City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL,TENNESSEE CALLED CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 19,2020 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Council Called Work Session was called to order by Mayor Margaret Feierabend at 9:00 a.m. on May 19, 2020. The meeting was held electronically via Zoom. ROLL CALL: Present were Mayor Margaret Feierabend, Vice Mayor Mahlon Luttrell, Councilman Chad Keen, Councilwoman Lea Powers, and Councilman Vince Turner. Others present were City Manager William L. Sorah, City Attorney Danielle Smith, City Recorder Tara Musick, Community Relations Director Jon Luttrell, Development Services Director Tim Beavers, Economic Development Director Tom Anderson, Parks and Recreation Director Terry Napier, and other members of City staff. DISCUSSION OF NECESSITY FOR CONDUCTING ELECTRONIC MEETING: City Attorney Danielle Smith explained the changes to the open meeting laws. Mayor Feierabend asked if anyone on Council objected to holding an electronic meeting. No one objected since the electronic meeting is necessary to protect public safety, health, and welfare due to the Coronavirus pandemic. AGENDA: The agenda for the meeting included the following items for discussion, with no formal action being taken. 1. Update from the Sullivan County Regional Health Department 2. Discussion of Refunding of 2013 Series A Bonds 3. Presentation of Bristol Housing Study 4. Discussion of Economic Development Incentive Policy 5. Discussion of Use of Utility Tap Fees for Residential Incentives CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: Parks and Recreation Director Terry Napier updated City Council on the face mask distribution program. He provided statistics on the number of masks that have been received and distributed.  Called City Council Work Session May 19, 2020 Page 2 of2 City Manager Sorah discussed the time of upcoming City Council meetings. He discussed where the City was in the process of reopening after closures for COVID-19. Mr. Napier provided an update on the reopening plan of the Farmers' Market and the strategy behind the plan. Councilman Turner requested Mr. Napier provide an update on the closure of the swimming pool and downtown music events. Mr. Napier explained it would take time to prepare the swimming pool and to hire staff and the time required would take a majority of the season. It would also be difficult to keep the area clean and sanitized. The downtown music events were cancelled because the events are currently not allowed under the Governor's directives. Councilwoman Powers asked that we communicate the reasons to the public so they can better understand. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: No additional comments were made. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:53 a.m. by Mayor Feierabend %largaret Feierabend, Mayor Tara E. Musick, City Recorder