City Council - Special Meeting

The May 7th, 2026 special session of the Clarksville City Council is now called to order. Pastor Tony Jenkins of In Christ Ministries will serve as our chaplain of the day. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councilman Peters. Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to please stand if you wish and Pastor Jenkins. To the mayor, city council, let's bow before the throne. Heavenly Father, we come before you, Lord, with gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community. We ask for your wisdom to guide every decision, your clarity in every decision, and your peace to govern this room. Help us to lead with integrity, humility, and a genuine desire for the good of all people. Grant us unity where there may be differences, insight where there may be challenges and courage to do what is right. May our work today reflect justice, compassion, and stewardship over all that has been entrusted to us. We dedicate this time to you and ask that your presence be with us in all we do. In your name, amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Members, please register your attendance. Madam Clerk, please take the roll. All members are present with the exceptions of Councilman Smith and Councilman Haywood. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The first and only item on our agenda of the special session agenda is Ordinance 64. It is listed as a consent agenda item

but we will take that up as a single item. So, Madam Clerk, will you please read the consent agenda item? Ordinance 64 2025-26 second reading. An ordinance amending part two code of ordinances title seven fire protection, fireworks and explosives chapter two fire code to create a new section relative to fire sprinklers and amending the official code of the city of Clarksville title four building utility and housing codes chapter eight residential code subsection 4-801 international residential code for the purpose of requiring fire sprinklers to be installed in certain residential dwellings. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I will entertain a motion and a second on ordinance 64. Motion's been made and properly seconded in on ordinance 64. Any comment or question regarding this ordinance? Councilman Marquis, you're recognized on ordinance 64. Thank you and I'll make this quick here. Um I just wanted to say that um I believe that policy decisions need to take a full picture into the account not just focus on one issue in isolation. Safety is important but so is housing affordability, economic growth and the ability for the city to continue developing in a sustainable way. These goals do not have to compete with each other. We can absolutely improve safety while also keeping housing attainable and supporting responsible development. The best outcomes come from finding that balance not tunnel vision on a single factor. We can do both. It has been done and continues to be done across Tennessee and the country today. We don't have to pick one over the other. There's a middle ground. Thank you. Thank you. Any more comment or question regarding this ordinance? As a reminder, uh members, Tennessee Code Annotated 68-120-101

requires an affirmative 2/3 vote on final reading to adopt mandatory sprinklers, uh and it also requires that we have special sessions to consider those, and that's why we had two special sessions. So, uh are you ready to vote? All members, please cast your vote. Every member voted. Any member wish to change their vote? Madam Clerk, please take the vote. Nine yes, two no, zero abstain.

Ordinance 64 passes. Second reading. Thank you very much. Next item on our agenda is public comment. Our city code allows three people five minutes each to address the council. Seeing none, the purpose for which this special session of the Clarksville City Council having been accomplished, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion been made and properly seconded without objection, this special session is adjourned. See you.

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