08 17 21 Minutes

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August 17, 2021

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c.) Approve bid as submitted by Total Lawn Care for on-call mowing and property cleanup
for mowing of high-grass violation properties.
d.) Approve purchase of slope mower and attachments.

e.) Approve Resolution No. 2021-29 authorizing City Manager to apply for a 2021-22 PEP
Property Conservation Grant (50/50 match).

f.) Approve Resolution No. 2021-30 authorizing participation in the BlueCross Healthy Places
Grant.

g.) Approve Resolution No. 2021-31 authorizing Allen & Hoshall to proceed with the design
phase for Animal Shelter.

h.) Approve City of Athens Budget Amendment No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

i.) Approve Initial Resolution No. 2021-32 authorizing issuance of not to exceed Seven
Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,700,000) of General Obligation Bonds of the
City of Athens, Tennessee.

j.) Approve Resolution No. 2021-33 authorizing issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the
City of Athens, Tennessee in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed Seven
Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,700,000).

Mayor Perkinson asked for a motion. Council Member Witt-McMahan moved, Council Member Curtis
seconded, that the Consent Agenda as stated above be approved. Roll call vote:

AYES: Curtis, Pelley, Witt-McMahan, Lockmiller, Perkinson
NAYS: None
-Q-
ORDINANCES

HOTEL/MOTEL TAX

ORDINANCE NO. 1104 — SECOND READING
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5 OF THE ATHENS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 6,
HOTEL/MOTEL TAX.

The caption of the above-described Ordinance was read by the recording clerk. Mayor Perkinson asked
for a motion. Vice Mayor Lockmiller moved, Council Member Witt-McMahan seconded, to approve
Ordinance No. 1104 on Second and Final Reading. Council Member Pelley stated that research shows
that if they implement this tax, it will be a deterrent to people wanting to stay in Athens and will hurt the
hotels and motels in the city. In his opinion, the Council did not need to implement this tax. Council
Member Witt-McMahan inquired as to whether Council Member Pelley had brought a copy of the
research that he had referenced for the Council to review. Council Member Pelley stated he had not.
Council Member Curtis referenced a Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
(TACIR) report published in 2015 or 2016 that evaluated these concerns. One of the quotes suggested
that small tax increases had little effect on hotels performance. Before the legislature enacted the law
allowing cities to implement this lodging tax, they did their due diligence to address these concerns and
make sure they were not valid. He rebuked Council Member Pelley’s comments and expressed his support
for the ordinance. Vice Mayor Lockmiller and Mayor Perkinson addressed the concerns raised at last
month’s meeting concerning the homeless. The individual that raised those concerns submitted a letter
to the Council stating he can now support the ordinance. He noted that while he may not like some of
the immediate impacts, he can see the vision of the council looking into the future. Roll call vote:

AYES: Curtis, Witt-McMahan, Lockmiller, Perkinson
NAYS: Pelley

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OLD BUSINESS

None

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NEW BUSINESS

None