4/29/25 Chattanooga City Council Meeting

Chattanooga City Council Meeting Summary - May 6, 2025

Call to Order and Pledge:

Recognition of Jermaine Freeman:

  • Council honored outgoing Chief of Staff Jermaine Freeman for his service across multiple administrations (7:29–26:08).
    • Councilman Henderson: Praised Freeman’s honesty and mentorship, noting his sharp fashion (8:09–9:01).
    • Councilwoman Dotley: Thanked Freeman for guiding her through economic development (TIFs, PILOTs, South Chattanooga projects), appreciated his professionalism despite her colorful approach (10:00–13:14).
    • Councilman Elliot: Noted Freeman’s integrity and poise, recalling their time under Burke administration (13:13–15:37).
    • Vice Chairwoman Null: Called Freeman a “peacemaker,” appreciated his patience with her (15:59–18:08).
    • Councilman Harvey: Acknowledged Freeman’s professionalism in public service (18:49–20:18).
    • Councilman Clark: Highlighted Freeman’s elegance and heart, a product of their shared CSAS education (20:25–23:24).
    • Chairwoman Hill: Valued Freeman’s advice balancing justice and practicality, wished him balance and less takeout (23:29–25:02).
    • Freeman thanked council, noted his CSAS connection with Hill, and valued serving as a public servant (25:36–26:08).

Special Presentation:

  • Birthday recognition for Will O’Harn, sung by council (27:08–27:38). Later, Eric Asbo and Mark Heinders’ birthdays noted (2:41:32).

Ordinances on Final Reading:

  • 7A (Fire): Amended City Code, Chapter 16, adding Sections 16-30 to 16-34 for Chattanooga Fire Department’s emergency powers. Approved unanimously (2:26:40–2:27:10).
  • 7B (Transportation): Closed/abandoned unopened right-of-way in 700 block of Willing Avenue, subject to conditions. Approved unanimously (2:27:17–2:27:45).
  • 7C-D (Planning, Grouped):
    • 7C: Rezoned 7210 Noah Reed Road from RN-16/C-NT to RN-13, subject to conditions. Approved unanimously (2:27:51–2:28:48).
    • 7D: Rezoned 5281 Usher Drive from RN-15 to RN-2. Approved unanimously (2:27:51–2:28:48).

Ordinances on First Reading:

  • Transportation (8A): Amended City Code, Chapter 24, Section 24-502, for speed limit change on Cherokee Boulevard (District 2). Approved unanimously, noted for safety (2:28:54–2:29:34).
  • Planning (8B, Alternate Version 2): Rezoned 4281 Webb Road from RN-16 to RN-15, amended with conditions (max 5 dwelling units/acre, no curb cuts on Webb Road). Approved as amended unanimously (2:29:40–2:32:05).
  • Planning (8C): Rezoned 4326 Bonnie O Drive and parts of 4314/4320 Bonnie O Drive from RN-16 to CN. Approved unanimously (2:32:10–2:33:18).
  • Planning (8D): Rezoned 1500 East 14th Street from RN-15 to TRN-3. Motion to table by Councilman Elliot for further neighborhood discussion, approved unanimously (2:33:26–2:34:38).

Resolutions:

  • Economic Development (9A-B, Grouped):
    • 9A: Authorized license agreement with UTC for Greenway Farm (Tax Map 110-002.01) for UTC Stopover Project, 3-year term with two 3-year renewal options, no cost.
    • 9B: Authorized lease with CARTA for 3937 St. Elmo Avenue (Tax Map 155E-O-011) as a pop-up park, 1-year term with two 6-month renewal options, $1/term.
    • Approved unanimously (2:34:44–2:36:17).
  • Mayor’s Office (9C): Confirmed Mayor Kelly’s reappointment of Terrell James to Community Advisory Committee (Region 10, Washington Hills), term February 22, 2025–February 21, 2028. Approved unanimously (2:36:22–2:36:49).
  • Parks and Outdoors (9D-E):
    • 9D: Authorized application for NEA Grants for Arts Projects ($95,000) for Pops on the River 2026, with $95,000 city match. Approved unanimously (2:36:56–2:37:23).
    • 9E: Authorized application for Tennessee Department of Health Project Diabetes Grant ($150,000) for Stringers Ridge revitalization, 3 years. Approved unanimously despite Clark’s earlier request to defer for review of diabetes/minority community connection (2:37:28–2:37:52).
  • Transportation (9F): Amended Resolution 32433, authorizing change order #3 with Kimley-Horn for transit signal prioritization/right-of-way acquisition ($437,000 increase, total $1,966,900). Approved unanimously (2:38:00–2:38:39).

Purchases:

  • New Purchase: Police Department, 2-year blanket agreement with Scenic City Therapy for mental health services, $129,673 annually. Approved unanimously, with client-patient privilege confirmed (2:38:51–2:39:27).
  • Renewal: Fleet, final renewal for real-time GPS tracking. Approved unanimously (2:39:35–2:39:52).
  • Sole Source Purchases:
    • Wastewater: Water sampling controllers, $22,719.
    • Technology Services: Child Plus software for Early Learning, $30,195 (2:39:58–2:40:11).

Committee Reports:

  • Parks and Public Works (Davis): Meeting scheduled for May 13 (2:40:24).
  • Fire (Harvey): No report (2:40:38).
  • Transportation (Clark): No report (2:40:41).
  • Economic Development (Elliot): No report (2:40:45).
  • Affordable Housing (Dotley): Robust discussion held, budget committee meeting May 6, budget info public online (2:40:51–2:41:10).
  • Planning (Burrs): Planning and zoning meeting next week, noted birthdays for Eric Asbo and Mark Heinders (2:41:18–2:41:46).
  • Vice Chair (Null): No report (2:41:56).

Other Business:

  • Settlements:
    • Destiny Parks (Circuit Court): $46,290.63.
    • Annet and Stanley Jackson (property damage): $71,176.98 (2:42:03–2:42:21).
  • Announcements:
    • No meeting on May 27 (Memorial Day observed) (2:42:29, 2:48:06).
    • FY26 Budget Schedule: Info public May 6, presentation May 13 (9:00 AM–2:00 PM), second session May 20 (9:00 AM–12:30 PM), public hearing May 20 (3:30 PM), first reading June 3, final reading June 10 (2:48:20–2:49:44).
  • Agenda Discussion:
    • May 13 Public Works (Wastewater): Three ordinances (A-C). Ordinance C corrects overbilling for condos with oversized water meters. A clarifies stormwater vegetation height; B simplifies private property inspections (1:37:49–1:42:13). Deferred to May 13 for redline versions and discussion (1:43:02).
    • EPB Refinance (Finance): Ninth supplement, $160 million, refinancing 2015 bonds (5% to ~3.6%), saving ~$7 million, 15-year term, no new debt. Compared to seventh supplement ($75 million, unrelated) (1:44:24–1:47:22).
    • Parks Donation Clarification: Ross’s Landing item corrected from donation to fee waiver (1:50:02).
    • Economic Development: Requested list of 15 parcels for quitclaim deeds and surplus land bank properties (1:50:32–1:51:09).

Affordable Housing Committee (51:44–2:35:35):

  • Presentation by Sandra Gober: Overview of 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025–26 Action Plan for CDBG ($1.6M) and HOME ($860,000) funds, serving low/moderate-income households (80% AMI). Plan (190–400 pages) includes needs assessment, strategic plan, and action plan, with public input via meetings and surveys. Priorities: affordable housing, preservation, public services. Goals: 50 homeowner units, 5 households assisted with down payments, 10,000 public service assists over 5 years (52:15–1:01:13).
  • Key Discussions:
    • Funding Stability (Hill): Gober expressed cautious optimism for 2025–26 but uncertainty beyond due to congressional decisions (1:01:18–1:04:08).
    • Preservation (Henderson): Rental units have 20-year affordability restrictions, homeowner units 5–15 years via deed restrictions. Land bank/community trust discussed (1:07:40–1:09:54).
    • Allocation Process (Elliot): Based on population, housing age, poverty rate. Public input via 5–6 meetings (November–April), advertised via newspaper, mailing lists, website. Internal staff selects applicants based on capacity and criteria, no citizen advisory committee due to restrictive regulations (1:10:00–1:17:11).
    • Contingency Plan (Clark): Nicole Haymon noted no formal plan yet, but city exploring philanthropy, public-private partnerships, PILOTs, zoning incentives, and land bank to offset potential HUD cuts (1:24:05–1:29:41).
    • Public Input Locations (Harvey): Held in low-income census tracts; Harvey requested future meeting in District 4 (1:29:54–1:31:05).
    • Applicant Selection (Harvey): Nonprofits apply via NOFA, vetted for capacity and experience, monitored quarterly (1:31:12–1:32:42).
    • Advertising (Elliot): Via mailing lists, website, neighborhood services; Elliot suggested broader outreach (1:33:01–1:34:39).
  • Recognitions: Sandra Gober honored for Habitat for Humanity work; Nicole Haymon named THDA Director of the Year (1:34:46–1:35:29).

Public Input:

  • Josh Brandham (Greater Chattanooga Realtors): Announced 2025 scholarship recipients, $32,500 awarded since 2022 (2:43:52–2:45:03).
  • Jackie Simpson (District 8): Promoted Chattanooga Ballet/Carver Recreation Center program, benefiting 15 girls with free ballet classes, improving attitudes and engagement. Requested council support to expand to other centers (2:45:10–2:48:25). Null praised turnout and parental involvement, noted vans purchased for District 8 centers (2:48:28–2:48:52).

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