Call for Special Meeting
Special MeetingCrossville, TN · June 25, 2015
Minutes
City of Crossville
392 N. Main
Crossville, TN 38555
Minutes
Thursday, June 25, 2015
5:00 PM
Council Chambers
Call for Special Meeting
Mayor James Mayberry
Mayor Pro-Tem Pamala Harris
Council Member Jesse Kerley
Council Member Pedro (Pete) Souza
Council Member Danny Wyatt
City Manager David Rutherford
City Clerk Sally Oglesby
Call for Special Meeting Minutes June 25, 2015
The City Council for the City of Crossville, Tennessee met in special session on
Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Crossville City Hall. Mayor James Mayberry was
present and presiding. He called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Present 5 - Council Member Pete Souza, Council Member Jesse Kerley, Mayor
James Mayberry, Mayor Pro-tem Pamala Harris, and Council Member
Danny Wyatt
Others present were City Manager David Rutherford, City Attorney Will Ridley, City
Clerk Sally Oglesby, John Turner, Mark Rosser, Brad Allamong, Fred Houston, R. J.
Peterson, Tiffany Lyon, Jim Young, Levonn Hubbard, Mark Fox, Jerry Kerley, Scott
Howard, Terry Potter, Clark West, and Doug Brady.
1. Appointments
Swearing-in of Alternate Administrative Hearing Officer
Mayor Mayberry administered the Oath of Office to Tiffany Lyon as Alternate
Administrative Hearing Officer.
This Appointment was appointed
2. Consent Agenda
A motion was made by Council Member Jesse Kerley, seconded by Mayor
Pro-Tem Pamala Harris, that all items on the consent agenda be approved.
Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5 - Council Member Pete Souza, Council Member Jesse Kerley, Mayor
James Mayberry, Mayor Pro-tem Pamala Harris and Council Member Danny
Wyatt
ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
a. Ordinance amending §1-801(E) of the Crossville Municipal Code
regarding open records
This Ordinance was adopted on third reading
b. Ordinance amending the budget for year-end FY 2014-2015
This Ordinance was adopted on third reading
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
c. Ordinance amending the FY14-15 budget for aerial photography
City of Crossville Page 1
Call for Special Meeting Minutes June 25, 2015
This Ordinance was approved on second reading.
d. Ordinance amending §12-1101 of the Crossville Municipal Code
regarding municipal administrative hearing officer
This Ordinance was approved on second reading
e. Ordinance amending §13-402 of the Crossville Municipal Code
pertaining to abandoned or inoperable vehicles
This Ordinance was approved on second reading
f. Ordinance amending §13-104 of the Crossville Municipal Code
pertaining to removal of vegetation and debris from certain lots
This Ordinance was approved on second reading
3. OTHER BUSINESS
a. Ordinance adopting the FY2015-16 operating budget
Mayor Mayberry reviewed the budget process and commended the Council for the
time that they put in the process. He further stated that the budget is a compromise
between all members. He commended staff for reducing the amount of projected
deficit for 2014-15 from $965,000 to $28,000. Councilmember Souza further
commented that no one got everything they wanted, but the process worked. He
indicated his plan to return next year and ask for a cost of living increase for 2 years
for the employees.
A motion was made by Mayor James Mayberry, seconded by Council Member
Pete Souza, that this Ordinance be adopted on third reading. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5- Council Member Pete Souza, Council Member Jesse Kerley, Mayor
James Mayberry, Mayor Pro-tem Pamala Harris and Council Member
Danny Wyatt
b. Ordinance establishing a tax rate for FY2015-16
Mayor Mayberry stated that the process started with reducing approximately $1.5
million in requested funds, reducing support for some non-profit agencies, postponing
implementaton of the recreation master plan, and still having to increase the debt.
The rainy day fund has steadily been reduced since 2008 when it was at a high of
approximately $14 million and, he felt a property tax increase is inevitable to provide
services and promote the growth of our community.
Mayor Pro-Tem Harris indicated that she would not be supporting the tax increase
due to the reduction in the shortfall and the approximate $8 million in rainy day funds.
She also expressed concerns about a tax rate increase and water/sewer rate
increases in the same year. She would be in favor of using the extra funds to reduce
the shortfall and she would like to see planning incremental tax increases in the next
few years.
Councilmember Souza pointed out that the property tax pays for about 15% of the
budget and a good portion of the rainy day fund is borrowed money. He is fearful
there will be substantial budget amendments in the coming year due to the cuts in the
budget. He is also worried about the long-term effects of the debt.
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Call for Special Meeting Minutes June 25, 2015
Councilmember Wyatt pointed out the substantial difference in what was projected for
a shortfall in the current year and what actually happened. He believes the same
thing will happen in the coming year and a tax rate increase will not be necessary.
A motion was made by Mayor James Mayberry, seconded by Council Member
Pete Souza, that this Ordinance be adopted on third reading. The motion
carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3- Council Member Pete Souza, Council Member Jesse Kerley and Mayor
James Mayberry
Nay: 2- Mayor Pro-tem Pamala Harris and Council Member Danny Wyatt
c. Resolution adopting water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2015
Mayor Mayberry reported that the proposed rates will be an increase of 15% in water
and 25% in sewer.
Mayor Pro-Tem Harris reviewed research that she has done on modified depreciation
and came to the conclusion that the City is obligated to use the straight-line
depreciation.
Councilmember Wyatt commented that there appears to be a surplus and he would
rather look at a modified depreciation approach, but the Council has chosen not to
and he supports that.
City Manager Rutherford reported on the current reporting requirements of the
Comptroller. He stated that the current Comptroller requires that depreciation be
funded in cash rather than on paper, but that the money can be used for necessary
repairs and upgrades. He will not be surprised if the Comptroller or SRF come back
with a requirement to raise the rates even more when the reports are submitted with
the budget.
Councilmember Souza reported about the reviews now being done by the State to
insure that utility districts don't get in a distressed situation.
Councilmember Kerley said the rates should have already been raised, but were
delayed by using the modified depreciation approach. He also commented that we
could have saved money by researching other options or re-bidding sewer
operations.
With his vote, Council Member Wyatt acknowledged that he has several businesses
that are fairly large water users, but that it is not a conflict of interest in voting on the
rate increases.
A motion was made by Council Member Pete Souza, seconded by Council
Member Jesse Kerley, that this Resolution be approved as recommended. The
motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4- Council Member Pete Souza, Council Member Jesse Kerley, Mayor
James Mayberry and Mayor Pro-tem Pamala Harris
Nay: 1- Council Member Danny Wyatt
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:23 p.m.
City of Crossville Page 3
Agenda
City of Crossville
392 N. Main
Crossville, TN 38555
Meeting Agenda
Thursday, June 25, 2015
5:00 PM
Council Chambers
Call for Special Meeting
Mayor James Mayberry
Mayor Pro-Tem Pamala Harris
Council Member Jesse Kerley
Council Member Pedro (Pete) Souza
Council Member Danny Wyatt
City Manager David Rutherford
City Clerk Sally Oglesby
Call for Special Meeting Meeting Agenda June 25, 2015
Roll Call
1. Appointments
15-0272 Swearing-in of Alternate Administrative Hearing Officer
Sponsors: City Clerk
2. Consent Agenda
ORDINANCES ON THIRD READING
a. 15-0147 Ordinance amending §1-801(E) of the Crossville Municipal Code
regarding open records
Sponsors: City Clerk
Legislative History
5/5/15 Work Session received and filed
The City’s ordinance regarding charges for copies needs to be revised to mirror
the recommendations of the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel. The
recommended ordinance sets the charges at the recommended amount of $0.15
for black and white copies and $0.50 for color copies for 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14
sizes.
5/12/15 City Council approved on first reading
The City’s ordinance regarding charges for copies needs to be revised to mirror
the recommendations of the Tennessee Office of Open Records Counsel. The
recommended ordinance sets the charges at the recommended amount of $0.15
for black and white copies and $0.50 for color copies for 8 ½ x 11 or 8 ½ x 14
sizes.
6/11/15 City Council approved on second reading
b. 15-0168 Ordinance amending the budget for year-end FY 2014-2015
Sponsors: Finance Department
Legislative History
5/12/15 City Council approved on first reading
Year-end amendments are needed for:
· Depreciation expense because city budgeted for the modified depreciation
method
· The employee buyout costs
6/11/15 City Council approved on second reading
ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING
c. 15-0235 Ordinance amending the FY14-15 budget for aerial photography
Sponsors: Engineering Department and Tim Begley
Legislative History
City of Crossville Page 2 Printed on 6/24/2015
Call for Special Meeting Meeting Agenda June 25, 2015
6/4/15 Work Session received and filed
Cumberland County E911 recently had Cumberland County flown for new
aerial photography. Their cost was $77,863.00. They have offered, to the City of
Crossville, the new aerials for a cost of $10,000.00. The aerials we are
currently using were flown in 2010. They were obtained in the same manner.
E911 had the county flown and we paid $10,000.00 back in May 2010. There
have been several changes over the past 5 years. A few examples of side by side
comparisons are attached.
6/11/15 City Council approved on first reading
Cumberland County E911 recently had Cumberland County flown for new
aerial photography. Their cost was $77,863. They have offered, to the City of
Crossville, the new aerials for a cost of $10,000. The aerials we are currently
using were flown in 2010 and were obtained in the same manner. There have
been several changes over the past 5 years.
d. 15-0260 Ordinance amending §12-1101 of the Crossville Municipal Code
regarding municipal administrative hearing officer
Sponsors: City Clerk
Legislative History
6/11/15 City Council approved on first reading
Following training of the municipal hearing officers, it was recommended that
the City’s recently adopted ordinance be amended to set a specific time for
hearings to be held to avoid having to publish notices every month. In addition,
several other sections were added for clarification.
e. 15-0261 Ordinance amending §13-402 of the Crossville Municipal Code
pertaining to abandoned or inoperable vehicles
Sponsors: City Clerk
Legislative History
6/11/15 City Council approved on first reading
With the adoption of the Administrative Hearing Officer program, the ordinance
on abandoned or inoperable vehicles is being amended to be consistent with
state law and to provide appeals to go through the Administrative Hearing
Officer rather than City Council. The proposed ordinance is still under review
by the City Attorney and Administrative Hearing Officers and is subject to final
changes prior to final reading.
f. 15-0262 Ordinance amending §13-104 of the Crossville Municipal Code
pertaining to removal of vegetation and debris from certain lots
Sponsors: City Clerk
Legislative History
6/11/15 City Council approved on first reading
With the adoption of the Administrative Hearing Officer program, the ordinance
on removal of vegetation and debris is being amended to be consistent with state
law and to provide cases to go through the Administrative Hearing Officer. The
change includes the elimination of the Beautification Committee, which has not
met in several years. The proposed ordinance is still under review by the City
Attorney and Administrative Hearing Officers and is subject to final changes
prior to final reading.
City of Crossville Page 3 Printed on 6/24/2015
Call for Special Meeting Meeting Agenda June 25, 2015
3. OTHER BUSINESS
a. 15-0174 Ordinance adopting the FY2015-16 operating budget
Sponsors: City Manager and Finance Department
Legislative History
5/5/15 Work Session received and filed
Council is requested to pass the FY2015-16 operating budget in title only.
5/12/15 City Council approved on first reading
6/11/15 City Council approved on second reading
b. 15-0175 Ordinance establishing a tax rate for FY2015-16
Sponsors: City Manager and Finance Department
Legislative History
5/5/15 Work Session received and filed
The City Manager has proposed a tax increase of 10¢ to $0.63/$100 of assessed
value. On a $100,000 home, the increase would be $25. The agenda item will
be shown as "in title only". City Manager Rutherford suggested that they would
probably be adding $1,000,000 into the budget and discussed using some loans
and some unrestricted funds. He suggested $400,000 in new revenue or cuts
and $500-600,000 of unrestricted funds.
(The work session was recessed at 6:25 p.m. and reconvened at 6:44 p.m.)
5/12/15 City Council approved on first reading
Mayor Pro-Tem Harris stated that the Council is still working on the budget and
that she was not in favor of a ten-cent tax increase and would prefer that the
increase be stretched over three years. She also pointed out that the ordinance
is in title only. Councilmember Souza responded that he did not believe the
Council could obligate tax increases for future years. Councilmember Wyatt
stated that he was not in favor of a tax increase since there is a healthy rainy
day fund, additional sales taxes received this year, and that the City needed to
cut expenditures by 2% to 2 1/2%.
6/11/15 City Council approved on second reading
Councilmember Wyatt asked for a 4-5% cut in the budget and no 20% tax
increase. Mayor Pro-Tem Harris stated that she would prefer to use the rainy
day funds rather than a tax increase and stated that the motion on the ordinance
was in title only.
c. 15-0279 Resolution adopting water and sewer rates effective July 1, 2015
ADJOURNMENT
City of Crossville Page 4 Printed on 6/24/2015
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