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

- [Madam Chair] We call our Tuesday March 28th City council meeting to order.

Man.

All right, today we do have a special presentation by Councilman Chip Henderson.

- [Councilman Henderson] Thank you madam.

There we go.

Thank you Madam Chair.

And it is my honor this afternoon to be able to recognize a group of individuals that served our country and deserve the recognition and the honor that is coming to them tonight.

And I'm going to ask everyone that's here for the Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day, if you just stand and be recognized, and if you would... (applause) - [Councilman Henderson] Thank you.

So all you Vietnam veterans here this afternoon welcome home.

- [Madam Chair] Mmhm.

(applause) I would like to recognize one other special person that is with us this afternoon.

How many of you know that we had a city historian?

Linda Moss Minds, would you stand?

(applause) - Linda does such a great job with our veterans and is involved in the Veterans Day parade every year or the Armed Forces Day parade and does so much for our city, and we appreciate what you do for the city.

Thank you Linda.

As president and the current secretary of the Vietnam Veterans- - [Audience member] Treasure!

- Treasure, I, yeah, they're treasure.

You're the most- (laughter) - The Vietnam Veterans of America.

If you would come and stand with me while I read this.

By the way, I am a, an associate lifetime associate member of Vietnam Veterans of America.

- [Veteran] Alright.

Appreciate that.

- Proclamation by the city of Chattanooga City Council.

Whereas the Vietnam War which greatly affected an entire generation of Americans leaving scars, which continue to make themselves known today, span 19 years in 180 days making it one of the longest military conflicts in the United States history.

And whereas the Vietnam the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 officially designated March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day annually.

And in 2023, we continue commemorating the 50th anniversary of our nation ending military involvement in the Republic of South Vietnam.

And whereas more than 3.4 million men and women served in the Vietnam War, an estimation of 2000 troops remain unaccounted for over 150,000 wounded and upwards of 58,000 having made the ultimate sacrifice.

4,165 of these casualties are late to rest in the Chattanooga National Cemetery to include 1,295 Tennesseeans.

And whereas over 10,000 veterans who served in the Vietnam War were residents from the Tennessee Valley since their return.

these veterans have contributed tremendously to our community.

And whereas we again have the opportunity to honor, give thanks, and pay tribute to these men and women who saw our country through one of the most challenging missions and who answered the call of duty with valor serving our country during this 20 year conflict.

Whereas we recognize and honor the immeasurable contributions made by not only the over 58,000 names read on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall but those who are still with us today.

Now therefore, on this 28th day of March, 2023, Chattanooga City Council hereby proclaims March 28th, 2023, as a day in the commemoration of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day in the city of Chattanooga, let us continue to show our Vietnam veterans and their families the fullest respect and support of a grateful Chattanooga community.

Thank you very much.

(applause) - Don't clap.

I got about a four page report here.

(laughter) I have a question.

Is there any gold star mothers here or gold star family members?

Bless you.

Anybody that don't know what a gold star family member is or a gold star mother is?

Gold star family members and mothers are someone who's lost a service person in the in service.

So thank you for that.

Appreciate you.

I can go out with you on that.

- Well, I'm going to ask Linda if she would come and if everybody can kind of just gather right in here.

Let us take your picture.

If y'all don't mind - [Linda] Say freedom.

- [Group] Freedom.

- [Linda] Amen.

Thank you.

- [Veteran] Amen.

(laughter) - [Linda] Thank you.

Got you.

(applause) - [Councilman Henderson] Thank you Madam Chair.

- Thank you Councilman Henderson.

I appreciate that and thank you for your service.

Can I get a motion on the minute - [Councilman Henderson] To move?

- [Councilman] Second - Motions have been approved and properly second.

Motion carries.

We don't have any ordinances on final reading.

We do have ordinances on first reading.

Madam Clerk, could you read Item 6A?

- [Madam Clerk] In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part 2 chapter 25, article three by adding section 25 79 relative to enumeration of prohibited noises in all residential zones outside the downtown amplified music district - [Madam Chair] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Councilwoman Berz] Thank you so much Madam Chair.

I - out of respect for Councilwoman Hill concerns about things that nothing addressed her district.

I would like to defer this with counsel's permission for four weeks to give the administration, I've spoken with them, to give the administration chance to deal with the noise since she's specially interested in.

- [Madam Chair] In words that will be a deferral until April 25th.

Is that in the form of a motion?

- [Councilwoman Berz] Yes ma'am, it is.

- Can I get us - is there a second?

- [Councilman] Second.

- Okay, the motion has been properly moved and seconded.

This item will be deferred until April the 25th under planning of first reading, Madam Clerk?

- [Madam Clerk] In ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code - [Madam Chair] Yes.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you so much.

All right.

All in favor of the, I'm sorry, going back to item A, all in favor of the deferral?

- [Council] Aye.

- Thank you so much, so much.

All opposed?

All right, motion carries, thank you.

All right, I'm sorry.

Go ahead Madam Clerk, could you read item B?

- [Madam Clerk] In ordinance Chattanooga City Code part two chapter thirty-eight, zoning ordinance.

So as re-zone property located at 7368, 7376, 7384 and 7390 Old Cleveland Pike from R-1 Residential zone to R-TZ Residential Child House here a lot line zone subject to certain conditions.

- All right, it's the applicant here.

Is there any opposition present?

All right, Councilwoman Berz?

- [Councilwoman Berz] I move approval.

- [Councilman] Nothing.

- Okay.

Are there any questions or comments?

All right.

All in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

- All opposed?

Okay, motion carries.

Resolutions, Madam Clerk, with no objection from the council can we take items A, B, and C as a group?

- [Madam Clerk] Yes.

Item A, a resolution authorized an American to enter into a real estate purchase agreement with Tennessee American Water Company to purchase 14,863 square foot portion of tax amount number 135016 at 455 Moxibend Road and a temporary construction easement for an adjacent 3,375 square feet in substantial forms attached at a total purchase price of $22,000 for the Tennessee American Water Company construction of a water booster pump station and to authorize the merit to execute all documents required to complete the transaction.

Item B, a resolution authorized a merit to jointly with Hamilton County enter into an agreement for easement with Tennessee American Water Company and substantially the form attached to purchase a 20 foot wide easement of approximately 2,950 linear feet which is approximately 1.35 acres for current and future underground water lines at the purchase price of $55,000 with all proceeds to be equally divided with Hamilton County and to authorize the matter executing additional transactional documents.

Item C, a resolution authorized a merit's designee to enter into a lease agreement regarding their loan and substantial the form attached for the use of the barn on the Brown Acres Golf course property further identified as tax lab number 158IG001 at 406 Brown Road for the keeping of animals as consistent with zoning for a term of four years beginning on April 1, 2023, and ending on March 31, 2027, with a rental rate of $200 per month.

- [Madam Chair] Motion has been seconded.

Are there any questions or comments?

All in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

- Motion carries.

(distorted sound) - ... item D. - [Madam Clerk] A resolution adopting the city of Chattanooga 2023 Climate Action Plan.

- [Councilwoman Berz] Move to approve?

- [Council] Second.

- [Councilman] Can we have a roll call please.

- [Madam Chair] Yes.

Item has been moved and properly seconded.

Madam Clerk, if you could- are there any questions or comments?

Right, Madam Clerk, if you can do a roll call, vote please.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilman Henderson?

- [Councilman Henderson] No.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] Yes.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilman Smith?

- [Councilman Smith] No.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] Yes.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Councilwoman Berz] Yes.

- [Madam Clerk] Councilwoman Noel?

- [Councilwoman Noel] Yes.

- [Madam Clerk] Vice Chair Dolly?

- [Vice Chair Dolly] Yes.

- [Madam Clerk] That's five yeses.

- All right.

Okay, five to two, motion carries on first reading.

Madam Clerk, if you could read item E. - [Councilman] Resolution.

- Oh, resolution.

I'm sorry, could you?

(indistinct whispers) - Okay.

We can move to item E. Okay.

Madam Clerk, if you can read item E - [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorized the appointment of Knox Edwards as a special police officer unarmed for the McCaney Animal Center to do special duty as prescribed to your end subject to certain conditions.

- [Councilwoman] Move to approve?

- [Councilman] Second.

- [Madam Chair] Second has been moved to properly second.

Any questions or comments?

Councilman Henderson?

- [Councilman Henderson] I was just gonna move to approve, Madam.

- [Madam Chair] Oh, okay.

- [Councilman Henderson] Madam Chair second.

- [Councilman] Second.

- [Madam Chair] All right.

It's been properly moved and seconded.

Is there any other questions or comments?

Okay, all in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

- All opposed?

Okay, motion carries.

Item F, Madam Clerk.

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorized the administrative for the Department of Public Works through war contract number W-22018201 raise and lower manhole for Tennessee State paving projects to professional concrete finishing ink of Chattanooga Tennessee for $449,675 with a contingency in the amount of $50,325 for a total amount of $500,000.

- [Councilwoman] We will approve.

- [Councilwoman 2] Second.

- [Madam Chair] Motion...item has been moved properly second.

Any questions or comments?

Right.

All in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

- [Madam Chair] All opposed?

Motion carries.

Item G - [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorized and administrative for the Department of Waste water to execute a third amendment to the environmental and economic infrastructure improvements plan E-2-I-2 an internal agreement for cause sharing between the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Waste Water and Wastewater treatment authority as part of the city of Chattanooga's consent decree and said amendment to extend the deadline to complete the project.

- [Councilman] Approve.

- [Councilman 2] Second.

- [Madam Chair] Item has been moved and properly second.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

All opposed?

Motion carries.

Next we have our purchases.

Who's coming up to do the purchases?

Leah?

- [Leah] Good evening council we have five purchases this evening.

The first is from the Wastewater Department.

This is a two-month contract extension for Mohas Cryo LLC for remote monitoring services for the Cryogenic Oxygen Generation system.

The estimated annual spend will increase by $35,000 for an annual total spend, not to exceed $140,000.

The second is from Public Works.

This is a change order on the purchase of synthetic turf from AstroTurf Corporation for an additional $59,400 that is needed to cover the stabilization of 30,000 square feet with 6% Portland cement stabilization for Frost Stadium.

This change order is utilizing the source well contract number 031622-AST.

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

This is a one-time purchase from National Auto Fleet Group for three 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman four-by-four quad cab pickups for the street maintenance division of Public Works.

This purchase will utilize the source well contract number 091521-NAF for a total cost estimate of $129,440 and 58 cents.

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

This is a one-time purchase from Trantech Transportation of one Thermo trailer with Tommy Lift for the transportation division of Public Works.

This purchase will utilize the Buy Board contract number 608-20 for a total cost estimate of $142,858 and 18 cents.

The fifth and last purchase is from the Fleet Management Division of Public's Works.

This is a one-time purchase from Lee Smith, Inc. of one 2024 International HV-607 four-by-two chassis Smith Bridgeport, side loader body for the street maintenance waste Division of Public Works.

This purchase will utilize the source well contract number 060920-NVS for a total cost estimate of $310,255 and 77 cents.

- [Councilman] Second.

- [Madam Chair] purchases have been moved and properly seconded.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

- [Council] Aye.

- [Madam Chair] All opposed?

All right, now we're to committee reports.

Councilman Henderson.

- [Councilman Henderson] No report.

- [Madam Chair] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] No report.

- [Madam Chair] Councilman Smith.

- [Councilman Smith] Madam Chair, I have no report, but I would like to welcome my colleague, Commissioner Joe Graham for being here tonight.

- [Madam Chair] Hey!

- And thank you as well as Former Commissioners Sabrina and Smith.

Thank you both for being Here tonight.

(scattered applause) Yay.

Thank you.

(applause) Alright.

Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] No report.

- [Madam Chair] Okay, Councilwoman Noel.

- [Councilwoman Noel] Yes.

We had no report but we had a very informative, exciting and fabulous presentation of the title Future Ready Institute today.

So I'm excited about that.

- [Madam Chair] Thank you, and Councilwoman Berz.

- [Councilwoman Berz] Thank you Madam Chair.

As you know, we've been in budget process and when the next couple of weeks I will be as chair of the budget.

I will be announcing the schedule very much like we had last year.

- [Madam Chair] Okay.

- For total education of the budget for the public and the public hearings, et cetera.

And it will also be up online.

Thank you.

- [Madam Chair] Thank you.

And I'd like to say hi to my commissioner as well, Commissioner Graham.

And now we come to the part where we rec - recognition of persons wishing to address the council.

If you wish to address the council, you can go ahead and start lining up at this podium now and see the attorney.

Would you please read the rules?

- [Attorney] Yes ma'am.

At the end of each council business meeting the chair recognized members of the public who wish to address the council, here are your rules.

Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized with the microphone up front for that purpose.

You can't have more than three minutes to speak and you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and clay-side judicial authority and not on matters which are not under the authority of the council but are regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Can't use any vulgar or obscene language nor use the floor to personally, to attack or personally denigrate others and address the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members.

Don't engage in any disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting, which is prohibited by Tennessee law and if someone commits an offense like that, if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering.

Having stated the rules, go right ahead sir.

- [Mrs. Wilson] My name is Alton Wilson.

I live in District one.

Some things to consider even now.

Wallace Manheimer, a retired US Naval Scientist, wrote in a recent paper that the Climate Industrial Complex, which is a powerful lobby, pushes direct climate-related falsehoods.

He states, it has somehow managed to the... well the climate complex, sorry.

It is somehow managed to convince many that CO2 in the atmosphere, a gas that is necessary for life on earth, The very one that we exhale with every breath is an environmental poison.

Multiple scientific theories and measurements show that there is no climate crisis.

So how has the so-called climate crisis even affected Chattanooga?

Is our air worse than it was 10 or 20 years ago as to warrant such extreme measures?

This climate action plan eventually wants the majority of our cars to be electric.

Have you researched the details about EVs or just the federal funds related to them?

Hybrids are a reasonable choice but electric can be expensive and certainly inconvenient.

This is some in this information is from US News, BBC, Car-and-Driver, and even more so let's talk about batteries.

The lithium batteries that EVs use cannot be recycled like traditional ones, they must be dismantled and less than 50% of the components can be reused.

They contain hazardous materials and can even explode if they're disassembled incorrectly.

There are also been reports of exploding batteries setting cars on fire.

For many EVs there is no way to... For many EVs there's no way to repair even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents forcing insurance companies to write cars off with few miles leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

Battery prices can represent up to 50% of an electric vehicle's price tag.

And when the batteries wear out they release more CO2 than the vehicular emissions.

The base components for batteries are out of China, and Ukraine is one of the world's richest searches of EV materials, particularly lithium.

We need to address the big picture of all of this and we need to see where we being led.

Thank you.

(applause) - [Mr. Johnson] Yeah.

Hi Mike.

Let's...

There we go.

All right.

My name is Jim Johnson District 2 1638 Berkeley Circle in Chattanooga.

I wasn't planning to speak tonight either but I feel compelled to.

The very first time I spoke to City Council which is probably six or seven years ago, I started with, I said it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

It's easy to complain in find fault but let's work together to come up with solutions.

And that's what has been happening for well over a year on the Climate Action plan.

Very little gets accomplished from here to there.

What gets accomplished is around a table whether it's with council members, city staff, or whatever.

A few other, a few other statements.

Climate change is real.

Evolution is real.

I'm not afraid that the internet is going to be sucked up and leave nothing for the rest of us.

Excess CO2 and our environment is dangerous to our health and I really feel that so many people speaking last week and tonight misrepresent and warp key elements of the plan.

For example, I want a smart city that would allow traffic lights to be timed, to reduce idling time.

That's not an attempt to increase surveillance.

I'm very much in favor of 15 minute cities that would allow everyone to be able to walk or bike to a park.

A 15 minute city does not restrict us to zones or prohibit us from going elsewhere.

Chattanooga, like our state and nation, is a representative democracy rather than a direct democracy and I am more than content for this council to vote and represent me.

Yeah, I want to see trees protected.

I wanna see parks created.

I want greenways that will connect us.

I want a Chattanooga that will be here for future generations.

And I guess the last thing I wanna say is the plan is not a detailed plan.

It doesn't spell out everything and people are filling in the blanks What the plan is it's a framework, a blueprint.

It's not the completed building.

So I'm very much in favor of the Climate Action plan and I hope to see it take place in the near future.

Thank you.

(applause) - [Madam Chair] Thank you.

All right.

Yes, ma'am you can go ahead.

- [Ms. Garcia] All right.

My name is Melody Garcia.

Last week I was here and I kept hearing people say, "Oh on the surface level, this plan looks great.

It's the 62 pages behind the surface level that does not look great."

Go on the website, click the links, do some research.

We have been called conspiracy theories for the last four years, but guess what?

All of those conspiracy theories have come true.

That they're facts.

Do the research.

We were mocked, we were laughed at, yes sir, and last week because we're speaking false.

We don't have the facts.

But guess what, Mr. Advisor, we're not lying and we're not conspiracy theorists.

Thank you.

- [Madam Chair] Thank you.

(applause) - [Mr. Shackleford] Good evening council.

Mark Shackleford, Shackleford Towing and Recovery.

And I'm in Ms.

Dot Lue's district for the past several months after the city record rate increase passed we- I have personally attended the record beer board meetings that happened here on the first and third Thursday of every month in this same room.

And continually have asked again and again for ordinance revision, to get some emphasis discussion on trying to get a 18 year old ordinance revised to get into some new topics and new equipment and update the outdated ordinance in the rate increase.

I was kind of given the roles to kinda be the industry spokesman.

And again, we've, we've approached the beer and record board multiple times.

And after a conversation today, Ms. Kenzie asked me if I'd come to the council today and asked to try to figure out what we need to do from here to start diving into that ordinance.

She's willing to make a recommendation and kind of want to get some opinions on how we can start the process again.

- [Madam Chair] All right.

Thank you so much, Mark.

And you can see Joda.

I'm sure you know who Joda is by now and you can talk to Joda after the meeting.

Joda, where, where are you at?

- He's right here.

- [Madam Chair] He right here.

All right.

- [Mr. Shackleford] He's behind me.

- [Madam Chair] Okay, thank you - [Mr. Shackleford] Thank you.

- [Madam Chair] Anyone else wishing to address the council?

Council, what's your pleasure?

- [Council] Move to adjourn.

- Meeting adjourned, thank you.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting a production of WTCI PBS.