6 December 2007 Lighting of the City Christmas Tree is Tonight The tree lighting ceremony for the City of Franklin will be this evening at 6:00 PM on the downtown square. The tree, a Blue Spruce, was donated by the Pratt family and came from the Tywater property on Downs Boulevard. The chorus from Liberty Elementary School, under the direction of Mr. Bobby Vines, will provide the entertainment. Santa Claus is also scheduled to make an appearance. Decorated Christmas wreaths, prepared by the Sister Cities board, are currently on display inside city hall and can be purchased before the tree lighting ceremony. For more information please call 550-6606. Dickens of a Christmas this Weekend Dickens of a Christmas on Franklin's Historic Main Street brings the joy and charm of an old-fashioned Victorian Christmas recreated from the pages of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and other tales. Hours for the festival are 10:00am to 5:00pm Saturday, and noon to 5:00pm Sunday. In addition to more than 200 costumed characters on the street, there are Victorian-themed performances throughout the event. Characters from Dickens' stories interact with visitors. Scrooge bellows his "Bah! Humbug" while the Cratchit Family parades the streets with Tiny Tim. Ghosts of Christmas Past and Future make regular appearances. Urchins under the direction of the nefarious Fagin from Dicken's Oliver pester English Bobbies (who are actually Franklin Police Officers on duty in costume!). Father and Mother Christmas delight children. Victorian treats abound, from authentic fish 'n' chips to turkey legs, plum puddings, roasted chestnuts and sugarplums. A holiday bazaar arts & crafts area encircles the Public Square, where horse drawn carriages allow visitors to see Historic Downtown Franklin at a slower pace. For more information about Dickens of a Christmas, see www.historicfranklin.com. Transportation from Monday, 12/3 1. I was selected to continue as Transportation chairman with Ken Moore as vice chairman 2. Agreed with staff recommendation to revise the stop sign controls at the intersection of Westerly Drive at Harwick Drive in McKay's Mill 3. Agreed to hold a special transportation summit in January when it can be arranged by staff 4. Recommended agreement with Pearl Street Partners to re-engineer South Carothers Parkway on the Lockewood property 5. Recommended changing the scope of work on the Hillsboro Road improvement project to combine the current three phases into one project, and discussed costs at length 6. Consideration to change the scope of work on Carothers Parkway, phase II, will be forwarded to BOMA without a recommendation. Staff recommends building a local road between Huffines Ridge Road and Carothers parkway; the committee is split on this request 7. Recommended ordinance authorizing condemnation for acquisition of right-of-way and easements for construction of the Long Lane/Old Peytonsville Road connector across I-65 8. Recommended resolution authorizing the Engineering Department to negotiate with TDOT regarding approval of an underpass for the Long Lane/Old Peytonsville Road connector 9. Agreed to allow staff to set a date for public hearing on the Columbia Avenue TPR project   BOMA for Tuesday, 12/11 Consideration of notice of vacancy in the third ward alderman position pursuant to the City Charter, Article IV, Section 5 (c) Old Business 1. Final reading on ordinance to rezone 7.13 acres from Planned Commercial (PC) to Planned Office (PO) and approve the concept plan for Carothers Professional Center, located south of Liberty Pike between Edward Curd Lane and Carothers Road 2. PUBLIC HEARING:  Consideration of ordinance to rezone 2.72 acres from Interstate Commercial (IC) to Planned Commercial (PC) and approve the concept plan for The Carrington, located on Riverside Drive. 3. PUBLIC HEARING:  Consideration of ordinance to rezone 6.52 acres from Estate Residential (ER) to Planned Commercial (PC) and approve the concept plan (7007 Moores Lane) located along Moores Lane 4. PUBLIC HEARING:  Consideration of ordinance to annex the McEwen Drive Eastern Extension, consisting of 55.00 Acres, located east of the existing McEwen Drive Terminus at Wilson Pike     5. PUBLIC HEARING:  Consideration of ordinance to Zone 50.69 Acres (McEwen Drive Eastern Extension) to Estate Residential District (ER), located east of the terminus of McEwen Drive at Wilson Pike       6. Consideration of ordinance to add New Section 14-202 to Chapter 2, Title 14, of the Franklin Municipal Code to adopt fees for the Franklin Planning Review Process           7. PUBLIC HEARING:  Consideration of ordinance to delay effective date of Ordinance 2006-75, Zoning Ordinance, to provide an effective date of July 1, 2008      8. Consideration of Professional Services Agreement with Camp Dresser McKee for Engineering Services for Jordan Road Reconstruction Design New Business 1. Consideration of ordinance to add new Section 14-203 to Chapter 2, Title 14 of the Franklin Municipal Code to authorize the City Planning Director to adopt Administrative Regulations 2. Ordinance to rezone 36.8 acres from Agricultural (AG) to Residential Variety (RX) and approve the concept plan (Rizer Point) located on Del Rio Pike 3. Consideration of ordinance to amend the budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 to reflect certain year end audit adjustments 4. Consideration of ordinance to amend the budget for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 5. Consideration of ordinance to amend Sections 18-106 And 18-107 of the Franklin Municipal Code to increase the Water Installation Fee, Water Access Fee and Water Development Fee, to define Irrigation Meters and to amend Section 18-129 to increase Water User Rates 6. Consideration of ordinance to Amend Sections 18-206 and 18-207 of the Franklin Municipal Code to increase the Sewer Installation Fee, Sewer Access Fee and Sewer System Development Fee and to amend Section 18-210 concerning the Sewer Service Charge 7. Consideration of Transportation items listed above 8. Consideration of construction bid award for the Franklin Police Department Headquarters Building to R.G. Anderson Company - this bid is nearly 1.7 million under budget 9. Establish a special BOMA meeting date of December 18, 2007 Water and Wastewater 1. Consideration of bid award for Phase II of the Goose Creek Interceptor Pump Station and Transmission Lines to Garney Companies Inc. of Kansas City 2. Consideration of agreement with Jackson Thornton for Professional Services related to Revenue Requirements Analysis and Cost of Service Study 3. Consideration of Professional Services Agreement from Metcalf & Eddy for the Water System Quality Evaluation and Recommendation Project 4. Consideration of Sanitary Sewer Availability for the Discount Tire Project located in Crossroads South Business Park 5. Acknowledge receipt of Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Franklin Water Treatment Plant Appointments and Nominations     BOMA will also consider nominations and appointments from Mayor Schroer to the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission, Williamson County Solid Waste Board, Williamson County Water & Wastewater Authority, Employee Pension Board, Franklin Transit Authority, Tree Commission, Historic Zoning Commission, Streetscape Enhancement Advisory Committee, Sister Cities Board, Industrial Development Board, Community Development Block Grant Board, and the Art Jury.   Tywater Property Development Proposal Last night nearly one hundred residents in the area surrounding the Tywater property were introduced to a residential development proposal from Pearl Street Partners. This proposal is for the 30 acres on the west side of Downs Boulevard, and seeks approval for 89 single family residential units.  This application will be on the planning commission agenda for December 20. The developer requested your comments concerning this proposal - Khris Pascarella can be reached at 372-0683 or by email at kpascarella@pearlstreetpartners.com