City Commission to consider Lower Tannery bike project, affordable housing PILOT

The city of Johnson City has released its agenda for its Thursday commission meeting. Some of the most notable items on the agenda for commission consideration include an agreement that will allow the city to get started on its construction of its reimagined Tannery Knobs bike park, and incentive agreement for more affordable housing. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. inside the commission chambers at 601 E. Main St. $450k for Lower Tannery Knobs bike park The commission will consider approving an agreement with Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association of the Tri-Cities (SOBRA-Tri-Cities) for the administration of an up to $450,000 grant to build trails at Lower Tannery Knobs. SOBRA-Tri-Cities was awarded a State of Tennessee Project Diabetes grant, through which the state will provide up to $150,000 per year for three years to support the Johnson City Parks and Recreation project. $59k for TVA Ballpark A 2-year $59,000 contract with Boyd Sports is up for the commission's approval for improvements at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Payments will be made in installments and over the course of two years. According to the agenda, it will pay for the installment of four new steel poles along the sidelines and a new netting system. PILOT agreement for affordable housing The city commission will also consider allowing the Industrial Development Board to enter a payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement with a developer, DGA Lakewood, to renovate the existing Lakewood Village Apartment complex. The agreement will require at least 60% of the units to be occupied by low income tenants and will result in full renovation of most amenities and interior features. Commissioners will hear a presentation of the agreement at their work session ahead of the full board meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. in the city's administrative conference room at the municipal and safety building. Grant application for Arrowwood-Mashburn Baseball Field This approval would allow the city's parks and recreation department to apply for a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant to replace the Arrowood-Mashburn baseball field's lighting system The project will be funded by $40,000 of city capital improvement funds and $40,000 from the state's grant match. The city will also be holding community input sessions Saturday and Monday as part of the grant's requirements. Proposal for design of water line project City leaders will consider approving a proposal from Thompson & Litton to design a plan for new water lines, a 500,000 gallon water storage tank and a water booster station along Dry Creek Road. The approval would allow the firm to provide a design for the project and would allow the city to move forward with construction bids. The project is jointly funded by Washington County and Johnson City. Bids and purchases Bids on the consent agenda include an $800,000 per year budgeted city public works crushed stone contract and a tire recapping contract for the city's fleet management department. Under purchases, the commission will also consider a $555,000 contract for water clarification chemicals for Watauga and Unicoi water treatment plants, which represents a 3% increase from the price the city is currently paying per pound of chemicals, according to a February memo included in the commission agenda. Other purchases for consideration include a 10% contract increase over the next two years for a tax and revenue planning system and a Johnson City Schools request for ViewSonic Interactive displays for Science Hill High School. Commissioners tabled the school system's request at their last board meeting. Other items on the agenda An ordinance to rezone a 1.26 acre parcel at 2590 Peoples Street to accommodate a restaurant or other potential uses is on first read for commissioners. The planning commission passed this proposal unanimously at its last meeting. The developer on the project, Bryan Sangid, is also working to split up a 52-acre parcel on Claude Simmons Road. Sangid's Claude Simmons application was most recently deferred by the planning commission in response to public upset from the area's surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Greg Cox will present two proclamations: one to commemorate the BIG South Basketball Tournament that began Tuesday and the other to honor Tennessee Day of Hope. Additionally, city staff will announce the closure of the following roads for the Shamrock Shuffle 5K, which will take place Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Commerce Street, East King Street, Elm Street, East Fairview Avenue, Hale Street, East Myrtle Avenue, West Fairview Avenue and Montgomery Street. For the St. Patrick's Day-themed Main Street Days event on March 14, the city will close East Main Street and parts of Roan Street from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.