City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 6, 2018 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol Tennessee City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Jack Young on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at 7:00p.m. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLLCALL: Present: Mayor Jack Young, Vice Mayor Margaret Feierabend, Councilman Chad Keen, Councilwoman Lea Powers, and Councilwoman Michelle Reuning. 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: Councilman Keen, gave the invocation and Councilwoman Powers led the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ADDITIONS AND/OR CHANGES: None. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS: None PRESENTATIONS: FY2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report- Mr. Matt Hill, Partner at Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC, was not able to attend due to an illness and has been rescheduled to give the formal report at the March 6, 2018 City Council meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Mayor Young opened the Public Hearing on Ordinance 18-1. Ordinance 18-1- An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance by Adding a New Use to the Neighborhood Shopping/Office Zone (B-1B) and Create a Limited Business/Neighborhood Shopping Overlay City Manager Sorah summarized Ordinance 18-1. The ordinance, in its original format, amended the B-1 B district to allow general merchandise stores such as a Dollar General store and similar businesses. The zoning text amendment also established a design standard overlay in the B-1 A and B-1 B districts.  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page 2 of7 During first reading, the ordinance was amended to remove language that would permit general merchandise stores in the B-1 B district. City Council requested staff research currently zoned parcels in the B-1 A and B-1 B districts as to their appropriateness in light of the Future Land Use Plan. The amended ordinance retained the language establishing a design standard overlay in B-1 A and B-1 B districts. The design standards prohibit construction materials such as bare cinder block, bare concrete block, single sheet corrugated or ribbed panel metal siding, or wood. Tennessee state law requires any change to the planning commission's recommendation be resubmitted for their comment. The proposed amendment to Ordinance 18-1 was presented to the Bristol Regional Planning Commission during their January 15th meeting. By a vote of 6-3, the Planning Commission recommended their original language as approved during their November 20, 2017 meeting. Mayor Young closed the Public Hearing on Ordinance 18-1. APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS: Diane Whitaker, 6th Street Extension, stated that she feels the City Council is doing nothing to help her. Don Ashley, 709 Navaho Trail, Bristol, VA, asked the City Council to consider a Proclamation establishing February 13, 2019, as Tennessee Ernie Ford Day. He also asked City Council to consider a Resolution requesting the U. S. Post Office to consider a postage stamp honoring Tennessee Ernie Ford. Eddie Mabry, 109 Sunny brook Drive, stated that he feels the Sunnybrook Subdivision is not being represented fairly by the City Council in their concerns over Intimate Treasures. He asked that Mayor Young meet with him to discuss what the citizens of Sunnybrook can do about the situation. APPOINTMENTS: None ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordinances: Ordinance 18-2- An Ordinance to Abandon an Unnamed Public Alley Right-of-Way (Running East from Glendale Street to Another Public Alley, parallel to Glen Street and Dale Street)  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page 3 of7 City Manager Sorah stated that an item for the agenda is first reading of an ordinance to abandon an unnamed public alley ROW running east from Glendale Street to another public alley, parallel to Glen Street and Dale Street. The properties at 1035, 1043, 1051, and 1027 Glendale Street are owned by Bran/Bowie Investments, LLC. Their plan is to combine the properties and build twelve townhouses. The unopened alley is parallel to and between Glen Street and Dale Street. The property owners have requested that the City abandon the unopened east/west alley ROW to allow the property at 1051 Glendale Street to be combined with their other properties to allow development. The Bristol Tennessee Regional Planning Commission, at its meeting of January 22, 2018, recommended approval of the action. David Metzger, Transportation Engineer, gave some brief details concerning the abandonment. Vice Mayor Feierabend made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading, and Councilwoman Reuning seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Ordinance 18-3 - An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning ordinance to Clarify the Residential Density Permitted in the B-3 (General Business) Zone City Manager Sorah stated that Ordinance 18-3 is a housekeeping measure to clarify the maximum multi-family residential density permitted in the B-3 District. Ordinance 17-7, revising the zoning text as it relates to multi-family residential densities was approved on second reading during the January 2, 2018 City Council meeting. The ordinance included a narrative describing the amendment of the zoning text as it related to three residential districts and one commercial district. To simplify the administration of the ordinance, a chart illustrating the new densities was included. The chart, however, did not reflect the new B-3 District densities. Ordinance 18-3 addresses this issue and provides more clarity to the administration of the new multi-family residential density requirements. Councilman Keen made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading, and Councilwoman Powers seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Ordinance 18-4 - An Ordinance to Rezone Western Half of 820 Raytheon Road, 96 & 98 Vance Tank Road to M-1 (Light Industrial/Business Zone) City Manager Sorah stated that Ordinance 18-4 amends the zoning map for the captioned property. Last month, staff received a request from the Blaine Carter, owner of 820 Raytheon Road, and Jerimi Waldron, owner of98 Vance Tank Road, to rezone their property from the current zoning designation of R-1A (Residential) to M-1 (Manufacturing). The property is located adjacent to the old Raytheon Plant property which has zoning designation ofM-3. The remaining parcel  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page 4 of7 located at 96 Vance Tank Road is owned by BTES and serves as the location for a power substation. Staff has contacted BTES and they do not oppose the rezoning of their property from R-1A to M-1. The subject properties contain approximately 33. 7 total acres. With the exception of the BTES substation, the acreage is undeveloped wooded and grass areas. The owners of 820 Raytheon Road and 98 Vance Tank Road believe their property to be more suitable for development with an M -1 zoning designation as opposed to single family residential zoning. This rezoning request is consistent with the 2012 Land Use Plan and Policy which designates the property as being primarily for industrial use. The rezoning request was granted a favorable recommendation from the Bristol Regional Planning Commission during their January 22nd meeting. Blake Ailor, Zoning Administrator, gave a presentation on the rezoning of 820 Raytheon Road, 96 & 98 Vance Tank Road. Vice Mayor Feierabend made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading, and Councilwoman Reuning seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. B. Adoption of Ordinances (Second Reading): Ordinance 18-1- An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Ordinance by Adding a New Use to the Neighborhood Shopping/Office Zone (B-1B) and Create a Limited Business/Neighborhood Shopping Overlay City Manager Sorah reviewed this ordinance during the Public Hearing section of the agenda. Councilwoman Powers asked Danielle Kiser, City Attorney, to state, for the record, what was deleted from the previous version ofthe ordinance. Councilman Keen made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading, and Vice Mayor Feierabend seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote. C. Resolutions: Resolution 18-8 - A Resolution Approving the Tenneva Hotel Project Tax Increment Financing Amendment for the Greene Property/West State Street Redevelopment District and Recommending that the Same be Approved by the Board of Commissioners of Sullivan County  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page 4 of7 City Manager Sorah stated that an item of recent discussion was the potential use ofTax Increment Financing (TIF) for advancing a redevelopment effort in the Greene Property/West State Street Redevelopment District. The proposed Tenneva Hotel project includes the construction of a six- floor, 94,298 square foot, one hundred and forty-three room, full service hotel. The total estimated cost of all improvements for the project is $21,525,744. This amount includes an investment by the developers of $16,525,742 and a tax increment based debt in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000. Tax Increment Financing is being sought as a critical element of the project financing. The purpose of the TIF is to provide an economic stimulus for blighted property in need of redevelopment. The TIF will be utilized to finance project redevelopment costs that would not be economically feasible without the benefit of this incentive. The Bristol Housing and Redevelopment Authority conducted a public hearing on January 24 111 to solicit comment on the use of TIF financing as a redevelopment incentive. Following the conclusion of the hearing, their Board of Directors unanimously approved the TIF amendment based on the forgoing circumstances and conditions: • Long-term vacant and underutilized property • Deleterious land use • Blighted effect of the continued vacancy and deterioration of surrounding properties Resolution 18-8 authorizes the use of Tax Increment Financing for the purpose of supporting the redevelopment in the Greene Property/West State Street Redevelopment District. The Tenneva Hotel project is recognized for its potential of having a significant economic impact on the City and Sullivan County due to its desirable location in the heart of the Central Business District. Resolution 18-8 also recommends that the Board of Commissioners of Sullivan County approve similar Tax Increment Financing incentive in support of the redevelopment project. Brian Deal with the Tenneva Hotel project gave a presentation on their plans for the property. Eddie Mabry, asked if the hotels at Exit 7 are being considered. Mahlon Luttrell, spoke in favor of the Tenneva Hotel. Councilwoman Powers made a motion to approve the ordinance on second reading, and Councilwoman Reuning seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote.  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page 6 of7 CONSENT AGENDA: City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Council. Councilman Keen made a motion to approve the consent agenda, and Councilwoman Powers seconded the motion. The following items were approved by unanimous Council vote: • Minutes February 6, 2018 City Council Meeting • Resolution 18-9 A Resolution Accepting a Portion of Hatterdale Farm Road as a Public Street • Resolution 18-10 A Resolution Approving an Agreement with the Town of Bluff City for the Treatment of Wastewater • Resolution 18-11 A Resolution Awarding a Bid for the Purchase of a 1-Ton Pickup Truck with a Service Body • Resolution 18-12 A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Equipment for Police Vehicles • Resolution 18-13 A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Software Support for the Fire Department • Resolution 18-14 A Resolution Approving the Submittal of a Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program BOARD OF EDUCATION LIASON REPORT: Dr. David Welch, Secretary, Bristol Tennessee School Board, stated that the Bristol Tennessee School System had undergone the 2017 audit. He said that the audit went well. He reported that the school system had received a Work Based Learning Grant in the amount of$25,000. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Sorah stated that the Walker Collaborative Group is in town and reminded that Council members of a meeting with them at 3:00p.m. on February 8. He stated the Ribbon Cutting for the Fire Station 5 would take place on February 28 at 10:00 a.m. The City Council  City Council Meeting February 6, 2018 Page7of7 Work Session will be held on February 28 at 5:30p.m. Mr. Sorah stated that the trees in the downtown have been removed and the landscaping architect will be replacing the trees shortly. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilman Keen stated that he is excited about the hotel project by Tenneva LLC. He is looking forward to seeing the results from the Comprehensive Plan. He mentioned that Wellmont had changed their name to Ballad Health and he is looking forward to seeing how things unfold after the new merger. Councilwoman Powers stated that she is excited with the great things that are happening in our downtown area and feels that it is moving our community forward. She complimented the EMT staff for taking good care of her during her recent accident. She congratulated the school system on their receiving the Work Based Learning Grant. Councilwoman Reuning stated that the new hotel is going to provide new training, education, and jobs to the area. She reported that the Drive 55 campaign is on course to not only meet the goal but it will be reached earlier than expected. Vice Mayor Feierabend stated that the Martin Luther King Celebration had a good turnout. She asked everyone to support the Tennessee Ernie Ford Day in February 2019. She stated that she is excited about the Downtown Study. She reported that Ballad Health is going to be working on Opioid Addiction and Prevention. She said that City Council members had met with our Legislators in Nashville, Tennessee in January. Mayor Young stated that City Council can show their support for the Work Based Learning Grant by getting word out to manufacturers and companies. He applauded the City Staff for keeping the roads open during bad weather. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:27p.m. ~l227~ Tara E. Musick, City Recorder