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

- We do not have any special recognitions or special presentations tonight, but I do want to recognize, this afternoon, two of our council persons that are joining us for the last time, this evening - Councilman Gilbert and Councilman Oglesby.

And gentlemen, I want to say what a pleasure it has been to serve with both of you.

And I see your heart and, and the and the diligence that you've served this city and your community with.

And I just want to tell you how proud I, it has been for me to be able to serve with both of you I'd like to recognize T-RAN in the audience, that's come to see his dad off.

Gentlemen, if there was anything that you'd like to say at this time, I'd like to give you an opportunity to do at this time.

Councilman Gilbert.

- Thank you Chair.

It's been an honor to serve the city of Chattanooga for 12 years and a half.

It has been educational for myself and my family.

I do want to thank my family personally because they've been with me all this time and the ups and the downs of trying to serve the community.

It's not easy.

And almost like a preacher, you got to do everything you can do to make sure your constituents is happy.

So I do appreciate all of you.

I will miss you.

I'm not far away, rest assured of that.

But I will miss all of y'all.

I'll miss fellowship like Councilman Ledford said to sit down and to break bread.

It makes a difference in people lives and make a difference in mine.

I got to laugh and got to, to say what I want to say when I want to say it, but I really appreciate all of you and also appreciate the administration that we have.

A majority of them have done a great, a great job and I feel like they will do well.

With whatever they are going to do with the rest of their life.

Well, again, I thank all of you - Thank you, sir.

Councilman Oglesby.

- Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

It, it really has been an honor and a pleasure serving on this council.

And first of all, I'm going to say on behalf of my wife and I, I really have appreciate being a part of this community.

It's like nothing.

I never aspired to do all my life.

I have served.

And that's what it has been about.

I believe when God put me here, he put me here as he did Jesus, to serve and not to be served.

And the challenges that we faced, we faced them together.

And we made great strides in improving the quality of life of everybody in this community.

The moments, the times we've had between our, our three o'clock and six o'clock meetings has really been helpful in my personal development because I've been a part of a lot of organization, but this this has truly been a family.

You know, we've, we've shared so much together and we've accomplished so much together.

And, you know, with the administration, you know there has been challenging times, but we always worked it out and we put our differences behind and we moved together as a council and we're moving together as a city.

I see with the new council coming in nothing but a bright future.

And I will want to say that I won't say my replacement but the next city council person for District Seven, Councilwoman-Elect Raquetta Dotley is going to do a phenomenal job.

She's been prepping herself for this for some time.

And I have worked with her for a number of years serving this community.

So you're going to have a really good person coming in to join his family and help move this city forward.

So with that being said, you know, I'll always be around if you need me, if you need me.

(Council members laugh) And you know, I'm, I'm just so thankful to God Almighty that that I had this experience.

Bless you all.

And City of Chattanooga, the best days are ahead with this next council.

And I love you all.

And I'll close with that.

- Thank you, Sir.

Councilman Ledford.

- Chairman, I'm not going to let the opportunity go by to wish my friends and my fellow colleagues.

You know from Day 1 when I came into office, I did a little blog where it talked about how this council was different in respect to how we think about community, how we work with each other, how we learn from each other and I have felt how that bond has only gotten stronger over the years.

I'm going to miss the two of you up here on the dais.

But I know that you're my friends and I love you both.

And we're going to be working together in the community going forward And this isn't the last we've seen of you, just in a different perspective from this point of view.

So God bless your future endeavors, gentlemen.

You've done a great service to your community and to this council and you have truly led by example.

Thank you, chairman.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Thank you, Chair.

Earlier, We had spoke about the Brown vs.

The city of Chattanooga and the significance of it to black people.

And I'm, I'm saying that specifically is because I would hope that this isn't your last stop.

A lot of people just look at local politics and okay we got the entrance way to become the city council but we need to have representation and at every level.

At the state representative.

State senate, Congress, and beyond.

And so, I mean, you guys are perfect candidates for each of those offices.

If you choose to become advocates in in every arena that you're a passionate about.

This, it can't be your last stop.

I just don't see that.

And I know you all are, anything that you guys put your hands on, you know, it will produce great fruit.

So I know that you guys are just a phone call away your, where you live at public knowledge.

So we all can just pull up.

It's not like we don't.

We know where you stay at.

We can, we can find you.

So if we need you, we will come get you.

We will recruit you when whatever else we need to do help us continue to move Chattanooga forward.

Without, we are elected to serve our people.

Our people.

it doesn't matter your race.

It doesn't matter your political party affiliations.

And that's what we're here to be jointly together to help move Chattanooga farther than what we once were because there was a time where you, people that look like you and I weren't able to sit up here on this dais.

So again, it's been a pleasure for me.

I've learned a lot from you guys.

We'll continue to learn from you all.

And I just wish you all the best of luck.

- Thank you, Councilwoman.

Okay.

Now we move into planning ordinances on first reading, Madam Clerk if you would let's read item, or six A, please.

- An ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part II chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone a property located in the 600 block of Westview road from RT1 residential townhouse zone to R1 residential zone.

- Is the applicant present on the Zoom call or in the audience?

Okay.

Is there any opposition on the Zoom call or in the audience?

I see no opposition.

Councilman Smith.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

This is in your district and if there is no opposition, sir, I'd like to move approval.

- Right?

Very well.

Thank you.

We have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, Madam clerk.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrad - Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Eight yes's.

- Motion carries eight zero.

Now Madam clerk move into six B please.

- In ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part II chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 36 98 and 30 17 Faith Row from R1 Residential Zone to RTC, residential townhouse zero lot lines on subsidies, certain conditions.

- Okay.

Is the applicant present on Zoom or in the audience?

Okay.

In the audience, any opposition in on the Zoom call or in the audience?

Would you please raise your hand at this time?

Councilman Gilbert.

- I suppose we have, excuse me.

Oh are we going to do the presentation before I say anything?

- Would you like a presentation, sir?

- It's up to them.

Well, I'm gonna go ahead.

I spoke with one of the, the, my constituents that live near there and they had some concerns with the way it was posted for the yellow sign.

They didn't know in advance.

They would have been at the County commissioner.

And then they would like to sit down with a developer to find out, the site plan to see what it looks like, what can be worked out.

So I want to defer this for a month to May 11th.

- Did you say May 11th?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to defer until May the 11th.

- Second.

- Now with a proper second, any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

Vice-chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Eight yes's.

- Motion to defer until May the 11th carries.

Now Madam clerk, six C please.

- An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2 Chapter 38 Zoning Ordinance so as to rezone property located at 4200 Willard Lane from R3MD Moderate Density Zone and R4 Special Zone to R3 Residential Zone subject to certain conditions.

- Is the applicant present on Zoom or in the audience?

Would you raise your hand at this time?

Is there any opposition present on Zoom or in the audience?

Would you please raise your hand at this time?

- Councilman Gilbert I'm not seeing an applicant nor opposition.

- Sir.

I would like for Mr. Ingram to, to get, well the neighborhood association, you know, that's Lake Hills.

I don't think he knew that and give him our two weeks, two weeks out.

So it'd be April the 27th.

- Did you say April the 27th, sir?

- Yes.

- Okay.

What is that?

Is that deferral in the form of emotion?

- Yes, sir.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to defer until April the 27th with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote.

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Vice-chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- 8 yes's.

- Motion carries.

- Now Madam clerk, six G please.

- An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part II Chapter 38 Zoning Ordinance so as to rezone property located at 2218 Bailey Avenue from R2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions.

- Is the applicant present with us on Zoom or in the audience?

Would you please raise your hand?

Okay.

Is there any opposition present on Zoom or in the audience?

Would you please raise your hand at this time?

Councilwoman Coonrad I am seeing an applicant but no opposition.

- Could you read the conditions?

- Tell you what, Madam clerk would you bring in Mr. Bridger, please.

- Afternoon.

- You, you almost got out of any work this afternoon.

- (Mr. Bridger laughs) Item Six G. Councilwoman Coonrad would like the conditions read, please - Okay.

I'll be happy to do that.

And let me pull that up.

Just one second.

There are three conditions for this request.

The three conditions are: residential uses only.

No more than five residential units.

And a maximum height of three stories.

- Hey, how are you?

- Good afternoon, Mr. Winget.

Did you hear the conditions that were read, sir?

- I did.

- And are you agreeable?

- And we're fine with that.

Yes.

- Okay - Let's go to vote.

- Second.

- Alright.

We have a motion on the floor to approve with conditions and a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

- Vice-chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Eight yes's.

- Motion carries.

Madam clerk, let's take under resolutions at this time.

Seven A, please.

- A resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of economic and community development to enter into an agreement with Chatt Inn, LLC, The Chatt Inn for non-congregate COVID-19 related housing for up to 100 households currently experiencing homelessness for a 90 day period, beginning April 13, 2021 and ending July 12 2021 with an option to extend the agreement if funds are not expended for an additional 90 day period for a FEMA reimbursable amount, not to exceed $341,250.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

Is there a motion on the floor?

Hearing no motion, the resolution fails for lack of a motion.

Madam clerk, Seven B please.

- A resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of economic and community development.

To enter into an agreement with security engineers Inc. S E I. for non-congregate COVID-19 related security services at the Chatt Inn for up to 100 households currently experiencing homelessness for a 90 day period, beginning April 13, 2021 and ending July 12, 2021 with an option to extend the agreement, if funds are expanded on an additional 90-day period for a FEMA reimbursable amount, not to exceed $62,100.

- All right, what is the pleasure of the council?

Do I hear a motion on the floor?

hearing no motion, this resolution fails for lack of a motion.

All right.

Madam clerk, Seven C please.

- A resolution waiving the fee for use of Ross's Landing estimated at $26,000 by Friends of the Festival Riverfront Nights Free Community Summer Music Series, beginning on Saturday, June five, 2021 and each Saturday through August 28, 2021 - Councilman Oglesby followed by Councilman Ledford.

- All right, thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

This resolution is going to go a long way as we begin to open our city where we create opportunities for us to all come together and begin to socialize and to show what a great city we are as we come through relating to each other.

So it, for that statement, I move that we approve this resolution.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

All right.

- Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Berz - Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

- Vice-chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

Yes.

- Eight yes's.

- So moved.

- Madam Clerk, We now come to Seven D please.

- A resolution authorizing the city attorney to obtain an interpretation from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on certain provisions of the court order in Brown V city of Chattanooga Civ, 187 388 on the residency requirements for foresworn emergency personnel and to draft suggested language revisions to the City Charter as section 3.1.1, which would, which could be placed on the ballot for charter referendum, if it is not contrary to the January 18, 1990 court order in Brown V City of Chattanooga at this time.

- Councilman Ledford followed by Councilwoman Berz.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We discussed this and had very very important conversation at our earlier session this afternoon.

And I want to applaud the conversation moving forward and exploring what we can do on several levels concerning the recruitment of our sworn personnel.

And with that, I'd like to move to approve - Councilwoman Berz.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I think this is a very important issue but we fought and there was great discussion.

However, I think we need the legal aspect addressed first before we go forward.

So it becomes very important that the city attorney get that opinion.

Thank you very much.

With that, I second.

- Okay.

We have a motion.

on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Very well.

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- No.

- Councilwoman Coonrad.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Vice-chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- A seven yes's - Motion carries seven one.

We now come to the time where we recognize persons wishing to address the council.

All right, we're good to go.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you, council.

Monty Bell, the homeless journalist of the Gray-haired Fox.

I, I'd like to say to the council it's rather eerie being here tonight.

Not just because of COVID but being one of the 16 candidates, unprecedented.

16 people running for the office of the mayor.

We have a runoff today and I'm not in that runoff.

It's very eerie.

One of the things before I get to hopefully the wonderful leading by Councilman Byrd is the fact that Monty Bell Homeless Relief Act of 2021.

This was my campaign pitch that I never got a chance to do it, but what it is it's where all of the homeless people like myself to receive the stimulus money.

All three stimulus checks, $3,200.

There were certain conditions which when I entered a race and many people knew that Monty Bell was going to enter the race for the mayor was that we had to decide how we were going to use the community kitchen as my residency.

That residency issue became one of the conditions in order for the homeless to receive the stimulus money.

When I contacted the national offices that were responsible for making sure that we had local sites, I was taken back by the fact that our local urban league along with our Second Missionary Baptist Church, along with two facilities out in East Gate had been chosen by the United States government for these sites which we never heard from any of the aforementioned.

I never spoke with this Marty Bueller.

I never spoke with his attorney, Lee Davis.

But at a January 13th hearing, I did hear from our city attorney who stated that it was impossible for them to disqualify Monty Bell based on residency and residency alone.

That was the ridiculous challenge.

It cost me an opportunity.

It costs me a job.

It costs me the relief, almost that we're seeking.

But a couple of weeks ago, we had a visit to my campsite, my homeless campsite by counselman Anthony Byrd of which as of today, we didn't receive any of the bags the dumpsters or the Porter potties.

And I'm not sure based on the resolutions tonight if we are actually included in the resolutions that you all said, absolutely nothing about.

So with the time remaining, a few seconds, Councilman Byrd what am I going to take back to the campsite right down the street.

- Let me ask you not to address a councilperson specifically - Well to the council as a whole.

What could I take back to my encampment right down the street.

We've been awaiting trash bags.

We've been awaiting dumpsters and we've been awaiting these porta-potties and a move to the Chatt Inn on 23rd street.

So what do, what say thee?

- Okay, thank you Mr. Bell your time is up.

Councilman Byrd, did you have a comment you want to make?

- Yes sir.

After the meeting Mr Monty, I will sit down and talk with you about what's going on, okay?

- Okay.

Thank you.

- And thank you again, council.

- Thank you.

- Well, I just, um - We all know your name, but we need it for the record.

Yes, I am T-RAN Gilbert.

I am the son of city counselor Russel Gilbert, I'm gonna just say a legend.

People come and go.

People die and they pass away and we give people their roses when they're dead most of the time.

But this is your time, Dad, to have your roses while you are alive because no one can not take away 12 years that you have put into this city.

12 years and a half that you have helped a lot of people to become greater than where they are at now.

You have helped people to become the best version of themselves.

I'm so proud and thankful to know that I have a father that is black history.

You have celebrated other people and this is your celebration.

And just know that this is not the end of your celebration because we going to continue to honor you in Chattanooga, Tennessee for everything that you have done.

You have been a politician that have not just gave promises.

You are a politician that has done the work and everything that you say you was going to do.

you've done it.

And that makes me proud because we live in a society sometimes that people just give you smoke and people just tell you one thing and then they do another, but you are a man of integrity and I'm proud to be your son.

And I'm proud to know that I could be able to know that I have a father that has led a legacy and is leaving a legacy.

And I'm gonna make sure that your legacy will not die.

And I know I'm speaking for your 10 grandkids, my mother, Terry Gilbert and your five children that came from you that we are so proud.

It was so delighted for you.

So I love you, dad.

Thank you.

Cause I will not be the man I am today without you being the best role model and the best mentor and the best teacher and the best dad and the best friend.

I love you.

And let's continue to make history.

22 vision.

We here.

(Audience applauds) - Something special, When those that know us best love us the most.

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

For a copy of this program, please call four, two, three seven Oh two 7800.