City Council

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL,TENNESSEE CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 7,2023 CALL TO ORDER: The City of Bristol, Tennessee City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Vince Turner on Tuesday, February 7,2023 at 7:00 P.M. in the Slater Center Auditorium. ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Vince Turner, Vice Mayor Mark Hutton, Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend, Councilman Mahlon Luttrell, and Councilwoman Lea Powers. Others Present: City Manager William Sorah, City Attorney Danielle Smith, City Recorder Mary Lee Williams, Director of Planning Cherith Young, Director of Parks and Recreation Terry Napier, Fire Chief Mike Carrier, Director of Economic Development Tom Anderson, Director of Community Relations Jon Luttrell, Director of Finance Hollie Verran, Senior Director of IT Shane Vamey, Police Chief Matt Austin, and other members of City staff. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Mark Hutton gave the invocation and Councilman Mahlon Luttrell led the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ADDITIONS AND / OR CHANGES: None PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS: None PRESENTATIONS: None BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON REPORT: Director of Schools Dr. Annette Tudor mentioned February is National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. She announced seven students have earned their National Pharmacy Tech Certification which is in addition to four students from last year. They have expanded dual enrollment to include a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology(TCAT). A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)program in partnership with Ballad will be added next year which will give a head start to any students desiring to work toward a Licensed Practical Nurse(LPN)or a Registered Nurse(RN)program. In addition, they are continuing to expand dual enrollment with Northeast State to include a career academy next year. Winter break is next week, February 15^ through 17'^ with the 1 as an in-service day. BTES will host the 26"^ Annual Industry Day on the 15"^, giving teachers from Tennessee High School opportunity to visit a variety ofbusinesses and industry in our community. The Governor's State of the State Address was last night and Governor Lee mentioned increasing salary for teachers, expanding summer learning camps,and school safety. There is a state swim meet later in the week with six of the BTCS swim teams participating. On February 14^^, adaptive aquatics will be taking place at the Tennessee High School pool.  City Council Meeting February 7, 2023 Page 2 of6 PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance 23-1 - An Ordinance to Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget City Manager Bill Sorah summarized that at the December 20^ called meeting of City Council,staff was requested to prepare an amendment to the Fiscal 2023 budget to provide an additional $100,000 of non recurring funds to the school system. The funds were to be provided as a one-time contribution. Ordinance 23-1 amends the Fiscal 2023 budget by adding $100,000 to the General Purpose School Fund for non-routine capital improvements. The Fiscal 2023 budget was originally adopted with an appropriation of $250,000 for school system capital improvements. The amendment would establish a total Fiscal 2023 appropriation of$350,000 for non-routine capital improvements in the school system. The ordinance was approved on first reading at the January 1O^** meeting. There were no comments and the public hearing was closed. APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS: Mr. Joel Kellogg, 1204 Maryland Avenue, on behalf of HOPE for Bristol thanked City Council for everything they have done to help with the Bristol Virginia Landfill issues. However, from this point forward, they have great concerns about the health of everyone in the community. They are concerned about the emissions from the new holes that are scheduled to be dug in the landfill. They are requesting a plan be developed for protecting the citizens from whatever may come. The biggest needs are air monitoring and relief efforts such as places for people to go. Even though the problem did not originate in this state, the residents are still be affected and should be taken care of. Vice Mayor Hutton thanked Mr. Kellogg and HOPE for Bristol for the work they have done on this issue. Teresa Daily, 894 Painter Creek Road, recently purchased a lake house in Bristol in June and will be moving soon. They are enjoying the great neighbors and friendly people. She was involved in fundraising for over twenty years in Palm Beach, Florida. They built her dream home in Sevierville, Tennessee and flew back and forth. She lost her husband at age 59 to COVID in 2020 making that a difficult year. In Florida, she was very successful in her job of representing political figures from local council to presidential campaigns. After the death ofher husband,she met someone and they are working together in a new business venture called Kingdom Strategies. They assist non-profits with fundraising, equip leaders to restore community,and protect and respond to the innocent, which include persons from before birth to 120 years old. One area of special importance to them is child trafficking. Nationally, Tennessee is currently ranked as one of the top states with an overall grade of B (81). However,' Tennessee has an F in Continuum of Care and also in Tools for a Victim-Centered Criminal Justice Response. Our law enforcement and criminal provisions have an A+ rating which only a few states have, so she is very thankful for our public safety officers and responders. Tennessee has a B in Prevention and Training, but a C in Access to Justice for Trafficking Survivors. She wanted to provide this information to Council and to present Council members with an invitation for a Kingdom Strategies event at the Old Post 33 in March to train and certify leaders in the community and around the country in trafficking. The leader for the event is the chairman ofthe Tri-County Alliance on Human Trafficking in Florida.  City Council Meeting February 7, 2023 Page 3 of6 APPOINTMENTS: Community Development Advisory Committee - City Council addressed the vacancy of one seat on the Community Development Advisory Committee. Councilwoman Margaret Feierabend spoke on behalfofthe candidate who is new to the community and wants to become involved. Ms. Kayren Farmer was unanimously appointed to the Community Development Advisory Committee to serve an unexpired term of office ending April 30, 2024. Tree Board - City Council addressed the vacancy of one seat on the Tree Board. Ms. Kayren Farmer was unanimously appointed to the Tree Board to serve an unexpired term ofoffice ending June 30,2024. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A. First Reading of New Ordinances: None B. Adoption of New Ordinances(Second Reading): Ordinance 23-1 - An Ordinance to Amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget This item was summarized during the public hearing earlier this evening. Councilwoman Feierabend motioned to approve and Councilwoman Lea Powers seconded. Ordinance 23-1 passed unanimously by roll call vote. C. Resolutions: Resolution 23-10- A Resolution Setting Public Hearings on the Proposed Annexation of Territory into the City of Bristol by Owner Consent and on the Related Plan of Services (Ardent Development Group / Galloway — Fox Meadows) The City Manager stated the Ardent Development Group and the Galloway Family are requesting the annexation of approximately 1.298 acres located adjacent to the Fox Meadow subdivision on Beaver Creek Road. He described the annexation process which begins with this resolution. Ifapproved tonight, the March agenda will include the public hearing and a resolution to approve the annexation. There will also be a public hearing on the Annexation Plan of Services. Resolution 23-10 establishes these public hearings. The March agenda will also include an ordinance for consideration on first reading to establish the zoning for this property. The property has a current Sullivan County zoning of A-1 (General Agriculture / Estate Residential). They are requesting the property be zoned as PRD (Planned Residential Development) and R-2(Single-Family and Duplex District). The final step of this process would be in April for a public hearing and consideration ofsecond reading for the property zoning. The matter was considered by the Planning Commission during their January 23"^^ meeting and they voted unanimously to forward a favorable recommendation to Council. He requested Cherith Young,Director of Planning and Development, provide additional information. Ms. Young presented a map ofthe subject parcel along with the zoning ofthe surrounding parcels. The strip of land proposed for annexation is 45 feet wide and has been re-platted through the subdivision process. The subject property is to be combined with the proposed lots, owned by Ardent Development Group, and shown on the approved preliminary plat for the Fox Meadows development. This portion would be zoned PRD. A very small portion ofthe parcel will be combined with the Galloway property and zoned R-2 to correspond with his existing property zoned R-2. The property is contiguous to the current corporate limits.  City Council Meeting February 7, 2023 Page 4 of6 Ms. Young presented the Annexation Plan of Services which outlines the City services that will be provided upon annexation. Most everything will be provided as soon as the annexation is approved with the exception of sanitary sewer service. The service is available for extension, but that extension is the responsibility ofthe developer. Resolution 23-10 schedules public hearings at the March 7^ meeting of City Council on the proposed annexation and the proposed plan of services. Councilman Luttrell motioned to approve and Vice Mayor Hutton seconded. The resolution passed unanimously by roll call vote without discussion. CONSENT AGENDA: City Manager Sorah presented the Consent Agenda to Council. Minutes January 6, 2023 City Council Called Work Session Minutes January 10, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes January 23, 2023 City Council Called Work Session Minutes January 24, 2023 City Council Work Session Resolution 23-11 A Resolution Designating Members of the City Council to Serve on City Boards and Quasi-Municipal and Non- Municipal Agencies Resolution 23-12 A Resolution Authorizing Purchase of Data Center Environment Resolution 23-13 A Resolution Authorizing Participation in the Public Entity Partners Cyber Security Matching Grant Program Resolution 23-14 A Resolution Authorizing Payment to Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP for Legal Fees Resolution 23-15 A Resolution Authorizing Entry into a Professional Services Agreement for Design Services for Emergency Generator at Fire Station #3 Resolution 23-16 A Resolution Authorizing the City to Seek Designation as a Broadband Ready Community Mayor Turner requested Resolution 23-16 be removed from the consent agenda for discussion. Councilwoman Feierabend motioned to approve the consent agenda with the exception of Resolution 23-16 and Councilwoman Powers seconded. The remaining items were approved by unanimous Council roll call vote. Mayor Turner mentioned April Eads, Business Development Manager for Bristol Tennessee Essential Services(BTES), was present and requested her to explain the reason for Resolution 23-16. Ms. Eads  City Council Meeting February 7, 2023 Page 5 of6 stated that while the community has had a very robust fiber infrastructure for many years, becoming a designated broadband-ready community through the State of Tennessee is another opportunity to tell others we have broadband and we are prepared for further development. In addition,ifthe region applies for grants through the state-administered broadband infrastructure grant programs, the community can receive additional points and grant application because of the designation. Becoming a designated broadband-ready community highlights the fact the community is engaged and supportive of broadband development. Councilwoman Lea Powers complemented BTES on having the foresight many years ago to initiate underground fiber optics. She commented this is also a 10-gigabit community with capacity to increase to 100-gigabit if the need arises which can be a game changer with economic development and industry recruiting. Councilwoman Powers motioned to approved Resolution 23-16 and Vice Mayor Hutton seconded. The resolution passed by unanimous roll call vote. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Sorah reminded Council that Sunday,February 12^^ and Monday the 13"^, is the next phase in the city manager search process. The process commences 10:00 A.M. Sunday with one-on-one conversations in the annex between each member ofCouncil and each candidate. At 9:00 A.M. Monday, February 13^^,candidate interviews will be held in the annex conference room. Following the interviews. Council will have a called meeting to discuss the next steps. On Tuesday, February 28^^ at 5:00 P.M. is the regular work session. The agenda currently has several items so it will be a fairly lengthy evening. Staff is trying to reschedule the Legislative Breakfast tentatively for March 3''^ at 8:00 A.M., but this has not been discussed with our legislators at this point. The published calendar looks clear, but staff will follow-up with the individual legislators. March 13"^ and 14'^ is the TML Legislative Conference. Please let staff know if anyone would like to attend so that arrangements can be made. The Annual Chamber of Commerce Retreat for the purpose of strategic planning for the year will be an in-city retreat on the morning of March 29^. Additional details have not yet been released. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilwoman Powers has spoken with several people in the community and with HOPE for Bristol and there is concern about air monitoring or the lack thereof. She suggested that as a non-profit,they prepare a presentation, including a monetary request, and then request to be placed on a work session agenda, if that is appropriate. The City Manager stated that would be appropriate as historically Council has one or more work sessions in the spring for the purpose of hearing requests from our community non-profit organizations. Councilwoman Powers would like for the responsibility for operation and maintenance of air monitoring equipment also be address. City Manager Sorah said he would reach out to Mr. Kellogg. Councilwoman Powers thanked the school system for the basketball program and the economic development team for their efforts. Councilwoman Feierabend mentioned as result ofthe city manager search,looking at other communities, and doing her homework in these areas, she wanted to express appreciation to City staff. City Manager Sorah, previous Councils, and Finance Directors for making this City what it is. She appreciates not only what we have, but the responsibility the current Council has to maintain it. Councilman Luttrell agrees that City staff gives it their all, every day, and are appreciated by Council.  City Council Meeting February 7, 2023 Page 6 of6 Mayor Turner concurred with the statements of Councilman Luttrell. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:38 P.M. 'ince Turner, Mayor Mary Lee Williams, City Recorder