City Council

June 9, 2021 The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, met in regular session in the Business Center at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 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 Council Member Shawn Wright was absent and excused from this meeting. The following representatives of the City were also present: Craig Tindall, City Manager Adam Tucker, City Attorney Melissa Wright, City Recorder/ Finance Director Gary Whitaker, Assistant City Manager Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager Angela Jackson, Executive Director/ Community Services David Ives, Deputy City Attorney Trey Duke, City Schools Director Erin Tucker, Budget Director Alan Bozeman, Communications Director Pam Russell, Human Resources Director Trey Adams, Golf Director Kim Williams, City Schools Finance Director Jennifer Brown, Assistant Finance Director Amanda DeRosia, Accounting Manager Joshua Miller, Administrative Assistant Mayor McFarland commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The following letter from the City Attorney was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to purchase of liability, property, vehicle, cyber, crime and workers’ compensation insurance coverage for the City.) Mr. Adam Tucker, City Attorney, presented the request to approve the purchase of insurance coverages for the City for Fiscal Year 2022 in the amount of $1,692,732. Mr. LaLance made a motion to approve the purchase of insurance coverage for the City for a total cost of $1,692,732. Mr. Martin seconded the motion and all members of the Council present voted “Aye”. Mayor McFarland announced that Item No. 3 on the Agenda, FY22 Budget – Hazard Pay Stipends, would be heard next as a part of Item No. 2. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to Fiscal Year 2022 Budget changes and related ordinances.) Council discussed with staff proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, hazard pay stipends, the potential to apply for Federal Grant money for reimbursement of  June 9, 2021 Page 2 stipends; 18 employees who are out of their pay range and will not be eligible for this years raise; the current policy of placing new hires with years of work experience at the start of their positions pay range and conducting a study on changing the City’s police officers shifts to 4-10’s. Mr. LaLance made a motion to amend ORDINANCE 21-O-13 to include additional revenues of $1.6 Million as a result of changes to the budgeted sales tax growth and an increase to Human Resources salaries and expenditures of $37,500 in order to add a full- time position to the department as well as re-structure positions. Mr. Wade seconded the motion and all members of the Council present voted “Aye”. An ordinance, entitled “ORDINANCE 21-O-13 adopting a budget and appropriations ordinance providing for appropriations out of the general and special funds of the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, of certain sums to defray the current, necessary and special expenses of said City for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022, and for other purposes,” which passed first reading on May 20, 2021, was read to the Council and offered for passage as amended on second and final reading upon motion made by Mr. LaLance, seconded by Mr. Shacklett. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on second and final reading by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shane McFarland Nay: None (Insert ORDINANCE 21-O-13 here.) An ordinance setting the tax rate at $1.2894, entitled “ORDINANCE 21-O-14 providing for the levy and collection of a tax for the year 2021 upon all property, real, personal and mixed, within and subject to the jurisdiction of the City of Murfreesboro that is now taxable under the laws and Constitution of the State of Tennessee and the Charter of said City, and for the interest and costs to be added to such taxes after certain dates,” which passed first reading on May 20, 2021, was read to the Council and offered for passage on second and final reading upon motion made by Mr. Shacklett, seconded by Mr. Martin. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shane McFarland Nay: None  June 9, 2021 Page 3 (Insert ORDINANCE 21-O-14 here.) The following letter from the Communications Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to Comcast Cable TV Franchise Agreement.) Mr. Alan Bozeman, Communications Director, presented the proposed Franchise Agreement with Comcast of Nashville II, LLC in which Comcast is allowed to use the City’s right-of-way to deliver service within the City; is for a 10-year non-exclusive term; the City will continue to receive a franchise fee of 5% of quarterly gross revenue on cable tv services; Comcast’s system will continue to carry three community access channels, two for MTSU and one for the City and Comcast will provide a $100,000 equipment grant for the City’s channel. Mr. Bozeman stated that the Franchise Agreement would go before the Cable Television Commission for approval and then come before Council for a vote. The following letter from the Executive Director of Community Services and Golf Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to VA Golf Course Update.) Ms. Angela Jackson, Executive Director Community Services, presented the history of the VA Golf Course, the courses current facilities which are in need of capital improvements, revenues and expenses of the course, a fee comparison with comparable local courses and the current lease which has a 30-day termination clause that can be executed by either party. Council discussed rumors regarding the closure of the VA Golf Course, the cost of capital improvements to the course, the course not being up to City or ADA standards and the effect raising fees at the course could have on residents. The following letter from the City Attorney was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to Council Charter Role.) Mr. Adam Tucker, City Attorney, presented an overview of the Council’s role and the City Manager’s role, as defined by the City Charter, regarding the operations of the City and employment matters. Council discussed with staff the roles as defined by the Charter, the City Manager’s evaluation and ways employees and citizens could report items or suggestions they believe should be addressed. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to April 2021 Dashboard packet.) The April 2021 Dashboard update, which included Financial, Building & Codes, Risk Management, Construction Data, City Schools Cash Flow Statements, and Revenue &  June 9, 2021 Page 4 Expenditure Budget Comparison Reports, was presented to Council with no discussion taking place. The following letter from the Finance Director/City Recorder was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to Certificate of Compliance – Costco Wholesale #1448.) Mrs. Melissa Wright, City Recorder/Finance Director, presented the request to consider a Retail Liquor Certificate of Compliance for Christopher Douglas Harman at Costco Wholesale #1448, 1524 Beasie Road. Mrs. Wright indicated that the application was in order and recommended approval. Mr. Wade made a motion to approve a Retail Liquor Certificate of Compliance for Christopher Douglas Harman at Costco Wholesale #1448, 1524 Beasie Road. Mr. Martin seconded the motion and all members of the Council present voted “Aye”. The City Recorder/Finance Director announced that there were no statements to consider. Mayor McFarland stated that contract negotiations with Ms. Jennifer Brown for the position of City Recorder/Finance Director are currently underway and the starting salary range needs to be determined in order for Human Resources and Legal to draft the contract. He suggested that Ms. Brown start at the mid-point of the salary range and the rest of Council concurred. Under other business the following letter from the Finance Director/City Recorder was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated June 9, 2021 here with regards to revisions to City Code Chapter 4 – Alcoholic Beverages.) An ordinance, entitled “ORDINANCE 21-O-18 amending the Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 4, Alcoholic Beverages, regarding the sale of liquor and beer for off premises consumption,” was read to the Council and offered for passage on first reading upon motion made by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. Wade. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shane McFarland Nay: None There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 2:10 p.m.  June 9, 2021 Page 5 SHANE MCFARLAND – MAYOR ATTEST: MELISSA B. WRIGHT - CITY RECORDER