Tennessee Code Title 7. Consolidated Governments and Local Governmental Functions and Entities § 7-65-104

(a) Whenever any number of natural persons, not fewer than three (3), a majority of whom are duly qualified electors of and taxpayers in the municipality, files with the governing body of the municipality an application in writing seeking permission to apply for the incorporation of a parking authority of such municipality, the governing body shall proceed to consider such application. If the governing body, by appropriate resolution duly adopted, finds and determines that it is wise, expedient, necessary or advisable that the authority be formed, authorizes the persons making such application to proceed to form such authority, approves the form of certificate of incorporation proposed to be used in organizing the authority, then the persons making such application shall execute, acknowledge and file a certificate of incorporation for the authority as provided in § 7-65-106.

(b) Any existing parking authority may elect to be governed by this chapter upon application as provided in this section; provided, that provision has been made for the dissolution of such existing parking authority in accordance with the private or special act creating or authorizing the creation of the parking authority. Any such dissolution pursuant to this subsection (b) shall become finally effective only upon the approval of the certificate of incorporation of the authority by the secretary of state and the recording of the certificate of incorporation in the secretary of state's office as provided in § 7-65-106. The authority shall assume the operation of any facilities of the existing parking authority and shall account for any revenues from the existing parking authority in such a manner as not to impair the obligations of contract with reference to any bond issue or other legal obligation of the existing parking authority, and the authority shall fully preserve and protect the contract rights vested in the owners of any such bonds, obligations or contractual interests. The board of directors of such existing parking authority shall be qualified to act as applicant for the creation of an authority, notwithstanding any other provision of this section.

(c) No authority may be formed unless such application shall have first been filed with the governing body of the municipality and the governing body shall have adopted a resolution as provided in this section.