Lakeland’s city board on Dec. 10 took the first step toward changing the date of city elections to match the November general election’s date. The goal is to increase voter turnout and reduce costs.
A separate city election costs Lakeland residents about $22,000 each time, but the date change will eliminate that cost, said Jessica Millspaugh, Lakeland’s finance director. First reading of the ordinance passed.
Previously, the city’s election date was the third Thursday in September of odd-numbered years. Once finalized, the ordinance will change that date to coincide with the November general election cycle, which is the Tuesday after the first Monday in even-numbered years.
The change will also require one-time term extensions for some city and school board members:
- Those elected in September 2013, whose terms were to expire September 2017, will have their terms extended through the November 2018 election. This applies to city commissioners Sherri Gallick and Clark W. Plunk. It also applies to school board chair Kevin Floyd and school board members Laura Harrison and Kelley Hale.
- Those elected in September 2015, whose terms were to expire September 2019, will have their terms extended through the November 2020 election. This applies to city commissioner Michele Dial, commissioner/vice-mayor Josh Roman, reappointed school board member Teresa Henry and new school board member Geoff Hicks.
School board members are affected because state law requires them to have the same election dates and methods as their city boards.
Election changes were not the only big items on the board’s agenda last week. Commissioners also gave seed money to a new youth football program, approved a rezoning project and road improvement, approved various board appointments, and discussed city signage.
Youth football
The board pledged $20,000 in seed money this fiscal year for the Parks and Recreation Department to start a youth football league beginning next fiscal year. A staff report noted that the initial cost is high to provide equipment for tackle football, but an analysis shows that in years to come the cost will be just for referees and other help.
Excluding the cost of referees and help, the total cost to start a tackle football program is estimated at $36,818 for mandatory players’ equipment and mandatory practice/coaches’ equipment. City leaders expect this to be covered by the seed funding, participant fees, sponsorships and fundraisers.
Personnel costs per season include $3,500 for tackle football referees and help, $900 for flag football referees and help, and $1,920 for cheerleaders.
Projections for enrollment numbers and player fee costs are for 60 youths playing tackle football at $250 each, 30 playing flag football at $70 each, 32 cheerleaders at $100 each, and about 50 attendees at football camp at $50 each.
See a detailed breakdown of projected costs and revenues online at lakelandtn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4780.
Rezoning
The board also approved rezoning the 126.4-acre property owned by Evolve Bank & Trust. The land is west of Chamber Chapel Road, south of the recently approved Oakwood Grove Subdivision and east of both The Grove Subdivision and Oakwood Subdivision.
The parcel was classified as Agricultural (AG) and Low-Density Residential (R-1). With the rezoning, it’s now classified as R-1, Medium-Density Residential (R-2), General Open Space (OS-3) and Conservation Area C (OS-5). See the map at lakelandtn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4753.
City staff supported the rezoning for several reasons: The rezoning matches the current Comprehensive Plan to develop the area as a suburban neighborhood, is a logical extension of current zoning districts, is compatible with surrounding land uses and does not appear to have a detrimental effect on the surrounding properties.
Street work
A construction contract with B&C Construction got the board’s approval for curb and gutter improvements to Ramble Wood Drive. The company had the low bid of $29,925 in the Nov. 30 bidding. The contract included a $1,500 construction contingency amount to cover unforeseen additional costs. Funding comes from the city’s street aid fund for roadway improvements.
The Ramble Wood Drive project also will remove a temporary cul-de-sac built during the development of The Grove Subdivision.
Gateway signage
Board members found a logo design and signage images they liked during discussions at the Dec. 10 meeting after many months of discussion, research and design. City manager Jim Atkinson said the city received no bids to design the signage, so Lakeland Development Corporation (LDC) board member Alan Johnson took the lead.
He sketched a signage design based on priorities expressed by the Lakeland city board and the LDC and talked to contractors for input on good cost-saving materials and labor. The board liked his design.
Similarly, city planner Tom Skehan placed the city’s logo criteria on a website where freelance graphic artists can submit designs. The city received more than 300 submissions, which the LDC whittled down to a handful. The city board found one design in the final round that appealed to all.
Atkinson said the signage and logo designs are likely to be on the city’s January agenda, and the final designs will be revealed then. The logo, if approved, will not replace the city seal but will be another component in the city’s branding.
Other business
In other business, the board also:
- Approved the 2016 meeting schedule. Dates include meetings for city boards and commissions and the Lakeland School System (LSS) school board. See online at lakelandtn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4768.
- Made routine wording changes to the Land Development Regulations. The edits corrected typographical errors and also adjusted the wording to reflect changes in educational systems and state government structure. See the specific edits online at lakelandtn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4740.
- Observed that the three-year terms were not staggered as required for the Municipal Planning Commission and Design Review Commission (MPC/DRC); all expired in December 2016.
- The board changed term expiration dates as follows: Seats 1 and 2, Don Barber and Phil Pilcher, Dec. 31, 2017; Seats 3 and 4, Sal Feraci and Jerry James, Dec. 31, 2016; Seat 5, Jim Willis, Dec. 31, 2018; Seat 6, city board liaison, co-terminus; and Seat 7, mayor or designee, co-terminus. (Dates were not specified for seats 6 and 7 in meeting documents.)
- Reappointed existing board members Patrick Kitchens and Ryan McDaniel to new terms with the city’s Board of Appeals/Storm Water Board of Appeals.
- Made appointments to the Parks and Recreation Board/Natural Resources Board. They included existing members Mark Donley and Nancy Koch and new applicant André Nolan, all appointed for three-year terms. Scott Robbins was also appointed for one year to fill a board vacancy.
- Appointed Matt Wright to fill an unexpired term on the Lakeland Development Corporation (LDC) until 2020.
- Deferred action on the Kensington Manor Phase 1 development contract until a future meeting.
