City Council

CLARKSVILLE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MAY 19, 2016 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER A special session of the Clarksville City Council was called to order by Mayor Kim McMillan on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at 4:35 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 106 Public Square, Clarksville, Tennessee. A prayer was offered by Councilman Richard Garrett; the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Bill Powers. ATTENDANCE PRESENT: Richard Garrett (Ward 1), Deanna McLaughlin (Ward 2), Wanda Smith (Ward 6), David Allen (Ward 8), Joel Wallace, Mayor Pro Tem (Ward 9), Mike Alexander (Ward 10), Bill Powers (Ward 11), Jeff Burkhart (Ward 12) ABSENT: James Lewis (Ward 3), Wallace Redd (Ward 4), Valerie Guzman (Ward 5), Geno Grubbs (Ward 7) FY17 BUDGET NON-VOTING WORK SESSION There was no objection to allowing input and responses from Department Heads and Chief Financial Officer Laurie Matta while the Council was in special session. Ms. Matta noted some major accomplishments during FY16 including paving 32 miles of streets, construction of Fire Station 12 and the CPD North Precinct, partial construction of Fire Station 11, completion of riverbank stabilization (which was 65% funded by the Corps of Engineers), and the external audit completed on time with no findings. She noted the amended FY16 budget revenues would total $86.3 million and that year-end department expenditures should be 1% under budget. The proposed FY17 budget contained a 2% general wage increase for city employees and funding for an updated pay study. Ms. Matta said a new property tax rate of $1.29 (5 cent increase) was being proposed to fund staffing and operation of Fire Station 11 and Fire Station 12, a new rescue vehicle, and additional paving. Anticipated revenues and savings included a SAFER grant, delayed staffing of Fire Station 11 plus a lower construction cost, increased state-shared revenues, drivers’ license renewal fees, and an increased Department of Electricity PILOT payment. Ms. Matta said projected FY17 revenues would total $94.2 million with $94.1 million projected expenditures for the general government. The combined budgets of the Department of Electricity, Gas & Water, Clarksville Transit System, Parking Commission, and the General Fund would total $389.6 million. Questions and discussions were relative to the following departments: CITY COURT In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, City Court Clerk Ernie Griffith said funding was included for “interim judge pay” which would compensate someone who would act in the absence of the City Judge. Mr. Griffith said the department was no longer accepting telephone credit card payments. MUSUEM In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Ms. Matta said the Customs House Museum was requesting $400,000 to replace one HVAC system. FINANCE DEPARTMENT In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s questions, Ms. Matta offered the following responses: $8 million was being proposed for general fund debt service payments; the FY17 fund balance was estimated to be $20 million; $.01 of the property tax rate would equal $264,425 in revenue. HUMAN RESOURCES In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s questions, Human Resources Director Will Wyatt offered the following responses: The proposed 2% employee pay increase would total $754,000; auto insurance premiums vary by department depending on accident history; a “readiness assessment” was being conducted with regard to a performance management system; funding was included for an updated pay study; a proposed new software would allow employees to update their individual benefits; a proposed new software would provide equipment  safety inspections; a learning management system would schedule online training for employees remotely and expedite employee status changes. In response to Councilman Garrett’s questions, Mr. Wyatt offered the following responses: An updated pay study should be completed within six months; a performance-based pay plan could be completed within a minimum of twelve months; the recent market study showed 3% would be a fair increase. PROPERTY TAX RATE In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Ms. Matta said the proposed 2% employee pay increase could be funded without a tax increase. In response to Councilman Powers’ question, Ms. Matta said a $1.29 rate would increase property taxes for a $128,000 home by approximately $1.34 per month, a $165,000 home by approximately $1.72 per month, and a $250,000 home by approximately $2.60 per month. MAYOR’S VEHICLE In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Fleet Manager Randy Reese said the Mayor’s request for a new vehicle had been removed from the proposed budget. SPORTS COMPLEX In response to Councilman Allen’s question, Mayor McMillan said $6.5 million was being proposed for land acquisition and design for a sports complex at the Exit 8/Rossview Road site. In response to Councilman Alexander’s question, Ms. Matta said deleting this capital project would not affect the property tax rate. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER In response to Councilman Allen’s question, Mayor McMillan said the proposed budget contained funds to purchase the Brenner Building on Franklin Street for a performing arts center. Councilwoman McLaughlin said the City should consider building a center along First Street instead of Franklin Street because the City already owns the property. Mayor McMillan said she would propose an outside entity manage the center. WATERWORKS BUILDING In response to Councilman Burkhart’s question, Mayor McMillan said the City could consider selling the old waterworks building since the bank stabilization project was complete. In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Project Manager Brad Workman said $50,000 was being requested to clean up and secure the building. STREETS In response to Councilman Burkhart’s questions, Traffic Engineer Chris Cowan said the preliminary engineering and environmental study for an east-west connector was underway and right-of-way acquisition for the fourth phase of the Needmore Road/Trenton Road intersection had begun. In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s questions, Mr. Cowan said locations for sidewalk installation included in the $700,000 request had not been determined and an adaptive signal control system for Wilma Rudolph Boulevard would allow the signals to automatically adjust to traffic conditions. In response to Councilman Allen’s question, Mr. Cowan said widening of Tiny Town Road had not yet been completely evaluated. In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Mr. Cowan said the Department did not have any recommendations for improvements to Quinn Lane at this time. SMITH TRAHERN MANSION In response to Councilman Powers’ question, Mr. Workman said $115,000 was being requested to rebuild the front porch and columns of the Smith Trahern Mansion. PARKS In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Director of Parks & Recreation Mark Tummons said the proposed “public places comprehensive plan” would take approximately twelve months to evaluate needs for current and new recreational facilities. U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Mayor McMillan said membership in the U.S. Conference of Mayors offers various grants that the City may not otherwise become aware of.  FIRE STATION 1 In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Fire Chief Mike Roberts noted that Phase 1 of Fire Station 1 improvements had been eliminated from the proposed budget. LEGAL SERVICES In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, City Attorney Lance Baker said the $150,000 request for legal services was primarily for the Freedom Point lawsuit. ADVERTISING & MARKETING In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Ms. Matta responded with the following breakdown of expenses requested by the Director of Communications for advertising and marketing: $20,000 printed advertising – Tennessee Economic Guide, Tennessee Vacation Guide, Chamber Directory; $10,000 social media - training, publicity opportunities (Fort Campbell Courier); $25,000 video production – employee and investor recruitment. NON-PROFIT AGENCIES In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Mayor McMillan said officers of the United Way had expressed concern about a proposal for all city non-profit donations to be given to the United Way for disbursement because they would not be able to partner with some of the currently funded groups. ADOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:54 p.m.