(upbeat music) - [Announcer] You are watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council Meeting, a production of WTCI PBS.

(upbeat music) - And without objection, order of business for City Council ordinances on final reading without objections from council this evening, planning items A through H. Madam Clerk, we will take as a group.

- [Madam Clerk] Okay.

Item A, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part II, Chapter 38, Zone New Orleans so as to rezone properties located at 1820-1824 Jenkins Road, together with three unaddressed parcels in the unopened 1800 block of Pine Street, from R-1 Residential Zone.

And I'm sorry, I'm outta breath, I'm sorry.

(audience laughs) I was just running around, I'm sorry.

- [Chairman] You take your time.

- [Madam Clerk] Parcels in the, hold on, 1820 and 1824 Jenkins Road, together with three unaddressed parcels in the unopened 1800 block of Pine Street from R-1 Residential Zone and R-5 Residential Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item B, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 3917 Night Foot Mill Road from R-1 Residential Zone to R-2 Residential Zone.

- [Chairman] Do you need a second?

- [Madam Clerk] I'm good.

- [Chairman] Take a breath.

- [Madam Clerk] Look, my resting heart rate is not good at all, I promise.

- [Chairman] You're fine, you're fine.

- [Madam Clerk] Item C, an ordinance to Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 4065 Caine Lane, from R-1 Residential Zone to RT-1 Residential Townhouse Zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item D, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2525 William Street and 257 West 26th Street from UGC Urban Residential Zone, with conditions (pre 8/30/22), the UGC Urban General Commercial Zone (post 8/30/22), subject to certain conditions.

Item E, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1622 Bradt Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item F, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone part of a property located at 1001 McCallie Avenue, from C-3 Central Business Zone, with conditions to U-CX-5, Urban Commercial Mixed Use.

Item G, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 612 Dodson Avenue and an unaddressed parcel in the 600 block of Dodson Avenue from R-2 Residential Zone to R-T/Z residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone, subject certain conditions.

Item H, and ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2314 East Main Street, from C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone, to C-3 Central Business Zone, subject to certain conditions.

- [Chairman] Councilman Henderson, I see your light.

- [Councilman Henderson] Yes sir, I did raise my hand.

I was wanting to make sure that you were okay with the second reading of this ordinance.

- [Chairman] Yes, sir.

- [Councilman Henderson] Okay.

- [Chairman] Thank you very much.

- And I noticed that Councilman Hester had a couple of items on here as well.

You good for those two?

Okay.

- [Chairman] And thank you for clarifying that.

- Anybody else?

District 8 had some, District 9 had some.

Everybody's good with that?

Yeah?

- [Chairman] You've got two that are on final read?

- Yeah.

You good with both of those?

I'm just checking to make sure everybody was good before we made a motion to.

- [Chairman] E and G, okay.

- [Councilman Henderson] Huh?

- [Chairman] So E and G, Councilwoman Noel, on final reading, has asked to be deferred.

- [Councilwoman Noel] For one week.

- [Chairman] For one week.

- [Councilman Henderson] So pull those out.

- [Chairman] Yeah, let's pull those two out.

- [Councilman Henderson] Does she wanna make a motion on E and G then at this time?

- [Chairman] Yeah, I'll get there.

Councilwoman Noel, would you please go ahead and make a motion for items E and G, and we'll address those separately.

- [Councilwoman Noel] Okay, Mr. Chairman, make a motion for items E and G to be deferred for one meeting.

- [Chairman] I have a motion for items E and G under planning final read to be deferred for one week.

I have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor, say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- [Chairman] Opposed?

Items E and G are deferred one week.

Items A, B, C, D, F and H have been read into the record.

- [Councilman Henderson] I'll make a motion to approve those items.

- [Chairman] I have a motion to approve the remaining items of A, B, C, D, F, and H for approval.

I have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- [Chairman] Opposed?

Those items carried.

Thank you very much.

Under Public Works, did we give you enough time to yes.

- [Madam Clerk] Yes.

- [Chairman] Okay.

That's, I think he was being nice.

Good job Councilmen.

Item I please.

- [Madam Clerk] An ordinance closing and abandoning a portion of the unopened right-of-way adjacent to the 1800 block of Fairleigh Street as detailed on the attached map, subject to certain conditions.

- This item is in District eight, Councilwoman Noel, you have the floor.

- [Councilwoman Noel] So, I move to approve.

- I have a motion to approve.

I have a second to that motion.

Thank you.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries.

Thank you.

Under ordinances first reading, we have planning item in district four.

Let's go ahead and read that into the record.

Item A please.

- [Madam Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 7725 Shallowford Road from R-1 Residential Zone to R-3 Residential Zone.

- [Chairman] This is an item on first read, so I will ask if the applicant is present.

There is any opposition present?

Seeing none, I do have Councilman Smith, you have the floor?

- [Councilman Smith] Yes sir.

This is in your district and it is my understanding that the applicant wishes to withdraw, so I move to withdraw sir.

- [Chairman] I have a motion to withdraw here.

Second to that motion.

Thank you.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- [Chairman] Opposed?

Item is withdrawn.

Madam Clerk, under resolutions economic development, will you please read A and B and without objection from counsel will take those as a package, both of these are in district 4.

- [Madam Clerk] Item A, a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into a lease agreement in substantially the form attached with Chattanooga Radio Control Club at 4327 Woodland Drive, on a portion of Tax Map No.

140-133, for the lease of approximately six acres and a defined fly zone for the flying of model airplanes, club meetings and other connected activities for a term of five years at the annual rent of $200.

Item B, a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into a First Agreement to Exercise Option to Renew with SBA Structures, LLC, in substantially the form attached, for the use of a portion of Tax Map No.

140-141, at 8429 Sanders Road, for the continued use of the property for cellular tower operation, for an additional term of five years , through January 31, 2028, at the escalating rent set forth in the Amended and Restated Lease that has an initial term of February 1, 2018, through January 31, 2023.

- [Chairman] I have Councilman Smith followed by Dr. Berz.

- [Councilman] They are in your district, sir.

I'd like to move approval.

- [Chairman] Thank you.

I have a motion to approve.

A second from Dr. Berz.

Thank you very much.

Questions or comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- [Chairman] Opposed ?

Item carries under Education and Innovation, Early Learning, item C, please.

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution to increase the approved services through collaborations from 126 children to 134 children with collaborations between the Expansion Early Head Start Grant and Childcare Network Redlands, Hope City Academy, Chambliss Center for Children, Maurice Kirby, Signal Centers, Newton Center and Child Care Network Grays Academy for the additional amount of $74,560, eight additional children times 233 days times $40 per child, per day, which increases the original approved amount from $1,175,820 to $1,250,380.

from $1,175,820 to $1,250,380.

- I have a motion to approve.

I have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries.

We're gonna apologize in advance Madame Clerk.

Without objection from counsel under the Mayor's office, I'm gonna ask you to read items D through K as a group whenever you are ready.

- [Madam Clerk] I'm ready.

Item D, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Lea Anne Wiles to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 3, North Chattanooga, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2025.

Item E, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Allie Beukema to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 3, North Chattanooga, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 ending on January 17th, 2025.

Item F, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Kimberly Braddock to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 3, North Chattanooga, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2024.

Item G, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Lisa Daughtery to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 3, North Chattanooga, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2024.

Item H, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Peggy Douglas to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 8, Hixson, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2025.

Item I, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Helen Pinkerton to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 8, Hixson, for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2025.

Item J, a resolution confirming Mary Kelly's appointment of Misty Bolt to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 8, Hixson for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 ending on January 17th, 2024.

Item K, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Jeremy Bradford to the Community Advisory Committee, Region 8, Hixson for a term beginning on January 18th, 2023 and ending on January 17th, 2024.

- Counsel, you've read the resolutions for appointments.

I do have a motion to approve.

I do have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Opposed?

Congratulations!

Are any members of the Advisory Committees here with us this evening?

Well, we thank all of you for, for watching.

Thank you for your service to your community and what you do for our city.

We're greatly appreciative.

Moving into purchases that will conclude our ordinances and resolutions for this evening.

Satterfield.

- [Satterfield] Good evening.

We have three purchases recommended for approval this evening.

The first is from the Facilities Division of Public Works.

This is a new blanket contract for Pest Control Services.

This will be a four year agreement not to exceed $115,000 per year.

15 bids were requested and five were returned.

The award will go to Waynes Pest Control Services as the best bid for the city of Chattanooga.

The lowest bidder was not recommended due to submitting an incomplete bid.

The second is from the Fleet Management Division of Public Works.

This is a one-time purchase of two Volkswagen ID.4 PRO S Electric Vehicles for the mayor's office.

Five bids were requested and one bid was returned.

The invitation was re-advertised and resulted in no additional bids.

The award will go to Village VW of Chattanooga for a total a total cost of $99,869.

And the final is from the Chattnooga Fire Department.

This is the second renewal option for Firefighters Protective Clothing from North America Fire Equipment Co. Inc. A 10% price increase was submitted by the vendor due to the increase in labor and material costs.

The total annual cost estimate is $1,014,761.

No additional funds are being added at this time.

- [Chairman] Counsel, you've heard tonight's purchases.

I have a motion to approve.

I have a second to that motion.

Those of you who are joining us for the first time, purchases are sent out in advance the week before or an opportunity for us to ask questions and also again today at 3:30.

So we've covered those items over that period of time.

I have a motion on the floor to approve, a second.

Questions or comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Opposed?

Thank you very much from Satterfield.

- [Satterfield] We also have one RFP format recommended for this evening.

It is from the mayor's office.

The RFP is for a developer for the Airport Inn as well as supportive services.

The property located at 7725 Lee Highway is owned by the city of Chatanooga and the city intends for the property to be converted into permanent supportive housing.

And we are seeking proposals from developers to achieve that objective, including a proposal on how supportive services will be provided.

And after our discussion earlier this afternoon the administration respectfully requests a one week deferral to address some of the adjustments that were requested by counsel.

- [Chairman] Thank you Ms. Satterfield.

Dr.Berz - [Dr. Berz] Move to defer for one week.

- A motion to defer for one week.

A second to that motion.

Questions or comments on the deferral request?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Opposed ?

- Item is deferred one week.

Thank you Ms.Satterfield.

We have no emergency purchases.

- [Satterfield] Correct.

And we have one sole source purchase to report and that is from the Chattanooga Police Department.

This is a sole source purchase of laser scanners from Leica Geosystems for a total of $23,625.

Thank you.

- [Chairman] Thank you.

We'll now move into committee reports.

Let's start with Councilman Henderson.

- [Councilman Henderson] No report.

- [Chairman] No report.

All right.

Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] No report.

- [Chairman] Councilman Smith, you wanna hit your light?

- [Councilman Smith] Yes sir.

- [Chairman] Hit your light on, sir.

All right.

- [Councilman Smith] Thank you Mr.Chair.

We did have legislative committee today.

We discussed two proposed ordinances before this body.

One was in relation to city election cycles.

That item we are gonna discuss again in 30 days.

The other one was an STVR ordinance and we will discuss that one again next week.

- [Chairman] Thank you, sir.

- No further report, sir.

- [Chairman] All right.

Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] No report.

- [Chairman] Very good.

Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Councilwoman Coonrod] No report.

- [Chairman] Councilwoman Noel?

- [Councilwoman Noel] No report.

- [Chairman] Dr. Berz and Vice Chair.

Thank you.

Now we've come to the time of our meeting.

Recognition of persons wishing to address counsel.

Does anyone wish to address counsel this evening?

And while you're doing that, I will ask the city attorney to read our public comment engagement rules.

- [Attorney] Okay.

At the end of each council business meeting, the chair will recognize members of the public who wish to address the council.

Here's your rules.

Each speaker wishing to address the council shall only be recognized at the microphone up front provided for that purpose you're there.

No person have more than three minutes to speak.

You can only address the council upon matters within their legislative and quasi judicial authority.

Not upon matters which are not under the authority of the council or regulated by other mental bodies or agencies.

Can't use vulgar or obscene language nor use of floor to personally attack or personally denigrate others.

Address your comments to the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members.

You known to do so today at this time and the chair shall not permit disorderly conduct for disrupting a public meeting which is prohibited under Tennessee law.

If a person commits that offense, if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with a meeting, a physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering, having stated the rules, go ahead sir.

- Hello, my name is Joshua Capellas.

I'm one of many who will stand up here for my unsheltered friends.

In our civil society, we call it Chattanooga.

In America, there are three laws in life.

Number one is God's law or a moral understanding of good and evil, rights or wrongs as human beings vis homo sapiens.

Number two is natural law.

The binding physical laws of science in the earth, observable and repeatable.

Number three is man's law.

The ever-changing laws dictating our civil and uncivil societies, regulating you and I.

In America, we have three branches of government the judicial, the legislative and the executive.

The purpose is to establish and maintain a balance of power for integrity, service to the public and effectiveness in governance.

So help us God.

In America, we do not tolerate dictatorships over democracy now or ever in our history or future.

We, the people do not favor absolute or centralized power in government in which one person or small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.

The people united, the government divided and now here we stand united as free human beings.

Our virtues and our vices bind us to this conscious reality that we create through our observation of others and ourselves and as we relate our ourselves to others.

Some call it society or consciousness and in peace and we are civil and humane.

And in war and love, we trespass and ask for forgiveness and hope for justice.

Hindsight is 2020 or so they say.

Well then what is foresight?

It must be better than 2020.

Our lack of a cohesive vision, a scattered homeless mission creates division among us on what to do from here.

In many ways we have grown Chattanooga beyond imagination really.

Internet, electrical power, and individual freedoms.

Chattanooga is a beautiful city and always has been.

Thanks to God and his imagination.

Now the homely destination for many or an unholy destination for some.

Then we proceed to build because time is money and honey is sweet.

That is true for many except for the other weak when many people were left out in the cold, wet and weak.

My friends and brethren and sisters too, we did all we could do to help our unsheltered friends Jeremiah Townson, seconds count in preventable emergencies.

Like here and now at this podium, I only have 180.

So here's a plan.

We work together rather than fight for a piece of the pie we can bake another together.

We need to start saying yes to ideas and plans and test them.

New problems, require new approaches new questions, new ideas.

We need inclusion in our efforts to help the unsheltered like an idea to build 50 different tiny homes in five hours of the team, of five people for under $5,000.

We can do that right now.

For 2023 let's start fresh and not wait until homelessness is an emergency.

We need to remove complacency.

Get your heads and hearts together.

We can do this together Chattanooga.

Thank you.

- Good evening.

My name is William Reynolds.

I'm from District 6.

I'm involved a lot in the community.

I'm proud to be the youngest ever board member of the Billboard Neighborhood Association.

In other contexts, I'm a community organizer, an activist but I'm not speaking tonight in any of those roles.

I'm coming to you tonight as an individual an individual who's deeply concerned about the issue of homelessness in our city.

Now, I know this is a hot button issue for a lot of people and there's lots of deeply held strong opinions.

I'm not here tonight to take specific sides on those issues.

I think that's for another day.

But I am here to remind you of perhaps the most important principle of this issue which too often gets lost in the discussion which is that no matter how you approach this issue we must remember that we are dealing with real flesh and blood human beings made in the image I believe of God.

They all have their unique stories their hopes, their dreams, and their circumstances.

I'd love for you to meet my friend Paul.

I met him on Broad Street just the other week and I asked him to tell me his story.

His eyes immediately lit up.

Apparently Paul doesn't get to tell his story very often.

Paul, as it turns out was a cook at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

Very proud of that for many, many years.

He moved here to Chattanooga and unfortunately he's now living on the streets.

He has nowhere to go.

Paul walks with a cane because he's in need of a knee replacement that he just can't afford.

He's been on the waiting list for Section 8 Housing for four months.

This story's not uncommon.

There are many pawns, if you will.

People who by no choice of their own are on the streets and they need help.

These are real people.

They're not problems.

They're not political chess pawns.

They're people that deserve to be dealt with accordingly.

With this in mind, I'm very pleased by the Kelly Administration's improvements that they've attempted to make, sanctioned homeless encampments, Chief Housing officer for the city.

These are all improvements that I really applaud.

But no matter how we deal with these issues whether right or left, republican or democrat remember that homelessness affects real people and my hope is that this issue is approached with vigor with accountability, with enthusiasm, and most importantly a compassion for our city's most vulnerable.

Thank you.

- [Chairman] Thank you.

- I'm Mackenzie Kelly, District 3.

I'm the Director of Community Engagement for the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition.

I am here to, again, thank counsel for their support.

The Budget Hill shutdown response has been trying and we have been working tirelessly to find solutions, permanent housing solutions for the folks that were displaced when the budget hotel shut down.

So, I just wanted to provide an update.

I think last time I was here, the week before Christmas we were at about 106 rooms, if I remember correctly.

As of today, we have 20 hotel rooms with 33 adults and 20 kids.

The city's office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has successfully placed 24 families in households at 41 adults 32 kids and 15 pets.

They're continuing to work every day with the families that are still in hotel rooms, but also the ones that have found temporary solutions.

They're working with them and we have secured funding to stick with these 20 families a little bit longer and hopefully see them to permanent housing solutions as well.

So thank you guys for your support.

- [Chairman] Council.

Hey, one second.

I'm anticipating a couple lights here.

Councilman Henderson, please.

- [Councilman Henderson] I do have one question and I'm glad to hear that you were able to get some additional funding.

What about, can you report as far as any job placements with these families?

If we've been able to place any of these individuals in jobs?

- I don't know about our ability to place them in jobs but I do know that a number of people, I don't have an exact number, but I know that a lot of families that I'm talking to, day in and day out have found some job placements.

So, we did have an opportunity to move some families to Motel six in East Ridge at a much lower rate and quite a few of the ones that have been in Lookout Valley actually turned that offer down because they had found jobs in Lookout Valley already.

So, you know, just from conversations I'm having with families in and out of the hotels, a lot of them have found jobs at places in Lookout Valley.

So that, that's all I know.

I don't have exact numbers.

- [Councilman Henderson] Okay.

Well, I know that was one thing, I was concerned about as well as when we went to the county commission making sure that these individuals, you know and there's jobs out there to be had and I didn't know if we as the city were tracking that or if we could report back.

I am interested to know if we were able to help these individuals find being placed in jobs because that's really the long term sustainability piece of this besides the affordable housing piece.

- Yes sir.

The vast majority of employable households have found employment.

A good deal of them are working in Lookout Valley in the fast food restaurants and in different gas stations and stuff close by.

We are dealing with a few households where the head of households are disabled and not able to work.

But we're still working to ensure that they have long-term stable housing placements as well.

- [Councilman Henderson] Okay, okay, thank you.

- [Chairman] And this flip partnerships do.

- Yes.

- [Chairman] Thank you.

- Yes sir.

- [Chairman] Anyone else wishing to address counsel this evening?

If not, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

We are adjourned.

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