City Council

City of Murfreesboro City Council- Regular Session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 6:00 pm T E N N E S S E E City Council Chambers 111 West Vine Street Murfreesboro. Tennessee MINUTES The City Council of the City of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, met in regular session at its regular meeting place in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 6:01 pm on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Council Members Present Mayor Shane McFarland - Presiding Jami Averwater Madelyn Scales Harris Austin Maxwell Kirt Wade Shawn Wright Bill Shacklett was absent and excused from this meeting. City Representatives Present Darren Gore, City Manager Adam Tucker, City Attorney Erin Tucker, Budget Director I Acting City Recorder Sam Huddleston, Assistant City Manager Karen Lampert, Grant Manager Raymond Hillis, Executive Director of Public Works Ronald Head, Assistant Director of Information Technology Jim Kerr, Transportation Director Chad Gehrke, Airport Director Mark McCluskey, Fire Chief Brian Lowe, Fire Marshal Melanie Joy Peterson, City Clerk Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance Mr. Wright commenced the meeting with a prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment on Actionable Agenda Items Mayor McFarland inquired of Budget Director Ms. Tucker about the presence of any registered speakers for public comment on actionable agenda items. Ms. Tucker stated there were no individuals registered to speak on any actionable agenda items. Consent Agenda The Consent Agenda was presented for approval with Council Communications for the following items: 1. Subrecipient Agreement with Volunteer Behavioral Health (Administration) 2. Asphalt and Concrete Purchase Report (Street) City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 1 of 7  3. Time Keeping Software Renewal (Information Technology) 4. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Sidewalk Project Phase 2 Design Contract Addendum No. 1 (Transportation) 5. Amendment 3 to Contract with the Regional Transportation Authority (Transportation) Ms. Averwater made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Maxwell seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None Old Business 6. Ordinance 24-0-23 (2nd and Final Reading). Airport Director Chad Gehrke presented a Council Communication regarding Ordinance 24-0-23 to amend Murfreesboro City Code Chapter 3, Sections 3-51 and 3-53. The ordinance titled "ORDINANCE 24-0-23 amending Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 3, Airport, Section 3-51, Composition; Term of Office; Compensation; Removal from Office and Section 3-53, Purposes, regarding the Airport Commission" passed its first reading on July 18, 2024 and was presented to City Council for second and final reading. Mr. Wright made a motion to approve Ordinance 24-0-23. Mr. Wade seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the ordinance was passed on second and final reading by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None New Business 7. Ordinance 24-0-10 (1" Reading). Fire Marshal Brian Lowe presented a Council Communication regarding Ordinance 24-0-10 to amend Murfreesboro City Code Chapter 12 to provide guidance and recommendations for safe burning practices, promote compliance and safety at construction sites and revise the title of the Community Risk Reduction Division to the Fire Marshal's Office to be consistent with industry standards. The ordinance titled, "ORDINANCE 24-0-1 O amending the Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 12, Fire Prevention and Fire Rescue Services, Articles II and V, Sections 12-19, 12-51, 12-52, 12-53, and 12-54, regarding open burning" was offered for passage on first reading. Mr. Wade made a motion to approve Ordinance 24-0-10. Ms. Averwater seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote: City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 2 of 7  Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 8. Ordinance 24-0-27 (1't Reading). City Manager Darren Gore presented a Council Communication regarding FY25 Budget Amendment requesting to amend the FY25 budget including accounting for actual revenue data, allowance for City-wide vacancies reflecting typical payroll cost savings, costs of revising the Public Safety Pay Plan to better attract and retain public safety employees, and adjustments to public safety equipment and fixed assets, state street aid and airport fund. This amendment will result in a total increased use of Unassigned Fund Balance of $1.53 million, an increased use of restricted State Street Aid funds of $150,000, and an increased use of Airport Fund's fund balance of $400,000. Fire Chief Mark McCluskey was asked by Mr. Gore to share information regarding changes to salary budgets. Chief McCluskey spoke to Council regarding employee retention and shared a PowerPoint slide regarding Fire Department "Opportunity Costs" lost. Human Resources Director Randolph Wilkerson was acknowledged, spoke and shared a PowerPoint slide regarding additional ideas to aid in employee retention including upfront vacation and sick days, increased vacation accrual rate, comparison analysis between defined benefit plan and defined contribution plan, educational incentive pay bonus for degrees or tuition reimbursement), and specialized training related to job skills that the City cannot offer. Mr. Gore shared additional information regarding Firefighter Pay Plan Adjustments. Budget Director Erin Tucker was acknowledged and spoke regarding the fiscal change. Ms. Averwater said she was excited about the changes and thanked staff for their work. Mayor McFarland opened the floor for additional Council discussion. Extended Council discussion ensued. Mr. Maxwell stated the revision was a start and step in the right direction but indicated the City is still 7-10% below Metro and inquired whether the City wants to keep that, or do we want to shrink the gap? He asked how we can get to 3-5%. Mr. Maxwell fully supports the amendment but wants to see us do more. Mayor McFarland agreed that the budget amendment is good start and that Ms. Tucker and Mr. Gore have been creative in adjusting the budget. He stated Council is providing a 15% - 17 .5% increase. He stated that at some point expenditures will increase more than our revenues. Other entities are having to increase revenues to increase pay and that leads to tough decisions. We are getting to where we need to be, but we can't forget we have other departments we have to look at as City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 3 of 7 well. He stated that increasing longevity pay may be considered in the future. He stated that other employees will come to Council saying, "What about me?" He stated that these are things we need to be aware of. Ms. Scales-Harris stated she doesn't know how we got behind, but we are and need to catch up. She knows no one wants to increase taxes, but it may be necessary because we can't put band aids on things. To keep from raising taxes, we need to question what we are spending money on and if money is being wasted on things we don't need. She stated that moving forward we need to be cautious, look at everybody and watch our spending. Ms. Tucker explained the additional items on the ordinance that will be revised, as specified in the Council Communication. Mayor McFarland stated that most revenue comes from sales tax and encouraged people to continue shopping in Murfreesboro. Mayor McFarland stated he wants to be clear, there is no tax increase. Ms. Scales-Harris stated she wanted to be clear she is not advocating for a tax increase, she is just looking at reality, but does not want a tax increase until after she leaves. The ordinance titled, "ORDINANCE 24-0-27 amending the Fiscal Year 2025 (hereafter "FY2025") Budget (1st Amendment)" was offered for passage on first reading. Ms. Averwater made a motion to approve Ordinance 24-0-27. Ms. Scales-Harris seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the ordinance was passed on first reading by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 9. Acquisition of Easements for 106 SE Broad Street Town Creek. Assistant City Manager Sam Huddleston presented a Council Communication regarding acquisition of easements by condemnation at 106 SE Broad Street for the Town Creek Daylighting Project. He requested Council approve initiation of condemnation proceedings by tendering the appraised value of $65,500 and authorization to negotiate a settlement to limits allowed under Federal property acquisition requirements. Mr. Wade made a motion to approve the acquisition. Ms. Averwater seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed on first reading by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 4 of 7  10. Town Creek Task Order 14. Assistant City Manager Sam Huddleston presented a Council Communication regarding Task Order 14 providing for 100% construction documents and bidding phase services for the Town Creek Phase 1 and 2 daylighting projects. Ryan Maloney from Griggs and Maloney was acknowledged and stated we are at the 50% design completion stage now including hydraulic conformation of the channel design (flooding is now less of a concern), permitting is ongoing, and continued coordination with other design teams is on track. Mr. Maloney showed map document showing 50-100% design phase and provided project timeline estimates. Mr. Huddleston requested that Council approve Task Order 14 with Griggs and Maloney in the amount of $367,500 to be funded by ARPA funds. Mr. Wright made a motion to approve the task order. Ms. Averwater seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 11. Taxiway A and Apron Pavement Rehabilitation Change Orders. Airport Director Chad Gehrke presented a Council Communication regarding Barge Design Services Change Order 2 and Cleary Construction Change Orders 2 and 3 for the Taxiway A and Apron Pavement Rehabilitation project. He requested that Council approve Barge Design Solutions Change Order 2 and Cleary Construction Change Orders 2 and 3 for a total cost of $94,199.97 to complete the Taxiway A and Apron Pavement Rehabilitation project. 95% of this Change Order will be covered with the Grant Amendment approved on November 30, 2023 and the local portion will be funded by the 2022 CIP. Ms. Scales-Harris made a motion to approve the change orders. Ms. Averwater seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 12. New Airport Lease Agreements. Airport Director Chad Gehrke presented a Council Communication regarding new Airport Lease Agreements for Hangars, aircraft Tie-Downs, and Storage Areas. He requested that Council approve the lease agreements. The new lease agreements will provide for the Airport Commission to review and adjust the rental rates annually; rates are currently at 5%. City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 5 of 7  Mr. Wade made a motion to approve the lease agreements. Ms. Scales-Harris seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None 13. Acceptance of Grant Award. Fire Chief Mark McCluskey presented a Council Communication regarding acceptance of the federally funded Assistance to Firefighters Grant Award (AFG) to allow the Fire Department to develop a health and wellness program to include nutrition education, fitness training, injury prevention, peer support counseling and to purchase exercise equipment for eleven fire stations. He requested that Council approve the grant award that will provide $357,637 in grant revenues. Mr. Maxwell made a motion to approve the grant award. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None Board and Commission Appointments No board and commission appointment recommendations were presented. Licensing Regular Beer Permit. Budget Director Erin Tucker presented a Council Communication regarding Beer Permits. One Regular Beer Permits for a new location for a grocery/market located at 5631 Franklin Road was presented for approval. The applicant met requirements for the permit and was recommended for approval pending final building and codes inspection for the regular beer permit. Ms. Averwater made a motion to approve the permit. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Upon roll call, the motion was passed by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater, Madelyn Scales Harris, Austin Maxwell, Kirt Wade, Shawn Wright, Shane McFarland Nay: None Payment of Statements No payment of statements was presented. Other Business City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 6 of 7  No other business was presented. General Announcements. Mr. Maxwell reminded everyone that there is no meeting next week and encouraged everyone to go vote. He stated he wanted to publicly thank Councilman Wright for his work on the Ethics Policy that will be coming back to Council in August. He stated he thinks it is the right thing to do as it increases transparency and makes us all more accountable. Mayor McFarland confirmed the next meeting is a workshop on August sth and public comment will be on August 22 nd • Adjourn There being no further business, Mayor McFarland adjourned this meeting at 6:41 pm. ~ - -- - - -- - MAYOR ATTEST: ~ ------- CITY RECORDER City Council Meeting Minutes July 25, 2024, 6:00 pm Page 7 of 7