City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 5,2013 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Michelle Dolan on Tuesday, November 5,2013, at7:00 p.m. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Michelle Dolan, Vice-Mayor Lea Powers, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, Councilman Chad Keen, and Councilman Jack Young. Others Present: Interim City Manager V/illiam L. Sorah; City Attorney Jack Hyder; City Recorder Tara Musick; Secretary Megahn Davis; and members of City staff. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Rabbi Joe Bell gave the invocation, and Boy Scouts of America Troop 107 led the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ADDITIONS AND/OR CHANGES: None. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS: None. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance 13-9 - An Ordinance to Amend Sections 203 and 216.D.7 of the Zoning Ordinance Relating to Interstate Oriented Signs Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Ordinance, which would amend the current Zoning Ordinance relating to Interstate oriented signs. The current Zoning Ordinance only allows those businesses rvithin 660 feet ofthe Interstate corridor to appear on Interstate orientecl signs. The proposed amendments would change that as well as the requirements for those signs. The amendment as proposed would allow the 660 foot rule to be extended and all major directional signs to be up to 60 feet in height, a minor directional sign up to 40 feet, and a minor sign to be up to 30 feet. These amendments would also allow free standing signs to be up to 10 feet in height. There were no comments from the public on this issue. The public hearing was closed by Mayor Dolan.  City Council Meeting November 5,2013 Page2 of 6 APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS: John Gaines, 120 V/oodside Drive, spoke briefly about the fundraising efforts to 'oFortify the Castle". Mr. Gaines reminded citizens that any donation made to the Bristol Tennessee City Schools Foundation would be tax deductible. Ms. Carolyn Kems, 440 Seneker Lane in Blountville, Tennessee, addressed Council concerning a recent grant approved for water lines on this street. The City had agreed to install water lines if funding was received. Ms. Kerns asked that this project be begun as soon as possible. Mr. Tom Heibel, 716 Bluff City Highway, addressed Council concerning the completion of 40 days of life which opposes abortions and abortion clinics. Mr. Heibel stated that he would like the City to be more pro-life and to use special permits to regulate abortion clinics. APPOINTMENTS: Housing and Redevelopment Authority - Mr. Patrick Manning was appointed to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority by majority vote to serve an unexpired term ending August 31, 20t5. Vice-Mayor Powers Patrick Manning Councilman Young Patrick Manning Mayor Dolan Patrick Manning Councilwoman Feierabend Patrick Manning Councilman Keen Eric Rouse ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordinances: None. B. Adoption of Ordinances (Second Reading): Ordinance 13-8 - An Ordinance to Abandon a Portion of English Street as a Public Right-of-\ilay Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Ordinance, which would abandon a portion of English Street as a public right-of-way. The portion recommended to be abandoned would be the northern dead-end portion. This request was made by the new property owner who desires to control access to the site for business activities and will provide access easements. There is no possibility t'or expansion of this road. 'l'he Planning Commission reviewed last year and recommended approval to City Council. The owner of the property has taken the appropriate steps to obtain a combination plat. Councilman Young asked Interim City Manager Sorah if an area is abandoned with whom the responsibility lies to do things such as paving and other maintenance. Interim City Manager Sorah responded by stating that the responsibility would lie with the owner. Vice-Mayor Powers made a motion to approve the Ordinance on second reading, and Councilman Keen seconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.  City Council Meeting N ovember 5,2073 Page 3 of6 Ordinance 13-9 - An Ordinance to Amend Sections 203 and 216.D.7 of the Zoning Ordinance Relating to Interstate Oriented Signs Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Ordinance as part of the Public Hearing portion.of the agenda. The Þlanning Commission favorably recommended this amendment to City Counõil. The developers for the Pinnacle Project were consulted on this change and are in agreement. Councilman Young made a motion to approve the Ordinance on second reading, añd Councilwoman Feierabendseconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. C. Resolutions: Resolution 13-126 - A Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Not to Exceed One Miltion Two Hundred Thousand Dollars General Obligation Bonds of the City of Bristolo Tennessee Interirn City Manager Sorah reviewed this Resolution that would formalize the intent of the City of Bristol, Tennessee to issue additional debt for 1.2 million. In August of 2012, the City formalizedthe intent to issue 30 million in debt through multiple issues in Resolution 12:82. This 30 million was to be split between 25 million for the Pinnacle Project and 5 million for City projects. Interim City Manager Sorah explained that the additional debt issuance being discussed is due to an increase in interest rates which resulted in the need for an additional borrowing to fund capitalized interest. Vice-Mayor Powers asked if this issuance was in addition to the original 30 million and if the additional amount was reflected in the City's budget. Tara Musick, Finance Director, responded to Vice-Mayor Power's question by stating the 1.2 million was adclitional and'¡as not included as part of the original budget for FY 2014. The debt will be recorded as an increase in revenue which will then be utiliied to pay the increase in interest cost. Future budgetary impacts of this amount should be minimal. Vice-Mayor Powers moved to approve the Resolution, and Councilman Keen seconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. CONSENT AGENDA: Interim City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Council. Vice Mayor Powers requested that Resolution 13-132 be removed from Consent Agenda. Mayor Dolan also requested Resolutions 13-130 and 13-131 be removed from Consent Agenda. Councilwoman Feierabend moved to approve the remaining consent agenda, and Councilman Young seconded. The following items were approved by unanimous Council vote: . Minutes - October 1,2013, City Council Meeting; . Minutes - October 15,2013, City Council Work Session; a Resolution 13-123 - A Resolution Approving a Grant Agreement with TDOT for Utilization of Federal Highway Administration Planning Funds for the Bristol MPO;  City Council Meeting November 5,2013 Page 4 of 6 a Resolution 13-124 - A Resolution Approving Bid for the Purchase of a Delivery Van; a Resolution 13-125 - A Resolution Approving Bid for the Purchase of a 4 V/heel- l)rive Utility Tractor; a Resolution 13-127 - A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Construction of Sidewalks; a Resolution 13-128 - A Resolution Approving a Contract Agreement for Engineering Inspection Services; and Resolution 13-129 - A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of Police Patrol Vehicles. Resolution 13-130 - A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of a Backhoe/Loader Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Resolution that would award bid for the purchase of a backhoe/loader from Stowers Machinery. Bids were received from two vendors with Stowers Machinery of Kingsport, Tennessee submitting the low bid of $90,996. Resolution 13-131 - A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of a Mini-Excavator Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Resolution that would award bid for the purchase of a mini-excavator. Bids were received from three vendors with Bobcat of the Mountain Empire of Johnson City, Tennessee submitting the low bid of $56,900. Mayor Dolan asked Interim City Manager Sorah if it was common to own these two pieces of equipment. Interim City Manager Sorah responded saying that the backhoe/loader is a very common piece of equipment to own and is used frequently. He also stated that the City cunently owns a mini-excavator for use by the Parks and Recreation Department but one is usually rented by the Public Works Department. A decision to purchase this piece of equipment was made after the mini-excavator became a regularly rented piece of equipment. Mayor Dolan asked Interim City Manager Sorah if it made more sense to purchase these pieces of equipment as opposed to subcontracting or renting the equipment to which he responded definitely. Resolutlon 13-132 - A Resolution an Agreement with Highlands Wellmont He¿lth Network, Inc. to Continue as Provider Network for the Group Health Benefits Program Interim City Manager Sorah reviewed this Resolution which would approve an agreement with Highlands Wellmont Health Network, Inc. to continue as provider network for the group health benefits program. Vice-Mayor Powers asked if this was a new agreement or a continuation of services with this provider. She also asked if this agreement and the group health program were affected by the Affordable Care Act.  City Council Meeting November 5,2013 Page 5 of6 Ms. Belva Hale, Human Resource Director, responded to Vice-Mayor Powers by stating that this was a continuation of services and that all standards were met by this agreement and had akeady been in place. Councilwoman Feierabend moved to approve Resolutions 13-130, 13-131, and 13-132 and Vice- Mayor Powers seconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. CITY MANAGEROS REPORT: Interim City Manager Bill Sorah reminded Council of the Veteran's Day Parade to take place on Saturday, Novembér 9th at 10 a.m. He also noted that the Speedway in Lights would bp"tr on November 15'n. Interim City Manager Sorah briefly noted that the Citizen's Municipal Academy had 9 participants. Lastly, he spoke of the staffing change to better accommodate the citizens. He stated that there would now be a customer service person in the lobby of City Hall to direct citizens, answer questions, and to answer phone calls. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Vice-Mayor Powers stated that she along with the City of Bristol has had a heavy heart for the loss of two local high school students. She asked that a Finance Committee be considered by Council in the upcoming work session and stated that this would be a non-decision making body for finanoial review. She also stated that she would like a Parks Committee to be considered to act as a group to evaluate programs and related profitability. Vice-Mayor Powers also spoke of perception and the need for it to accurately reflect reality. She noted that the City is making efforts to be a business community and noted the recent formation of a committee by the Community Development Department to make the City more business friendly. In closing, she noted that the City would be seeing many changes and openings and that there needed to be funding to allow for adequate public relations. Councilman Young stated that the Industrial Infrastructure Council met on November 4th. This Council is comprised of business owners and is aimed to help learn and find advantages for the City of Bristol. He stated that this was a chance for the collaboration of the City and businesses. Councilman Keen stated that it seemed many people's perceptions of the City were based on past years and he would like to see that change. He stated that the City is making great strides to change that perception. Councilman Keen noted that the City is working to lessen the time it takes for new businesses to become established in the City of Bristol, Tennessee and that he would like all businesses to "Bring it to Bristol". In closing, he noted that the City was working to make bidding more business friendly by offering a database of local projects and future bids and to enhance customer service by fixing the phone system used for billing questions.  City Council Meeting N ovember 5,2013 Page 6 of6 Councilwoman Feierabend commented on the discussion of speeding up bringing business to Bristol by stating that sometimes slowing down is a good thing for transparency purposes. She also noted that she hoped another passenger rail meeting would be occurring soon. In closing, she mentioned a few upcoming events. Vice-Mayor Powers recognized Ms. Karen V/itcher who operates the Business Resource Center for the Charnber of Commerce. She noted that Ms. Witcher assisted 54 businesses last year with a $2,500 budget. Mayor Dolan gave an update on the City Manager search and stated that there has been a robust amount of candidates thus far. Council is hoping to begin interviewing before the Christmas holiday. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Michelle Dolan, Mayor â*f.,n"'rÁ Tara E. Músick, - City Recorder