City Council

January 15, 2020 The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, met in regular session in the Community Room at Murfreesboro Police Headquarters at 11:38 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, with Mayor Shane McFarland present and presiding and with the following Council Members present and in attendance, to wit: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Eddie Smotherman Kirt Wade The following representatives of the City were also present: Adam Tucker, City Attorney Melissa Wright, City Recorder/ Finance Director Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager/ Utility Enterprise Gary Whitaker, Assistant City Manager/ Development and Coordination Angela Jackson, Executive Director Community Development Erin Tucker, Budget Director Greg McKnight, Development Projects Director Nate Williams, Parks and Recreation Director Joey Smith, Solid Waste Director Robert Holtz, Building & Codes Director Joshua Miller, Administrative Assistant Mayor McFarland commenced the meeting and announced that Mr. Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager, would lead the session due to the absence of Mr. Craig Tindall, City Manager. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to November 2019 Dashboard packet.) Mrs. Erin Tucker, Budget Director, presented the November 2019 Dashboard update which included Financial, Building & Codes, Risk Management and Construction Data. She discussed Sales Tax Revenues, Solid Waste Revenues, State Revenue Collections and City Salaries & Benefits Vacancies. Mrs. Tucker also presented Council with a Fiscal Year 2020 Mid-Year Budget Review and Financial Update. This resulted in questions from Council regarding combining County and City school systems, with Council deciding that no decisions had been made, but the City might need to make decisions regarding the matter if there were changes in State funding. Mr. LaLance commented, regarding the budget, that he would like to see the City add to the fund balance rather than have budget amendments to spend it. Mr. Martin added that he would like to get the C.I.P. into a budgetary line item. The following letter from the Executive Director of Community Services was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to Strategic Partnerships.)  January 15, 2020 Page 2 Ms. Angela Jackson, Executive Director of Community Services, presented an overview of the 3-year transitional implementation to the City’s Strategic Partnerships Plan that began in Fiscal Year 2020. Council addressed questions and concerns they had received from the public regarding the Barfield Park entrance. Mr. Nate Williams, Parks and Recreation Director, discussed the plans that were underway to improve the Barfield Park entrance. The following letter from the Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to review of Solid Waste Ordinance revisions.) Mr. Daren Gore, Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise, presented the proposed revisions to the Solid Waste Ordinance which included bagging of grass clippings and leaves in biodegradable bags; monthly solid waste collection fees; brush, limb, and yard waste collection fees; bulk item pick-up on a per item basis; and bulk item pick-up fees. Council discussed the proposed fees, the services the City was currently providing for free, and discussed enforcement of the proposed changes. Mr. Joey Smith, Solid Waste Director, addressed questions from Council. Mr. Gore and Mr. Smith were directed by Council to research the issues further, potentially reaching out to other municipalities and researching how they handled these same solid waste issues. The following letter from the Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to request to advertise competitive sealed proposals for an automated waste management solution.) Mr. Daren Gore, Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise, presented the request to advertise a Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFCSP) for a Solid Waste Automated Waste Management Solution (AWMS) in order to implement a camera and fleet tracking system to enhance routing and assist in customer violations. Mr. LaLance made a motion to approve the advertisement to Request for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFCSP) for a Solid Waste Automated Waste Management Solution (AWMS). Mr. Martin seconded the motion and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to request to consider terms to sell drinking water to Marshall County.)  January 15, 2020 Page 3 Mr. Daren Gore, Assistant City Manager of Utility Enterprise, presented a proposal to consider selling 200,000 gallons of drinking water a day to Marshall County for five years while they construct a new drinking water plant. Mr. Gore stated that the terms of the proposed contract are a contract term limit of five years with one two-year renewal option; flow limit to a maximum of 216,000 gallons per day; and terms to adjust the sale price to reflect any adjustments to M.W.R.D.’s wholesale costs. Council discussed the proposed contract with Mr. Gore and expressed their desire for the contract to be renewed on a year- to-year basis and to have a stipulation to break the contract regarding a calamity or act of God. The following letter from the City Recorder/Finance Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated January 15, 2020 here with regards to Beer Permit Applications for RaceTrac #2559 at 2927 Old Fort Pkwy.; Domenico’s Italian Deli at 106 S. Maple St.; Gallagher Unplugged at 118 N Walnut St., Suite 2; Sal’s Pizza at 536 N Thompson Lane, Suite D; Wall Street at 121 N Maple St.; and Special Event Permits for Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club Foundation on 5/8/20-5/9/20 at Cannonsburgh Village 312 N Front St.) Mr. Wade made a motion to approve the Beer Permits for RaceTrac #2559, 2927 Old Fort Parkway (New Location); Domenico’s Italian Deli, 106 South Maple Street (New Location); Gallagher Unplugged, 118 North Walnut Street, Suite 2 (Name and Ownership Change); Sal’s Pizza, 536 North Thompson Lane, Suite D (New Location); Wall Street, 121 North Maple Street (Ownership Change); and Special Event Permits for the Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club (MBRC) Foundation on 5/8/20 – 5/9/20 at Cannonsburgh Village, 312 North Front Street. Mr. Martin seconded the motion and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. Mr. Martin left the meeting at this time. The Finance Director announced that there were not any statements to be considered. Mayor McFarland stated that he had received many complaints regarding building and code violations at an apartment complex on Northfield Boulevard. Mr. Robert Holtz, Building and Codes Director, described the nature of the violations; the processes the Building and Codes Department can take regarding violation enforcement; and the Court process that occurs for violations. Mayor McFarland stated that the responses the City can take and the eventual punishment that can be meted out for violations are limited by State law. He proposed that the City could develop an Administrative Hearing Officer Program to handle Building and Code violations for businesses. Mr. Adam Tucker, City Attorney, explained the options that would be available to the City with an Administrative Hearing  January 15, 2020 Page 4 Officer and the authority the officer would have. Council directed the City Attorney to research the program further and report back to Council. Mayor McFarland congratulated Mr. Chad Gherke, Airport Manager, for receiving a $1 Million grant for the airport from the State. He also congratulated Mr. Greg McKnight who had been named Interim Planning Director. Mayor McFarland also announced that he would like staff to revisit the Design Guidelines and potentially develop a group to review them. He also requested that staff research the bulk zoning classification and potentially consider including a master plan when the City receives bulk zoning requests. Mayor McFarland stated that the American Cancer Society has issued a request to the City to make all City properties tobacco free. He wanted Council and staff to be aware of their request. There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 1:45 p.m. SHANE MCFARLAND – MAYOR ATTEST: MELISSA B. WRIGHT - CITY RECORDER