Clarksville City Council Regular Session – February 5, 2026

Mayor Joe Pitts called the regular session to order at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, 106 Public Square. Prayer was offered by Pastor Jeremiah Walker, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Stacey Streetman, and Mayor Pitts presented Jimmy Garland with a proclamation recognizing February 2026 as Black History Month in Clarksville, noting the centennial of Black History commemorations. No public comments were offered. The meeting included presentations from seven Ward 2 vacancy applicants, a consent agenda, two finance items, committee reports, and council comments. It adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Attendance

• Present: Brown, Haywood, Holleman, Lovato, Marquis, Peters, Pitts, Shakeenab (arrived at 6:06 PM), Smith (arrived at 6:03 PM), Streetman, Zacharias.
• Absent: Chandler.

Ward 2 Vacancy – Procedure and Applicant Presentations

• City Attorney Bittner reviewed the appointment procedure: only applicants appearing at the regular session could be considered at the February 11 special session; selection would be by roll-call majority vote, with runoff rounds if needed, and the appointee would be sworn in immediately.
• Seven applicants presented and answered council questions:
  • Eric Claunch – retired Army CW3; priorities included youth safety, infrastructure, and fiscal responsibility; cited sidewalk and speeding concerns near schools; suggested possible revenue from liquor tax, cigarette tax, and lottery sales.
  • David Watson-Upchurch – 22-year-old Austin Peay student and Publix employee; Montgomery County Democratic Party executive committee member; priorities included child hunger, sidewalks, traffic, and flood prevention; favored federal and state grants and tax incentives tied to cost of living.
  • Ross St. Louis – retired firefighter/EMT and Marine veteran; Woodlawn Estates Neighborhood Watch leader; priorities included safety, speeding, sidewalks, and the Lafayette Road/Charlemagne Boulevard intersection; favored a full traffic light and expressed openness to low-income apartments if needed.
  • Jeremy Wright – Nashville State Community College financial aid employee and chair of the After Hours Establishment Board; priorities included fiscal stewardship, flood/water/sewer issues, sidewalks, and walking infrastructure; said tax or fee increases should be a last resort and was unsure whether he would run for the seat.
  • Deanna Shepard – healthcare administrator; priorities included accessible representation, infrastructure, and safety; suggested reviewing the budget, optimizing recreation and parking user fees, and pursuing economic development; said she would run for the seat.
  • AC Lopez – retired Marine/Army staff sergeant and community activist; pledged constituent-driven decision-making and educating residents; proposed reviewing budgets for waste, increasing builder fees and small business license fees, and making city property purchases based on intrinsic value.
  • Jeff Loyd – prosthetist/orthotist and adaptive hockey founder; advocated accessibility-first planning, ADA-compliant parks and greenways, better arena accessibility, and flood mitigation including a Kirby Creek greenway and cleanup of Meadow Brook Basin; said he had never voted before and would run for the seat.
• Each candidate was also asked charter qualification questions and whether their social media would reveal bias for or against any group, council member, or city employee.

Consent Agenda

• Councilman Smith moved and Councilman Holleman seconded adoption of the Consent Agenda; it passed 11-0.
• Adopted by the consent vote:
  • Ordinance 46-2025-26 (second reading) – Zoning Case Z-52-2025, Bell Road zone change from AG/R-2 to R-3.
  • Ordinance 49-2025-26 (second reading) – Zoning Case Z-55-2025, Quarry Overlook Way zone change from R-5 to R-2A.
  • Ordinance 50-2025-26 (second reading) – Zoning Case Z-56-2025, 12 Concord Dr zone change from R-1 to R-2A.
  • Resolution 42-2025-26 – repealing the Certificate of Compliance for Corks and Caps Liquor Store, 100 Highland Bluff Wy.
  • Adoption of the January 8, 2026 minutes.
• Resolution 41-2025-26 was pulled by Councilman Marquis and considered separately.

Housing Authority Appointment – Resolution 41-2025-26

• Councilman Marquis moved to postpone Resolution 41-2025-26 to the March regular session, saying the Clarksville Housing Authority board was scheduled to vote on a new executive director on February 11 and that the timing was not appropriate for adding a new board member. Councilman Streetman seconded.
• Several council members opposed postponement, arguing the appointee should be seated, that newly appointed officials routinely vote quickly, and that the delay was unnecessary. Councilman Holleman called it a stall tactic.
• The motion to postpone failed 2-9, with Marquis and Streetman voting aye.
• Resolution 41-2025-26, approving the appointment to the Clarksville Housing Authority, then passed 10-1, with Councilman Marquis casting the sole no vote.

Finance Committee

• Ordinance 52-2025-26 (first reading) – amending Title 4 building permit fees and adopting the International Energy Conservation Code update; Finance and Public Safety committees approved; passed 11-0.
• Resolution 40-2025-26 – authorizing the Office of Finance and Revenue to write off uncollectible accounts; passed 11-0.

Neighborhood & Community Services Committee Report

• Next committee meeting: February 9 at 4:30 PM on the 4th floor of City Hall.
• Final home reconstruction in the home rehabilitation program will be complete next week; keys presentation scheduled for February 25 at 1 PM.
• Home repair program waiting list is clear; residents needing critical repairs, especially after severe weather, may be referred through the city website or office.
• Rental assistance program currently serves 61 households in its 12-month program; applications are open by referral from local nonprofit agencies with active case management.
• Financial Empowerment Center grant application has been submitted, with notice expected by the end of February.
• Canopy Initiative warming shelters remain open when overnight temperatures are forecast below 32 degrees. Shelter hotline: 931-472-3355.

Parks & Recreation Committee Report

• The 2026 Polar Bear Plunge was rescheduled to February 21, 11:00 AM–12:30 PM at New Providence Pool due to icy conditions.
• Surrender of Clarksville living history event: February 21, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM.
• Black History Celebration, A Century of Black History Commemorations: February 28, 4:00–7:00 PM at Kleeman Rec Center.
• Parks and Recreation is hiring for Aquatics Facilities Manager, Aquatics Team Lead, Event Planning Specialist, Grounds and Facilities Maintenance Assistant, lifeguards, and seasonal positions.

Public Safety Committee Report

• Teen Citizens Police Academy will be held June 22–26 and fills up quickly.
• CPD will assist with a food box giveaway on February 28 at 8:00 AM at 800 Tiny Town Road, until supplies last.
• Clarksville Fire and Rescue is in the final hiring phase for the next academy, starting in March with 30 recruits; Engineer John Davidson was congratulated on retirement after 26 years of service.
• Building and Codes statistics: 2,259 total inspections, 128 new code enforcement cases, 7 abatement work orders, and approximately $197,000 in total revenue generated.

Transportation, Streets & Garage Committee Report

• January transportation totals: 27,874 fixed-route riders, including 6,147 seniors who rode free; 3,656 paratransit riders; combined total of 31,530 riders.
• Street Department completed 208 work orders in January.
• Capital projects: Dunbarquay Road and Rossview realignment temporarily complete, with permanent topping and striping in early spring; Spring Creek Parkway bridge steel components expected next week.
• City Garage fuel purchases: unleaded total cost $65,400.54 for 32,351 gallons at $2.11 per gallon, up 9.3% from $1.93 in December; diesel total cost $39,795.01 for 16,859 gallons at $2.43 per gallon, up 10% from $2.21 in December.

Mayor and Council Comments

• Councilman Smith commended CDE and Brian Taylor for restoring power quickly after the storm.
• Mayor Pitts announced:
  • A special session on February 11 at 4:30 PM in Council Chambers to select the Ward 2 appointee.
  • The FY 2025 annual report is available on the city website.
  • An Appalachian Service Project home groundbreaking for tornado survivors will be held February 6 at 8:30 AM at 1321 Cedar Street.
• The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.