $2,400,000 for two priority projects: replacement of the police-department roof and advancing an order for a new fire truck. Jack McCliney of Samco Capital Markets said the note sale drew eight bids and produced a true interest cost of 2.89 percent; he recommended awarding the bonds to Hilltop Securities, a recommendation the council approved 5–0. "We came back with 8 bids… with a true interest cost of 2.89," McCliney said.

The council also approved a resolution to enter a professional services agreement with Lone Star Developments LLC tied to TIRZ No. 2 (Forest Brook Boulevard). Under the agreement the developer will deposit $25,000 to be drawn against consultant costs; staff said the agreement includes a replenish provision if the balance falls below about $7,500. Council voted 5–0 to approve the resolution.

On regulatory matters, the council adopted an ordinance to regulate donation boxes — aimed at addressing the proliferation of unmarked or poorly constructed boxes in public areas — and set an effective date of June 1, 2026 to give staff time to accept permit applications. "We discussed donation boxes… some of which don't have any identifying information," staff said during the presentation, urging adoption of an ordinance based on a court-tested model used in Arlington.

Council members also approved an amendment to the fee schedule covering development and construction permit fees. Changes include a new fee category for battery-storage permits, a plan-review fee tied to ICC Performance Code compliance, removal of obsolete duplicate fees, a 50 percent permit-fee reduction for single-family and duplex buildings that install sprinklers, and an escalation schedule for repeated reinspection fees. The council approved the fee-schedule amendment 5–0.

Finally, the council adopted updated construction and property-maintenance codes, replacing the 2021 International Building Code family with the 2024 editions (and related codes including the 2024 ICC Performance Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code). Staff told the council the updates will modernize compliance options and could improve the city’s insurance and safety ratings; the ordinance passed 5–0.

All of the motions recorded at the meeting passed on unanimous 5–0 votes. The council convened into executive session late in the meeting to discuss real-property negotiations and returned to open session with no action taken.

Votes at a glance: • Acceptance of Hilltop Securities bid for tax notes series 2026: passed 5–0 (mover: Committee member; second: Mayor). • Resolution approving professional-services agreement with Lone Star Developments LLC: passed 5–0 (mover: Savage; second: Steve Marriott). • Ordinance adopting donation-box regulations (effective 06/01/2026): passed 5–0. • Ordinance amending building permit fee schedule (Appendix A): passed 5–0. • Ordinance adopting 2024 building codes and related contractor-registration provisions: passed 5–0.

The council will implement the new permit-fee structure and begin accepting applications under the donation-box rules after staff completes administrative steps; there was no additional scheduling detail recorded for those next steps.