City Council approves multiple routine ordinances, acceptances and contract awards

Oak Ridge City Council on March 10 approved a series of routine ordinances, infrastructure acceptances and contract awards that will be implemented as described in city records.

Major items that passed or were received for the record included: proclamations designating Arbor Day and National Library Week; acceptance of several small infrastructure sections at the Preserve at Clinch River (Deerberry Lane, Boysenberry Drive, and Broadberry townhouse utilities); abandonment of a short portion of Boulevard at the request of the Industrial Development Board to improve the marketability of Development Area Lot 5 in Horizon Center Industrial Park; rezoning of 113 Lafayette Drive (removing a PUD office-only overlay to allow residential townhouses); amendments to the personnel code on nepotism and retirement-language cleanup; an amendment to residency rules limiting residency requirements to six named positions; a city-code amendment allowing transfers to the Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation; and two CDBG-funded contract awards for Scarborough Community Center HVAC replacement and Woodland neighborhood sidewalk/ADA ramp work.

Council received the FY2026'2031 capital improvements program (CIP) transmittal from the Planning Commission for the record and received the FY2024 audit report and auditors' communications from PUCPAs for the record.

Council also approved returning $500,000 in donated funds to the UT Patel Development Corporation at the corporation's request; staff said the original donation was tied to a location at the East Tennessee Technology Park that later was not used for an airport project.

Most roll-call items on the consent and ordinance dockets were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Where a recorded tally was given on the record the motions passed by a minimum four-yes vote as required for ordinance actions.

Votes at a glance (selected items as discussed on the record):

- Arbor Day proclamation (04/03/2025): motion passed by voice vote (outcome: approved). - National Library Week proclamation (April 2025): motion passed by voice vote (outcome: approved). - Transmittal of CIP FY2026'2031 from the Planning Commission: received for the record (no formal approval required). - Infrastructure acceptance — Deerberry Lane (Preserve at Clinch River): approved; acceptance starts one-year warranty period before perpetual maintenance by the city (tally: aye, no nays reported; outcome: approved). - Infrastructure acceptance — Boysenberry Drive (Preserve at Clinch River): approved (tally: aye, no nays reported; outcome: approved). - Infrastructure acceptance — Broadberry townhouse utilities (Preserve at Clinch River): approved (tally: aye, no nays reported; outcome: approved). - Abandonment of a portion of Boulevard adjacent to Horizon Center Industrial Park Lot 5 (requested by Industrial Development Board): approved (outcome: approved). - Ordinance: rezoning Parcel 039 (Anderson County tax map 100A group C; 113 Lafayette Drive) from R-3 PUD (office-only overlay) to R-3 (medium-density residential): approved after public hearing (outcome: approved). - Ordinance: zoning text amendment to remove some wall-sign height restrictions and allow internally illuminated wall signs in non-residential districts (first reading and public hearing scheduled for second reading): motion passed to place the amendment on first reading and continue with required hearings (outcome: advanced). - Ordinance: set dog and cat registration fee to be determined by city fee policy rather than code: approved (outcome: approved). - Personnel code amendments: nepotism rule changed to prohibit direct-line supervision among close relatives (approved); retirement benefit language cleaned up to remove obsolete probationary references (approved); residency rule changed to make six named positions required to reside in city limits while protecting current employees and promotions from retroactive enforcement (approved on final vote) (outcome: approved). - Code amendment: add Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation as an entity eligible to receive transfers of city property under Section 5-503.8: approved (outcome: approved). - Resolution: return $500,000 donation to UT Patel Development Corporation: approved (outcome: approved). - Resolution: award to Powell Brothers Mechanical Contractors for Scarborough Community Center HVAC replacement (CDBG-funded), amount not to exceed $119,518.30: approved (outcome: approved, contingent on HUD approvals where noted in staff presentation). - Resolution: award to GCE Construction for Woodland neighborhood sidewalks and ADA ramps (CDBG-funded), amount not to exceed $333,657.50: approved (outcome: approved, contingent on HUD approvals where noted in staff presentation).

Several items on tonight's consent and regular dockets were described as contingent on outside approvals (for example, the CDBG-funded projects awaiting HUD approvals); staff said the bid documents were written to make notice to proceed contingent on those authorizations.

Council generally voted unanimously or by voice for the items listed above; where tallies were read, a majority of at least four yes votes carried the matters. The city clerk will publish official ordinances and resolutions with final vote tallies and full text in the formal minutes.