Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen Regular Meeting – September 8, 2025
Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen – September 8, 2025
The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Monday, September 8, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Germantown Municipal Building, 1930 S. Germantown Road. After opening remarks, staff recognitions for the 52nd annual Germantown Festival, an invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the board set the agenda, approved minutes, heard one citizen, convened as the Beer Board for a temporary beer permit hearing, approved a three-item consent agenda, and took final action on one rezoning ordinance.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved by roll-call vote without separate discussion: Change Order No. 2 for Miller Farms Ditch Improvements ($30,870); Change Order No. 2 for Riverdale Park Reinvestment Phase II ($21,208); and the purchase of GAC and GPAC mechanical equipment replacements ($64,607). The three approved items total $116,685.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kathy Anderson, 7379 Belleville Drive, a 40-plus-year Germantown resident and commercial real estate professional, expressed concern about what she described as a growing tenant/landlord problem in her neighborhood. She described recent incidents, including a SWAT/police standoff of two to three hours near her home, a separate police response involving drugs and a stolen car at a neighboring rental, and an incident in which dogs charged at her; the tenant said he paid extra rent to have a pet. She cited Germantown nuisance ordinance Sections 11.3 and 11.4, noted the property owner can be liable for nuisances regardless of who caused them, and mentioned Seattle's chronic nuisance ordinance as a possible model.
- The Mayor responded that the city is aware of large equity firms buying rental properties, noted that Vice Mayor Gibson and Alderman Hicks have taken a state-level leadership role, and said the rental registry bill he and Vice Mayor Gibson worked on through the Tennessee Municipal League did not advance because of opposition from the real estate profession but may be brought back. He also said Germantown has strong nuisance ordinances, strengthened after residential properties were used for ticketed parties, and offered to meet with Anderson for further input.
Beer Board Public Hearing – Temporary Beer Permit
- The Beer Board held a public hearing on a temporary beer permit application from Kappa Alpha Order UT Martin Alumni Chapter for on-premise beer sales at its 50th anniversary convivium on September 20, 2025, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Great Hall and Conference Center. Clerk Betty confirmed the application, proof of not-for-profit status, and public hearing notice were in the packet. No public speakers came forward for or against the request.
- Applicant Clint Cummins, 2562 Meadow Run, Germantown, said roughly three-fourths of attendees would be alumni and about 25 percent would be undergraduate students. Alderman Sanders supported the application, noting the state had issued a special occasion permit and that three state-licensed servers were identified; he asked for vigilance in serving. Vice Mayor Gibson and Alderman Hicks welcomed the event. The board approved the permit unanimously.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 2025-6, third and final reading: rezoning 2385 Johnson Road from RE Residential Estate to RE-1 Residential Estate. Economic and Community Development Director Cameron Ross presented the request for the property, a single-family home developed in 1973 on just over 26 acres with a large pond, located south of Dogwood Road and north of Gwenhallow Cove, across from Spring Hollow. The change would apply to the entire frontage, reduce the lot minimum from two acres to one acre, and align with zoning north and south of the site. The concept plan shows roughly 17 lots and preserves the pond; the applicant plans to file with the Planning Commission after approval.
- Ross stated the application meets the Forward 2035 land use and transportation objective related to positive trends in assessed value of residential areas. Alderman Salvaggio praised the applicants for working with staff, the Planning Commission, and neighbors, and noted preserving the lake is important to the property's history. Vice Mayor Gibson echoed praise for the applicant's proactive work with neighbors on traffic and lake concerns. Alderman Sanders cited adjacent one-acre zoning on three sides; Alderman Hicks cited significant population changes in the area; and Alderman Ulicky cited adjacent zoning. The motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Gibson, carried unanimously on third reading.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda for September 8, 2025, approved unanimously; minutes of the August 25, 2025 regular meeting approved unanimously.
- Temporary beer permit approved for Kappa Alpha Order UT Martin Alumni Chapter.
- Consent agenda items approved, totaling $116,685.
- Ordinance 2025-6 approved on third and final reading, rezoning 2385 Johnson Road from RE to RE-1; next step is an application to the Planning Commission.
- The meeting adjourned after completing the regular agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting, the regular scheduled meeting. For Monday, September the 8th. We welcome those that are gathered with us this evening that join us here in the council chambers. Those that are watching at home on TV as well. A few highlights about our meeting this evening. It is not a lengthy agenda, but we do have some items of note. First one is citizens to be heard. If you'd like to speak to your fellow neighbor, the community, your board, you can do so during that time on the agenda. That's item six. We have one submission. You have time between now and item six to fill out a sheet. You can find those out in People Street. That's through the double doors and to my left on the table. Fill out a sheet, get that to one of the officers. They'll get that sheet forward to Clerk Betty, and we will recognize you. So if you'd like to speak and have not filled out a sheet, you have time to do so now. We will take a recess after citizens to be heard, and we will convene as Germantown's Beer Board for the purpose of having a public hearing for temporary beer permit for on premise consumption for the Kappa Alpha order of UT Martin alumni chapter. And once that is concluded, we will return as the Board of Mayor and Alderman to take up a short consent agenda docket and then a regular agenda with uh one final third reading for the uh Johnson Road rezoning. This evening, our invocation will be led by Economic and Community Development Director Cameron Ross. Our Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Vice Mayor Mary Ann Gibson. Please rise. Let us bow our heads in prayer. Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the opportunity to gather as a community. We humbly ask for your wisdom to guide our thoughts and direct our words. Grant each of us the insight to see beyond our own perspective and understand the full scope of the issues at hand. Help us to approach these matters not with self-interest but with genuine desire to serve the greater good. As we leave this meeting and go back into the community, open our ears and our hearts to truly listen to one another. May we hear not just the words being spoken, but the intentions behind them. Help us to be patient and empathetic, giving every person the space and respect they deserve. In moments of disagreement, remind us to speak with kindness and act with integrity. Let us seek common ground and forge a path forward that honors everyone present. May our work today and throughout the rest of the week be a lasting blessing to our community. It's in your name we pray. Amen. Allegiance 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, Director Ross, for leading us in this evening's invocation. Thank you, Vice Mayor Gibson, for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Before we continue with our agenda this evening, which will be item four setting the agenda, I just want to take a quick moment to recognize our total uh team here at the City of Germantown, staff in all the departments that help make the 52nd annual Germantown Festival a great success. Vice Mayor Gibson, I understand you were responsible for the cool weather this year. Thank you very much for that. It was probably the most reasonable uh temperate climate we've had of any festival I can remember in quite a while. It was actually chilly on Saturday. Um so great job by police, fire, general services, parks and recreation, public works, uh, the entire team that was out there. They always do a lot of the things that you just don't see that happen behind the scene. I think there was a I don't know, there was a uh water pipe that needed to be fixed, some electrical that need the wiring that needs to be connected, and the all the general services folks are constantly getting all the receptacles clean. The entire uh grounds um looked amazing, well kept from um the landscaping and cutting of grass and um all of the foliage and and all the the flowers that were planted as well. And then this morning when you drive by CO Franklin, it's almost besides the tents that are left.
openpublica.com