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Record of Proceedings

Columbia City Council Meeting - May 14, 2026

City Council — Thursday, May 14, 2026
BodyColumbia, Tennessee
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, May 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:55

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Good evening, everyone.

0:01

Welcome to the Columbia City Council, City Hall, City Council Chambers.

0:06

We're so glad you're here this evening.

0:08

I love having a room full like this, particularly when it uh is bringing down the average age in the room.

0:15

That's even particularly meaningful.

0:17

So to our young people and everyone else here this evening, thank you for being here.

0:20

And uh it's okay.

0:22

That's a good problem to have when we're setting off the security alarm.

0:24

But I think we look safe back here right now.

0:26

Uh, we do have a couple of public hearings that we'll first go to before we get into tonight's meeting.

0:30

Beginning with public hearing number one.

0:32

Public hearing on ordinance number 4589, an ordinance to adopt and ratify the historic design guidelines concerning properties within the Athenaeum, Barrow Court, Downtown Commercial, West 6th Street and Mays Place, and West 7th Street, West End Historic District, Overlay District.

0:49

This is coming from the Development Services Department.

0:51

Anyone here this evening wish to be heard on public hearing number one?

0:56

Seeing none, any member of council wish to be heard on public hearing number one.

0:59

Hearing none, entertain a motion to close public hearing number

Unassigned speaker

1:02

one.

Speaker 1

1:06

Motion's been made by Councilman McKelvey, properly segmented.

1:09

Councilman Marshall, any discussion on that?

1:10

Hearing no, Mr.

1:11

Jablonski.

Speaker 2

1:12

Mr.

1:12

McCullum.

1:14

Mr.

1:15

Upman.

1:16

Ms.

1:16

Secret.

1:17

Mr.

1:17

Marshall.

Unassigned speaker

1:18

Mr.

Speaker 2

1:18

McKelvey.

1:19

Vice Mayor McBroom.

Unassigned speaker

1:21

Mayor Muller.

Speaker 1

1:21

All right.

1:22

Public hearing number one is now closed.

1:23

Next item, public hearing two.

1:25

Public hearing on ordinance number 4590 and ordinance amending ordinance number 4400, the same being the zoning ordinance of the City of Columbia, Tennessee, by approving the preliminary planned unit development master plan for lot one B of the Honey Farms PUD off of Nashville Highway and Leaf Cutter B road at Tax Map 51, Parcel 58.07.

Unassigned speaker

1:43

Anyone here this evening wish to be heard on public hearing number two.

Speaker 1

1:47

Hearing none, anyone on council should be heard on public hearing number two.

1:51

Seeing none, entertain a motion to close public hearing number two.

1:56

Motion's been made properly seconded.

1:57

Any discussion, hearing none, Mr.

1:59

Jablonski.

Speaker 2

2:00

Mr.

2:00

Huffman, Ms.

2:02

Secrets, Mr.

2:03

Marshall,

Unassigned speaker

2:04

Mr.

Speaker 2

2:04

McKelvey,

Unassigned speaker

2:05

Vice Mayor

Speaker 2

2:06

McBroom.

Unassigned speaker

2:06

Mayor Mulder.

Speaker 1

2:07

I public comment hearing number two is now closed.

2:10

And also just as a matter of information and for purposes of the record, we do have one additional public hearing, which falls under item 9.4.

2:18

There is a state law that actually includes that this public hearing has to be heard no earlier than 6 o'clock p.m.

2:25

Uh and so in that vein, and to that note, we're gonna call that up at 9.4 uh at the towards the end of the agenda if we're not at 6 o'clock yet.

Speaker 3

2:34

Although I think we will be, we'll

Speaker 1

2:35

even wait longer.

2:36

But I just want the record to reflect 9.4 will be heard via public hearing after 6 o'clock p.m.

2:41

And we will recess from the formal meeting to hear the public hearing, and then we'll go back into full session.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Youth Programs█████████████████████████25%
Public Safety██████████10%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Columbia City Council Meeting - May 14, 2026

The Columbia City Council met on May 14, 2026 at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting featured presentations recognizing community groups, approval of a consent agenda, resolutions, and first readings of several ordinances including the FY 2026-2027 budget and employee pay plan. All votes were unanimous. The council set June 11, 2026 as the date for public hearings on the budget amendment, tax rate, and appropriation ordinance.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved disbursements for March 2026 totaling $8,025,927.91.
  • Authorized disposal of surplus equipment.
  • Approved three-year agreement with Henderson, Hutcherson and McCullough for auditing services; FY 2026 audit at $55,000 plus optional services (single audit $15,000, chart-of-accounts crosswalk $2,500, IDB financial review $6,000).
  • Implemented a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) program for weight loss drugs, expected to save $119,712 annually.
  • Leased four water units from Hydrate With Us at $389.96/month plus $720 installation fee.
  • Purchased a 2026 KME K180 rescue pumper fire truck for $925,000 via cooperative purchasing program.
  • Approved Addendum No. 4 with Barge Design Solutions for Iron Bridge Road bridge replacement for $16,000 (total contract $557,108).
  • Extended the FY2024-2025 street resurfacing contract by 352 days via Change Order No. 3.
  • Approved the 2026 Street Resurfacing List and authorized $1,000,000 for resurfacing covering all wards.
  • Extended agreement with Freedom Hill Land Management for mowing abandoned properties for three years.
  • Purchased a Kubota Skid Steer SVL75 for $109,998.33 for park maintenance, primarily at Ridley Sports Complex.
  • Authorized mayor to sign a settlement agreement with JNS, LLC at no cost to the city.

Discussion Items

  • Tax Rate Adjustment: City Manager Tony Massey informed council that due to reappraisal, the proposed tax rate in Ordinance 4586 ($0.8251 per $100) will be revised to $0.206068 on second reading. The ordinance was approved on first reading.
  • Budget Approval (Ordinance 4587): The FY 2026-2027 appropriation ordinance totaling $84,442,401 was approved on first consideration. Mayor Molder noted the budget includes no tax increase, focuses on infrastructure and livability, and reflects a healthy local economy. An amendment for tape receiving increase will be added on second reading.
  • Water Facilities Financing: Council approved Resolutions 26-35 and 26-36, authorizing a State Revolving Fund loan of up to $75 million for water supply projects. Mayor Molder stated the low-interest loan will save millions in interest costs.
  • Employee Pay Plan (Ordinance 4588): Approved on first reading, the plan provides a 4% pay increase for full- and part-time regular employees and a 3.5% adjustment to salary ranges. Mayor Molder emphasized the importance of employee morale and retention.
  • Public Comment Procedure: City Attorney Jake Hubbell introduced a new state law requiring a public comment section on any item, not just agenda items. Council discussed adding a separate public comment section to future agendas, with no residency requirement for speakers.
  • Historic Design Guidelines (Ordinance 4589): Approved on first reading, adopting guidelines for the five historic overlay districts.
  • Honey Farms PUD Taco Bell (Ordinance 4590): Approved on first reading for a 2,550 sq. ft. quick serve restaurant with drive-thru, following Planning Commission recommendation (6-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda (items 7.1-7.12) approved unanimously.
  • Resolutions 26-32, 26-33, 26-34, 26-35, and 26-36 approved unanimously.
  • Ordinances 4585, 4586, 4587, 4588, 4589, and 4590 approved on first reading; public hearings for 4585, 4586, and 4587 set for June 11, 2026.
  • Employee pay increase (4% + 3.5% range adjustment) to take effect in FY 2026-2027.
  • Tax rate will be amended on second reading to reflect reappraisal adjustment.
  • A new public comment section will be added to future agendas.
  • No public comments were made during the public hearings or regular meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Columbia City Council, City Hall, City Council Chambers. We're so glad you're here this evening. I love having a room full like this, particularly when it uh is bringing down the average age in the room. That's even particularly meaningful. So to our young people and everyone else here this evening, thank you for being here. And uh it's okay. That's a good problem to have when we're setting off the security alarm. But I think we look safe back here right now. Uh, we do have a couple of public hearings that we'll first go to before we get into tonight's meeting. Beginning with public hearing number one. Public hearing on ordinance number 4589, an ordinance to adopt and ratify the historic design guidelines concerning properties within the Athenaeum, Barrow Court, Downtown Commercial, West 6th Street and Mays Place, and West 7th Street, West End Historic District, Overlay District. This is coming from the Development Services Department. Anyone here this evening wish to be heard on public hearing number one? Seeing none, any member of council wish to be heard on public hearing number one. Hearing none, entertain a motion to close public hearing number one. Motion's been made by Councilman McKelvey, properly segmented. Councilman Marshall, any discussion on that? Hearing no, Mr. Jablonski. Mr. McCullum. Mr. Upman. Ms. Secret. Mr. Marshall. Mr. McKelvey. Vice Mayor McBroom. Mayor Muller. All right. Public hearing number one is now closed. Next item, public hearing two. Public hearing on ordinance number 4590 and ordinance amending ordinance number 4400, the same being the zoning ordinance of the City of Columbia, Tennessee, by approving the preliminary planned unit development master plan for lot one B of the Honey Farms PUD off of Nashville Highway and Leaf Cutter B road at Tax Map 51, Parcel 58.07. Anyone here this evening wish to be heard on public hearing number two. Hearing none, anyone on council should be heard on public hearing number two. Seeing none, entertain a motion to close public hearing number two. Motion's been made properly seconded. Any discussion, hearing none, Mr. Jablonski. Mr. Huffman, Ms. Secrets, Mr. Marshall, Mr. McKelvey, Vice Mayor

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