Chattanooga City Council Summary – October 28, 2025
(Agenda Meeting • Budget & Finance Committee • Business Meeting)

1. Call to Order 🇺🇸 (~6:15)
   • Chairwoman Noel opens meeting; hybrid attendance noted
   • Pledge & Invocation led by Councilman Clark
   • Invocation delivered by Minister Janice Shireen Smith (District 5 Chaplain)
    – Encouragement to remain vigilant
    – Prayer for wise decisions, compassion for vulnerable residents, and national blessing

2. Acknowledgment to CPD (~9:48)
   Chairwoman Noel
   • Offers gratitude to CPD for highly professional escort and support during Councilman Leamon Pierce’s funeral
   • Notes full procession control from MLK to Market St.; praises respect and precision

3. Approval of Minutes (~11:27)
   • Minutes approved unanimously; no discussion

4. Current Agenda Review (~12:03)

Public Works – Traffic Signal Engineer Contract (Item 9E)
Councilman Elliott
• Questions $145k contract for one-year engineering role
• Raises concern: pay disparity between contractors vs. in-house staff
• Suggests a wage comparison study to avoid long-term staffing gaps

Staff Response – Darren & Phil
• Contract is for one year; intent is to eventually hire full-time
• Total contract amount: $145,600

Councilman Elliott
• Notes traffic safety uptick in District; stresses need for retention and competitiveness

Councilman Clark
• Suggests possible deferral for more info

5. Wastewater – Biosolids & Landfill Use (~18:24)
   Councilman Elliott questions bio-solids disposal and history of methane-to-energy plans.

Mark (Wastewater)
• Technology for methane conversion not yet operational; update coming in committee
• 40% of biosolids digested; remainder lime-stabilized for agricultural use
• Landfill disposal needed only when batches unsuitable (e.g., pH imbalance)
• Additional landfill volume from sewer pipe cleanings under consent decree
• Large cleanouts included MLK siphon & Aquarium Plaza interceptor

6. Emergency Purchase – Heritage Landing Sinkhole (~24:47)
   Councilman Clark
   • Questions link to Aug. 12 flooding; recalls earlier closures
   Brian Smart (Purchasing)
   • Sinkhole formed during Aug. 12 rain event; repair estimated $1.3M
   Darren
   • Clarifies earlier closure was a smaller connecting road; not the same issue

7. Next Week’s Agenda Review (~27:48)
   Councilwoman Dotley – Item I (City Attorney)
   • Clarifies resolution only authorizes advertisement for a future de-annexation public hearing (Dec. 9)

8. Future Considerations (~29:02)

Public Safety Grant Discussion (~29:14)
Councilman Clark
• Seeks clarity on downtown-specific state safety grant vs. second grant tied to zip codes
Assistant Chief Toby
• Confirms two separate grant applications; 2.9M grant referenced applies to specific zip codes
• No city match required

Economic Development – River City Storefront Plan (~32:40)
Councilman Clark
• Requests visuals/strategic plan for $500k storefront improvement initiative
Richard
• Presentation scheduled for next week; includes Neighborhood Corridors Plan + River City project

9. Budget & Finance Committee (~35:23 – 48:12)
   Topic: Research Initiative Proposal – Dr. Chris Auff (UTC)

Purpose
• Long-term revenue & expenditure projections
• Fiscal health benchmarks
• Peer-city trend analysis
• Policy recommendations for sustainable budgeting

Discussion
• Council seeks clarity on recommendations, cost ceilings, and 5-year outlook value
• Members request:
 – MTAS training for newer councilmembers
 – Strategic planning workshop post-report
 – Use report to guide administrative budget presentations

Vote
• Approved: Up to $19,999 for research engagement

10. Business Meeting Resolutions (~1:21:16)

9A – Brown Acres Rental House Lease Renewal
• Approved

9B – North River Commerce Center Economic Impact Plan Amendment
• Approved

9C – EIG Policy Update: On-Call Pay
• Doubles on-call pay; retroactive to July 1, 2025
• Approved

9D – Make-A-Splash Grant (Warner Park)
• 2,000 sq ft Lifefloor tiles donated/installed
• Approved

9E – Insight Global Contract: Traffic Signal Systems Engineer
• One-year contract; goal to hire full-time
• After Q&A, Approved

9F – Landfill Disposal Contract Amendment (Biosolids & Special Waste)
• Extends agreements through Nov. 2026; cap $400k
• Approved

11. Purchases (~1:28:07)
    • Banking & merchant services – est. $350k/yr
    • Province Park playground – $131,990
    • Guardrail installation – up to $80k
    • Firefighter protective gear – est. $500k/yr
    • Emergency Purchase: Heritage Landing repair – $1.331M
    • Sole Source (Advertising) – $25k
    • Sole Source (Lucid Software) – $27,756
    • All Approved

12. Committee Reports (~1:31:03)
    • Budget & Finance – research proposal approved
    • Planning & Zoning – review Oct. Planning Commission items next week
    • Economic Development – presentations next week on Northgate, corridors, storefronts

Chairwoman Noel gives closing remarks on teamwork and gratitude for the opportunity to serve as October chair.

13. Public Comments (~1:36:15)

Topic: Enterprise South Nature Park – Opposition to Proposed Land Swap / Industrial Development

Speakers
Nathan Griffin (5500 Hidden Oaks)
• Co-founder, Save Enterprise South Nature Park
• ~9,000 petition signatures opposing industrial use
• Presents accessibility analysis:
 – ~182,000 residents within 20min of Enterprise South
 – ~5,000 residents within 20min of proposed rural acreage
• Argues McDonald Farm could be preserved without sacrificing ESNP

Elizabeth Hair (5500 Hidden Oaks)
• Co-founder, Save ESNP
• Says land-swap framing is a false choice
• Requests council leadership aligned with National Park City values

Charles Tanner (Hunter Village Dr.; pastor & CPD chaplain)
• Concerned about opaque early discussions
• Urges reconsideration of any prior commitments

Steve Patterson
• New resident attracted by Chattanooga’s green-space identity
• Compares ESNP’s role to Central Park for NYC; warns once parkland is lost, it’s permanent
• Urges council to reject industrial encroachment

14. Adjournment (~1:46:04)
    • Meeting adjourned by unanimous vote

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