CIVIC REPORTER SUMMARY — Chattanooga City Council — Nov. 4, 2025

1. Call to Order / Invocation / Pledge 🇺🇸

• Meeting opened by Chair Marvene Noel.
• Invocation delivered by a pastor.
• Pledge of Allegiance completed.

2. Special Presentations

• Mayor Tim Kelly recognized Heather Hamson, Director of the Youth & Family Development Center; praised her work and longevity with the city.

3. Approval of Minutes

• Minutes approved with no objections.

4. Current Agenda Review 📄

• No changes requested.

5. Next Week’s Agenda Review 📄

• Walk-through of the Nov. 11 agenda.
• Council asked for time to review changes to two items and consult with City Attorney.

6. Department Report — Housing & Community Investment

• Jeff Brewer, Administrator
  • Outlined consolidation of HCI + Homeless Services into one division.
  • Focus areas:
    • Improve homelessness response through prioritization and coordination.
    • Align investments with need.
    • Increase access to housing with supportive services.
    • Reduce population flow into homelessness.
  • Budget overview:
    • Median household income trending up vs. inflation.
    • Chronic adult homelessness rising (to be addressed with new data).
    • Emphasis on outcomes-based funding.

7. Committee Sessions

• Planning & Zoning Committee – Councilwoman Coonrod
  • Reviewed items for current and upcoming agendas.
  • Zoning cases briefed by Planning Staff (detailed in Ordinances below).
• Economic Development Committee – Councilwoman Berz
  • TIF update scheduled for next week.
  • No further actions today.
• Parks & Public Works Committee – Councilwoman Hill
  • No meeting held; business scheduled for Nov. 18.

8. Ordinances — Final Reading (Zoning) 🏘️

8.1 Curtis Street → R-2

• Staff: No opposition; meets compatibility.
• Motion: Approve.
• Outcome: Passed.

8.2 Willcox Blvd → M-1

• Staff: Consistent with industrial corridor.
• Public: No opposition.
• Outcome: Passed.

8.3 Jarvis Ave → C-5

• Staff: Supports adaptive reuse.
• Outcome: Passed.

8.4 Wilcox + Accessory → R-2

• Clarified two-parcel boundary errors; corrected map discussed.
• Outcome: Passed.

8.5 Willow Street (TRN-2)

• Staff: TRN-2 appropriate for neighborhood context.
• Outcome: Passed.

8.6 Bonny Oaks Dr. → M-1

• Discussion: Clarification of parcel size and adjacency.
• Outcome: Passed.

9. Ordinances — First Reading (Zoning) 🏘️

9.1 Anderson Ave → R-2

• Presenter (Applicant): Seeking consistent residential zoning.
• Resident Opposition:
  • Concerns about property sale intentions, absentee ownership, demolition, neighborhood impact.
• Applicant rebuttal:
  • Demolition was safety-related; intent is residential.
• Council Questions: Prior costs, intent, community concerns.
• Outcome: Deferred 2 weeks.

9.2 Magnolia St → TRN-3

• Staff: Fits area; supports increased housing options.
• Resident: Concerns about density and parking.
• Outcome: Passed on 1st reading.

9.3 Willow Street (2 parcels) → TRN-2

• Technical correction of parcel boundaries.
• Outcome: Moved forward.

10. Floodplain Ordinance Update 🌧️

• Dan Grier, PW:
  • FEMA-required updates; adoption deadline Dec. 30.
  • Adds regulatory floodway definitions; maintains current elevation standards (no increase).
  • Council Questions:
    • Hill: Concerns about exemptions for existing lots and increased building allowance.
    • Moses (City Attorney): Clarified conditional use vs. matter-of-right.
    • Data request: Buildable lots count under old vs. new ordinance; staff to return with analysis.

11. Resolutions

11.1 Northgate Mall Redevelopment TIF 🏗️

• Administration:
  • TIF structure fits multifamily + retail redevelopment.
  • With TIF: ~2.5M sqft redeveloped; Without: only ~800K sq ft.
• Council Questions:
  • Berz: Requested clearer chart comparing with/without TIF.
  • Calloway/Chapman: Storefront orientation, street grid breakdown, Marlin Road frontage.
  • Isom: Precedent concerns for retail TIFs.
  • Placer (Senior Advisor): Explained risk mitigation, but-for test, infrastructure scope.
• Outcome: Deferred review continued next week.

11.2 Noise Ordinance Addition

• Adds noise measurement section.
• Outcome: Passed.

12. Purchases

• Several Public Works and Fleet contracts approved unanimously.

13. Emergency Purchases

• None.

14. Public Comments 🎤

1. David Stan Enhart (~Enterprise South)

• Concerns about large facility impacts.
• Questioned council oversight.
• Worried about future expansions and neighborhood effect.

2. Marcus Ray

• Cited homelessness crisis.
• Advocated for leadership accountability.
• Requested focus on relief strategies.

3. Jenny Thompson

• Concerned about corporate incentives.
• Requested transparency.
• Opposes overuse of TIF.

4. George Martin

• Raised issue of wages & affordability.
• Encouraged living-wage requirements.
• Asked city to consider worker impact in incentives.

5. Sandra Lucas

• Asked council to reconsider food tax.
• Stated impact on low-income families.
• Advocated restoring tax relief.

15. Adjournment

• Meeting closed without further business.

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