City Council

CLARKSVILLE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MAY 30, 2017 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER A special session of the Clarksville City Council was called to order by Mayor Kim McMillan on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 106 Public Square, Clarksville, Tennessee. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A prayer was offered by Councilman Jeff Burkhart; the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin. ATTENDANCE PRESENT: Richard Garrett (Ward 1), Deanna McLaughlin (Ward 2), Ron Erb (Ward 3), Tim Chandler (Ward 4), Valerie Guzman, Mayor Pro Tem (Ward 5), Wanda Smith (Ward 6), Geno Grubbs (Ward 7), Jeff Henley (Ward 9), Mike Alexander (Ward 10), Bill Powers (Ward 11), Jeff Burkhart (Ward 12) ABSENT: David Allen (Ward 8) NASHVILLE PREDITORS VIEWING EVENT Mayor McMillan invited the public to the city-sponsored viewing event scheduled for May 31st on Public Square to watch the Nashville Preditors National Hockey League team play the Pittsburgh Penguins in second game of the Stanley Cup Final. FY18 BUDGET WORK SESSION OVERVIEW CFO Laurie Matta distributed the budget summary to the Council. She noted the City’s major accomplishments during FY17 including paving of 42 miles of streets, removal of Ringgold Bridge, construction and dedication of Fire Station 11 (I-24 Exit 1), lighting of Heritage Park and Swan Lake Park, expansion of the Senior Citizens Center, and no audit findings.  Proposed amendments to the FY17 Budget included adjusting projected revenues to $88,000,000 with 35% from property taxes, 17% from sales tax, and 21% from intergovernmental funds. Local option 2.5% sales tax revenues totaled $59,700,000 with $15,900,000 going toward the general fund and road improvement fund and the remainder going toward schools. Ms. Matta said general government departments were expected to complete FY17 expenditures approximately $500,000 under budget. The $94.3 million FY18 Budget was being proposed with no tax increase and a 1.5% general wage increase for city employees. MAYOR’S OPENING REMARKS Mayor McMillan opened the floor to allow members of the City Council to ask questions regarding the proposed FY18 City of Clarksville budgets. Mayor McMillan said members could also contact department heads if their questions were not answered during the scheduled work sessions. NOTE: The following transcriptions are listed in alphabetical order for convenience, but are not necessarily in the order they were recorded. ADVERTISING In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Communications Director Richard Stevens said the advertising appropriations will provide funding for one major state publication and two local publications and media monitoring would provide feedback on the City’s advertising and public relations efforts. ATHLETIC COMPLEX In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Mayor McMillan said a sports organization who manages minor league teams has shown interest in managing a local facility. In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Mayor McMillan said a site at I-24 Exit 8 is being proposed. She said the project would involve acquisition of multiple parcels. BUILDING & CODES In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Director of Building & Codes Mike Baker said all thirty employees of the department are issued a cell phone. He said new equipment was being evaluated that could possibly replace some cell phones with two-way radios that would operate via the public safety radio system. In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Mr. Baker said the proposed budget included funding to demolish a church building on Washington Street, possibly with private contributions. EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Human Resources Director Will Wyatt said once the final pay analysis is received, some employees could receive more than the general wage increase of 1.5% after re-evaluation of some positions. He said approximately three years would be needed to create and implement a pay-for-performance plan. Mr. Wyatt said the City and its employees would be paying more for health insurance during the next fiscal year. FUND BALANCE In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Ms. Matta said the proposed FY18 Budget would provide a fund balance of approximately 20% of budgeted expenditures. GNRC LOBBYIST In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Mayor McMillan the Greater Nashville Regional Council asked members to share in the cost of hiring a lobbyist to insure that city and county members benefit from the IMPROVE Act recently passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Ms. Matta said if an additional 2.5% local option sales tax were approved by public referendum, it would generate approximately $3.2 million each for the City and for the school system. MAYOR RECEPTIONIST In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s questions regarding the currently vacant receptionist position and funding for activities related to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor McMillan said the City Council could not veto specific line items, but can only amend total funding for a department. MAYOR VEHICLE In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Fleet Manager Randy Reese said he recommended the vehicle currently being used by the mayor be replaced in accordance with the fleet management policy. In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Mr. Reese said a new vehicle could be purchased on the state contract and the current vehicle would be transferred to another department. NON-PROFIT AGENCIES In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Ms. Matta a committee reviewed applications from non-profit organizations for FY18 funding to determine if the applications were complete, if financial information was submitted, and if the agencies were serving the city as a whole. PARKING COMMISSION In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Parking Manager David Smith said all five employees are provided an electronic device, some of which generate citations, but also have cell phone capability. He said newer, less expensive equipment was being evaluated to reduce communication costs. PARKS & RECREATION In response to Councilman Henley’s question, Ms. Matta said some requested expenditures for Parks & Recreation had recently been cut resulting in a reduced budget. In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s and Councilman Alexander’s questions, Director of Parks & Recreation Jennifer Latourneau said the department was requesting funds to expand and improve the sound system at the Liberty Park Amphitheater. Mrs. Latourneau said there were also plans to develop an urban wilderness in the Tanglewood Drive/Madison Street area that could provide access to the Blueway and Greenway. Councilman Garrett said citizens have made requests for a recreational center in the northern area of the city. Mrs. Latourneau said the department was researching the possibility of building a regional center to serve a larger area. STREET DEPARTMENT In response to Councilman Garrett’s question, Traffic Engineer Chris Cowan said the environmental study and preliminary engineering were underway to determine a plan for right-of-way acquisition for the proposed northeast corridor. In response to Councilman Burkhart’s question, Mr. Cowan said the proposed budget included funding for a traffic signal and turn lanes on Dunlop Lane. In response to Councilwoman Smith’s question, Mr. Cowan said the department installed left turn signals and signage at the intersection of College Street and Ninth Street. Councilwoman Smith asked for additional signage and additional left-turn time; Mr. Cowan said the improvements were made in accordance with the Uniform Traffic Control Manual. Councilman Chandler called for a point of order and was recognized by Mayor McMillan. Councilman Chandler said the discussion regarding this intersection was not relative to the FY18 Budget. Mayor McMillan agreed, but did not officially rule. WATERWORKS BUILDING In response to Councilwoman McLaughlin’s question, Mayor McMillan reminded members that the City purchased the old waterworks property on Riverside Drive to meet federal requirements for river bank stabilization. She said some improvements had been made to the building, but no specific plans had been determined for its use. Councilman Chandler said some interest in the property may come from contacts made during the recent International Council of Shopping  Centers conference. Councilwoman McLaughlin mentioned that at least an easement may be needed for extension of the RiverWalk. ADJOURNMENT Councilwoman McLaughlin objected to adjournment, however, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.