Germantown City Services Guide

CITY SERVICES GUIDE

CITY OF GERMANTOWN CONTACTS

Text POISON to 301-597-7137

SHELBY

GOVERNMENT

The City of Germantown operates under a mayor-council form of government. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) is the legislative body that establishes policies for the orderly and effective delivery of services. The BMA includes the Mayor, who serves as the chief executive; a professional City Administrator, who reports to the Mayor and is responsible for city operations; and five elected Aldermen. More than 25 boards and commissions, staffed by volunteer residents, advise the BMA.

VENDORS

The Procurement Department is the primary contact for vendors, contractors and service providers doing business with the City of Germantown. The department’s goal is to seek qualified businesses that can provide the City with supplies, equipment and services at competitive prices. Find applications and project bidding opportunities at Germantown-TN.gov/Procurement.

HUMAN

The Human Resources Department is responsible for hiring qualified people to serve the citizens of Germantown. Working for the City gives employees personal and professional growth opportunities. Visit Germantown-TN.gov/ Jobs to see current job openings.

The Germantown City Clerk is responsible for keeping the records of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen; attending meetings and keeping minutes; preparing and certifying copies of official records in the office of the City Clerk; and performing other duties assigned by the City Administrator or Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

(For marriage licenses, driver’s licenses or to change or renew car tags)

GERMANTOWN MUNICIPAL COURT

The Germantown Municipal Court handles all traffic offenses, City code violations and arraignments for criminal offenses. The judicial staff consists of two elected part-time judges, a part-time chief prosecutor, several part-time assistant prosecuting attorneys, a public defender and court staff.

751-5690

SAFETY

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL 911. POLICE

DID YOU KNOW?

The GPD has an average emergency response time of 4 minutes or less.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Residents of Germantown are encouraged to get involved by serving on the City’s boards and commissions. Commissioners serve as advisors to staff and elected officials on everything from public safety to neighborhood preservation. To find out how to get involved, visit Germantown-TN.gov/Commissions.

The Germantown Police Department (GPD) is a full-service law enforcement agency that protects the lives and property of the City’s residents.

Police Dispatch Non-emergency

• Maintains radio, telephone and computer communications for police, fire and ambulance

• Handles non-emergency requests for police or fire services

• Addresses animal control issues

Administrative Division

• Manages personnel, policies, equipment and resources

• Handles grants, purchasing, planning and research

Investigations Division

• Investigates all reported offenses

• Handles criminal hotline tips

• Maintains criminal statistics

• Issues warrants

• Manages data entry and internal affairs

Police Services Division

• Handles police and fire communications

• Dispatches police, fire and ambulance personnel

• Manages reserve police officers

• Handles personnel, hiring and training

• Manages special events and community relations

• Manages school resource officers and crossing guards

Uniform Patrol Division

• Handles routine police patrol, preliminary reporting of offenses, traffic enforcement and crash investigations

• Responds to calls for service

757-7338

or *54 from cell

757-7300

757-7320

757-7300

757-7300

CrimeStoppers

754-7222

757-CASH Front Desk 757-7300 Jail Information

DIAL 911 IN CASE OF FIRE EMERGENCY OR TO REQUEST EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE.

More than 99% of 911 calls are answered within 10 seconds.

FIRE

The Germantown Fire Department is a full-service agency that provides fire and emergency medical services. The City of Germantown operates three full-time ambulances staffed with a firefighter paramedic and a firefighter EMT. The department also staffs three back-up ambulances in case of increased call volume.

Primary Services

• Fire suppression

• Emergency medical transport

• Paramedic first response

• Hazardous materials response

• Annual commercial fire inspection

• Fire pre-plan and construction inspection

• Fire code with residential sprinkler ordinance

• Public fire education

• Fire investigations

DID YOU KNOW?

The Germantown Fire Department responds to an average of 5,000 calls per year, 70% of which are medical emergencies.

CITY SERVICES

PUBLIC WORKS

The public works department is responsible for producing clean drinking water and maintaining water production and distribution services. The department also manages the contractor responsible for collecting household trash, recyclable materials and yard debris. Teams of dedicated men and women are responsible for maintaining infrastructure related to streets, street signs and the City’s sewer system. An animal-friendly shelter is operated on the same site.

• Technical rescue, including rope, trench, confined space, water and structural collapse

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for civilians

• Emergency management

• EMS bike/gator patrol for special events

WASTE

The City of Germantown contracts for collection of household waste, recycling materials and yard waste, which are all collected on the same day. All items must be ready for collection by 7 a.m. on the designated day. In weeks that include a holiday, collection may be delayed by one day following the holiday, for the remainder of the week.

WHERE DO I GO TO REQUEST WATER AND GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICES FOR MY HOME? Visit

ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS

Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) provides Germantown’s electricity and natural gas. To arrange residential service, call 820-7878. MLGW is open Monday through Friday for service-related questions.

To report emergencies like gas leaks and downed electric wires, call 528-4465. MLGW employees are available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

ENGINEERING

The Engineering Department provides traffic and civil engineering services, floodplain management and construction inspection services.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Economic and Community Development Department comprises two divisions: Planning and Code Enforcement.

Primary services

• Planning, land use and control

• Zoning and subdivision regulations and ordinances

• Sign ordinance administration

• Code compliance

• Neighborhood services

Planning

The Planning Division makes recommendations about zoning decisions, provides review and guidance for new development, manages long-range policy efforts related to land use and city-wide initiatives, processes administrative requests, such as foundation permits for new single-family home construction and zoning verification letters, supports maintenance of the city’s commercial, institutional and multi-family areas, and offers customer service related to zoning and sign ordinances.

Code Enforcement

757-7281

The City preserves the safety and beauty of its neighborhoods by enforcing ordinances on construction of fences, home additions, detached structures, swimming pools and more. To learn about permit requirements and property maintenance standards, visit Germantown-TN.gov/NeighborhoodServices and follow the applicable links.

BEFORE YOU DIG…

RECREATION

PARKS AND RECREATION

Strengthening the community and creating quality recreation and leisure experiences is the mission of the award-winning Germantown Parks and Recreation Department. Its three divisions are: administration and planning, recreation and park ranger services.

There are plenty of opportunities for Germantown residents to enjoy the outdoors without leaving our city limits. To see a map of the City’s parks, visit Germantown-TN.gov/Parks.

Germantown Greenway, 7250 Wolf River Boulevard

The master plan features 20 miles of continuous linear parkland, running along the south banks of the Wolf River, the power easements on the east and west sides of the City and along the Norfolk Southern Railroad on the south side of the City.

Wolf River Nature Area, 7014 Wolf River Boulevard

These 70 acres serve as a focal point for the Germantown Greenway System. It provides a place for visitors to experience, learn and explore the great outdoors. The site houses seven educational stations. Parking is available at three areas along Wolf River Boulevard.

Forgey Dog Park, 1695 Riverdale Road

Open to members 365 days a year, this park provides large fenced areas for dogs to run, play and socialize. Germantown Park Rangers monitor the area, and large and small breeds enjoy separate spaces.

Riverdale Park, 7345 Neshoba Road

This park is home to Everybody’s Tree House, an innovative playground that enables kids of all ages and abilities to experience nature through play. It features an easy-to-access tree house, swings, slides and gliders. Riverdale Park also hosts a street hockey rink, picnic sites, softball fields and tennis courts.

DID YOU KNOW?

Germantown’s 31 community parks cover 800 acres. There’s a park within approximately ½ mile of every neighborhood.

Tennessee law requires homeowners and contractors to notify the utility company of any excavating or digging. Call Tennessee 811 to have utility lines marked, free of charge.

Neighborhood Parks

• Cone Park, 8831 Poplar Pike

• Depot Park, 2260 West Street

• Dogwood Park, 8970 Ashmere Road

• Farmington Park, 2020 Cordes Road

• Forgey Park, 1695 Riverdale Road

• Fort Germantown, 3085 Honey Tree Drive

• Germantown Station Park, 3061 Laurinburg Circle

• Grove Park, 1610 Hardy Oaks Lane

• Howard-McVay Park, 7335 McVay Road

• Landsdowne Park, 2045 West Arden Oaks Drive

• Morgan Woods Park, 7725 Poplar Pike

• Nashoba Park, 1236 South Germantown Road

• Poplar Estates Park, 1130 Poplar Estates Parkway at Wynterhall Drive

Comprehensive Park Complexes

• Cameron Brown Park, 8626 Farmington Boulevard

• C.O. Franklin Park, 7725 Poplar Pike

• Houston Levee Park, 9777 Wolf River Boulevard

• Johnson Road Park, 2970 Johnson Road

• Municipal Park, 1900 South Germantown Road

Playing Fields and Courts

The Parks and Recreation Department supports an extensive sports program by maintaining and operating 26 tennis courts, three football fields, 14 soccer fields, 15 baseball fields, 11 pickleball courts, five softball fields, a disc golf course and two croquet courts. Four additional areas outside of our City parks have been developed, primarily for team sports.

• Bob Hailey Athletic Complex, 8750 Farmington Boulevard

• Cloyes Park, 2700 Cross Country Drive

• Germantown Soccerplex, 7930 C.D. Smith Road

EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Germantown is a vibrant city that offers a variety of cultural, recreational and kid-friendly activities throughout the year. The events give the City a hometown feel, and they keep citizens connected by creating a sense of community.

Several local organizations sponsor activities. Find out more at Germantown-TN.gov/Events.

Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC)

The mission of GPAC is to serve the community by presenting the highestquality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich and transform. The Center welcomes over 70,000 visitors annually, providing shows in a variety of genres, educational activities for children and rotating visual art exhibits.

The Grove is a dynamic outdoor venue intended to be a reflection of GPAC’s indoor space, aiming at the same level of experience, quality, diversity of talent and educational experiences, presented in a shady setting called the TruGreen Lawn. Find out about upcoming events and shows at GPACweb.com.

Germantown Athletic Club

Having opened in 1990 as a community center, the Germantown Athletic Club has evolved into a state-of-the-art fitness center. But it maintains its roots with an atmosphere of camaraderie and inclusion. Activities are provided for members of all ages, from Zumba and swim classes for kids to the Silver Sneakers® program for seniors and everything in between. For more information about events and programs, visit GermantownAthleticClub.org.

EACH YEAR

More than 3,000 residents participate in the City’s recreational sports leagues.

Germantown Community Library

The 139,000+ print, audio, video and online materials are just the beginning of what the Germantown Community Library has to offer. It’s a favorite spot for residents to gather, engage with one another and learn through exploration. Activities for children include storytime sessions, movie nights and live music. Adults enjoy computer classes, knitting and quilting, genealogy seminars and gardening classes, just to name a few. There are also arts and crafts programs and book clubs for any age. The Germantown Regional History and Genealogy Center serves as a repository and research center for genealogical materials and the Germantown History Collection. Learn more at Germantown-Library.org.

Germantown Parks and Recreation Department

Sponsoring over 30 events every year, Germantown’s nationally accredited Parks and Recreation department is continually working to keep the community engaged. Families can meet, mingle and spend quality time together at events like Pops in the Park, outdoor movies and family campouts. Other activities like the Farm Park farmer’s market, ranger-led nature walks and the Germantown Holiday Parade give residents outdoor opportunities to savor each season. For more, visit Germantown-TN.gov/Parks.

The Germantown Festival

Held each September for more than 40 years, this free two-day festival entertains Mid-Southerners with arts and crafts, children’s activities, rides, games, live shows, car exhibits, community displays, the Running of the Weenies Dachshund race and festival foods for all tastes. Find out more at GermantownFest.org.

The Germantown Charity Horse Show

One of only 20 shows to be designated a United States Equestrian Federation Heritage Competition, the Germantown Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest multi-breed shows in the country and a proud part of Germantown’s heritage. Attendees can watch more than 700 horses and riders from all over the world at this annual event. Visit GCHS.org for more information.

Germantown Neighborhood Associations

Residents enjoy friendship, fellowship, a sense of security and a strong connection to the community by participating in their neighborhood associations. To find a list of these organizations, visit Germantown-TN.gov/Neighborhoods or call 757-7203.

©2023 The City of Germantown.