Watauga City Council Regular Meeting - July 13, 2026

The Watauga City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included announcements, presentations, public testimony on a specific use permit (SUP), consent agenda approvals, and action on a franchise agreement, a SUP request, and utility fee revisions. The council voted to postpone the SUP vote to the August 10 meeting due to an absent council member.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (6-0): Monthly Financial Report for May 2026, workshop minutes from May 11, 2026, regular meeting minutes from April 13, 2026, workshop minutes from June 8, 2026, and budget workshop minutes from June 1, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Benjamin Bisby (8244 Courtney Way) opposed the tire shop (SUP 26-01), stating the neighborhood is zoned for general use and he does not want industrial use. He expressed frustration that residents are "fighting against our own city."
• Vanessa Camacho Bisbee (8244 Courtney Way) urged denial of the SUP, citing an unenforceable operation model (overhead bay doors must be open), noise impacts within a 100-foot radius, and the burden of enforcement shifting to city staff.
• Joseph Jarbo (8241 Courtney Way) opposed the SUP, noting a vacant auto shop nearby, the difficulty of complying with five pages of conditions, and the degradation of views from concealed equipment. He asked the council to consider what they would want if they lived there.
• Aaron Welch (8236 Courtney Way) opposed the SUP, raising safety concerns about a masonry wall not being crash-rated and the lack of vehicle protection barriers. He said a brick wall and landscaping are insufficient.
• Christina Ponte (8240 Courtney Way) opposed the SUP, arguing the applicant's concessions are unrealistic and that the business offers nothing distinct. She stated the business model is flawed and noted that offering free services to nearby residents flirts with a conflict of interest, which was corrected by the mayor.
• Rafael Aponte (8240 Courtney Way) opposed the SUP, saying he does not want the business in his backyard and that a brick wall behind his fence is ridiculous. He rejected free tires or oil changes as unnecessary.
• Nicholas Barak (8233 Courtney Way) opposed the SUP, stating his family values the quiet character of the neighborhood and that the business would degrade their lifestyle despite the council's efforts to find compromises.

Discussion Items

• Franchise Agreement with Atmos Energy Corporation: Finance Director Jennifer Calvert presented a 20-year franchise agreement (effective January 1, 2026) allowing Atmos to construct and maintain pipelines. The agreement includes a 5% franchise fee on natural gas sales and clarifies relocation costs. Councilman Neil asked if a 20-year term was standard; staff confirmed yes. The council approved the item unanimously.
• Specific Use Permit (SUP 26-01) for Retail Tire Sales and Light Auto Repair at 6600 Bursey Road: Planner Hackleman presented staff-recommended changes to the conditions (Exhibit B), including aligning hours with other tire stores (8:30 AM-6:30 PM, weekdays and Saturdays), removing redundant noise language, allowing overhead bay doors to remain open, and eliminating the five-year term limit. He noted the property has been vacant for eight years and that the SUP allows the city to require enhancements (e.g., masonry fence). He also summarized resident concerns heard at prior meetings. Mayor Minor recommended tabling the item to the August 10 meeting to have a full council present (one member absent). Councilman Taylor moved to postpone, seconded by Councilwoman Blackburn. The motion passed unanimously.
• Utility Fee Ordinance Amendment (Section 12-42): Calvert presented amendments to connection and meter fees, including adding AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) cost recovery (meter cost plus 20%, cellular transmitter cost plus 15% admin fee, and a 10-year cellular service fee of $120). The amendment also revises meter testing deposit procedures, tampering fees ($75 for transmitters/registers), and damage repair costs. Councilwoman Hill asked about meter locking; staff clarified meters are not locked due to residents' need to access them. Councilman Blackburn asked about citizens choosing their own meter testing service; staff said they would likely need to use the manufacturer (Badger). The council approved the item unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (6-0).
• Action Item 1 (Atmos Franchise Agreement): Approved unanimously (6-0).
• Action Item 2 (SUP 26-01, Tire Shop): Postponed to the August 10, 2026 meeting by a unanimous vote (6-0) due to an absent council member. A supermajority vote (6 votes) would be required to override the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation of denial.
• Action Item 3 (Utility Fee Amendment): Approved unanimously (6-0).
• Future Agendas: Mayor Minor requested that the Planning and Zoning board appointments and the supermajority requirement issue be placed on the next possible agenda.