City Council

November 17, 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 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 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 Shawn Wright The following representatives of the City were also present: Craig Tindall, City Manager Adam Tucker, City Attorney Jennifer Brown, City Recorder/ Finance Director Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager Angela Jackson, Executive Director/ Community Services Chris Griffith, Executive Director/ Public Infrastructure Sam Huddleston, Executive Director/ Development Services Michelle Emerson, City Engineer Nate Williams, Parks and Recreation Director Randolph Wilkerson, Employee Services Director Kim Williams, City Schools Finance Director Karen Lambert, Grant Coordinator Joshua Miller, Administrative Assistant Mayor McFarland commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The following letter from the Assistant City Manager was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to purchase of property at 312 South Church Street.) Mr. Sam Huddleston, Executive Director of Development Services, presented the request to approve the Contract for Purchase and Lease-Back of Real Estate with M.A. Smitty, in the amount of $669,500 plus closing costs of approximately $5,000, for property located at 312 South Church Street. Mr. Wade made a motion to approve the Contract for Purchase and Lease-Back of Real Estate with M.A. Smitty, in the amount of $669,500 plus closing costs of approximately $5,000, for property located at 312 South Church Street. Mr. LaLance seconded the motion and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Amendment Ordinance.) An ordinance, entitled “ORDINANCE 21-O-40 amending the 2021-2022 Budget Appropriations (2nd Amendment),” was read to the Council and offered for passage on first  November 17, 2021 Page 2 reading upon motion made by Vice-Mayor Scales Harris, seconded by Mr. LaLance. Upon roll call said ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote: Aye: Madelyn Scales Harris Rick LaLance Ronnie Martin Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Bill Shacklett Shane McFarland Nay: None The following letter from the Parks and Recreation Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to Warner’s Athletic Construction Change Order No. 3 for Soccer Park Turf.) Mr. Nate Williams, Parks and Recreation Director, presented the request to approve Change Order No. 3 with Warner’s Athletic Construction Company in the amount of $40,099, funded through the 2019 Loan, for turf work at the Richard Siegal Soccer Park. Mr. Martin made a motion to approve Change Order No. 3 with Warner’s Athletic Construction Company in the amount of $40,099, funded through the 2019 Loan, for turf work at the Richard Siegal Soccer Park. Vice-Mayor Scales Harris seconded the motion and all members of the Council voted “Aye”. The following letter from the Assistant City Manager was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to Salem Highway Basin Sewer Study Results.) Mr. Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager, presented Council with four potential scenarios which were studied to determine the best course of action regarding the future of new sewer connections in the Salem Highway corridor. Council engaged in discussion with Mr. Gore regarding the scenarios and it was decided to follow staff’s recommendation and pursue scenario #4, which would come with an improvement cost of approximately $6.35 Million and 3,724 new sanitary sewer connections. Mr. Gore advised that Engineering Proposal’s for implementing scenario #4 would be forthcoming. Mayor McFarland announced that Item No. 7 on the Agenda, Food Distribution Permit, would be heard at this time. The following letter from the City Attorney was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to regulation of Food Sharing Events on Public Property.) Mr. Adam Tucker, City Attorney, presented Council with a draft Ordinance that would regulate food sharing events on public property for discussion. The draft Ordinance regulated what locations could be used for food distribution, permitting by the City,  November 17, 2021 Page 3 enforcement mechanisms and certification requirements. Council discussed the need to address sanitation issues with food distribution, the possibility of requiring prepacked meals rather than utilizing a buffet style, having fees for permits set by Resolution rather than by this Ordinance, the approach the City wanted to take regarding the homeless situation, the upcoming formation of an MPD homeless taskforce, intended uses of City property being inconsistent with feeding the homeless at those locations, and holding a meeting on December 6, 2021, to discuss these issues with community representatives. Due to a previously scheduled conflicting meeting, Mayor McFarland had to leave near the end of these discussions. The following letter from the City Engineer was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to Speed Cushion Pilot Program Report.) Ms. Michelle Emerson, City Engineer, presented Council with results from the Speed Cushion Pilot Program that was installed at Alexander Boulevard. Ms. Emerson engaged in discussion regarding the success of the program in the residential neighborhood, the appropriate places to consider installing more speed cushions, and the proposal to come back with applicants for other locations to include in budget discussions. Council expressed their desire for Speed Cushions to only be recommended by the Engineering Department and to not be brought up at Planning Commission discussions. The following letter from the City Manager was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to Employee Handbook Restatement.) Mr. Craig Tindall, City Manager, presented Council with a proposed restatement of the current Employee Handbook, he clarified that the handbook, in its current state, is cumbersome, redundant, and intimidating to new employees. Mr. Tindall stated that the restatement would separate the handbook into policies and directives, without making any substantive changes. He proposed that the restated handbook be presented to Council for approval incrementally over the next few Council Workshops. The following letter from the Budget Director was presented to the Council: (Insert letter dated November 17, 2021 here with regards to September 2021 Dashboard packet.) The September 2021 Dashboard update, which included Financial, Building & Codes, Risk Management, Construction Data, City Schools Cash Flow Statements, and Revenue & Expenditure Budget Comparison Reports, was presented to Council with no discussion taking place.  November 17, 2021 Page 4 There being no further business, Vice-Mayor Scales Harris adjourned this meeting at 12:02 p.m. SHANE MCFARLAND – MAYOR ATTEST: JENNIFER BROWN - CITY RECORDER