Board of Mayor & Aldermen - Regular Meeting

Remove your cap, please. I pledge algiance 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. If you would please remain standing for a moment of reflection.

Let us pray. Eternal God, we just come to say thank you. Thank you just for allowing us to be here tonight. Thank you, Lord, as you give us the ability, Lord, to do the people's business tonight. We thank you for this great city. We thank you for the citizens of this great city. We thank you, Lord, as as I face our youth tonight, Lord. We thank you for them, Lord. We thank you, Lord, for all that you've done for Springfield. We thank you, Lord, just for blessing this state. Then, God, we pray for peace. We pray for understanding. We pray for reasoning, Lord. We pray, Lord, for good citizenship for us. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

We have a special treat this evening. We're so proud of Springfield 6U baseball all-star team. and this team won the Diamond Youth Baseball SingleA Division One State Championship and then went on to finish runner up in the World Series in North Carolina. Their players and their coaches are here. I'm going to read out the players names. And as I read your name, please come forward and stand right there by the podium if that's okay. Lincoln Hatcher, come forward, my friend. Carson Hatcher, May Jackson, Javon Watkins, Derek Katagnani, is that correct? Samuel Stevenson, [Applause] Elijah Ray, Ezekiel Woodard, Jacob Bellasquez, Silus Kettler, Ethan Austinine, Tucker Webster, and the coaching staff, Jonathan Hatcher, manager, coaches Elijah Hatcher, Matthew Kazaki, and Travis Jones.

Good job, brother. Yeah, we like to invite all alderman to come down. [Music]

Mr. Seth Owen, recreation program supervisor. [Music] Few words to say. Tonight we would like to recognize the 2025 Springfield 5 and six Allstars. I'd like to tell you a little bit about their journey to the 56 DYB World Series. This journey started with the district tournament Ashlin City where they defeated Portland in back-to-back games going 2 and 0 to advance to the state tournament held in Greenbryer. There they went undefeated state champions going six and0 beating Chapel Hill, Louden, Chester County twice, and Lebanon twice. Now their trip took them to Dunn, North Carolina to play in the DYB World Series, representing the state of Tennessee as team Tennessee, where they finished runner up with an impressive 5-2 record, beating Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Alabama. Their two losses came from the World Series champions, Texas. Let's give him a big round of applause and congratulations to the Springfield 56 offers. Tonight, we would like to present a state champions and World Series runnerup sign to the team that will be posted as you enter Springfield City Limits on Memorial Boulevard. Show everybody.

Great job. One more time. Thanks. [Music] coming. Everybody [Music] say this is no wonder. No wonder that was funny. So either one.

All right, we're going to move on with our agenda. Item 1.3, approval of minutes from the regular meeting of the board of mayor and alderman held July 15th, 2025. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris, a second by Alderman McGregor. Any questions or comments? Seeing none, we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their votes? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Very good.

We have no comment period this evening. I see no public hearing issues. We have public hearing item ordinance 25-13, an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2026 annual budget for the city of Springfield by amending certain general fund and utility fund operating budgets. I have a motion motion to speak. Okay. Anybody care to speak to this? Seeing none, we will move on to item two, ordinance 25-14, an ordinance reszoning property at 967 North Brown Street from R10, which is medium density residential district to MRO multi-residential and office district. Anyone care to speak to this item? Seeing none, we will close the public hearing period. Moving on to our legislative part of the agenda. Item 2.1 discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-13 on second and final reading and ordinance amending the fiscal year 2026 annual budget for the city of Springfield by amending certain general fund and utility fund operating budgets. Mr. Ryan, I think you have something you'd like to add to this.

We got to have a motion. We got to have a motion. I'm stuck on a public hearing my screen. There you go. It's not. Did it do it? Here we go. We have a motion by Alman Holland. We have a second by Alderman Greg. Would you have something you'd like to speak to? Yeah. Thank you, mayor. So, this needs to be amended on second reading. There are um three additional projects that are going to be included. This is a carryover budget amendment that brings items from the previous budget that weren't completed. And so, there are three additional projects uh that need to be brought over. So, uh, we'd ask that you would amend this. The amended exhibit is included in your packet. Okay. Very good. I believe I'm supposed to ask for the amendment. Yes, sir. Correct.

Motion to amend. Okay. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris. We have a second by Alman Hover. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tell the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Very good. Now we go back to the original item with the amendment. We have a motion by Alderman Hollowman and a second by Alderman Greg. Any questions or comments? Hearing none. Let's ready to vote. Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you please tally the votes? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.2, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-14 on second and final reading. and ordinance reszoning property at 967 North Brown Street from R10 medium density residential district to MRO Malta residential and office district. We have a motion by Alderman McGra, a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero.

Discuss item 2.3. Discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-15 on first reading. An ordinance rescending ordinance 23-08 relative to the adoption of the 2021 building code. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard. We have a second by Alderman Greg. Any questions or comments? Mayor, if you don't mind, I'd just like to add the next series of of agenda items that you have are the replacement of the uh the various codes, the building code, existing building code. This is because we're required to stay on the same year that the state has and the state recently adopted the 2021 code. So, this is just us getting on on the same same level as them.

Good. Thank you, Ryan. Can we not take these all as one? Can we attorney says no? Fine. So, item 2.3, we have the motions and has second. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes.

Mine's broke. There we go. Anyone care to change their votes? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.4, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-16 on first reading and ordinance rescending ordinance 23-12 relative to the adoption of the 2021 energy conservation code. We have a motion by Alderman Bradley and a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their votes? We can put it under here. Let's tally the votes, please.

Motion passes 7 to zero. Item 2.5, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-17 on first reading. An ordinance rescending ordinance 23-16 relevant to the adoption of the 2021 existing building code. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by Alderman Greg. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their votes?

Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.6, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-18 on first reading. an ordinance rescending ordinance 23-14 relative to the adoption of 2021 gas code. We have a motion by Alderman Bradley, a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their votes?

Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes 7 to zero. Item 2.7, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-9 on first reading and ordinance rescending ordinance 23-10 relative to the adoption of the 2021 mechanical code. Have a motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by motion by Alman Hollowman, a second by Alman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to cast our votes? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote?

Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.8, Eight, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-20 on first reading an ordinance rescending ordinance 23-09 relative to the adoption of the 2021 plumbing code. We have a motion by Alderman Greg, a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.9, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-21 on first reading and ordinance rescending ordinance 23-11 relative to the adoption of the 2021 property management code. We have a motion by Alderman Hubard, a second by Alderman Bradley. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, are we ready to vote? Let's cast our vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.10, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-22 on first reading. an ordinance rescending ordinance 23-13 relative to the adoption of the 2021 fire code. Have a motion by Alderman Hover, a second by Alman Greg. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 2.11, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-23 on first reading. An ordinance amending title 16 of the Springfield Municipal Code relative to sidewalk regulations. Have a motion by Alderman Hollowman and a second by Alderman Huard. Any questions or comments, Mr. top. Could you manage it kind of clear us up on this?

Yes, sir. I sure will. So, this was um generated from the discussion that you all had last week. Uh the consensus or I think the vote that was actually taken of the board was to bring back an ordinance that reflected that that was similar to a few cities. This language that we uh uh present uh tonight in your packet is borrowed mostly from the city of Franklin that contain those items uh that the majority of the board voted to see back in the form of an ordinance uh this month.

I would like to comment. I think it's very well written. Um so thank you guys for bringing this back. I note that it's limited to the core commercial district. It comments that due do the unique historic character and charm of the city. it limits to appropriate items and obviously is with, you know, ensuring things are staying within federal code. So, I would love to see the board uh consider this just to give our shopkeepers a little bit more of an ability to um merchandise their wares and elevate the charm of our city. Anyone else care to speak? Harris,

Mr. Martin, what in a nutshell, what is this allowing that's presently not allowed?

So, currently, no sidewalk obstructions are allowed. We have a complete prohibition against any sidewalk obstruction. So, it means you can't put anything out on on the sidewalk that would obstruct it at any at any point. um what this would allow uh and if you look at section 16- 802 the definitions uh it describes those items that I'm or defines those items that I'll u mention and so in in the the items that are allowed are outdoor merchandise displays private decorative fixtures sandwich board signs uh as well as easel type signs freestanding ornament st and statues flags or banners and carts I've looked at it several times in this last month. And I think when we first when this first was come up and brought to us, we were talking about some flower earns outside of the businesses. This this has turned into quite a bit more than what was there. And I'm just afraid that if we we're going to open up a can of something that we can't reverse. If if you have somebody that puts out something controversial that a nextoor business owner doesn't support and they retaliate against that, I think it puts our police department in a in a situation of having to enforce things. If you've got racks of merchandise that theft occurs from that, they're going to be taking reports. um the initial part of the earn I could probably support that but as it's written I will not support it.

Any other questions or comments? Yes.

There's some area with all the planters and things that are there and the way that uh shruby and the flowers and things have grown up. There's very little space between that planter and that building front. I don't see how there may be some shops that might can get something in front of their business, but then other shops or the planner and everything exist. I don't see how that you can make it work and then who's going to patrol it? The police department don't have time to patrol it. We don't have enough codes enforcement for them to be up there doing that issue. So, I'm not in favor of it at all.

I didn't never thought this would be such an anti- downtown merchant porn. Yeah, you can be recognized. You have the floor, Stephanie. I'm just surprised of the ant of the of the board's take on this one. These people, our downtown is desolate enough. I can't believe you not want to encourage these shops to be able to stay open by having some flowers out front or a sandwich board or something that's on sale inside. I think it's very anti small business for this city. I'm surprised to hear from these from this board.

Anything else? Anyone else question, comments? Are we ready to vote? this vote. Anyone care to change their votes?

Veget those please. Motion uh failed. 5 to two. Item 2.12, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-24 on first reading and ordinance amending ordinance 24-10 regarding retail electric rates. We have a motion. Alderman Hubard, we have a second. Alderman Troder Ryan, I think you would Yes, sir. to speak to this.

Thank you, Mayor. This is uh this is the electric rate increase that was part of the FY26 budget. As you know, this is to be effective in October. Uh so we started we start the ordinance in this month. So with first reading this month and second reading next month, it's a small increase of $4 on the uh customer charge and then a fractional kilowatt hour increase on across the rate classes. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their votes?

Would you tally the vote, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.13, discuss and possibly take action on ordinance 25-25 on first reading. an ordinance amending chapter 12 of the Springfield zoning ordinance relative to nonconforming uses. We have a motion have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris and a second by Alderman Bradley. Ryan, I believe you would like to speak to this also.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor. So, this ordinance gets our zoning ordinance, amends our zoning ordinance to get in line with state law. It deals with the reconstruction and discontinuence of non-conforming uses. Under our current zoning ordinance, it would potentially place in peril the ability if if a if a non-conforming building or use of a building was destroyed by fire or natural disaster, whether or not they could rebuild and continue that use. We have that specifically that question specifically came up with regard to an apartment complex that is not now not uh allowed in that zoning classification. So, as it turns out, state law provides for that already, which preempts uh our local regulations. So, this is amending our zoting ordinance to match state law. Thank you, Ryan. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally your votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Item 2.14, discuss and possibly take action on resolution 25-14, a resolution declaring certain property surplus and authorizing the disposal of such property. We have a motion by Al McGreg, a second by Alman Hover. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Now we enter the administrative portion of our agenda. Item 3.1, discuss and possibly take action on the adjustment of the retail electric rates of Springfield Electric Department due to wholesale fuel cost adjustment by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Mr. Rishia lowered by 2.4. Very good. Thank you, sir. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Item 3.2, discuss and possibly take action on the adjustment of the monthly gas rates of the Springfield gas department. We have a motion by Alderman Bradley, a second by Alderman Hubard. Mr. Davis purchase gas decrease.3 resulting in an across the board decrease of4. Thank you sir. Any questions or comments? We ready to vote? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their votes? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Item 3.3, discuss and possibly take action on appointments to various boards and commissions. We have a motion by Alderman Hollowman and a second by Alman Hubard. Any questions or comments? We ready to cast our votes? Let's Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 3.4, discuss and posly take action to approve funding for the city's contribution to the TVA homelift program. We have a motion. Have a motion by Alderman Greg and a second by Alderman Bradley. Any questions or comments? Are we ready to cast our votes? Let's vote. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please?

Motion passes seven to zero. Item 3.5, discuss and possibly take action on a recommendation from the traffic committee concerning on street parking in Eden Point subdivision. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris. I have a second by Alderman Hubard. Any questions or comments? Did they they basically just asked for the traffic committee to look at it? They didn't ask for one side or both sides or um my understanding is that the HOA requested the traffic committee to look into it. I would ask the mayor to recognize Mr. Moore. U he could probably speak to for speak to more details.

Mr. Clayton did to the mic. Thank you. Uh the uh HOA did make ask for a a recommendation on the parking situation there. They did mention that they had uh a lot of parking on the south side near the sidewalks and they had concerns about that. They also asked about speed, speed signs and we looked at it and like most of the others we limited to one side as far I say us as the traffic committee recommendation because they're not currently any speed signs out there.

No sir, but in the last couple of votes that we've done, we've made these places no parking on both sides of the street. I I don't know that the traffic committee has recommended that for that was uh requested by the HOA of those particular situation. most cases we'd limit it to one side. But then also going forward on the new subdivisions that we put in that it's going to be put in, are they not going to be no parking on both sides? Uh in the new subdivisions, our current ordinance with the city charter allows parking on both sides of streets.

Am I correct on that? that what he's putting in out off of Canterbury and all that. Was that not agreed that there going to be no parking on either side of the street? I think that might have been part of the development provisions of the the the baseline for city streets according to municipal code is that there's no pro there's no citywide prohibition on on street parking, but approved with a development. If a developer includes that in the development approval, then it can be it's already like that when it's approved. pass this will satisfy what they want. I believe so. Yes, sir.

Mr. Harris, are you okay, ma'am? Thank you, Clayton. Yes, sir. We have a motion and a second. Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tally the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero.

Item 3.6, discuss and possibly take action on an agreement between Austin P State University's GIS center and the city's water wastewater department. We have a motion by Alman Hubard, a second by Vice Mayor Harris. Any questions or comments? Can we get some explanation?

Sure. So this this is a renewal. It's an agreement you all approved last year and this is just a renewal of that agreement or I think you approved it. I think it's at the March 2025 uh meeting. You all approved an initial agreement with Austin P uh GIS center that we're it's a great mutual benefit partnership. We are getting making great strides as you know we began a few years ago really trying to get up to speed if you will with our GIS program in the city. we are we're significantly behind uh the GIS curve and so we dedicated a full-time position to that and have tried to move we had some some strides made in the various utility departments but nothing uh together this is particularly for our water utility and so partner with Austin P's uh GIS uh department has allowed us to uh allow those those students at Austin P to come out and get field work and and hands-on while also helping us uh with mapping our utility. So, it's helped us tremendously. We're grateful for that partnership and we uh are hopeful that you all will approve the agreement to continue that partnership tonight.

Any other questions or comments? I I will also add, mayor, that it is at a were we to go out to the market and and get a consulting firm to help us with this, it would be substantially more expensive than what we're what we're doing with Austin P. That's what I was in the west. Any other questions? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you tall the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. Moving to our consent agenda, item 4.1.

Mayor move to take as one without objection. Second. And we have a motion. We have a motion by Vice Mayor Harris and a second by Alderman Montro. Any questions or comments on these two items? Are we ready to vote? Let's cast our votes. Anyone care to change their vote? Would you count the votes, please? Motion passes seven to zero. And we move to the city manager.

Thank you. Thank you, mayor. A couple of you have asked and I know it's a bit about public public is is interested. The Garner Street Park playground. First of all, if you haven't been to Garner Street Park, see the improvements. They're phenomenal and uh and they're they worked out really great. We're having the contractor tweak some things on the playground. So, the playground is shut down for the time being. We did open it temporarily and there's some things that we want the contractor to to to tweak just a little bit. So, we did close the playground temporarily, but everything else, all the the other features are open down there. And so, we hope everybody enjoys that, but stay tuned to our social media. We hope to open that playground very soon. Uh, finally, tonight, Mayor, the our sales tax revenue is coming in stronger than projections so far for the fiscal year. We'll keep an eye on that. That's a a good bell weather of our economy and our our the strength of our economy. And so, that's also how we uh put things like the Garner Street Park upgrades and uh and and police officers and firefighters and so forth. So we uh we'll keep an eye on that. But so far in the first two months of the fiscal year uh we're coming in stronger than projections. That's all I have.

Very good. Anything else? I just want us to stay. All right. You stand a journ.