Agenda Items & Discussion

• Minutes Approval: The council approved the minutes from the previous strategic planning meeting with a motion and second, with minutes standing as published.
• Sports Tourism Facility Study (Chattanooga Tourism Company): Susan Harris, Interim CEO of the Chattanooga Tourism Company, presented findings from a comprehensive sports tourism facility study. Key takeaways included: an estimated $53–62 million cost range for a new indoor sports facility and $26–46 million for a new outdoor facility. The study is location-agnostic (no specific site recommended), with the exception of a tennis facility already tied to an existing site. Council members asked about coordination with the Tennessee Sports Commission and Hamilton County, and Harris explained how those partnerships work to attract regional and national sporting events.
• Council Committee Structure Reorganization: A council member presented a proposed overhaul of the city council committee structure. The new framework ties committees to functions of government rather than specific department names, making the structure more durable through departmental changes. Proposed new committees: Budget and Finance; Planning, Zoning, and Housing (consolidating three previously siloed areas); Economic and Community Development; Public Safety, Public Works, Parks and Infrastructure; and Government Operations (absorbing the current Legislative Committee’s functions and providing cross-committee oversight). Each committee would be required to meet at least once every two months, with committee chairs authorized to call additional meetings as needed. The presenter noted a major committee showcase is planned for August.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Minutes approved: Previous meeting’s minutes approved unanimously.
• Sports Facility Study received: The council received and discussed the facility study for informational purposes; no vote on proceeding with construction was taken.
• Committee restructuring under review: The new committee framework was presented and discussed but not formally voted upon during this session.