City Council

October 14, 2020 The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, consistent with the Governor’s order, members of the City Council are participating by electronic means as has been determined necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare in light of the coronavirus pandemic at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, in the Community Room at Murfreesboro Police Headquarters, 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 Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Vice-Mayor Scales Harris and Council Member Shawn Wright participated telephonically at this meeting. The following representatives of the City were also present: Craig Tindall, City Manager Adam Tucker, City Attorney David Ives, Deputy City Attorney Melissa Wright, City Recorder/ Finance Director Gary Whitaker, Assistant City Manager Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager Raymond Hillis, Executive Director/ Public Works Michael Bowen, Chief of Police Mark Foulks, Chief of Fire & Rescue Erin Tucker, Budget Director Russell Gossett, Solid Waste Director Chad Gehrke, Airport Manager Joshua Miller, Administrative Assistant Mayor McFarland commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The following letter from the Airport Manager was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to MTSU Interior Signage Addendum to Transient Use Agreement.) Mr. Chad Gehrke, Airport Manager, presented the request to approve the Interior Sign Addendum to the Transient Use Agreement with MTSU. He stated that MTSU desires to incorporate signage into the space it occupies at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport and that the agreement would further the working relationship between the University and the City. Mr. Wright made a motion to approve the Interior Sign Addendum to the Transient Use Agreement with MTSU. Mr. Shacklett seconded the motion and all members of the Council voted “Aye”.  October 14, 2020 Page 2 Mayor McFarland announced that Item No. 2 on the Agenda, Agreement for Employee Medical Benefits, was to be pulled at this time. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Amendment Ordinance and Resolutions.) Mrs. Erin Tucker, Budget Director, presented the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Review which included Fiscal Year 2021 Revenues, Expenditures and Unfunded requests. She explained what measures the City had enacted to prepare for revenue loss due to the Covid- 19 pandemic and shared that the pandemic had not contributed to revenue loss in the City as much as projected. Mrs. Tucker recommended that the Council approve the budget amendments which included a 1.5% COLA increase for all employees plus a 2.5% step increase for all employees in the step system. Vice-Mayor Scales Harris expressed her belief that raises should be provided evenly across the board regardless of whether they were in the step system or open range pay plan; questioned if there was an issue with retaining firefighters; and asked if a contract system could be implemented to prevent the loss of firefighters. Mr. Craig Tindall, City Manager, explained that the pay increases were consistent with the pay plan that Council had adopted in 2019 and that there were some risks with implementing a contract system for firefighters. Chief Mark Folks, Chief of Fire & Rescue, explained that the main loss of firefighters in the City was due to retirement; some firefighters had left due to other organizations offering pensions/defined benefit plans; and that work had already been done in researching the implementation of a contract system. Mr. Rick LaLance expressed his concern with the amount of unfilled positions in the Police Department; asked what could be done to address these vacancies; and wondered if the salaries for these positions should be raised. Chief Michael Bowen, Chief of Police, explained the history of the unfilled positions and updated the Council on the efforts being made to fill the shrinking number of vacancies. Council expressed their desire for staff to implement a 3.0% COLA for the Police and Fire & Rescue Departments in order to increase the pay range for the positions. An ordinance, entitled “ORDINANCE 20-O-31 amending the 2020-2021 Budget (2nd Amendment),” was read to the Council and offered for passage on first reading, as amended to include a 3.0% COLA for the Police and Fire & Rescue Departments, upon motion made by Mr. LaLance, seconded by Mr. Wright. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote:  October 14, 2020 Page 3 Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Shane McFarland Nay: None Mr. Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager, introduced Mr. Russell Gossett, the new Solid Waste Director. The following RESOLUTION 20-R-22 was read to the Council and offered for adoption upon motion made by Mr. Wade, seconded by Mr. LaLance. Upon roll call said resolution was adopted by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Shane McFarland Nay: None (Insert RESOLUTION 20-R-22 here with regards to Water Resources Department Budget (1st amendment).) The following RESOLUTION 20-R-23 was read to the Council and offered for adoption upon motion made by Mr. Shacklett, seconded by Mr. Martin. Upon roll call said resolution was adopted by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Shane McFarland Nay: None (Insert RESOLUTION 20-R-23 here with regards to Stormwater Utility Management Fund Budget 1st amendment.) The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to Community Investment Program Fiscal Year 2021 Budget.) Mrs. Erin Tucker, Budget Director, presented the Fiscal Year 2021 Community Investment Program (CIP) including postponed projects; funded vs. unfunded projects; and the major projects for Fiscal Year 2021. Council engaged in discussion with staff regarding the historically low interest rates at this time and the potential for borrowing low interest money to assist in completing the Fiscal Year 2021 CIP projects.  October 14, 2020 Page 4 Mr. LaLance made a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2021 CIP. Mr. Martin seconded the motion. A roll call vote was conducted and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to August 2020 Dashboard packet.) The August 2020 Dashboard update included Financial, Building & Codes, Risk Management, Construction Data, Sales Tax Revenues, Solid Waste Revenues, State Revenue Collections, City Schools Cash Flow Statements, and Revenue & Expenditure Budget Comparison Reports. There was no discussion regarding the August 2020 Dashboard update. The following letter from the City Recorder/Finance Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to CT – 0253 report of new debt obligation.) Mrs. Melissa Wright, City Recorder/Finance Director, presented information regarding the bond issuance to refund City variable rate debt in forms CT-0253 2020C. She stated that, as required by State statute, the information was being presented at a public meeting and that no vote was needed. The following letter from the City Recorder/Finance Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letters dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to Wine Sales Certificate of Compliance – RaceTrac #2527, RaceTrac #2554 & RaceTrac #2559.) Mrs. Melissa Wright, City Recorder/Finance Director, presented Wine Sales Certificate of Compliance for Retail Food Store for Nick Webb at RaceTrac #2527 at 1596 New Salem Highway; RaceTrac #2554 at 2121 Medical Center Parkway; and RaceTrac #2559 at 2927 Old Fort Parkway. She indicated the applications were in order. Mr. Martin made a motion to approve the Wine Sales Certificate of Compliance for Retail Food Store for Nick Webb at RaceTrac #2527, RaceTrac #2554 and RaceTrac #2559. Mr. LaLance seconded the motion. A roll call vote was conducted and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the City Recorder/Finance Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated October 14, 2020 here with regards to a Special Event Beer Permit Application for Murfreesboro Young Professionals Annual Cornhole Tournament on 11/8/20 at Cannonsburgh Village, 312 South Front Street.)  October 14, 2020 Page 5 Mr. Martin made a motion to approve the Special Event Beer Permit for Murfreesboro Young Professionals Annual Cornhole Tournament on 11/8/20 at Cannonsburgh Village, 312 South Front Street. Mr. LaLance seconded the motion and all members of the Council present voted “Aye”. The City Recorder/Finance Director announced that there were not any statements to be considered. Mr. Craig Tindall, City Manager, announced that the Communications Department, Mr. Mike Browning and Mr. Larry Flowers had recently won 19 NATOA awards for 2020 programing excellence. Council Member Bill Shacklett gave a summary from the City School Board meeting in which the late Dr. Gilbert was honored with awards being presented to her family. Mayor McFarland announced that he had discussed with staff the potential for a Private Act to amend the City Charter in order to protect the initial principal from the MED sale proceeds. This ties up the funds in a manner that is more difficult to change than an Ordinance would require. There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 1:09 p.m. SHANE MCFARLAND – MAYOR ATTEST: MELISSA B. WRIGHT - CITY RECORDER