12/09/25 Chattanooga City Council Business Meeting

Chattanooga City Council — December 9, 2025
Agenda Session + Business Meeting

  1. Call to Order | Pledge 🇺🇸 | Invocation (~6:37–7:08)
    • Meeting called to order; Councilman Elliott led pledge and invocation.
  2. Public Hearing — Deanexation (Versai Land Development / Chick-fil-A) (~7:14–8:34)
    • Public hearing opened; no speakers present.
    • Hearing closed; no extension needed.
  3. Approval of Minutes (~8:40–8:56)
    • Minutes approved without objection.
  4. Agenda Session — Overview & Planning Items (~9:01–28:21)
    • Final Reading: limited items.
    • First Reading: Internal Audit ordinances (redlines provided).
    • Planning items reviewed with questions and conditions discussed.
    • Item J (Chamberlain Ave, District 9) — Councilman Elliott conditions:
      • 30-ft height limit
        • 8-ft west setback
        • Existing structure remains
        • No front driveway on Chamberlain
        • Site plan to be attached to ordinance
    • Item G (Shallford Rd, District 5) — Councilman Clark:
      • Front parcel removed from rezoning request
        • Remaining rezoning limited to rear parcels
        • Conditions: office, warehouse, lay-down yard only; 45-ft height; 6-ft sight-obscuring fence (floodplain exception)
    • Item H (Bonnie Oaks Dr — Heavy Industrial) — Councilman Clark:
      • Requested deferral for further discussion with applicant
        • Deferred to December 16
    • Item K (City Code / Zoning Amendments) — Councilwoman Burrs:
      • Parking regulation language pulled out
        • Alternate ordinance version requested for vote
    • District 2 Items (Chair):
      • Item D: support approval with conditions
        • Item E: request deferral to March 10, 2026
    • Purchases (Preview)
      • Two purchases; one sole source (underwater drone) noted.
    • Next Week’s Agenda 🗂️
      • Legislative Committee planned
        • CARE Horse Act discussion scheduled (later deferred to January)
  5. Recess (~28:21–56:35)
  6. Business Meeting — Ordinances (Final & First Reading) (~56:35–1:15:58)
    • Final Reading
      • Sewer easement abandonment (Volkswagen Dr) — Approved
    • First Reading — Administrative
      • Audit Committee ordinances (Internal Audit / Whistleblower) — Approved
    • Planning & Zoning Cases 🏗️
      • Ravenia Ln rezoning — Approved
      • 915 Barton Ave (District 2) — Approved w/ conditions
      • 1313 & 1335 Mercer St — Deferred to March 10, 2026
      • Hixson Pike (6112 & 6118) — Approved
      • Shallford Rd (Item G, alternate version) — Approved w/ reduced area + conditions
      • Bonnie Oaks Dr (Item H, Heavy Industrial) — Deferred to Dec. 16
      • Hilltop Dr (conditions amended) — Approved
      • 1309 Chamberlain Ave (Item J) — Approved w/ conditions + updated site plan
      • City Code zoning amendment (Item K, alternate version; parking removed) — Approved
  7. Resolutions 📄
    • Economic Development leases (Cassette Skate Shop; Missionary Ridge NA) — Approved
    • Fraud, Waste & Abuse policy — Approved
    • Form-Based Code Committee appointments — Approved
    • Beer Board hearing officers appointments — Approved
      • Janica Everheart recognized in attendance
    • Public Works:
      • Skate Park change order ($94k) — Approved
        • Solid Waste grant (automated recycling truck) — Approved
  8. Purchases 💰
    • Refuse & recycling transport (4-yr blanket, ≤$775k/yr) — Approved
    • Wastewater generator maintenance increase — Approved
    • Sole Source: Underwater drone for Police Dept ($24,898) — Noted
  9. Committee Reports
    • All council members: No reports
    • Vice Chairwoman Null: Recognition of Mainx24 planning efforts 🎄
  10. Public Comments 🗣️ (~1:24:23–1:38:20)
  • Brianna Williams (District 9)
    • Spoke on food desert in Brainerd
      • Long travel distances to grocery stores
      • Limited transit access
      • Requested city action to attract full-service grocery store
  • Christa Manorino, Signal Centers
    • Family Forward program update
      • 10-year city partnership
      • Teen parent graduation rates (96%)
      • 2,271 individuals served
  • John Wasilowski (Highland Park)
    • Opposed downtown parking minimums
      • Argued parking suppresses density and revenue
      • Supported reducing parking requirements
  1. Council Discussion (Post-Public Comment)
  • Councilman Clark addressed food access efforts
    • Ongoing work groups, TIFF strategies, and mayoral coordination
  • Legislative Committee discussion deferred to January
  1. Adjournment (~1:40:58)

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