City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 4,2015 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Lea Powers on Tuesday, August 4,2015, at7:00 p.m. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Lea Powers, Vice Mayor Chad Keen, Councilwoman Michelle Denise, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, and Councilman Jack Young. Others Present: City Manager V/illiam L. Sorah; City Attorney Jack Hyder; City Recorder Tara Musick; and members of City staff. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Powers gave the invocation, and Councilwoman Denise led the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ADDITIONS AND/OR CHANGES: None. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS: Farmers Market Week Proclamation - A proclamation designating the week of August 2-8, 2015, as Farmers Market Week was read by Mayor Powers. Mike Musick, Parks and Recreation - Recreation Superintendent, was in attendance to accept the proclamation. He thanked Council for their support on behalf of the farmers and explained the SNAP Program. Recognition of Bristol First Program Award - Community Relations Director Terrie Talbert recognized J.D. Lingerfelt, Parks and Recreation Department, as the Bristol First Program Award winner for August. He was nominated by a citizen for his years of service to the City providing quality and professional service, dedication, and management of projects within available funds. Mr. Lingerfelt was in attendance to receive the award. PRESENTATIONS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 Page2 of 7 APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS: Glenda Williams, 105 Dartmouth, relocated from Canada to live in the City. She stated that this area had increased litter and rude behavior without fines for such behavior. She currently has neighbors that are burning something at night that is causing smoke and requests the City to address the matter to have cleaner air. Linda Gary, 1010 Anderson Street, thanked Council and staff for taking quick action to correct a code enforcement related issue previously brought before Council. Tom Heibel, 716 Bluff City Highway, spoke of the factors influencing local crime and his concern about the related costs that taxpayers will have to fund. APPOINTMENTS: Health and Educational Facilities Board - Ms. Rita Hawkins was unanimously appointed to the Health and Educational Facilities Board to serve a term of office ending June 30, 2021. Planning Commission - Mr. Kelly Graham, Ms. Alison Scanlan, and Mr. Mark Webb were unanimously appointed to the Planning Commission to serve terms of office ending June 30, 201 8. Tree Board - Ms. Karen Mcshany was unanimously appointed to the Tree Board to serve a term of office ending June 30, 2019. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordinances: None. B. Adoption of Ordinances (Second Reading): None. C. Resolutions: Resolution 15-68 - A Resolution Repealing Resolutions No. 13-135 and 14-19 Relating to Prohibiting the Possession of Handguns in Certain Municipal Parks City Manager Sorah reviewed this resolution regarding the possession of handguns in certain municipal parks. For many years, Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-1311 has prohibited the possession or carrying, with intent to go armed, of a weapon in a public park.  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 Page 3 of7 There are some nine exceptions to this prohibition. One of those exceptions is for persons carrying a handgun pursuant to a state-issued handgun carry permit. The law, however, allowed local governments to "opt out" of this exception by adopting a resolution. As detailed in Resolutions 13-135 and 14-19, the City opted to prohibit handguns in five designated municipal parks which were located adjacent to school facilities. This "opt out" provision was eliminated by the General Assembly effective July l, 2015. Thus, as of that date, a person carrying a handgun in public parks pursuant to a state permit will not be in violation of Section 39-17-1311 so long as there is compliance with certain restrictions set forth in the new law. As a result, the City's resolutions in this regard were effectively repealed and became moot. Resolution 15-68 will formally repeal those resolutions. The state law will still prohibit firearms in public parks unless the possession falls within one of the nine exceptions. Councilman Young stated that he supported this resolution in order to coincide with State law versus having a resolution on the records that is unenforceable. He believed that this action was a good measure to tidy things up. Mayor Powers stated that she understood that this was a housekeeping measure. However, City Council put a lot of effort into the existing resolutions and picking which parks would be excluded. City Manager Sorah clarified that since the State ovem¡led on the matter that the City had no choice. The Mayor stated that this is an area where she struggles with the State having control over matters instead of local governments that know their citizens and community needs. Councilwoman Feierabend stated that she was going to vote against the resolution on principle. Councilwoman Denise stated that she has a permit and supports the resolution and the bill that resulted in the change that was supported by John Lundberg. Vice Mayor Keen and Mayor Powers both stated that they had permits and would support the resolution. Councilman Young made a motion to approve the resolution, and Councilwoman Denise seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote: Councilman Young Yes Councilwoman Denise Yes Councilwoman Feierabend No Vice Mayor Keen Yes Mayor Powers Yes  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 Page 4 of7 Resolution 15-72 - A Resolution Approving a X'unding Agreement for a Splash Pad City Manager Sorah reviewed this resolution that authorizes the City to enter into a public- private partnership agreement for the construction of a new Splash Pad at Steele Creek Park. This aquatic feature is proposed as a joint venture of the Junior League of Bristol and the City of Bristol, Tennessee. The Splash Pad has an estimated construction cost of $200,000. As proposed, the Junior League of Bristol will provide $100,000 to the City which will be applied to the cost of the Splash Pad construction. The City will contribute the balance of the funding required for completion of the project. The City will own and maintain the facility upon completion. The agreement attached to the resolution details the responsibilities of the respective parties. The project represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the experience of Steele Creek Park and offers the community a new form of recreation during the summer months. Councilman Young stated that he appreciates the publicþrivate aspect of this project and appreciates all of the personal engagement involved. Councilwoman Denise stated that Splash Pad looks like a lot of fun. She thanked all involved for making the project happen, including the Junior League of Bristol and Parks and Recreation Director Terr), Napier. Councilwoman Feierabend also thanked the Junior League of Bristol. Though this is an exciting project, she clarified that she wanted everyone to understand that this did not replace the need for a new swimming pool. Vice Mayor Keen and Mayor Powers both thanked the Junior League of Bristol and Parks and Recreation Director Terry Napier. Mayor Powers mentioned that the Junior League would have tickets to the upcoming Follies available to support this project. Vice Mayor Keen moved to approve the resolution, and Councilwoman Denise seconded the motion. The resolution was approved by a unanimous Council vote. CONSENT AGENDA: City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Council. Councilwoman Denise removed Resolution 15-69 for further discussion. Councilwoman Feierabend moved to approve the remaining consent agenda, and Councilman Young seconded the motion. The following items were approved by unanimous Council vote: a Minutes - July 7,2015, City Council Meeting;  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 Page 5 of7 a Minutes - July 21,2015, City Council Work Session; a Resolution 15-66 - A Resolution Approving a Customer Marketing Agreement with CCBCC Operations,LLC; a Resolution 15-67 - A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of In-Car Video Systems; a Resolution 15-70 - A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of Highway Salt; and a Resolution 15-71- A Resolution Awarding a Bid for the Purchase of Tandem Dump Trucks. Resolution 15-69 - A Resolution Designating Members of the City Council to Serve on City Boards and Quasi-Municipal and Non-Municipal Agencies City Manager Sorah briefly discussed this resolution that designates the members of City Council to serve on City boards and quasi-municipal and non-municipal agencies. City Council discussed these positions during the July 21't work session, and the positions are presented in the resolution as discussed. Councilwoman Feierabend moved to approve Resolution 15-69, and Councilwoman Denise seconded the motion. The resolution was approved by a unanimous Council vote. Councilwoman Denise also requested that City Manager Sorah briefly discuss Resolution 15-66. He provided a brief overview of this item that was approved previously as part of the Consent Agenda. BOARD OF EDUCATION LIASON REPORT: Director of Schools Gary Lilly mentioned the status of the Bristol Tennessee City School's progress on workforce initiatives. He discussed the progress and great strides of the Advance Placement (AP) program funded through a joint funding effort of the School System, City, and the Industrial Development Board. He discussed .rpunrion of the digital classroom conversion project to where all students in grades 4th through 12th will now be participating. He also congratulated Haynesfield Elementary School and Holston View Elementary School for being recognized as Reward Schools. This distinction indicates that each school is in the top 5Yo of the State regarding the areas of achievement and growth.  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 Page 6 of7 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Sorah discussed upcoming events. He also formally introduced Ms. Mary Lee Williams as the new Director of Administration. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Powers stated that she was excited to see that Steven Tyler would be performing as part of the events associated with the upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Councilman Young asked City Manager Sorah to explain for the public the events that Networks has planned for the upcoming race. City Manager Sorah discussed the Red Carpet Tour that will occur. This gives outside businesses and consultants an opportunity to learn about the area and potential business opportunities. The tour is hosted during the race to show the impact of tourism on the area and the customer base during the year. Councilwoman Feierabend informed the public that Ms. Beth Rhinehart is the new Chief Executive OfÍicer of the Chamber of Commerce. She also mentioned that Ms. Amy Kimani has been selected to be the new Executive Director for the Bristol Public Library. Upcoming events were also discussed. Councilman Young discussed that there had been several ribbon cuttings and that Ms. Karen Witcher has been working very hard with the Business Resource Center at the Chamber of Commerce. He mentioned that it is never too late for anyone to learn and discussed several available programs. He challenged the community to sharpen their minds to enhance their lives and to step up. Councilwoman Denise discussed that she attended college later in life. She also reviewed several available programs in the community and introduced students in Jonathan Vy'orley's class at National Business College who were in attendance. She mentioned the recent shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee and stated that she believes that everyone has a right to defend themselves. She discussed talking with representatives to do what we can to support this cause. She thanked Mr. J.D. Lingerfelt for serving with heart and conviction. She also thanked the Junior League of Bristol for their support and discussed the upcoming Bristol Motor Speedway tace. Vice Mayor Keen discussed that school had started and that drivers needed to pay close attention to school zones and watch for children. He thanked the Fire and Police staff for their hard work, long hours, and customer service provided during events at Bristol Motor Speedway. He also thanked Mr. J.D. Lingerfelt for all of his hard work.  City Council Meeting August 4,2015 PageT of7 Mayor Powers stated that several new businesses had opened and there is job growth in the community. She thanked the Economic and Community Development Department and Networks for new projects being brought to Partnership Park II and for the related infrastructure development. She also thanked Councilwoman Denise for organizingthe Red Carpet Tour. She closed with be on the lookout for more jobs and that we are very fortunate to have such a great school system that provides good education. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Lea I Tara E. Musick, Mayor City Recorder