10/21/25 Chattanooga City Council Business Meeting

CHATTANOOGA CITY COUNCIL — MEETING SUMMARY

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 (Agenda Meeting)
Landscape-Compact Format

1. Call to Order | Pledge 🇺🇸 | Invocation (8:15–9:30)

  • Chair calls meeting to order; thanks attendees (8:15).
  • 🇺🇸 Pledge led by Councilman Harvey (8:40).
  • Invocation by Councilman Harvey (9:01).

2. Council Announcements (9:35–10:37)

  • 🎂 Councilwoman Doyle birthday recognition; applause.

3. Approval of Minutes (10:37–11:03)

  • Minutes approved unanimously.

4. Review of Current Agenda (11:12–20:00 approx.)

4A. Ordinances — Final Reading

(No discussion requested.)

4B. Ordinances — First Reading

City Attorney – Billing & Charges for District Records

  • Councilman Elliott requests background.
  • City Attorney: annual CPI/BLS-indexed increases required by 2023 ordinance.
  • Rates apply to daytime tows only.
  • Council may amend anytime by ordinance.

4C. Resolutions Review

  • No questions under Mayor’s Office, City Attorney, Wastewater, Police.

4D. Purchases Discussion (14:00 approx.)

Technology Services – Gartner Consulting

  • CIO O’Neal explains Gartner provides research + advisory, not hands-on work.
  • Used for evaluating hardware, software, operational improvements.

5. Preview of Next Week’s Agenda (15:37–19:37 approx.)

5A. EIG (Employee Incentive Group) Changes – On-Call / Standby Pay

  • COO Mandy Green:
    • On-call increased from $10/day → $20/day.
    • Standby pay similarly doubled.
    • On-call = employees must remain reachable and available.

5B. Economic Development – North River Commerce Center TIF Amendment

  • Senior Adviser Sherita Allen:
    • Council received full presentation in prior committee meeting.
    • Public hearing held at IDB → approved.
    • County Commission approved.
    • City Council vote scheduled next week.
  • Not related to Northgate; located at Dupont Parkway.

6. Future Considerations Review (20:05–26:49 approx.)

6A. Deannexation – Chick-fil-A Parcel (District 6)

  • Narrow strip next to Chick-fil-A; mostly parking.
  • Adjacent to college property; no “donut hole.”
  • Councilmember has no objection.

6B. Early Learning – Aenddale Head Start Fire Update (21:56)

  • Air quality acceptable; reopening Monday.
  • Insurance companies still coordinating repairs.
  • Repairs expected to be covered by insurance.

6C. Manufacturers Road Development – Rail Crossing Agreements

  • Two agreements:
    • City + Norfolk Southern (city owns ROW).
    • City + Developer (developer reimburses all costs).
  • Developer pays for crossing arms, lighting, safety upgrades.
  • City responsible for long-term maintenance.
  • Legal liability similar to other public crossings.

7. Budget & Finance Committee (27:01–1:07:00)

Budget Forecast Research Initiative – Dr. Akuff

  • Purpose: provide 5-year financial plan, 10-year forecast, fiscal health assessment, peer benchmarking, pension sustainability analysis, and policy recommendations.
  • Funded from Council’s contractual services.
  • Proposed cost: up to $20,000 at $200/hr.
  • Council discussion themes:
    • Need for independent analysis separate from administration.
    • Ability to expand scope beyond January 6 draft.
    • Methodology, pension modeling limitations, forecasting caveats.
    • Use of administrative financial data (administration confirms cooperation).
  • Vote deferred one week at request of a councilmember.

8. Return to Regular Meeting (5:00 PM)

9. Ordinances — Final Reading (1:38:17)

9A. 7A — ROW Closure: Rose Circle

“An ordinance closing and abandoning a portion of the unopened right-of-way in part of the unit block of Rose Circle as detailed on the attached map subject to certain conditions.”

  • Approved

9B–C as Package (District 8)

7B — Sewer Easement Abandonment (East 3rd St.)
7C — Sewer Easement Abandonment (Vine St.)

  • Approved

9D. Magnolia Leaf Lane – Conditions Lifted (Planning)

“Lift conditions from ordinance 11615 (case 2040-154) for properties in 7500–7600 block Magnolia Leaf Lane.”

  • Approved (1 opposition)

9E. Lobo Field Loop Rezoning (IH → OS)

  • Approved (1 opposition)

9F. Tiner Road Rezoning (RN-2 → CC)

  • Approved

9G. STR Overlay Expansion – District 5

  • Adds additional area to STR map.
  • Approved

9H. Form-Based Code Updates — Clarity on Additions + Buffer Yards

  • Approved

10. Ordinances — First Reading

10A. District Records Fees (City Attorney)

Amends City Code §35-160, “Billing and charges for district records.”

  • CPI-index update.
  • Approved

11. Resolutions

Mayor’s Office – Appointments to Form-Based Code Committee (9A–C)

  • Sarah Brogden (reappointment)
  • Javier Peralta Rams
  • Lindsey Wilkkey
  • Approved

City Attorney – Records Policy Update (9D)

  • Revises retention schedule.
  • Approved

NCR Voyix → TSYS Merchant Solutions Contract Assignment (9E)

  • Due to corporate acquisition.
  • Approved

Police (9F)

  • Accept Stanton K9 Foundation grant—new K9 + vest (up to $15,000).
  • Approved

Police (9G)

  • Accept SWAT equipment won as conference door prize ($1,700 value).
  • Approved

12. Purchases

All approved.
Major items include:

  • Emergency lighting packages for police vehicles ($58,710)
  • CAT skid steer for wastewater ($125,639.93)
  • Increase for fleet vehicle purchase order
  • Vendor increases (10.3% / 8%) for fleet renewals
  • Gartner IT research subscription (2-year; $54,443)
  • Name change for Community Health vendor (Chattanooga Cares → Lifespring)

Emergency purchase reported:

  • 69 police workstations due to widespread motherboard failure.

13. Community Reports

Midtown Connect Fall Festival (District 8)

  • Oct 25, Kitchen Incubator, 5–8 PM.

District 5

  • Food City grand opening on Hwy 58; ribbon cutting.
  • Certificate of compliance reissued due to ABC request.

Budget Committee

  • Next week: vote on Akuff research contract.

14. Public Comments (1:56:00)

Speaker 1: Benjamin Fleet (District 2)

  • Reports 29 pedestrian/cyclist strikes in past 3.5 weeks.
  • Requests stronger collaboration between CPD + Public Works + CDOT.
  • Notes CPD warnings about drag racing on Market Street Bridge.

Speaker 2: John LaRoza (District 2)

  • Echoes unsafe street concerns; cites >100 pedestrian/cyclist strikes YTD.
  • Urges road design fixes, especially Market Street Bridge lane diet.
  • Will prepare neighborhood-backed proposal for Council + Mayor.

15. Adjournment

  • Meeting adjourned.

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