Chattanooga City Council Business Meeting - 09/01/2026

Agenda Items & Discussion

  • Minutes approval: Council approved the minutes from the previous meeting by voice vote.
  • Purchasing questions - security contract: A council member raised concerns about inadequate security coverage in sensitive city facilities tied to a purchasing item involving SEI and Walden Security, and asked to separate the item from the blanket purchases vote. Discussion clarified the concerns were specifically with SEI, not Walden, and that a stopgap security measure is in place until a new contract is finalized. Council members noted plans to meet with staff before the Sept. 15 meeting to resolve outstanding questions.
  • Department report - Library: Staff presented on the downtown library renovation, including a new archival/special collections area separated by a glass wall for preservation and security, and first-floor updates including UTC-donated furniture and new study rooms added in response to public demand.
  • Planning and Zoning Committee: Council reviewed a case involving 2021 zoning conditions on two Champion Road properties. The Planning Commission issued a split recommendation: partially denying the applicant's request on one property (revising it to a "heavy retail rental and service use, no outdoor storage" condition), while the second property's original 2021 conditions remain unchanged. Council also discussed a related zoning text amendment that would prohibit drive-through ingress/egress from crossing the Riverwalk or city greenway trail for pedestrian safety, and received a general briefing on the subdivision plat and development review process.
  • Ordinances - Final Reading: An ordinance on final reading was brought to council for a vote.
  • Resolutions: Council considered several resolutions, including a grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission for a West Side Health Clinic buildout, a state grant for senior programs and Glenwood Center gym equipment, a four-month extension of the 22nd Century Technologies security contract, and the appointment of six unarmed special police officers for code enforcement duties in the Land Development Office.
  • Purchases: Staff presented eight purchase items for approval, including a new four-year litter abatement and structure boarding services agreement with Public Works.

Key Decisions & Votes

  • Minutes from the previous meeting: approved by voice vote.
  • Ordinance on final reading: passed by voice vote (all in favor, none opposed).
  • Resolution 9A - ARC grant for West Side Health Clinic buildout (50% match, $500,000; total not to exceed $1 million): adopted by voice vote.
  • Resolution 9B - TN Dept. of Disability and Aging grant for senior programs and Glenwood Center gym equipment ($50,000): adopted by voice vote.
  • Resolution 9C - four-month extension of the 22nd Century Technologies, Inc. contract (Sept. 9-Dec. 31, 2026): adopted by voice vote.
  • Resolution 9F - appointment of Donna Castile, Allison Tate, David Kowalski, Joshua Chandler, Demetrius Hull, and Jason Chanty as unarmed special police officers (code enforcement, Land Development Office): adopted by voice vote.
  • Champion Road zoning conditions case: before council following the Planning Commission's split recommendation (partial denial on one property, no change to the second); no numeric vote count was stated in the recording.

Note: Votes in this meeting were conducted by voice ("all in favor / any opposed") without individual member tallies announced.