2021 07 20 Minutes

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6696

July 20, 2021
Page 2 of 5

a.) Approve purchase of a replacement breathing air compressor for the Athens Fire
Department.

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

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

HOTEL/MOTEL TAX

ORDINANCE NO. 1104 — SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING
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 opened
the public hearing. Kevin Lane, Executive Director of Coordinated Charities, stated Coordinator Charities
helps a lot of people that are homeless with hotels and motels. There is a small group of people,
approximately 20-22 residents, who permanently reside in motels in Athens. This proposed tax would
increase the cost to those residents by approximately $16/week. To some, this could mean having to
decide whether to buy groceries or medicine. He asked if the Council could include an exemption for
these individuals. Larry Eaton stated there is a homeless problem in the city that has never been
addressed and this ordinance is going to cause issues with several lower income individuals. He
recommended this ordinance be taken back to Study Session to discuss amending the ordinance to heip
those individuals. As there were no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed. City Manager
Sumner brought to everyone’s attention Section 5-605 (2) titled “Collection and Refund” in the proposed
ordinance that states “When a person has maintained occupancy for 30 continuous days, the person shall
receive from the operator a refund or credit for the tax previously collected from or charged to said
person, and the operator shall receive credit, in the form of a deduction on the monthly tax return, for
the amount of the tax if previously remitted to the city.” Mayor Perkinson asked for a motion. Council
Member Curtis moved, Vice Mayor Lockmiller seconded, to approve Ordinance No. 1104 on Second and
Final Reading. Council Member Pelley opposed the ordinance stating most people do not stay for 30 days.
In his opinion, this tax is going to hurt hotels and motels in the lang run. Council Member Witt-McMahan
stated that after hearing the comments from the audience, she did not feel comfortable not knowing
whether vulnerable people will be negatively impacted by this ordinance. Vice Mayor Lockmiller agreed
with Council Member Witt-McMahan’s concerns and asked if this item could be taken back to Study
Session. Council Member Curtis withdrew his motion. Council Member Witt-McMahan moved, Vice

Mayor Lockmiller seconded, to postpone discussion on Ordinance No. 1104 to the August Council
meeting. Roll call vote:

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

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OLD BUSINESS

MCMINN COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT CONTRACT

RESOLUTION NO. 2021-20

A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
MCMINN COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT TO CONTINUE AS A USER OF THEIR
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

The caption of Resolution No. 2021-20 was read by the recording clerk. Council Member Pelley moved,
Vice Mayor Lockmiller seconded, to approve Resolution No. 2021-20. Roll call vote:

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