Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen Meeting – April 14, 2025

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 1930 S. Germantown Road. The board approved the agenda and the March 24, 2025 minutes, heard public comment, presented special recognition awards, convened as the Beer Board to approve a temporary beer permit, approved the consent agenda, advanced an ordinance repealing the holiday/special event decoration code section, and approved a revised final plan for a Starbucks at Exeter Village Shopping Center. Vice Mayor Gibson was absent and traveling.

Opening and Routine Business

• The board unanimously approved the April 14, 2025 agenda as presented, with the administration reporting no items to be added or deleted.
• The board unanimously approved the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting held March 24, 2025.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda, which included: (a) reappointment of Andy Pouncey as City Historian for a five-year term through 2030; (b) a contract with Grinder Tabor Grinder for Cameron Brown Park Pickleball Expansion & Restroom – Phase 1 for approximately $600,000; (c) a Tennessee Department of Health Equipment Grant providing $150,000 in matching funds to offset the cost of an ambulance; and (d) a $200 donation from Chairman Fisher to the Education Commission for the Battle of the Books. The vote was unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Seth Carroll, 8165 Kimridge, expressed disappointment with the planned GMSD budget and limited Houston High School upgrades, saying the investment was not commensurate with the community's commitment to its school district and placed Germantown at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring communities.
• Julianne Zimateo, 9255 Forest Estates Cove, identified as PTO president at Houston Middle School, said school improvements were not prioritized enough, called the $400,000 Lily Walk unnecessary compared with student needs, and stated she would not oppose a property tax increase if a guaranteed baseline amount went directly to the school district.
• Karen Viadi, 2205 Duntreeth Valley Drive, urged reconsideration of the city's capital improvement plan, citing research that every dollar invested in public schools can yield roughly $20 in increased home value and that homes in high-performing school zones can be about two times more valuable. She said declining school investment threatens property values and Germantown's competitive edge.
• Kristen Bowman, 1920 Hunters Hill, identified as PTO president at Riverdale and a Houston High graduate, said GMSD received only about 8% of the money requested for improvements, described aging Houston High facilities, and urged the board to fully fund the Houston High Improvement Project.
• Joy Williams, 8200 Pine Creek East, a realtor with Main Street Realtors and president of the Houston High PTSO, spoke in support of increased funding for the school district, especially capital improvements for Houston High, and said the strength of the school system is one of the top factors influencing home values and family relocation decisions.
• Andy Pouncey, 8401 Briar Creek Drive, City Historian, reviewed historical preservation work over the past decade, including cemetery research, historical markers, website usage of 17,000 hits and 11,000 users, and the planned fall symposium marking the 200th anniversary of Neshoba Plantation.
• In response to school funding comments, the Mayor stated that the city's core priorities are public safety, public infrastructure, drainage, and roads; that education remains a top priority; that projects such as Lily Walk and the sports complex advance only when grant or state funding is secured; and that Germantown has contributed approximately $103 million to public education since GMSD's inception.

Special Recognition

• The Germantown Education Commission presented the April 2025 Teacher of the Month award to Skylar Workman, a guidance counselor at Forest Hill Elementary.
• The Germantown Education Commission presented the April 2025 Youth Excellence Award to Claire Schohan, a senior at St. Mary's Episcopal School.
• Alderman Scott Sanders read a proclamation declaring April 13–19, 2025 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Germantown. The Mayor noted that Germantown emergency calls are answered in under nine seconds.

Beer Board – Temporary Beer Permit

• The board met as the Germantown Beer Board for a public hearing on an application by the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South for a temporary on-premise beer permit for its Get Down in Derby event.
• The event was scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Great Hall and Conference Center, 1900 South Germantown Road. Background checks were not required because the applicant is a bona fide charitable, nonprofit organization.
• No public speakers came forward. Alderman Sanders moved approval, citing the completed application, prior permits, the state nonprofit special occasion permit, and licensed servers. The board approved the permit unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 2025-5 – Repeal of Division 2, Section 11-33 (Holiday/Seasonal/Special Event Decorations): City Attorney Goodman recommended repeal after reviewing the ordinance due to recent events, allowing time to draft a possible replacement on more solid legal footing. No public hearing speakers came forward. The board approved the ordinance on second reading unanimously, and it was scheduled for third and final reading on April 28, 2025.
• Revised Final Plan – Phase 4, General Plan Farmington Shopping Center / Starbucks at Exeter Village Shopping Center: Planning Director Ross presented a proposal for an approximately 2,500-square-foot Starbucks with a drive-thru at 2055 Exeter Road. The site would be developed under the SMART Code with a parking reduction for the overall shopping center. The Planning Commission reviewed the plan with several justified design alternatives, and the Design Review Commission gave unanimous support. (Note: the transcript contains an internal discrepancy, with Alderman Salvaggio referencing February 3rd for his earlier Planning Commission concerns while the staff presentation said the Planning Commission review occurred on February 4th.)
• Alderman Salvaggio, who had voted no at the Planning Commission, asked about pedestrian safety and drive-thru queuing. Developer Adam Lightman, 5100 Poplar Avenue, described on-site improvements including a raised pedestrian crosswalk and signage, and committed to continuing to work with the city to reduce hazards.
• Alderman Sanders raised concern about the lack of a mid-block crosswalk on Exeter Road. City staff said public safety issues would be reviewed once the Starbucks is operational and pedestrian activity can be evaluated.
• The board also discussed sewer connectivity for the site; the developer said ongoing discussions with Public Works were exploring a tie-in near Piccadilly or Firestone.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the temporary beer permit for the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South (4-0).
• Approved the consent agenda, including the City Historian appointment, pickleball/restroom phase 1 contract, ambulance equipment grant, and Education Commission donation (4-0).
• Approved Ordinance 2025-5 on second reading, with third and final reading scheduled for April 28, 2025 (4-0).
• Approved the revised final plan for the Starbucks at Exeter Village Shopping Center (4-0).