7/22/25 Chattanooga City Council Meeting

📅 July 22, 2025 | ⏰ 5:30 PM – 9:05 PM | 📍 City Council Chambers

1. 🇺🇸 Call to Order | Pledge | Invocation (5:42–8:28)

  • Vice Chairwoman Null led pledge & invocation.
  • Chairwoman Hill thanked city maintenance crews. Invocation emphasized respect, kindness, and thoughtful speech.

2. 👤 Special Presentation: Fire & Police Pension Fund (9:02–39:10)

Presenter: Chris Hopkins, Council appointee to Pension Board.

  • Plan type: Defined benefit; ~1,400 participants (Fire & Police only).
  • Unfunded liability: $221M; assets $355M; liability $576M; funded ratio 61.7%.
  • Performance: 11.4% FY return (vs 11.7% benchmark).
  • Discussion:
    • Henderson: questioned low S&P weighting vs long-term benefit.
    • Elliott: raised concern about sustainability of recurring city contributions; called it “structurally unsound.”

3. 📝 Council Procedures (39:17–40:20)

  • Chairwoman Hill publicly apologized to Vice Chair Null for harsh words in budget session; forgiveness exchanged.

4. 📜 Ordinances – Urban Chickens (40:28–57:05, resumed at 2:28:41–2:30:39)

  • Debate:
    • D7 Dooley: supportive, neighbors improving compliance.
    • D8 Null: opposed; motion to exclude District 8 failed (no second).
    • D9 Burrs: mixed views, enforcement issues.
    • D4 Harvey: majority support, enforcement key.
    • D5 Clark: HOAs regulate already, sees ordinance as setting guardrails.
    • D2 Hill: widespread support; suggested 1-year review.
  • Outcome: Ordinance approved 7–2 (Null & Burrs opposed).

5. 🏗️ Public Works & Planning (57:11–1:03:29; resumed 2:27:14–2:32:41)

  • Deferred: District 2 referral → Aug 5.
  • Composting grant: State award; city match $15K.
  • Contracts: Solid waste/Orange Grove extension ($200K).
  • Planning Ordinances Passed:
    • 1614 E 17th St rezoned RN2 → TRN2.
    • New voluntary incentives program added.
    • Randolph St rezoned IH → TRN3.
  • ROW Abandonments:
    • Chamberlain St deferred → Aug 5.
    • 27th St ROW abandoned (approved).
    • N. Crest Rd ROW abandoned (approved).

6. 👮 Police & Fire Resolutions (1:01:26–1:02:32; 2:36:48–2:37:46)

  • Police Grants:
    • Drone as first responder testing ($174,998).
    • Crisis de-escalation training ($119,270).
  • Family Justice Center: DOJ grant up to $500K; $260K to Willow Ben Farms.
  • Special Police Officer Appointment: Joseph Goule (Housing Authority).

7. 💰 Purchases (1:02:40–1:02:52; 2:38:11–2:40:09)

  • Police uniforms: $420K (GT Distributors).
  • Road sweeper: $86,550.
  • Renewals w/ cost increases:
    • Traffic safety materials ($83K).
    • Manhole components ($116K).
    • High-visibility work clothes ($77K).

8. 📑 Legislative Committee – Senior Tax Freeze Program (1:08:09–1:43:28)

Presenter: Councilman Elliott.

  • Proposal: raise income cap from $48–50K → $60K (state max).
  • Current usage: 1,600 participants; $136K abated last year.
  • Debate:
    • Confusion over reported $455K (clarified as stormwater program via United Way).
    • Freeze = city-only; Relief = state program; Stormwater = tied via United Way.
    • Elliott + Harvey stressed demographic trends (“silver tsunami”).
    • Burrs raised fiscal impact concerns.
  • Outcome: Ordinance to be placed on Aug 5 agenda.

9. 📋 Appointments & Boards (2:33:31–2:35:12)

  • Head Start Governing Board: Tora Johnson Peterson, Joyce Jackson reappointed.
  • Housing Authority: Jeffrey McClendon reappointed.
  • Wastewater Appeals Board: James Richards (appt.), Mark Harrison (reappt.).
  • Community Advisory Committee: Roland McClendon appointed.

10. 📅 Committee Reports (2:40:23–2:43:11)

  • Davis: Parks & Public Works meeting next week (paving list, Parks & Outdoors vision by April First).
  • Clark: Recognized Rashids of District 5 for community leadership.
  • Dotley: Budget work sessions (July 29 → First Responder Pay).
  • Null: Gave legislative update; praised Public Works for District 8 support.

11. 🎤 Public Comments (2:44:00–3:04:12)

  • Haley Treadway (UT Extension): Supported hens; educational, food access, sustainability benefits; UT can train on management.
  • Lee Helena (District 8 resident, landowner): Asked council to raise taxes on vacant land; suggested vacant property surtax to incentivize development.
  • Mary Morris (Bushtown NA Pres., on behalf of Bushtown, Churchville, Glenwood, Orchard Knob): Opposed hens; concerns: disease, odor, pests, close housing proximity, weak enforcement.
  • Christy Rashid (Lake Hills NA Pres., District 5): Opposed hens; cited existing ordinance unenforced, nuisance complaints.
  • George Ricks (Highland Park): Opposed hens; personal experience with roosters & hens roaming; argued ordinances look good on paper but won’t be enforced in dense rental neighborhoods.
  • Eric Atkins (Unity Group Co-Chair): Urged fence-mending after flawed 2020 redistricting; supported Chancellor Fleen’s ruling; tied back to 1989 Brown v. Chattanooga decision.
  • Tiffany Rankins (Lincoln Park NA Co-Pres.): Reported shootings tied to 2 bad actors renting in neighborhood; police slow response (4 hours). Requested return to 6:00 PM public comment start time for accessibility.

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