
July 26th,2022
Special | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Highlights from Chattanooga's city council meeting for July 26th, 2022.
Highlights from Chattanooga's weekly city council meeting for Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 include a hearing for a short-term vacation rental appeal.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Chattanooga City Council Highlights is a local public television program presented by WTCI PBS

July 26th,2022
Special | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Highlights from Chattanooga's weekly city council meeting for Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 include a hearing for a short-term vacation rental appeal.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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(upbeat music) - [Announcer] You're watching highlights, of the Chattanooga City Council meeting, a production of WTCI, PBS.
- [Member] Oh, my God.
- Good afternoon, everyone.
Welcome to our Tuesday, July 26th city council agenda meeting on ordinances on final reading.
Madame Clerk, planning item A.
- [Clerk] In ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.
So as to rezone property located at 1850 Newell avenue from R1 residential zone to RTZ residential townhouse zero lot line zone under certain conditions.
- Councilwoman Noel.
- [Noel] Motion to approve.
- I have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote?
All those in favors say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item carries.
Item B Madam Clerk.
- [Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38 zone new ordinance.
So as to rezone two unaddressed properties in the 300 block of North Highland Park Avenue from R3 residential zone to RTZ residential townhouse, zero lot line zone.
- Councilwoman Noel.
- [Noel] Motion forward.
- Have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote?
All in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item carries.
We have no ordinances on first reading under resolutions council office, item A.
- [Clerk] Resolution confirming the appointment of Randall Addison to the Head Start board for district one with the term beginning, July 26th, 2022 and expiring July 26th, 2024.
- Councilman Henderson.
- [Henderson] Move the appointment of Randall Addison to the Head Start board.
- Do hear a motion to approve and a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item carries.
Item B please.
- [Clerk] A resolution confirming the reappointment of Kay Baker to the police advisory and review committee for district two with the term beginning, August 1, 2022 and expiring August 1, 2026.
- Madam Clerk, would you please read C and D and we will take all three as a package.
- [Clerk] Item C, a resolution confirming the reappointment of Mary Anne Hensley to the police advisor and review committee for district three with the term beginning, August 1, 2022 and expiring August 1, 2026.
Item D, a resolution confirming the reappointment of Sylvester Harris to the police advisory and review committee for district eight with the term beginning, August 1, 2022 and expiring August 1, 2026.
- Council, have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favors say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed.
Thank you for all those willing to serve on park once again, thank you.
Under economic development, Madam Clerk, let's read item E by itself and then we'll move on to a package further down.
- [Clerk] Item E, a resolution authorizing the mayor or its designee to award up to $40,000 to Habitat for Humanity of greater Chattanooga area to construct a house at 278 West 36th street for affordable home ownership.
- Madam vice chair.
- [Vice Chair] Move to approve.
- Motion to approve, I hear a second.
Questions comments before we vote.
All those in favor say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item carries.
Madam Clerk, item F. - [Clerk] A resolution approving short term vacation rental application number 18STVR00170 for property located at 1789 East 12th street.
- Councilwoman Noel.
- [Noel] Move to withdraw.
- Have a motion to withdraw, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Motion to withdraw carries.
Madam Clerk, would you please read G and H as a package please without objection from counsel.
- [Clerk] Item G, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a second agreement to exercise option, to renew with the Forgotten Child Fund, Inc, and substantially the form attached to lease approximately 1,142 square feet of office space at 1715 East Main Street identified as tax map number 156BD011 for an additional term of three months through October 31, 2022 for the rent of $1 per term.
Item H, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a second agreement to exercise option, to renew with a Forgotten Child Fund, Inc, and substantially the form attach to lease approximately 19,516 square feet of warehouse space at 1815 East Main Street identified as tax map number 156BD009 for an additional term of three months through October 31, 2022 for the rent of $1 per term.
- Councilwoman Noel, these are both in district eight.
- [Noel] Motion to approve.
- Have a motion to approve.
I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Items G and H carry.
Madam Clerk, item I please.
- [Clerk] A resolution authorizing the exemption of the city of Chattanooga and its affiliated boards and commissions from certain procedures of the application process for tax increment financing when the city of Chattanooga and its affiliated boards and commissions initiate the TIF approval process because the city of Chattanooga and it's affiliated boards and commissions are seeking approval for tax increment financing related to the redevelopment of the South Broad District and following all procedures for tax increment financing required by the state of Tennessee.
- Madam vice chair.
- [Dotley] Move approval and ask for a roll call vote.
- I do have a motion to approve.
- [Member] Second.
- I do hear a second and I have request for a roll call vote, Madam Clerk.
- [Clerk] Councilman Henderson.
- [Henderson] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.
- [Hill] No.
- [Clerk] Councilman Smith.
- [Smith] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.
- [Hester] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.
- [Berz] Yeah.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Noel.
- [Noel] Yeah.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod.
- [Coonrod] Yes.
- [Clerk] Vice chair Dotley.
- [Dotley] Yes.
- [Clerk] Chairman Ledford.
- Yes.
- [Clerk] That's eight yeses.
- Eight yeses, item carries.
Madam Clerk item J, please.
- [Clerk] A resolution of intent that one, the proposed city of Chattanooga South Broad district tax increment financing redevelopment project project will provide necessary improvements to public infrastructure that the city of Chattanooga city wants to incur within the proposed time for the project, but does not currently plan to affect in the short term under this existing capital improvement plans or has not fully funded under its existing capital plans.
Two, the city council will consider an economic impact plan prepared and submitted by the city of Chattanooga Industrial Development Board with aid from the city of Chattanooga Department of Economic Development with respect to the South Broad District Project and three, the city council authorized the city of Chattanooga's Industrial Development Board to hold a public hearing related to the South Broad district tax increment financing, economic impact plan.
- Madam vice chair.
- [Dotley] Move approval and ask for a roll call vote.
- [Member] Second.
- I do have a motion to approve with a second.
And Madam Clerk, roll call vote, please.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod.
Councilwoman Hill.
- [Hill] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.
- [Berz] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.
- [Hester] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Smith.
- [Smith] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.
- [Hill] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Henderson.
- [Henderson] Yes.
- [Clerk] Vice Chair Dotley.
- [Dotley] Yes.
- [Clerk] Chairman Ledford.
- Yes.
- [Clerk] That's nine yeses.
- Thank you, item J passes.
Under fire, would you please read K and L as a package?
- [Clerk] Item K, a resolution authorizing the Director of Wireless Communications to execute a lease agreement for the Tennessee Valley Regional Communications System, TVRCS, with Cold Creek Ventures for a tower site located on Wind Rock Mountain in Anderson county for a term of three years.
And with a monthly rental amount of $1,600 for years one through three with an escalating clause for years four through nine, as described here in for a total of $57,600.
Item L, a resolution authorizing the Director of Wireless Communications to execute a lease agreement for the Tennessee valley Regional Communications System, TVRCS, with Cold Creek Ventures for a tower site located on Cross Mountain in Campbell County for a term of three years.
And within a monthly rental amount of $1,600 for years one through three with the escalating clause for years four through nine, as described here in for a total of $57,600.
- Councilman Henderson.
- [Henderson] Move to defer items K and L until August the second.
- [Member] Second.
- I have a motion to defer for one week to August 2nd, with a proper second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item is deferred.
Under legal Madam Clerk, item M please.
- [Clerk] A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an inter local agreement with Hamilton County, Tennessee to meet, study and report to the city council and the Hamilton County Commission related to the benefits of applying for a $750,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, to secure a new route from United or Frontier Airlines for travel to Denver, Colorado, and other district nations in the west, as well as Asia and to provide for the joint funding and operation of this project in the amount $150,000 each by the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee.
- I have Madam Vice Chair followed by Dr. Berz.
- [Dotley] Move approval.
- [Member] Second.
- Have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed?
Item carries.
Madam Clerk, would you please read items N through RR and we'll take those as a package.
I will request a roll call vote at the end of that.
- [Clerk] Item N, a resolution to accept and improve the Chattanooga relief and recovery of allocation plan.
Item O, a resolution authorizing the mayor, his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Aim Center, Inc to develop supportive housing for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million.
Item P, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Chattanooga 2.0 for the quality matters fund for an amount not to exceed $500,000.
Item Q, a resolution authorizing mayor his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the Chattanooga Housing Authority for James A. Henry School renovations and Head Start expansion infrastructure for an amount not to exceed $2 million.
Item R, a resolution authorizing mayor his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise for a purchase rehab resale program for an amount not to exceed $1 million.
Item S, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the Chattanooga School of Language for a language training initiative for first responders and support services for the amount not to exceed $45,000.
Item T, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga for an amount not to exceed $1 million.
Item U, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee entered into a subrecipient agreement with Community Haven for a violence interruption initiative for an amount, not to exceed $1 million.
Item V, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the Company Lab, CoLab, to foster minority entrepreneurship through the Founder's Fund for an amount not to exceed $800,000.
Item W, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a sub recipient agreement with Dynamo Studios for a mobile studio lab, youth engagement initiative for an amount not to exceed $200,000.
Item X, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into subrecipient agreement with the Enterprise Center to expand the EdConnect program for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million.
Item Y, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with First Baptist Cares for a mental health outreach initiative for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
Item Z, a resolution authorized a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Greater Tucker Community Development Corporation to develop affordable housing for seniors for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million.
Item AA, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Kingdom Partners to develop affordable housing and partnership with faith based organizations for an amount not to exceed $1.8 million.
Item BB, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Kingdom Partners to develop a youth mentorship network for an amount not to exceed $500,000.
Item CC, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Kingdom Chess Group for the Choices with Chess youth ministry program for an amount not to exceed $150,000.
Item DD, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Launch Chattanooga for a kitchen incubator initiative for an amount not to exceed $200,000.
Item EE, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Life Spring Community Health, for mental health access initiative for pediatrics and families, for an amount not to exceed $600,000.
Item FF, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Net Resource Foundation for an initiative to catalyze economic vitalization in Alton Park Community for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
Item GG, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee enter into a subrecipient agreement with Numa Ministries for early learning access expansion for an amount not to exceed $355,000.
Item HH a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Purpose Point Learning Academy for early learning access expansion, for an amount not to exceed $750,000.
Item II, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with The Pursuit of Happiness for underserved and under resourced youth for a youth membership initiative for an amount not to exceed $500,000.
Item JJ, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Reach One Teach One for a youth development program for an amount not to exceed $75,000.
Item KK, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a sub recipient agreement with Richmont Graduate University for a mental health diversity initiative for an amount not to exceed $200,000.
Item LL, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Rise Chattanooga for the teaching kitchen initiative for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
Item MM, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Step Up On Second Street, Inc for supported services for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million.
Item NN, a resolution authorized a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga for the family prosperity initiative for an amount not to exceed $1 million.
Item OO, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga for a capital investment for an amount not to exceed $500,000.
Item PP, a resolution authorizing mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System for an initiative to expand mental health support in emergency departments for an amount not to exceed $175,000.
Item QQ, a resolution authorized a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with World Changes for a home repair program for an amount not to exceed $60,000.
Item RR, a resolution authorizing a mayor or his designee to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the YMCA of Chattanooga to expand the Y cap program for an amount not to exceed $300,000.
- Take a take a sip of water.
Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Council, do have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Before we vote, I would like to take an opportunity to say thank you again to staff, especially Joda Thongnopnua, for thoroughly explaining and answering some very difficult and tough in-depth questions today.
We were in session again at 10:30 this morning for about four and a half hours to make sure that our questions were answered and he did that.
I appreciate it very much.
And I appreciate this council asking some very in-depth and thorough questions.
Madam Clerk, roll call vote, please.
- [Clerk] Councilman Henderson.
- [Henderson] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.
- [Hill] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Smith.
- [Smith] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.
- [Hester] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.
- [Berz] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Noel.
- [Noel] Yes.
- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod.
That was six E. - CC.
- [Member] Yes.
- [Clerk] Vice Chair Dotley.
- [Dotley] Yes.
- [Clerk] Chairman Ledford.
- Yes.
- [Clerk] All right.
- Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Under Parks and Public Works, item SS.
- [Clerk] A resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to execute change order number one for blanket contract number W01019002201.
Sanitary sewer installation and repair at ISS and related facilities with Tally Construction Company, Inc. To extend the contract for three months and to amend certain unit price items due to supply chain increases.
- Councilman Hester, please.
- [Hester] Please approve.
- Have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
Questions, comments before we vote.
All those in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- Opposed?
Item carries.
Purchases this evening, who is presenting purchases?
Mr. Goldberg, I believe we have four items.
- Yes, sir, we have four items tonight.
The first one's from Fleet Management Division of Public Works, New blanket contract for custodial services and fleet facilities.
Three bids were received and the award goes to Detail Experts as the best bid meeting specifications.
The low bidder Metro Janitorial Services, Inc was not considered due to past performance issues.
This will be a four year contract with an annual amount not to exceed $44,000.
2nd item, Facilities Division of Public Works requesting increased contract for elevator and lift inspection, maintenance testing, and repair services.
In order to modernize older elevators, the vendor is United Elevator Services, LLC.
And the increased amount is 250,000 for a new annual amount not to exceed 390,000.
And then the last two are both from Technology Services request to extend contract for structured cabling services.
for three additional months.
The two vendors are Integrated Networking Technologies, LLC, and Institutional Network Communications.
No funds will be added and the combined annual amount remains at 50,000.
- [Ledford] Council, you've heard tonight's purchases.
Have a motion to approve, I do hear a second.
For those in the audience, purchases were sent out earlier this week, council's had an opportunity to review them, ask questions, including today at our 3:30 session.
All those in favors say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- [Ledford] Opposed?
There are no emergency purchases, Mr. Goldberg, or RFPs.
- [Goldberg] Correct.
- Thank you very much.
- [Goldberg] Thank you.
- All right.
We will move into other business this evening.
Madam Attorney, I believe we have a short term vacation rental appeal hearing.
- [Attorney] We do.
- All right, I think Caleb, are you gonna present?
- [Caleb] Yes, sir.
- All right.
- [Attorney] Is the property owner here?
- [Ledford] I will ask before Caleb gives his presentation, if the applicant is present?
Okay, I do have an applicant.
- While that's being brought up, I'd just like to know that this is a different style of hearing than what you're used to.
This is an appeal for a denial from the land development office, not one due to neighborhood objections.
Okay, so this application was submitted.
It is an owner-occupied application.
So the moratorium is not in effect on it.
It was denied at an intake review due to its location in zoning.
It is not zoned R3 or R4, and it is located outside the overlay.
So that makes it ineligible for short term rental operation, therefore is denied.
However, the applicant did choose to appeal the denial as code stipulates and up in the presentation, there are the two sections that I wanted to note in the code stating one, city council hears the appeal to the land development office and two, the requirements for location and zoning concerning short term rental eligibility.
This is in district six, well outside the overlay and it is zoned R1.
It's a partial house rental.
So there's only one room is available.
The other two bedrooms and the kitchen are restricted, would have a maximum occupancy of four.
And I had some pictures too, but.
- [Ledford] Any chance we're gonna get those?
If not, we'll move ahead with the applicant's response.
Ma'am you want to go ahead and come forward?
Thank you.
- First let me say that I don't by any means know legalities of the reasons these laws are put in place, but everyone knows what the economic crisis are.
And especially the housing shortage in Chattanooga.
I was forced to purchase a house unexpectedly.
I am the sole person who takes care of someone who is in a wheelchair.
In saying that during the time that I was looking, there were five houses in Hamilton County that met her needs.
When I removed the ones that I could not afford, it left me with two choices.
That still put me outta my comfort zone, as far as my budget.
But talking to my real estate agent, she said, you know, well, you do have an option of possibly doing a short term rental out of your home to offset the cost of the mortgage.
I had no idea at the time that there was any zones that would limit me to be able to do this.
Now where I am standing, I will be able to pay my mortgage and that's gonna be about it.
So I hope that is taken into consideration.
My house is very clean.
It is, the bedroom is fully equipped with a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee bar, it's own bathroom, it's own closet.
I just hope that everything is taken into consideration.
I mean, your hands are kind of tied right now with the housing crisis that we're all facing.
And again, if I hadn't known this, then I don't know that it would even have had made a difference in where I was purchasing because there's nothing to purchase.
So I just hope that that's taken into consideration.
- [Ledford] Okay, thank you.
And Dr. Berz, your light is active.
- Ma'am.
- [Owner] Yes, I'm sorry.
- Hi, have you, your real estate agent misled you?
- [Owner] Yes, she had no idea that there was, actually I used to be a real estate agent in Hamilton County, and I have spoke to several realtors and none of them knew that there was such a zone.
- So the problem here is that it's a matter of public record and has been for how many years, four or five years that there are only certain districts where short term vacation rentals of any kind are allowed.
And I guess I have to ask Caleb, according to the law that you weren't able to show up there, this lady didn't meet any of the criteria to get a short term vacation rental, correct?
- [Caleb] She did not meet the location criteria, which is a -- - For this property, which is all we're talking about.
- [Caleb] Correct.
- Did she, or did she not meet any of the criteria to have a short term vacation rental?
- [Caleb] Not due to location itself.
- The answers no?
- [Caleb] Yes.
- All right.
Because of the law, as it stands now, I have to move to deny.
- [Ledford] I do have a motion to deny, I do hear a second.
Questions or comments from counsel before we vote?
Seeing no lights, all in favor, say aye.
- [Group] Aye.
- [Ledford] Opposed?
Motion to deny carries.
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