Tenn. Code § 7-90-104
Any number of natural persons, not fewer than three (3), each of whom are duly qualified voters of the municipality, may file with the governing body of the municipality an application in writing seeking permission to apply for the incorporation of a medical school authority of such municipality. 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 and approves the form of corporate charter proposed to be used in organizing the authority, then the persons making such application shall execute, acknowledge and file a charter for the authority as provided in § 7-90-106. No authority may be formed unless such application has first been filed with the governing body of the municipality and the governing body has adopted a resolution as provided in this section.
T.C.A. § 7-90-104