City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 3, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol Tennessee City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jack Young on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at 7:00p.m. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLLCALL: Present: Mayor Jack Young, Vice Mayor Margaret Feierabend, Councilman Chad Keen, Councilwoman Lea Powers. Councilwoman Michelle Reuning was absent. Others Present: City Manager William L. Sorah; City Attorney Danielle Kiser, City Recorder Tara Musick; and members of City staff. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Pastor Brad Davis, Antioch Baptist Church, Bristol, Virginia, gave the invocation and Mayor Young led the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ADDITIONS AND/OR CHANGES: None. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS: Fire Prevention Week - Councilman Keen read a proclamation designating October 8-14, 2017, as Fire Prevention Week. Jack Spurgeon, Assistant Fire Chief was in attendance to accept the proclamation. Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Vice Mayor Feierabend read a proclamation designating the month of October, 2017, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Karen Boyd, Sullivan County Family Justice Center, Lt. Debbie Richmond, Bristol Tennessee Police Department, and Donna Mix, Abuse Alternatives, Inc. were in attendance to accept the proclamation. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - The Finance Department received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for the City' s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016. Finance Director Tara Musick was in attendance to receive this recognition. PRESENTATIONS: None  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 2 of8 PUBLIC HEARINGS: None APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS: None APPOINTMENTS: Community Development Advisory Committee - City Council addressed the vacancy of one unexpired seat on the Community Development Advisory Committee. Ms. Tiffany Walden was unanimously appointed to the Community Development Advisory Committee to serve an unexpired term of office ending April30, 2019. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordinances: None B. Adoption of Ordinances (Second Reading): Ordinance 17-5- An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 54 of the Code of Ordinances Relating to the Composition of the Parks and Recreation Commission City Manager Sorah stated that an item for consideration is second reading of Resolution 17-105 amending Section 54-31 of the Code of Ordinances. During the July 25th work session, it was suggested that the Parks and Recreation Commission membership be amended to allow for a city council representative and an additional student member. Staff proposes the following amendment to the Section 54-31 of the City's Code of Ordinances to allow for expansion of the commissiOn. Sec. 54-31. - Creation; membership. Pursuant to provisions ofT. CA. title 11, chapter 24, there is hereby created a parks and recreation commission which shall consist of twelve persons with nine members to be appointed by the council to serve for staggered terms of three years or until their successors are appointed. The tenth member shall be a member of the city council selected annually by the council. The remaining two members of the commission shall be students at Tennessee High School. In May of each year the staff of the school shall select one student from the rising junior class, who shall serve a term of two years commencing on June 1 of the year in which he or she has been selected. The members of such commission shall serve without pay. Vacancies in such commission occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled only for the unexpired term and such appointment shall be made by the council. Vice Mayor Feierabend made a motion to approve Ordinance 17-5 on second reading, seconded by Councilwoman Powers. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 3 of8 C. Resolutions: Resolution 17-105 -A Resolution Authorizing the Guaranty of Certain Indebtedness of the Tri-Cities Airport Authority and the Execution and Delivery of an Intergovernmental Financing Agreement City Manager Sorah stated that the Tri-Cities Regional Airport has approximately 160 acres on their campus dedicated for the recruitment of aerospace based businesses. These businesses range from traditional manufacturers of aircraft and components to aircraft maintenance and repair facilities. The aerospace business sector is especially attractive to the region given the existing presence of the Bell Helicopter facilities at Tri-County Industrial Park and the aviation maintenance curriculum available at Northeast State Community College. The airport currently has twenty-one acres identified as a certified site under TECD's Select Tennessee Sites program. The site is located adjacent to the air cargo facility and has direct access to the airfield. In addition, adjacent to the exiting site is one hundred and forty acres available for future expansion. This property will require considerable grading to be marketable as well as internal infrastructure such as utilities and roadways. The site currently has access to a full range of utilities including electricity and fiber service provided by Bristol Tennessee Essential Services and water and sewer service provided by the City of Johnson City. Over the past several months, staff from the Cities of Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City, Sullivan and Washington County, Tennessee, and the Tri-Cities Airport Authority have finalized an intergovernmental financing agreement for the issuance of $8,500,000 in general obligation bonds. The bonds will be used to support the design and construction of the park. It is hoped that the bond proceeds will serve as 50% matching funds for a Tennessee Department of Transportation aerospace infrastructure grant for industrial development. Resolution 17-105 authorizes the City of Bristol's participation in this regional effort and serves as the city's guaranty of their portion of the bonded indebtedness. The agreement establishes the pro-rata share of the debt of the aerospace park bonds based upon population of each entity. In addition, it commits the full faith and credit of the governing body's taxing authority as guarantor of the payment of the principal and interest associated with the borrowing. The City of Bristol's pro-rata share of the debt will be 9.3 5%. Based upon the allocations set forth in the agreement, the City of Bristol's financial share of the borrowing is estimated to not exceed $794,750. This effort represents an exciting opportunity for the region to partner on a truly significant economic development project. The governing bodies of the respective entities will each consider this agreement during the month of October. This intergovernmental financing  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 4 of8 agreement will ensure the necessary funds are available to support a matching grant request from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Councilman Keen made a motion to approve the resolution, and Vice Mayor Feierabend seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Resolution 17-107 - A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the City of Bristol Redevelopment Plan for Identified Districts and Study Areas as Prepared by Bristol Housing by Creating the West State Street/Stafford/K-Mart Drive Redevelopment District City Manager Sorah stated that Resolution 17-107 authorizes the establishment of the West State Street/Stafford Street/K-Mart Drive Redevelopment District. The area is located on the south side of West State Street and includes three parcels addressed off of West State Street, two parcels addressed off of Stafford Street, four parcels addressed off of Brown Avenue, two parcels addressed off ofK-Mart Drive, and four parcels addressed off of Bristol College Road. The area is bounded by West State Street on the north, Brown Avenue on the south, K-Mart Drive on the east, and is bisected by Stafford Street on the west. The redevelopment area contains the vacant but developed property 2854 State Street property, two residential structures located immediately to the west of that vacant property, two vacant properties on Stafford Street, four vacant lots fronting on Brown A venue, one occupied office building and one vacant office building on Bristol College Road, and one vacant former skating rink on K-Mart Drive. The area contains approximately 34 acres. The redevelopment plan will allow for the consolidation of parcels of land into feasible commercial redevelopment projects. The intent is to encourage redevelopment through the opportunity for financial assistance for the creation of larger, high quality commercial developments in a strategic part of the West State Street corridor. The authority to establish redevelopment districts is vested with the Board of Commissioners of the Bristol Housing and Redevelopment Authority. On August 23rd, the Board of Commissioners approved the establishment of the West State Street/Stafford Street/K-Mart Drive Redevelopment District Plan. The subsequent approval of city council is required to formalize the new redevelopment district boundaries. Councilwoman Powers asked the City Council members to share their view on the TIF program. Councilwoman Powers made a motion to approve the resolution, and Councilman Keen seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 5 of 8 Resolution 17-108 - A Resolution Delegating Authority under the Border Region Retail Tourism Development District Act to the Industrial Development Board of the City of Bristol, Tennessee City Manager Sorah stated that Friendship Properties, LLC recently acquired property located at 3192 West State Street, formally known as the Auto Auction. Friendship Properties desires to repurpose the property as a new automotive sales and service venue. The property is located within the Border Region Retail Tourism District and eligible for Chapter 420 funding assistance. In order to take advantage of the Chapter 420 incentives, Friendship Properties will need to enter into a development agreement with the Industrial Development Board. Prior to the IDB entering into an agreement they must first receive authorization from the local governing body. Resolution 17-108 provides the authority under the Border Region Retail Tourism Development District to the Industrial Development Board of the City of Bristol to enter into a development agreement with Friendship Properties, LLC. This project represents an opportunity to redevelop a blighted property and provide new commercial space within the Border Region Retail Tourism District. The ability to provide state sales tax incentives through the Border Region Retail Tourism Act assists in the repurposing of this property along this important commercial corridor. Councilwoman Powers asked the City Manager to explain how the sales tax is distributed. She also asked for the projected cost of the project. Mitch Walters, Friendship Properties, stated that he did not have an actual cost at the time, but stated that it would probably be around $12,000,000. Councilwoman Powers made a motion to approve the resolution, and Councilman Keen seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Resolution 17-109- A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of an Agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation for Virginia Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Project City Manager Sorah stated that Resolution 17-1 09 authorizes the approval of an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) on a Transportation Alternatives Grant funding project for Virginia Avenue Pedestrian Improvements. Grant funding in the amount of$501,153.00 has been awarded for construction ofthe Virginia Avenue pedestrian improvements project. The grant requires a local match of20% of which $125,228.25 will be funded by the City. Total cost ofthe project is $626,441.25.  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 6 of8 Vice Mayor Feierabend made a motion to approve the resolution, and Councilwoman Powers seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. CONSENT AGENDA: City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Council. Councilwoman Powers made a motion to approve the consent agenda, and Vice Mayor seconded the motion. The following items were approved by unanimous Council vote: • Minutes September 5, 2017 Called City Council Meeting • Minutes September 5, 2017 City Council Meeting • Minutes September 26, 2017 City Council Work Session • Resolution 17-110 A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of In-Car Video Systems with Body Cameras • Resolution 17-111 A Resolution Awarding Bid for the Purchase of Refuse Containers • Resolution 17-112 A Resolution Awarding Bid for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Final Clarifier Replacement • Resolution 17- 113 A Resolution Authorizing the Submittal of an Application to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for a Tennessee Alternatives Program Grant • Resolution 17-114 A Resolution Awarding a Bid for the Purchase of a Solid Waste Collection Knuckleboom • Resolution 17-115 A Resolution Adopting Infrastructure Design Standards for the City of Bristol, Tennessee • Resolution 17-116 A Resolution Adopting a Residential Water/Sanitary Sewer Materials Policy  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 7 of8 BOARD OF EDUCATION LIASON REPORT: Ms. Jill Harrison, Chairman, Board of Education, presented information on test scores from Tennessee High School. She stated that the Work Ready Community program is underway and is receiving good participation from students and companies. She announced that the BTCS has received a CTE Equipment Award in the amount of$128,000 from the Tennessee Department of Education. She stated that they are very proud of the new Frank Winston Auditorium. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager thanked staff and City Council for their support during the Rhythm and Roots Festival. He asked the City Council to take note of some events coming up: 1) October 5, Transit Ridership Appreciation Day, 2) October 10, a public meeting to advance the Bluff City Highway Pedestrian Improvement Project at Haynesfield Elementary School, 3) October 12, an opening celebration at the Nature Center, 4) October 13, Ribbon Cutting at the Nature Center, 5) October 17, the Annual Boards and Commission Reception, October 24, City Council Work Session, and 6) November 2, the second Community Workshop for the Comprehensive Plan in the Slater Center Auditorium. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilman Keen stated that he had attended a good meeting on Passenger Rail. He stated that he would like to see housing incentives investigated. Councilwoman Powers stated the Rhythm and Roots numbers are up from last year. She shared additional information that she had received concerning the certified tax rate. She asked if the tax rate could be amended to reflect the deficit. City Manager Sorah said that time did not allow for an amendment at this time since the tax bills will be mailed out at the end of October and an amendment would need two readings. Councilwoman Feierabend thanked everyone for their participation in the Rhythm and Roots Festival. Along with Domestic Violence Month the YWCA is sponsoring the "Week Without Violence". The United Way has begun their annual campaign. Wildlife Weekend is October 13- 14. Mayor Young stated the Aerospace Park is about jobs and he hopes the grant and the partners come through. He reported that staff had hosted a successful meeting with the THDA. He thanked the School Board for hosting a meeting with MGT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:57p.m.  City Council Meeting October 3, 2017 Page 8 of8 ~t~ Tara E. Musick, City Recorder