Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen Meeting - August 25, 2025
Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen Meeting - August 25, 2025
Vice Mayor Mary Ann Gibson chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Palazzolo. All five aldermen were present. The meeting began at 6:00 P.M. and included a special recognition, three beer permit public hearings, approval of the consent agenda, and a rezoning ordinance on second reading.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: Contract for Houston Levee Park Access Bridge Replacement; Contract for Tennessee Arts Commission Creative Placemaking Grant Award; Donations for Parks and Recreation; Memorandum of Understanding between Germantown Municipal School District (GMSD) and Germantown Police Department for FY26; PEG Disbursement to GMSD for 4th Quarter; Purchase of Generator for Fire Station 2 (Dogwood); Purchase of Lake Fountain Controllers; Purchase of Picnic Tables and Benches; Purchase of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Cylinders; Resolution 25R08 – Banking and Signature Cards.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rezoning Public Hearing (Ordinance 2025-6): Eric Delgado (2550 Guilford Cove) spoke against the rezoning from RE (two-acre lots) to RE-1 (one-acre lots), citing concerns about increased traffic (estimating at least 30 additional vehicles from new homes plus service vehicles), existing water pressure fluctuations (he had to install a pressure regulating valve), electrical brownouts, and the need for sidewalk and bike lane improvements along Johnson Road. He requested consideration of retaining two-acre lots or requiring off-site improvements similar to Forest Hill Irene.
Beer Board (Public Hearings & Actions)
The Board recessed as the BMA and convened as the Germantown Beer Board for three hearings. All permits were approved unanimously after public hearings with no opposition.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill of Colorado, LLC (2110 West Street): Manager James Bergen (a Germantown reserve police officer) passed background checks. Approved 5-0.
- First Watch Restaurants, Inc. (7810 Poplar Avenue): Manager Michael Coshin addressed two minor background contact indications (a spam-related police call and a possible name mix-up). He stated 20 years of experience and training practices including carding all customers. Opening September 22, 2025. Approved 5-0.
- Josephine Estelle, LLC (6685 Poplar Avenue at The Standard): Attorney Jack Hefflin and managers Michael Hudman and Andy Tyson presented. Background check indications for seven owners attributed to TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fingerprinting; no disqualifying convictions within 10 years. Approved 5-0.
Discussion Items
- Special Recognition:
- Beautification Commission Business Award – August 2025: Presented to Grant Homes (9075 Forest Center Way) for outstanding landscaping. Accepted by Commission member Tammy Davis.
- Proclamation – Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Vice Mayor Gibson proclaimed September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The proclamation noted that approximately 12,000 lives are lost to suicide in Tennessee each year, with 25 attempted suicides per suicide death; suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in Tennessee, the 3rd for ages 10-24, the 4th for ages 35-44, and the 8th for ages 45-54. Alexis Kelly from the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) accepted and thanked the board.
- Ordinance 2025-6 – Rezoning of 2385 Johnson Road (RE to RE-1): Second reading and public hearing. Director Ross presented: 26-acre parcel with existing home and pond; proposed 17 one-acre lots (net increase of 9 homes over current RE zoning which allows about 8 lots); traffic study showed minimal impact; planning commission recommended approval July 1, 2025; first reading was July 28, 2025. Aldermen noted consistency with adjacent RE-1 zoning, preservation of the lake, and that the developer will make right-of-way improvements along Johnson Road. Alderperson Salvaggio emphasized the local developer team and pond preservation. Alderman Hicks noted the net increase of 9 houses and that the rezoning makes the property consistent with surroundings. Alderman Sanders pointed out that lot widths on the north end match those across the street. The public speaker's concerns about infrastructure were noted but not seen as disqualifying.
Key Outcomes
- Beer Permits Approved: All three on-premise beer permits (Chipotle, First Watch, Josephine Estelle) were approved unanimously (5-0) after public hearings with no opposition.
- Consent Agenda Approved: All 10 consent items were approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 2025-6 Approved on Second Reading: The rezoning of 2385 Johnson Road from RE to RE-1 was approved unanimously. Each alderman cited the changes in the surrounding neighborhood (e.g., existing RE-1 zoning adjacent, development trends) as justification. A third and final reading will occur at a future meeting.
- Meeting Adjourned: After completing all agenda items, the meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting for Monday, August 25th, 2025. We welcome all of those here in the chambers with us tonight as well as those watching and streaming from home. Mayor Palazzolo is away doing the city's business tonight, and so I, as Vice Mayor, will be chairing the meeting. For the record, all five aldermen are present. Just a few highlights for this evening. We're going to be presenting the August Beautification Business Award. We also have in attendance our lead program class members, they are here. Just wave of hands if you're part of the lead program. Welcome. We're glad that you're here. We'll also be uh having a special proclamation that's close to my heart and several others this evening regarding suicide prevention awareness month. Before we begin, I'd like to bring to your attention item number six on our agenda, citizens to be heard. If you'd like to speak to your neighbors and to the board, you'll need to complete the sheet on People Street just outside the chamber doors and give it to one of our officers, and we'll recognize you during the agenda item number six. Again, citizens to be heard. We also will have a public hearing for uh we actually have four public hearings, three for a beer board, and then one for a rezoning issue. If it's actually for a rezoning comp for that particular rezoning uh agenda item, then you'll just reserve your comments during that public hearing. This evening, our invocation Parks Director Natalie Ruffin. Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Alderman Scott Sanders. Please rise. Let us pray. Dear Lord, we standing before you today deeply grateful for the opportunity to come together and serve the vibrant community of Germantown. We recognize the significant responsibility entrusted to our mayor and the esteemed board of aldermen as they deliberate on critical issues that shape the lives of our residents. We humbly seek your divine guidance for each member of this governing body. Grant them profound wisdom to discern the best path forward, clear thinking to analyze complex challenges, and a unifying spirit to foster collaboration and consensus. May their collective decisions be a testament to your infinite wisdom, bringing forth abundant blessings upon every individual who proudly calls Germantown home. We'll pray for the continued prosperity and well-being of this cherished community and its people now and in the years to come. Amen. Thank you, Director Ruffin, for your thoughtful invocation and Alderman Sanders for leading leading us in the pledge this evening. That brings us to agenda item number four on the agenda. Setting and adopting the agenda. The agenda is sent to the community and to the board general generally around noon on Wednesday each week prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting. Are there any changes or modifications that any board member would like to bring forward at this time? Seeing no modifications, is there a motion to approve the August 25th, 2025 agenda? Move to approve. Alderman Sanders moves. Second. Second by Alderman Ulicky. Any discussion? Please call the roll. Alderman Sanders. Yes. Vice Mayor Gibson. Yes. Alderman Hicks. Yes. Alderman Ulicky? Yes. Alderman Salvaggio. Yes.
openpublica.com