City Council

City of Murfreesboro •~·- • .- Cityof City Council - Workshop Regular Session •" , '1~ ] &__. I MURF"REESBORO Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 11 :30 am T E N N E S S E E Municipal Airport Business Center 1930 Memorial Boulevard Murfreesboro, Tennessee MINUTES The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, met in regular session at its workshop meeting place at the Municipal Airport Business Center at 11 :34 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Council Members Present Mayor Shane McFarland - Presiding Jami Averwater Madelyn Scates Harris Austin Maxwell Bill Shacklett Kirt Wade Shawn Wright City Representatives Present Craig Tindall, City Manager Roman Hankins, Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Tag, Assistant City Attorney Jennifer Brown, City Recorder/ Finance Director Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager/ Water Resources Director Sam Huddleston, Assistant City Manager Erin Tucker, Budget Director Chad Gehrke, Airport Director Jim Kerr, Transportation Director Greg McKnight, Executive Director of Development Angela Jackson, Executive Director of Strategic Services Mark McCluskey, Chief of Fire Rescue Raymond Hillis, Executive Director of Public Works Robert Holtz, Community Development Director Nate Williams, Executive Director of Recreational Services Russell Gossett, Solid Waste Director Daniel Owens, Murfreesboro City Schools Finance Director Joe Ehleben, Engineering Project Coordinator Margaret Ann Green, Business Systems Manager Kristy Burton, Executive Assistant Airport Commission Representatives Present Cannon Lowery, Vice Chair Paul Meyer Shelby Hutton Drew Shetley Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor McFarland called the meeting to order and commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes March 14, 2024, 11 :30 am Page 1 of 6  Public Comment on Actionable Agenda Items Mayor McFarland asked if there were any registered speakers for public comment on actionable agenda items. Jennifer Brown, City Recorder/ Finance Director, indicated no one had registered to speak. Ceremonial Items Airport of the Year Award and Contributions to General Aviation. Cannon Lowery, Vice Chair of the Airport Commission, announced that the Tennessee Aviation Association awarded the Murfreesboro Airport as the Airport of the Year at its conference last week. Mr. Lowery thanked Council, City staff, and Chad Gehrke, Airport Director, for their hard work and support and presented the award to Mayor McFarland. Randy Hutchins, Member of the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Airport Association, stated Chad Gehrke, Airport Director, received the safety award from the FAA Southern Region for his efforts in maintaining safe air space and operations. Mr. Hutchins summarized some of Mr. Gehrke's accomplishments during his tenure as Murfreesboro Airport Director. Action Items 1. Community Investment Program (CIP) Funds Reallocation (Administration). Erin Tucker, Budget Director, presented a Council Communication requesting approval to reallocate Capital Improvement and County Shared Bond proceeds for a transfer of $50,000 from the Butler Drive project to Bradyville Pike for remaining design and final right-of-way purchases and the use of approximately $5 million in County Shared Bond proceeds for a future City Schools transportation and maintenance facility. A reallocation of $135,416 is requested for the Reeves Rogers School renovations and a reduction of $29,211 is requested to correct an overallocation of proceeds to the transportation and maintenance facility project. Ms. Averwater made a motion to approve CIP funds reallocation. Mr. Maxwell seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Bill Shacklett, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 2. Change Order No. 1 for 511 Eventide Drive Housing Rehabilitation (Community Development). Robert Holtz, Director of Community Development, presented a Council Communication requesting approval of the Change Order No. 1 for 511 Eventide Drive housing City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes March 14, 2024, 11:30 am Page 2 of 6  rehabilitation, not to exceed $7,200, through the Community Development Housing Rehabilitation program. Mr. Wright made a motion to approve Change Order No. 1 for 511 Eventid e Drive housing rehabilitation. Mr. Maxwell seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Bill Shacklett, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None Workshop Items 3. Murfreesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (Transportation). Jim Kerr, Transportation Director, presented a Council Communication and documents regarding information and funding opportunities involved in establishing a Murfreesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The development of Murfreesboro's MPO would allow direct collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TOOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA} in the development of its long-term transportation plan, Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and would establish the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the next four years and beyond. Melanie Murphy, Transportation Planning Specialist for the Tennessee Division of the FHWA, presented information on the designation and formation process for an MPO, what an MPO is, what an MPO does, and the structure and roles within an MPO. Ms. Murphy also summarized funding, and sub-allocated grant programs. Discussion ensued . Stacy Morrison, Planning Manager for TOOT, presented information regarding Tennessee's Planning Organizations, TDOT's role with MPOs and funding breakdown. Ann Marie Anway, Member of TDOT's Administration Team who processes invoices, spoke regarding estimating funding and actual dollars. Discussion ensued regarding funding and expenses and reimbursements of current MPO's in Middle Tennessee. Mr. Kerr requested Council provide input regarding development of an MPO prospectus that would outline the development and organization as well as cost of establishing a Murfreesboro MPO. Council expressed no objections to the proposal and requested Mr. Kerr proceed with developing a prospectus to present to Council at a future date. 4. Solid Waste Fee Review (Solid Waste). Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager/ Water Resources Director, presented a Council Communication and presentation regarding an eight-year City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes March 14, 2024, 11 :30 am Page 3 of 6  strategy to move the Solid Waste Department toward a self-supporting utility service. Year 1 of the rate adjustment plan has been implemented, and the rate increases over the next seven years. The proposed scheduled increase of fees adjusts weekly residential curbside pickup from $9.50 to $11.50 per month. It adjusts bi-weekly commercial curbside pickup outside the City Core Overlay (2,420 carts) from $35.00 to $40.00 per month. The fee for commercial carts inside the City Core Overlay, approximately 780, remains at $30.00 per month for bi-weekly pickup. The other items including charges for bulk item pick-up, loose grass clippings and larger volume brush and limb pickups, solid waste cart replacement, and special event service have no proposed changes. The FY25 budget anticipates that the proposed fee adjustment will provide an additional $1.4 million in revenue to cover around 70% of the estimated $11 million in solid waste expenses. Revenue not received through solid waste fees will come from the General Fund . Mr. Gore stated this was for information only and no action was needed at this time. A resolution to increase the rates will be presented at a future meeting. Discussion ensued. The increase is driven by the goal to make solid waste pickup services self-reliant, ultimately resulting in full cost recovery. The desire to move toward a utility model will allow t he cost to be more fairly distributed among customers, instead of relying on property taxes. 5. Water and Sewer Rate Design Review (Water Resources). Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager/ Water Resources Director, presented FY25 Water and Sewer Rate Design Report. The Murfreesboro Water Resources Department was provided with a cost-of-service study (COSS) from Jackson Thornton Utilities Consultants for FY2023. Jackson Thornton has also provided staff with a proforma for FY28. The FY28 proforma anticipates $120 million in debt service to cover a plant expansion as well as several other capital projects identified on the 2023 sewer allocation report. The proposed water and sewer rates for FY25 include an approximate 3% increase in the minimum monthly fees for all meter sizes. There is no proposed commodity rate for sanitary sewer; keeping it at the current rate of $5.50 per thousand gallons. A minor commodity rate for water f rom $3.66 per thousand gallons to $3.70 per thousand gallons is being proposed . Staff did not recommend any changes to the system development charges (a.k.a., connection fees) to r residential or non-residential uses. This rate design fits within affordability standards. Mr. Gore st ated this was for information only and no action was needed at this time. A resolution regarding water and sewer rates will be presented at a future meeting. 6. Sewer Allocation Variance Exemption Analysis (Water Resources). Darren Gore, Assistant City Manager/Water Resources Director, presented a summary of the historical sewer City Council Workshop Meet ing Minutes March 14, 2024, 11 :30 am Page 4 of 6 allocation variance requests and reviewed staff's analysis for consideration of a potential sewer allocation ordinance revision. Mr. Gore stated this was for information only and no action was needed at this time. An ordinance regarding sewer allocation variances will be presented at a future meeti ng. 7. Draft Revisions to the Stormwater Chapter of City Code (Water Resources). Da rren Gore, Assistant City Manager/ Water Resources Director, presented an overview of proposed revisions to the stormwater chapter of the City Code and provided a schedule for implementation. To comply with a new State rule and stormwater permit, the City must update t he stormwater chapter of the City Code. Revisions include staff recommendations and lessons learned. Mr. Gore reviewed the eleven proposed changes within the categories of post-construction stormwater control measures (SC Ms), streamside buffer-water quality protection area (WQPA), and other. Mr. Gore stated this was for information and Council input only and no action was needed at this time. Mr. Gore outlined the timeline for review, approval and implementation of t he revisions, with a proposed effective date in August 2024. The draft and revisions will be posted on the City's webpage. 8. CIP Transfers (Finance). Jennifer Brown, City Recorder/ Finance Director, presented a Council Communication and documents regarding notification of CIP transfers. Transfers include transfer of CIP Funds between the Bond Fund and General Fund. The transfer of CIP Funds will have no effect on the CIP Fund balance. No action was needed. 9. January 2024 Dashboard (Administration). Erin Tucker, Budget Direct or, presented a Council Communication and documents regarding January 2024 Dashboard. No action was needed. Board and Commission Appointments No board and commission appointments were presented. Licensing No beer permits were presented. Payment of Statements No payment of statements was presented. Other Business Council Meetings. Craig Tindall, City Manager, stated the next Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024. City Council Workshop Meeti ng Minutes March 14, 2024, 11 :30 am Page 5 of 6  Adjourn There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 12:56 p.m. SHANE MCFARLAND MAYOR ATTEST: ~ J~LA TUCK~ --- CITYRECORDER/ CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER APPROVED BY COUNCIL: m, 0o:a1JS City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes March 14, 2024, 11 :30 am Page 6 of 6