5/6/25 Chattanooga City Council Meeting

Chattanooga City Council Meeting Summary - May 6, 2025

Overview:

  1. Special Proclamation (4:43–7:16):
    • Presented by Anthony Sammons for Older Adults Month (May 2025).
    • Recognized the Mayor’s Council on Livability and Aging (MCLA), established in 2018, for improving resources for Chattanooga’s aging population (5:05–6:46).
    • Highlighted: 17.16% of Chattanooga’s population are older adults, expected to exceed 20% by 2030; Chattanooga is an AARP livable community promoting aging in place.
    • Signed by Mayor Tim Kelly and Chairwoman Hill.
  2. Minutes Approval (7:16–7:22):
    • Unanimously approved without objection.
  3. Agenda Review (7:29–14:49):
    • Final Reading Ordinances:
      • Transportation: One item amending speed limits on through streets (7:49).
      • Planning: Two items in District 5 (zoning changes at 4281 Webb Road and 4326 Bonnie Oaks Drive), taken as a package with Councilman Clark’s approval (8:00–8:12).
    • First Reading Ordinances:
      • Public Works/Wastewater: Three ordinances amending private property responsibility, overgrowth, and minimum service charges (8:19–8:30).
    • Resolutions:
      • Council Office: Two reappointments (Jacqueline Simpson, Alan Cohen to Community Advisory Committees, District 9), taken as a package (8:37–9:00).
      • Economic and Community Development: Two resolutions for the 2025–2029 Housing and Community Investment Consolidated Plan and CDBG/Home funds distribution (~$2.495M) (9:05–9:18).
      • Finance: EPB bond issuance (up to $160M) (9:24–9:31).
      • Mayor’s Office: Three appointments (Alma Smith, O’Neal Matthews, Megan Plac to various boards), taken as a package (9:31–9:45).
      • Public Works: Change order for City Hall Annex improvements and waiver of EV charging fees at 217 East 10th Street (9:45–9:52).
      • Police: Grant application for 2025 Police Reform and Equitable Justice ($100,000) (9:57–10:02).
    • Pulled Item:
      • Councilman Elliot requested pulling planning case 2025-0036 off the table for next week’s agenda (10:02–10:32).
    • Purchases:
      • Two purchases: Fire Department forklift ($59,400.38) and Facilities renewal with 10% price increase ($732,000 annually) (10:38–11:06).
    • Next Week’s Agenda (11:12–14:49):
      • Includes planning ordinances, resolutions for appointments, economic development, human resources (egg policy changes), and public works (Riverfront Nights fee waiver).
      • Councilwoman Dotley requested info on an economic development item’s impact on the One Riverfront Plan and River City Company coordination (13:38–13:58).
      • Public safety: Recognition of two retiring service dogs (14:13–14:37).
      • Committee Change: Equity and Community Development meeting postponed to June 10 (11:30–11:54).
  4. Budget and Finance Committee (15:10–42:12):
    • Chaired by Councilwoman Dotley, minutes approved (15:16–15:23).
    • Resolution:
      • Approved ninth supplemental resolution for $160M EPB revenue bonds (15:23–15:46).
    • FY26 Budget Presentation (16:01–42:12):
      • Presented by Kevin Roy (Chief of Staff), Mandy Green (COO), and Weston Porter (Deputy Administrator for Finance).
      • Key Points:
        • Balanced budget of $345M (revenues: 57% property taxes, 21% local sales tax; expenditures: 59% to police, fire, public works) (36:10–38:02).
        • 3% revenue growth (~$8.75M), with over half reinvested in employees (COLA, step increases) (25:09–25:20, 28:50–29:01).
        • Challenges: 22% cumulative inflation since 2020, reduced federal funding (ARPA), and pay disparity for sworn officers (to be addressed via future amendment) (22:17–23:08, 19:01–19:52).
        • Operational Priorities: Expand victim services, mental health response, fire equipment maintenance, police/fire recruitment (new CPD positions), in-house public works, AI pothole scanner, and workforce development (26:05–31:43).
        • Capital Budget: $41.5M for bonds, $7M for landfill expansion to address capacity issues (33:17–34:22).
        • Non-recurring revenue funds external agencies outside four-year RFP contracts (34:34–35:27).
        • Fiscal discipline: Vacancy reviews, PTO liability management, and health care cost smoothing (30:04–31:07).
      • Next Steps:
        • Budget education sessions on May 13 and May 20 (9:00 a.m., public), public hearing on May 20, first reading on June 3, final reading on June 10 (41:21–41:48).
        • Budget book available online and in print (41:48–42:07).
  5. Planning and Zoning Committee (42:52–1:13:35):
    • Chaired by Councilwoman Burrs, minutes approved (43:16–43:34).
    • Final Reading Ordinances:
      • Two District 5 zoning changes (4281 Webb Road, 4326 Bonnie Oaks Drive), discussed separately due to conditions on one (43:53–45:56).
    • Next Week’s Agenda:
      • Four zoning cases, one ordinance amendment (47:30–47:36).
      • Cases with Opposition:
        • 920 Forest Avenue (District 2): Rezone from RN3 to TRN3 for single-unit detached residences. Opposition due to no development plan, tree coverage, slopes, and nuisance concerns. Staff recommends TRN3 for urban standards but notes RN13 as an alternative with setback amendments (47:55–55:27).
        • Lifting conditions on a 1995 manufacturing zone property (District 5): Replaces landscaping conditions with new ordinance standards (30-ft buffer). Opposition from adjacent resident addressed by confirming landscaping retention (55:36–57:23).
      • Cases without Opposition:
        • South Broad: Rezone from CMU1 to CMU2 for increased height, compatible with area precedent (57:29–57:46).
        • Reggie White Boulevard (District 7): Change form-based code to urban commercial mixed-use (six stories) for a 90-unit residential/commercial project, aligned with plan (57:53–59:27).
      • Ordinance Amendments (59:47–1:13:35):
        • Short-term vacation rentals: Clarify that rentals cannot exceed 25% of units in multi-unit developments to prevent hotel-like use in residential zones. Caption corrected from “can” to “cannot” (1:00:30–1:07:38).
        • Institutional zone: Add urban setbacks for urban overlay areas (e.g., hospitals, UTC) (1:08:09–1:08:56).
        • Heavy industrial zone (IH): Retain prior M1 uses for existing properties but limit new rezonings to industrial uses (1:09:02–1:10:24).
        • Definitions: Update commercial parking, vehicle operation facilities, non-conforming lots, and tree setback requirements for clarity and enforcement (1:10:37–1:11:42).
      • Resolution:
        • Waive fees for EV charging at 217 East 10th Street parking lots during evenings/weekends (1:12:32–1:13:15).
      • Resources:
        • Guides on zoning classifications, land use, equivalency, and setback tables to be sent to council (46:40–47:15).
      • Pulled Item:
        • Councilman Elliot confirmed pulling case 2025-0036 for next week’s agenda (1:11:48–1:12:17).
  6. Resolutions and Ordinances Approved (1:44:19–1:55:20):
    • Final Reading:
      • Transportation: Amended speed limits (1:44:37–1:45:03).
      • Planning: Packaged zoning changes for 4281 Webb Road (RN16 to RN15) and 4326 Bonnie Oaks Drive (RN16 to CN) (1:45:09–1:46:16).
    • First Reading:
      • Public Works: Amended private property responsibility, overgrowth, and minimum service charges (1:46:21–1:47:25).
    • Resolutions:
      • Council Office: Reappointed Simpson and Cohen (1:47:32–1:48:27).
      • Economic and Community Development: Approved 5-year housing plan and CDBG/Home funds (Chair abstained, 8-0) (1:48:34–1:49:35).
      • Finance: Approved $160M EPB bonds (1:49:45–1:50:25).
      • Mayor’s Office: Appointed Smith, Matthews, Plac (1:50:31–1:51:23).
      • Public Works: Approved City Hall Annex change order ($269,121.96 increase) and EV charging fee waiver (1:51:29–1:53:11).
      • Police: Approved grant application for $100,000 (1:53:18–1:54:20).
      • Planning: Pulled case 2025-0036 for May 13 agenda (1:54:27–1:55:06).
  7. Purchases (1:55:20–1:56:18):
    • Approved: Fire Department forklift ($59,400.38) and Facilities renewal with 10% increase ($732,000 annually).
  8. Committee Reports (1:56:23–1:58:14):
    • Budget and Finance (Dotley): Reminder of May 13 budget education session (1:56:30–1:56:44).
    • Planning and Zoning (Burrs): Thanked staff, noted resources for council (1:56:50–1:57:02).
    • Parks and Public Works (Davis): Meeting scheduled for May 13 at 3:30 p.m. (1:57:09–1:57:15).
    • Equity and Community Development (Clark): Postponed to June 10 (1:57:22–1:57:29).
    • Strategic Planning (Hill): Praised productive session (1:57:35–1:57:52).
    • Legislative (Null): No report (1:58:01–1:58:14).
  9. Public Comments (1:58:25–2:19:43):
    • Technology Services Concerns:
      • Tim Morland (DTS, 15 years): Criticized lack of transparency in digital transformation plan (26 new positions, 9 eliminations), causing anxiety among staff (1:59:35–2:02:24).
      • Daniel Dufour (DTS, Open Data): Questioned logic of reducing staff while adding 30+ positions (2:02:38–2:04:02).
      • Aaron Welsh (former DTS IT Security Director): Highlighted leadership failures, unaddressed cybersecurity risks (e.g., utility plan deficiencies, data breach affecting 100,000+ individuals), and restrictions on communication (2:04:11–2:07:06).
    • Support for Unhoused Initiatives:
      • Anna Gay (District 8): Thanked Harvey and Davis for prioritizing low-barrier shelters and homelessness solutions, offered support (2:07:18–2:08:50).
    • General Comments:
      • Edward Green Jr.: Praised council cohesion but questioned transparency in DTS layoffs and time transfer rules (2:08:58–2:10:10).
      • Monty Bell: Alleged constitutional violations by the chief of staff, threatened legal action against municipalities for $211B, cited false claims (2:10:27–2:13:28).
      • Josh Brandham/Jacamo Mogan (Greater Chattanooga Realtors): Announced $20,000 in scholarships for five students in 2025 (2:13:47–2:15:48).
      • Lee Randall: Supported government transparency (2:15:59–2:16:41).
    • Council Responses:
      • Elliot: Expressed empathy for DTS staff, acknowledged their underpaid service (2:16:48–2:18:01).
      • Clark: Urged HR to prioritize human dignity in restructuring, trusted administration’s intent but stressed better communication (2:18:01–2:19:38).

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