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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Germantown BMA Meeting: July 28, 2025 – Rezoning, Beer Permit, Beautification Award, and Public Comments

Board of Mayor and Aldermen & City Boards — Monday, July 28, 2025

BodyGermantown, Tennessee

SessionBoard of Mayor and Aldermen & City Boards

DateMonday, July 28, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 40:00

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

0:00

Good evening, folks.

0:01

Welcome to the regular schedule Board of Merit Alderman meeting.

0:04

We welcome those in attendance with us this evening, those that are watching on TV.

0:09

This is the Monday, July 28th meeting.

0:12

All aldermen are present and accounted for.

0:15

Just a few housekeeping items and highlights for our meeting this evening.

0:19

We do have a portion of our agenda known as citizens to be heard.

0:24

That comes as item six on the agenda.

0:26

And if you'd like to speak to your neighbor in the community, please uh pick out a sheet out in uh people street, fill that out, get it to one of our officers.

0:36

They'll get the sheet to Clerk Betty.

0:38

It will recognize you as item six.

0:41

We have a couple already this evening, but we have time for more.

0:45

So if you'd like to speak to the board this evening, fill out a sheet and uh we'll recognize you as item six.

0:52

Uh this evening we will be recognizing our uh beautification award for Southern Social this evening.

0:59

We'll also this evening uh recess as a board of merit alderman to take up the business of a beer permit.

1:06

So we'll meet as Germantown's Beer Board that comes as item number eight on the agenda, and we have one uh rezoning um item as well, and that is on our regular agenda this evening.

1:19

This evening, our invocation will be led by city administrator Jason Heisman.

1:25

Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Alderman Brian Ulicky.

1:29

Please rise.

1:35

Let's pray.

1:38

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the opportunity to gather once again in service to the city of Germantown.

1:45

Thank you for the privilege of working together to make meaningful meaningful contributions to this community.

1:50

We are so fortunate to call home.

1:53

As both residents and public servants, help us to recognize and cherish the many blessings you have provided.

2:00

We lift up in prayer our country, our state, our county.

2:04

Grant wisdom, clarity, and discernment to all those entrusted with leadership.

2:09

We ask the same for our city leaders gathered here this evening.

2:12

May our actions and decisions reflect your purpose for our city and bring honor to you.

2:18

In your son's name we pray.

2:20

Amen.

2:25

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:31

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:38

Please be seated.

2:42

Thank you, City Administrator Heisman and Alderman Ullicky for leading us in the invocation and in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:50

I'd like to just take a quick moment of personal privilege and um just reflect for a moment and um and we can all pause and perhaps lift up our hearts and spirits in honor of uh Mayor Bill Morris who passed away recently, serving two terms as sheriff and four terms as county mayor, friend to so many, and um Germantown resident as well.

3:16

I know his funeral services have been set for Saturday.

3:19

Um, and so we just want our prayers and thoughts to be with his family, and uh we thank him for his fine service to the county for so so many years.

3:31

Now we move to item number four on the agenda, setting and adopting the agenda.

3:38

The agenda was sent to the board of merit alderman earlier this week and to the community as well.

3:43

There are no modifications or requests for adjustments from administration.

3:49

Are there any from any board member?

3:51

Is there a motion to approve the July 28th, 2025 agenda as presented to the community?

3:57

Move to approve.

3:58

Motion by the Vice Mayor.

3:59

Is there a second?

4:01

Second, second by Alderman Sanders.

4:03

Any discussion on the item?

4:05

Clerk, please call the roll.

4:07

Alderman Sanders, yes, Vice Mayor Gibson, yes, Alderman Hicks, yes, Alderman Ullicky, yes, Alderman Salvaggio, yes.

4:17

The agenda has been adopted and set.

4:19

We move now to item five in the agenda, approval of the minutes of the board of merit alderman meeting, regular scheduled meeting held on July 14th, 2025.

4:28

Are there any modifications or corrections that any board member has identified?

4:33

See no one come forward.

4:34

Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the BMA meeting, regular scheduled meeting held on July 14th, 2025?

4:42

Is there a motion?

4:43

Move to approve.

4:44

Motion by Alderman Sanders.

4:46

Is there a second?

4:47

Second.

4:48

Second by Alderman Ulicky.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%

Education███████████████████19%

Cannabis Regulation███████████████15%

Zoning██████████████14%

Public Engagement████████████12%

Arts And Culture███3%

Environmental Protection███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Board of Mayor and Aldermen Regular Meeting – July 28, 2025

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Germantown, Tennessee, met on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. All five aldermen were present. The meeting included a public hearing for a beer permit, approval of a consent agenda, recognition of the July Beautification Business Award, a first reading of a rezoning ordinance, and public comments from two residents. The meeting also recessed as the Beer Board to consider one application.

Consent Calendar

Approved unanimously (5–0):
- Agreement for lobbying services with Phelps Dunbar (approximately $58,000).
- Donation to Germantown Education Foundation – Friend of the Foundation – 4th Quarter (approximately $3,100).
- Purchase of public safety uniforms (not to exceed $60,000).
- Resolution 25R04 – Public Entity Partners Grant Program participation.

Public Comments & Testimony

John Johnson (2196 Cornwall) introduced Ian Wright, a visitor from the United Kingdom. Johnson stated that Wright admires Germantown for feeling safe, the presence of police, and clean streets.
Ian Wright (speaking as a grandfather and former high school principal with 16 years’ experience and a school improvement partner role in the UK) expressed high praise for Riverdale School, where his grandson Finn (who has developmental delay and ADHD) receives an “outstanding” education. Wright described the school’s calm environment, respectful students, and the personalized support Finn received from his teacher, Mrs. Evans. He noted that during a sports day, Finn’s name was the only one heard being cheered, reflecting the school’s inclusive culture. Wright lauded the quality of education in Germantown and contrasted it with the $61,000 annual tuition for a private school in the UK. No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

Beer Board Public Hearing – Fast Gas (9423 Poplar Avenue)
- The board recessed as the Beer Board. Clerk Betty presented the application by Nazar Alibhai (doing business as Fast Gas) for an off-premise beer permit. Zoning (SC1) permits such use. Background checks found no disqualifying issues.
- Kirby Bogan (district manager designate) testified: She has managed the store for 15 years; the store will change ownership on July 31, 2025. She described a comprehensive responsible vendor program: weekly underage compliance checks (“BARS” program), mandatory computer-based training every 60 days, and a new-hire orientation pamphlet she created. One prior contact with law enforcement (a 2003 charge dropped in Mississippi, non-alcohol related) was disclosed. The board praised Bogan’s thorough explanation.
- Motion to approve was made by Alderman Sanders, seconded by Alderman Hicks. Unanimously approved (5–0).
**Ordinance 2025-6 – Rezoning of 2385 Johnson Road (RE to RE-1)
- Director Ross presented: The 26-acre property (developed in 1973 as single-family home with a pond) is proposed to be rezoned from RE (minimum 2-acre lots) to RE-1 (smaller minimum lots). Adjacent properties to north and south are already RE-1. A concept plan shows ~17 lots retaining the existing lake. The rezoning supports Germantown Forward 2035 land use goals. The planning commission approved recommendation on July 1, 2025. A neighborhood meeting was held.
- Alderman Salvaggio noted the developer worked well with staff and planning commission, and that the lake will remain.
- Alderman Hicks expressed support based on zoning consistency along Johnson Road and the value of retaining the lake and detention features.
- Alderman Ulicky emphasized the importance of including stormwater detention in future site plans, noting the community’s need for above-minimum detention.
- The motion to approve first reading and set the public hearing and second reading for August 25, 2025, passed unanimously (5–0), with Vice Mayor Gibson citing consistency with developments to the north and south, and Alderman Ulicky citing alignment with bordering zoning.

Key Outcomes

Beer permit approved for Fast Gas (9423 Poplar Avenue) – off-premise sales, effective upon transfer of ownership (July 31, 2025).
Consent agenda approved unanimously.
Ordinance 2025-6 approved on first reading; second reading and public hearing scheduled for August 25, 2025.
Beautification Business Award presented to Southern Social restaurant for the month of July 2025.
Minutes of July 14, 2025 meeting approved.
The meeting concluded at approximately 7:20 PM (duration about 1 hour 20 minutes).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, folks. Welcome to the regular schedule Board of Merit Alderman meeting. We welcome those in attendance with us this evening, those that are watching on TV. This is the Monday, July 28th meeting. All aldermen are present and accounted for. Just a few housekeeping items and highlights for our meeting this evening. We do have a portion of our agenda known as citizens to be heard. That comes as item six on the agenda. And if you'd like to speak to your neighbor in the community, please uh pick out a sheet out in uh people street, fill that out, get it to one of our officers. They'll get the sheet to Clerk Betty. It will recognize you as item six. We have a couple already this evening, but we have time for more. So if you'd like to speak to the board this evening, fill out a sheet and uh we'll recognize you as item six. Uh this evening we will be recognizing our uh beautification award for Southern Social this evening. We'll also this evening uh recess as a board of merit alderman to take up the business of a beer permit. So we'll meet as Germantown's Beer Board that comes as item number eight on the agenda, and we have one uh rezoning um item as well, and that is on our regular agenda this evening. This evening, our invocation will be led by city administrator Jason Heisman. Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Alderman Brian Ulicky. Please rise. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the opportunity to gather once again in service to the city of Germantown. Thank you for the privilege of working together to make meaningful meaningful contributions to this community. We are so fortunate to call home. As both residents and public servants, help us to recognize and cherish the many blessings you have provided. We lift up in prayer our country, our state, our county. Grant wisdom, clarity, and discernment to all those entrusted with leadership. We ask the same for our city leaders gathered here this evening. May our actions and decisions reflect your purpose for our city and bring honor to you. In your son's name we pray. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Thank you, City Administrator Heisman and Alderman Ullicky for leading us in the invocation and in the Pledge of Allegiance. I'd like to just take a quick moment of personal privilege and um just reflect for a moment and um and we can all pause and perhaps lift up our hearts and spirits in honor of uh Mayor Bill Morris who passed away recently, serving two terms as sheriff and four terms as county mayor, friend to so many, and um Germantown resident as well. I know his funeral services have been set for Saturday. Um, and so we just want our prayers and thoughts to be with his family, and uh we thank him for his fine service to the county for so so many years. Now we move to item number four on the agenda, setting and adopting the agenda. The agenda was sent to the board of merit alderman earlier this week and to the community as well. There are no modifications or requests for adjustments from administration. Are there any from any board member? Is there a motion to approve the July 28th, 2025 agenda as presented to the community? Move to approve. Motion by the Vice Mayor. Is there a second? Second, second by Alderman Sanders. Any discussion on the item? Clerk, please call the roll. Alderman Sanders, yes, Vice Mayor Gibson, yes, Alderman Hicks, yes, Alderman Ullicky, yes, Alderman Salvaggio, yes. The agenda has been adopted and set.

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