The city shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities by the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The city may acquire property within or without its corporate limits for any city purposes in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or condemnation, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage and control such property as its interests may require; and, except as prohibited by the constitution of this state or restricted by this Charter, the city shall and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. The city may use a corporate seal; may sue and be sued, may contract and be contracted with, may implead and be impleaded in all courts and places and in all matters whatever; may cooperate with the government of the State of Texas or any agency thereof, the Federal Government or any agency thereof, or any political subdivision of the State of Texas, to accomplish any lawful purpose for the advancement of the interest, welfare, health, morals, comfort, safety and convenience of the city or its inhabitants; and may pass such ordinances as may be expedient for maintaining and promoting the peace, welfare and government of the city, and for the performance of the functions thereof. The enumeration of particular powers by this Charter shall not be deemed to be exclusive, and in addition to the powers enumerated therein or implied thereby, or appropriate to the exercise of such powers, it is intended that the City of Paris shall have, and may exercise, all powers of local self-government, and all powers as now exist or as the State of Texas may hereafter grant to home rule citites, or any other powers which, under the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, it would be competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate, and also such further powers as may hereafter be granted under the constitution and laws of Texas.
(Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
Whenever a majority of the qualified voters who are citizens of the State of Texas and inhabitants of any territory adjoining Paris, as said territory may be designated by the city council or in case there are no qualified voters in said territory, then when persons owning a majority of the land in area in said territory desire the annexation of such territory to Paris, they may present a written petition to such effect to the city council and shall attach to said petition the affidavit of one or more of their number to the effect that said petition is signed by a majority of such qualified voters, or in case there are no qualified voters said affidavit shall be to the effect that there are no qualified voters in said territory and that the persons signing said petition own a majority of the land in area in said territory; and the city council, after following the procedures established by state law, may by ordinance annex such territory to Paris and henceforth the said territory shall be a part of Paris, and the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges or other citizens and shall be bound by the acts, ordinances, resolutions and regulations of said city.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 5; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The city council shall have power by ordinance to fix the boundary limits of Paris; and to provide for the extension of said boundary limits and the annexation of additional territory lying adjacent to said city, with or without the consent of the territory and inhabitants annexed. The city council shall follow all provisions of state law regarding notice, public hearings, and other procedures required for annexation of territory by a home rule city. Any citizen of Paris, or of the territory to be annexed, shall have the right to contest said annexation by filing with the city council a written petition setting out his or her reasons for said contest and after such citizen or citizens shall have been given an opportunity to be heard said ordinance, in original or amended form, as said city council in its judgment may determine, shall be finally passed, and the territory so annexed shall be a part of Paris and the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of other citizens and shall be bound by the acts, ordinances, resolutions and regulations of said city.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 6; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The city council shall have power by ordinance to alter or change the district boundaries of the City of Paris; and to subdivide the city anew into districts, designating the same by number and describing same by metes and bounds or otherwise adequately, provided there shall at all times be seven single-member districts within the city; and to subdivide each district now existing or that may hereafter be established so that each district shall contain as nearly as possible the same number of voters, and to change such districts from time to time as the city council may deem expedient. District boundaries shall be established in accordance with state and federal laws as they may, from time to time, be amended.
(Ordinance 95-053, sec. 1, adopted 9/13/95; Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 1; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The city shall have the full right, power and authority to exercise the power of eminent domain when necessary or desirable to carry out any of the powers conferred upon it by this Charter, or by the constitution or laws of the State of Texas. In all cases where the city seeks to exercise the power of eminent domain, it may be controlled by the laws authorized or permitted by the constitution and laws of this state, or in any manner and form that may be provided by ordinance of the governing body of the city. The power of eminent domain hereby conferred shall include the right of the city to condemn public property. The city shall have and possess this power of condemnation of property within or without the corporate limits for any municipal or public purpose, even though not specifically enumerated herein or in this Charter.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 7; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The City of Paris shall have the power to lay out, establish, open, alter, widen, lower, extend, grade, abandon, discontinue, abolish, close, care for, pave, supervise, maintain and improve streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, squares, public places and bridges; and regulate the use thereof and require the removal from streets, sidewalks, alleys and other public property or places of all obstructions, private property, and encroachments of every nature or character.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Props. 8, 9; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The City of Paris shall have exclusive dominion, control and jurisdiction in, upon, and over and under the public streets, avenues, alleys, highways, and other public property of the city, and may provide for the improvement thereof by paving, repaving, raising, draining, constructing public improvements, or otherwise. The city’s authority over such public property shall include all authority granted by the Legislature and Constitution of the state and all control not expressly prohibited by the Legislature or the Constitution. Such exclusive dominion, control and jurisdiction in, upon, over and under the public streets, avenues, alleys, highways, and other public property of the city shall also include, but not be limited to, the right to regulate, locate, relocate, remove, require the removal or relocation at the sole cost of the owner, or prohibit the location of all utility pipes, lines, wires, poles, conduits, appurtenances, supporting facilities, or other property.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 10; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
The city council shall have the right by ordinance to adopt and prescribe rules and regulations for the handling, collection, transportation, and disposition of all municipal, hazardous, and industrial solid waste, or other garbage, trash, and rubbish within the City of Paris over which a city may exercise jurisdiction under state law, and shall further have the right to fix charges and compensation to be charged by or in the city for the removal of such waste, garbage, trash and rubbish, providing rules and regulations for the collection thereof.
(Resolution 2007-055 adopted 5/21/07, Prop. 11; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)
There shall be a court for the trial of misdemeanor offenses known as the Municipal Court of the City of Paris, with such powers and duties as are given and prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas.
(Ordinance 95-053, sec. 1, adopted 9/13/95; Ordinance 2022-090, ex. B, adopted 12/12/2022)