MTAS was asked to prepare a CMR on building codes, property maintenance codes, planning, and zoning.

MTAS was asked whether a privately owned and operated dirt bike track could be constructed in a residentially-zoned area.

MTAS was asked about clarifying the roles of the city and the airport authority.

Included are five summary reports created by MTAS Management Consultant Pete Auger in the course of assisting five cities with strategic planning: Elizabethton, Mount Carmel, Morristown, New Tazewell, and Unicoi. Also included is a presentation used during the Morristown strategic planning workshop.

MTAS was asked to provide an example of a license and permit for adult oriented establishments.

MTAS provided technical assistance to the Town of Cornersville for the preparation of a new updated zoning ordinance. MTAS worked collaboratively with representatives from the Planning Commission and Board of Mayor and Aldermen in preparing the zoning ordinance. Following preparation and adoption of the zoning ordinance, the documentation was converted to a sample template for internal use. A general guide is also provided that explains the organization of the sample template along with the individual articles comprising the zoning ordinance. The sample template can be utilized as a resource to assist in the preparation of amendments to zoning ordinances. Zoning regulations must be customized to reflect the desired land use and regulatory practices of the city as well as aligning the regulations to support the adopted comprehensive plan, land use plan and other adopted plans for the municipality. The sample template includes tables, checklists, and diagrams to organize requirements into a user-friendly format. The sample template will be reviewed and updated periodically.

MTAS was asked whether the mayor has a voice on the planning commission when he has appointed a substitute under TCA 13-4-101 or 6-54-112.

The Town of Petersburg was experiencing challenges due to the population size of the municipal being less than 1,000 residents with finding citizens willing to serve vacated positions on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen also expressed concern about the length of time required to adopt an ordinance with the requirement that ordinances be passed on three consecutive readings by the Board. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen requested assistance from MTAS to review the Town’s charter to provide recommendations to amend the charter to reduce the number of elected officials from seven (7) to five (5) and to reduce the number of required readings on an ordinance from three (3) to two (2) readings. The Town of Petersburg has a private act charter. MTAS consultants’ Chuck Downham, Municipal Management Consultant, and Elisha Hodge, Legal Consultant, worked collaboratively to prepare a resolution for consideration by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to request the Tennessee General Assembly prepare a bill to amend the Town’s charter to reduce the number of elected officials and to reduce the number of required readings for the passage of an ordinance. The resolution identified amendments to Article II, Sections 2 through 5, and Article II, Section 10 to address the request from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The resolution was approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The General Assembly passed an act to amend the Town’s charter to reduce the number of elected officials from seven to five along with other associated amendments and to reduce the number of readings required for an ordinance from three to two that was subsequently approved by a two-thirds vote by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

When the city's zoning ordinance prohibits amendments to the zoning ordinance from coming up for one year after being defeated, does the failure of a motion to amend the zoning ordinance to receive a second constitute a 'denial' of the amendment of the zoning ordinance?

The City's Risk Manager would like to review a variety of employee records, indicating that such a review is needed in order to help manage the City's risk.