A survey of selected cities to determine how personnel policies are adopted.

MTAS was asked about the potential tort liabilty of a city for dangerous conditions on city streets.

MTAS was asked whether the city can adopt a policy of having one person or office open all mail that comes to the city or city offices before it is routed to the addressee.

MTAS was asked to assist the City of Gallaway with the contract documents and specifications for solid waste collection and disposal service.

The City of Fairview requested technical assistance from MTAS for the preparation of a Request for Qualifications to seek statements of qualification from qualified professionals for the preparation of a new zoning ordinance. The current zoning ordinance is complex and difficult to administer and in need of streamlining to improve user-friendliness both for city staff and the general public. Extensive research was performed to identify similar solicitations from cities in Tennessee and around the U.S. The draft RFQ was organized to include the following sections:

• Project Background – Narrative containing background information about the municipality including growth trends and the importance of development standards
• Project Objective – Narrative describing the purpose and intent of the solicitation for a consultant to prepare a new updated zoning ordinance
• Anticipated Scope of Services – Narrative describing the desired services to be provided by the consultant including review and analysis of existing documents, public engagement, preparation of zoning ordinance, and training assistance following adoption
• Project Budget – Narrative outlining the project budget
• Methodology – Narrative describing the consultant selection process
• Submission Requirements – Narrative describing the submittal requirements for the statement of qualifications
• Evaluation Criteria and Selection – Narrative describing the consultant selection scoring criteria
• Instructions for Submitting Response – Narrative providing specific instructions for submittal of statement of qualifications including deadline date/time.
• Questions – Narrative providing instructions to consultants on where to direct questions regarding the RFQ including instruction for consultant not to discuss the RFQ with municipal staff or elected/appointed officials

The City of Shelbyville Planning Department requested technical assistance from MTAS to analyze the current development fees for plan review, permitting, and inspection services and to recommend adjustments in the fee schedule to address disparities between permit fee revenues and expenditures incurred by the city for development services. A financial analysis was performed that identified a disparity of permit revenues to development services expenditures of approximately $71,754. To address the disparity, a comparative analysis using Excel was conducted to analyze the current fee schedule to identify adjustments that would result in additional revenues to reduce the gap with development service expenditures. Exhibits were prepared for use by City staff to illustrate the financial disparity and a comparison between the existing fee schedule and proposed fee schedule as well as an exhibit as an attachment to a Resolution for consideration and adoption by the governing body. The resolution adopted by the governing body is included with the documentation.

Fourteen cities were asked several questions about their safety policies, safety committee, safety director, and safety incentives.

This RFP evaluation scoresheet is a template that can be modified for projects other than selecting consulting services.

A  resolution to request a charter amendment from the General Assembly for the town of Petersburg.

MTAS was asked whether the city can use the drug fund to pay the salary of an officer assigned to the judicial task force, and can it use the drug fund to pay the overtime pay of the police officer who cares for the "drug dog."