GPAC – Germantown Voice

BMA in Brief – August 12, 2019

To help you stay informed we will do our best to provide high level summaries for the bi-monthly Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) meetings. These summaries will be fact based with a focus on key items covered in the meetings and summaries of the votes taken. Where needed we will cover important discussions individually.

The supporting documents provided to the Alderman can be found by clicking here.

The full meeting can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.

The agenda was amended to move item 16. Apartment Moratorium to item 10.(a). Item 10 was moved to item 10.(b). Item 15. was moved to the preliminary agenda and itme k. On the preliminary agenda was moved to item 16. of the agenda.

6. Citizens to be Heard (11:51) – Six residents came forward to address the board. Three spoke against apartments, two spoke against residential sprinkler requirements and one spoke against the Farmington Park rules.

9. Preliminary Agenda (39:17) – Passed (5-0)

10(a). Resolution 19R08 – Apartment Moratorium (41:18) – A summary of the timeline and history of the existing moratorium and the research completed during that time frame. The proposed resolution is based on feedback from the board at the work session. The resolution ask the planning commission to review changes removing stand alone apartments from smart growth areas and establish smart growth guild lines to retain value and minimize impact on city resources. It also places a 6 month moratorium on stand alone apartments. Alderman Sanders proposed extending the moratorium on all apartments, not just stand alone. This motion failed. Alderman Sanders also moved to change the wording to require the vertical integration apartments would requires a mix of uses in the actual building. Alderman Owens wanted the planning commission to consider this as part of their work as well as a percentage of the development. This motion failed. Alderman Sanders also asked for a motion to define “Stand alone” and “single use” terms in the ordinance, that motion passed. Alderman Massey made the motion to substitute the wording of the moratorium with the wording of the original moratorium. That motion failed. Discussion was extensive. The amended resolution was Approved (5-0)

10(b). Ordinance 2019-11 Amendment to Fire Prevention Ordinance – Third and Final Reading (1:22:33) – The ordinance to adopt a new fire code based on the 2015 international fire code. The state of TN currently uses the 2012 international fire code. The proposed code added requirements for sprinklers on dead end streets over 750 feet. There are also additional items to address safety of food trucks. It includes the ability for the BMA to establish a board of appeals for rulings of the Fire Marshal. Alderman Owens proposed changing the cul-de-sac radius from 96 back to 90 feet. That motion passed. Alderman Owens made a motion to change the length of the dead end street to 750 and up to 1,200 if homes are protected by sprinkler systems and/or alternate access. That amendment passed. The amendment to the ordinance was Approved (4-1)

11. Ordinance 2019-12 Amendment to Fire Prevention Ordinance (Residential Sprinklers) – Third and Final Reading (1:49:00) – A representative of the Home Builders Association spoke against adoption of the code. The second individual spoke in favor of the proposed change. This item supports the adoption of the 2015 fire code. The code requires sprinklers for new homes over 5,000 square feet vs. the current requirement of 7,500 square feet. It would require sprinkler systems in zero lot line homes with distances of less than 20 feet between homes. The chief addressed directly addressed questions and some claims made during the last meeting. He listed peer city standards for sprinkler requirements around Shelby county and the state of Tennessee. Alderman Owens moved to amend the coded to change square footage for sprinkler requirements from 5,000 to 5,500 square feet to match Collierville’s code. That amendment was approved. Approved (4-1)

12. Ordinance 2019-13 Amendment to Subdivision Ordinance (Streets) – Second Reading Vote (2:05:19) – The vote on this item was postponed in the last meeting. This amendment brings the design standards up to those required in the fire code. This changed the length of dead ends from 1,200 foot to 750 feet and allowing for a depth of cover of 150 feet vs. 400 and the paved cul-de-sac radius should be 96 feet vs. current standard of 90 feet. This does not remove the ability for exemptions to be requested. There was no discussion. Approved (5-0)

13. Change Order No. 1 & 2 – Emergency Sewer Repair (2:05:57) – Public Works Director Bo Mills presented the anticipated changes discussed in the 7/22 meeting. Alderman Sanders asked questions about the timeline of the approvals. The change order was Approved (5-0)

14. Emergency Purchase – Kimbrough Pumping Station Debris Removal (2:12:02) – This work is for the debris that entered the system, estimated at over 30 truck loads of dirt and debris. The work was started by a vendor but cut off due to the City of Memphis stepping in to perform the work. The work is estimated at $193K but will come in lower depending on the efforts by the City of Memphis. Approved (5-0)

16. Purchase – Repair to Well No. 9 at the Johnson Rd. Water Treatment Plant (2:15:10) – Requesting authorization for repairs and reinstallation of Johnson Rd. Well No. 9. for $71,869. This contract piggybacks off an agreement with Dyersburg TN. This well generates 1,800 gal/min and is on of the generator backed up wells that provide water in the event of a power outage. Approved (5-0)

17. Beer Board (2:23:39) – Stoney River was cited for serving to a minor. This was a first time offense for Stoney River. They admitted Guilt and were fined $750. Swankey’s taco shop was cited for serving to a minor. This was a first time offense and they admitted guilt and were fined $750.

BMA in Brief May 13, 2019

The supporting documents provided to the Alderman for this meeting can be found by clicking here.

A video of the full meeting can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here.

Budget Work Session 5/8/19: In preparation for the proposal of the FY20 Budget a public work session was held on 5/8/19. The budget was reviewed in about an hour and twenty minutes. All of the department heads were present to answer questions however, there were only a few. Those questions included the impact of the $2.5M grant to GPAC and questions about expense in the special revenue drug fund. The City Administrator identified budget amendments that will need to be made based on the GPAC grant and FAC recommendation for school security funding.

6. Citizens to Be Heard – (7:51) Two spoke in favor of GCC Purchase. Fourteen residents spoke against the cell phone tower citing health, environmental and property value impacts, one person spoke in favor of the cell phone tower.

Note: Alderman Massey was not present for the Executive Session or BMA meeting. No notice was given as to the reason for the absence.

9. Preliminary Agenda – (1:20:21) Reviewed in executive session and questions were asked and answered. No adjustments were made or proposed and the Preliminary Agenda was approved (4-0)

10. Contract – Germantown Athletic Club Renovations Phase IV – (1:22:10) Phase IV is the addition of a Mezzanine and sitting area for a cafe. It will include a rework of the entry and check in desk. There will be additional activity space in the lower level. The funds for these improvements come from the dues generated by members and not from tax revenues. This phase totals $1,412,493. Passed (4-0)

11. Supplement No. 6 – Germantown Athletic Club Renovations Phase IV CEI – (1:29:29) This item is for the approval of the contract administration and construction inspections. This fee is $29,500 for Phase IV and brings the total for all the phases of this project to $415,000. Passed (4-0)

12. Ordinance No. 2019-1 – Ordinance to Adopt the FY20 Budget – First Reading – (1:32:14) The proposed budget is for $58.9M for the General fund and $22.5M of Capital improvements. The proposed budget does not include any impacts for the potential purchase of the Germantown Country Club. The purchase impact is unknown and would be added as an amendment when additional details would be finalized. A fifteen page summary of the budget is presented as the Ordinance which can be found by clicking here. Monday, June 10, 2019 will be set as the public hearing for the budget. Amendments to the budget were made based on the feedback for the FAC related to school security. The funds will be targeted via grants and if not successful the FAC recommends provided funds in the FY21 budget to pay in July 2020 to meet security upgrades. Additional amendments were made to funding related to GPAC to account for the $2.5M grant from the state of Tennessee. Passed (4-0)

13. Ordinance No. 2019-2 – Year-End Budget Adjustments – First Reading – (2:18:25) An extensive list of adjustments was presented to account for changes during the year. The detailed list can be reviewed by clicking here. When reviewing this list note that the changes is the total in the “Proposed Adjustment” column of the document. Second reading and public hearing will be held on June 10, 2019. Passed (4-0)

14. Ordinance No. 2019-3 – Real and Personal Property Taxes – First Reading – (2:33:08) This Ordinance sets the 2020 tax rate at $1.95, no change from the FY19 rate. A second reading and public hearing will be held on June 10, 2019. Passed (4-0)

15. Ordinance No. 2019-4 – Germantown Municipal School District Year-End Budget Adjustments – First Reading – (2:35:12) Similar to the BMA, GMSD must amend their budget for actual spending that hits throughout the year. A 31 page summary of the changes can be found by clicking here. A second reading and public hearing will be held on June 10, 2019. Passed (4-0)

16. Ordinance No. 2019-10 – Rezoning of a 15.229 Acre Portion of the Fulmer Property (South Side of Wolf River Blvd.) from “R” to “O” Office Zoning – First Reading – (2:38:30) This item is the rezoning of 15 acres of the 190 of the land known as Fulmer Farms. The section of land in question borders Wolf River Parkway with the Vineyard subdivision on the western border. The purpose of the proposed property is for medical office space which is consistent with the use of other land along this section of Wolf River. Concept site plans can be reviewed by clicking here. A second reading and public hearing will be held on June 10, 2019. Passed (4-0)

BMA in Brief — December 10, 2018

No items on the consent agenda were moved to the regular agenda during the Executive Meeting prior to the BMA. For those unfamiliar with the consent agenda, it is a mechanism for approving routine business that doesn’t necessarily need to be addressed individually by the entire board.

Below our summary is a link to a video of the entire BMA meeting for your review. We have provided approximate start times for each item.

Citizens to be Heard (begins at approximately 8:15)

Four citizens thanked Alderman Barzizza for his years of service.
One citizen expressed concerns about the GPAC Grove costs.

9. Consent Agenda as listed on the agenda was approved. (begins at approximately 16:33)

Contract – GPAC (Germantown Performing Arts Center) Grove Outdoor Venue (begins approximately 17:55)

GPAC Executive Director Paul Chandler gave an extensive presentation explaining the design and purpose of the Grove Outdoor venue. The Grove will be a park-like setting with a casual atmosphere. Mr. Chandler described it as a community gathering place for family and friends and an outdoor reflection of the indoor space.

Additionally, there will be a 32-foot-wide high definition video wall at the back of the stage and will allow a simulcast of events inside the venue and events from across the world. GPAC will be the third venue in the United States with such an arrangement. GPAC has raised $2.5M amount toward the $5M project.

Two GPAC Board members spoke in favor of the project. (Begins approximately 29:50)

Discussion began at approximately 36:58 and the contract was approved by a 4-1 vote.