Chattanooga City Council – Strategic Planning Meeting Summary
Date: November 4 (time stamps as provided)

1. Call to Order / Approval of Minutes 🇺🇸 (~1:14–1:26)

• Chair Hill opens the meeting; minutes from 8/19 approved without objection.
• Agenda addition announced: update from Chattanooga Area Food Bank after Code Enforcement.

2. Code Enforcement Briefing (~1:32–9:30)
   Presenter: Donna Castile

• Scope of Work
  • Housing/structure violations; litter/overgrowth; inoperable vehicles (private property only).
  • Condemnations; dangerous structure demolition; interior inspections on tenant request.
  • Tow inoperable vehicles from private property; maintain back-tax properties; abate private property; board vacant structures; place liens.
  • Not handled: inoperable vehicles on streets (CPD), chicken issues (McKamey), homeless camps (Homeless Initiatives).
• 1-Year Activity Totals
  • 25 demolitions; 58 boards; 481 back-tax abatements; 1,145 private abatements.
  • 37 vehicles towed; 148 structures condemned; 65 condemned structures repaired.
  • 11,893 violations brought into compliance; 1,937 required court.
• Process & Systems
  • CityView software: receives 311s, schedules inspections, populates notices, stores photos, assigns daily tasks.
• Recent Compliance Tightening
  • No time extensions by inspectors; judge may grant.
  • Increased daily fines supported by Judge Patty.
  • Abating occupied properties now permitted by court order.
  • Vacant property abatements proceed without court (notice + posting).
• Required Timelines
  • Public nuisance (vacant property) → 10 days to comply.
  • Occupied properties → 10 business days (litter/overgrowth/vehicles), 30 business days (structural).
  • Demolition hearings require 30-day notice + 60-day wait for possible injunction.
• District Blitz Inspections (Systematic Sweeps)
  • Entire inspection team works 2 days in district.
  • Yellow/blue tags posted; reinspection after 2 or 6 weeks.
  • Occupied properties → court; vacant → start abatement.

3. Council Q&A (Selected Themes) (~9:30–52:07)

Councilwoman Doyle

• Occupied property abatements: used in hoarding cases; vendors clean property; inspector onsite; police involvement as needed; liens placed.
• Inoperable vehicles: 2-week window; owner must demonstrate vehicle runs (forward/back/reverse); then case closed. Non-compliance → court → possible tow order → tow company keeps/sells unclaimed vehicle.
• Demolition hearings: handled by Judge Jim Exum.

Councilwoman Burrs

• Vacant commercial properties: included if in disrepair; example: old church at 2003 Wilcox.
• Blitz verification: tags posted + mailed notices to owner if addresses differ.

Councilman Elliot

• Asks about timeline for proposed reforms and enforcement enhancements.
• Discussion of converting fines to liens; demolition hearings as strongest current tool.
• Multidisciplinary “Operation Better Neighbor” ongoing; slow legal process.

Administration (Gore/Mayoral staff)

• $50 statutory fine cap explained; raising it requires statewide referendum.
• Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) can issue higher civil penalties; city expanding use.

Councilwoman Null

• Hardship concerns: many residents cannot afford repairs; asks about opt-out for blitz (yes).
• Covered vehicles: tarps do not exempt; visibility from adjoining property counts.

Councilman Henderson

• Asks about placing civil penalties on tax bills; legal staff says ordinance change required; nuances being reviewed.
• Abatement liens already appear on tax bills.

Councilman Clark

• Raises idea of eminent domain for chronic non-compliance (discussion to continue in Operation Better Neighbor).
• Blitz issues: cross-referencing 311 to avoid tagging properties already awaiting pickup.
• asks what items inspectors prioritize (litter, overgrowth, inoperable vehicles; discretion on housing issues).
• Rainsmart enforcement: verification handled primarily by Rainsmart specialists; code has received updated training + mapping.

Councilman Elliot (additional)

• Asks about a formal hardship process; legal notes inspectors must enforce equally; judge has discretion to extend, reduce, or dismiss.

Chair Hill (wrap-up)

• Notes citywide 11,893 violations resolved vs. 1,937 requiring court.
• Codes conversation to continue later.

3. Chattanooga Area Food Bank Presentation 🍎 (~52:26–1:10:03)
   Presenter: Melissa Blevens, President & CEO
   With: Lori Bell (Chief Impact Officer), Corey Ebbott (Data Insights Director)

• Food Bank Overview
  • Serves 20 counties; 7,000 sq. miles; 200 partners.
  • 20M lbs food/year → 17M meals; 38% of activity in Hamilton County.
  • Major local sites: Amnicola HQ + Foxwood Food Center (Willcox Blvd).
  • School/mobile programs active (East Side, Clifton Hills, etc.).
• SNAP Disruption (Federal)
  • 10,000 Hamilton County households affected; benefits stopped Nov 1.
  • SNAP provides 9 meals for every 1 meal the food bank provides → impossible to fully replace.
  • Federal processing expected to take weeks/months; even restored funds estimated at 50% of needed amount.
• Emergency Response (launched Oct 20)
  • Extended Foxwood hours to 6 PM; increased volunteers & staffing.
  • Waived fees for partner agencies; expanded purchased food supply.
  • Truckload purchasing accelerated; $5M yearly in purchased goods.
• Immediate Impact Snapshot (Foxwood, Nov 4)
  • 246 families last year → 33% increase this year.
  • Children served → 52% increase.
• Projected Ripple Effects
  • Continued strain on families for months.
  • Food bank supply shortages expected Jan–Mar due to stalled USDA orders.
  • Grocery retailers also impacted by SNAP loss.
  • Food bank currently committing up to $500,000 in emergency costs.
• Community Requests
  • Direct residents to “Find Food” locator.
  • Volunteers urgently needed.
  • Cash donations have highest impact.

4. Council Discussion: SNAP Response (~1:03:37–1:10:03)

• Councilman Elliot: proposes exploring city funds to prepare for worst-case scenario; notes helpful SNAP mapping from staff.
• Councilwoman Dotley: District data reviewed; praises food bank rapid mobilization; supports collaboration and possible funding.
• Councilwoman Null: asks about county funding history (recently restored). Requests clarity on city’s current involvement.
• Chair Hill: suggests exploring use of city staff time to assist food bank operations; concerned about scale of emergency.
• Administration: confirms coordination with food bank and reviewing timing/needs before presenting any funding request.
• Council consensus: remain prepared; await administration proposal; urgency acknowledged.

5. Adjournment (~1:10:03)

• Meeting recessed with plan to reconvene for regular session.

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