(upbeat music) - You're watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting your production of WTCI, your public television station.

(Gavel slams)(quiet chat) - Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen Welcome to our Tuesday, April the 20th City Council meeting I now call this meeting to order.

- Thank you, sir.

- Tonight we have the honor of having our new mayor with us.

I'd like to invite him up to the podium for a word, if he would, and counsel if you would, let's welcome our new mayor, Mayor Tim Keller.

(applause) - Thank you.

- Thank you - Thank you very much.

Briefly first and I'll keep my remarks brief.

I want to acknowledge the verdict that just got passed down in our office.

At least I know we were all stopped cold in our tracks to see if justice would be served.

And today, at least I think we can say that it was as Martin Luther King Jr said, of course, "The moral arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice."

And I think we, we saw that tonight and are grateful for it.

And I know chief Rodney is on the same page because I spoke with him about it.

We're still, we can't lose perspective that there was a life lost and we have a lot more work to do but I'm committed to doing that work alongside all of you and privileged for the opportunity to do so.

So thank you for the acknowledgement Mr. Chairman and that was completely undeserved.

I haven't actually done anything yet.

(laughs) - That might be a good thing.

- Well, I really just want you all to know how excited I am to be working with all of you over the next four years and getting to know you better.

We've got a lot of work to do and a lot of really important things to do.

And this is the part, as I said, many times through the campaign that really, really excites me.

I'm quite certain that we'll do a lot of things that will change the city forever and for the citizens of Chattanooga.

And I'm looking really, really, really forward to it.

So just know that I will never waste your time tonight or any other night.

And so I'll let you get back to your work but I just want you to know that I'll be here anytime you need me in any capacity that you need me.

So thank you.

- Thank you, sir.

- Thank you.

- She has become a special friend and I'm going to miss her dearly, Mr.Vice-Chair, would you please bring in Ms. Donna Williams?

Good afternoon, Ms. Williams - Hello, Mr. Chairman - We are so sad to see you joining us for the last time tonight, but we certainly wish you well.

And you've been a permanent fixture here for the past eight years.

Someone we've depended on and leaned on for their wisdom and knowledge and you've done us a great job and I just want to commend you for the job that you have done for the role that you fulfilled.

And I'm sure there be other council people that would like to chime in as well.

But I wanted to give you just a moment to any last words that you would like to leave with us.

- Well, first of all, I joined you in welcoming Mayor Keller very excited to have him as the next mayor leading Chattanooga forward.

I also want to welcome the new council members.

Thank you for your service.

I joke with our city council members from time to time to say this will be the closest overtime job you'll ever have.

That's part-time so get ready for a lot of hard work.

Also know that you have extremely talented, educated and experienced staff there at the here at the city, still here, here at the city at every level.

So I just thank you all for the council members that I've worked with for the last eight years and some for the last four years.

Thank you for your service And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

I'm not foolish enough to know that politics don't include politics, but I can say for certain that this council has put the constituents first and it has shown dividends and and there will be more dividends to be seen from the work that you've done.

So thank you for allowing me to, to serve the city.

- And thank you, Councilman Ledford.

Donna, we've known each other a long time long before we both were serving our community through the city.

And I just want to wish you the best.

I've learned a tremendous amount from you over the last four years, sitting in this position and working alongside of ECD and I just want you to know that.

Thank you, number one for your service to not only our city but our entire city and County.

I'm mean you've the efforts that you have put forth and your staff and the stories that we have heard have been absolutely well, just very driven in, in the spirit that I know that you have in your heart for others.

So you're my friend.

You've been with my friend for a long time and I look forward to seeing you outside of the city and just know that I'm always here for you.

I got your back.

- I appreciate that.

Thank you very much (laughs) - Councilman Byrd - Real quick sirs, I love you so much.

You're so amazing Just thanks for all the, those, the hard conversations the education you gave me and get me through that four years that I was here and I just really appreciate it.

I'm going to lean on you some more in the next four years.

So don't change your phone number cause I need to talk to you so so much but just thanks for everything done, respect you as a woman.

I respect you as a, just your brain.

I respect everything about you and I just look forward to seeing the great things you do.

Okay.

Thank you.

- Thank you, thank you.

- Council woman Coonrod - Man.

I just counseled my Bird took the words out of my mouth cause I just told his daughter the exact same thing but it's been a great pleasure having the opportunity to work with you on this end.

Like we sat at many tables of talking about the community and before I even was a council person, you know, the the jewels that you would deposit into me, I I most definitely hold those to heart.

I treasure those things that you were.. Transitioning from prison, you was the first black woman that I saw in Chattanooga that was doing positive things in the community and real estate was that one thing and that connection.

And I looked at how you were able to mobilize different groups people and provide them with home ownership opportunities to help build wealth.

I watched how you, you know no matter the person that you encountered you always showed them how they can be their very best and you help them formulate a plan to execute that plan.

And I appreciate you for me being you being a vessel for me to help me execute my best self.

I thank you for that.

I know you're only a phone call away.

You know, you, you don't hesitate to answer my phone call or respond to any emails and you've been more than a friend to me.

And I appreciate you believing in me even when I wanted to give up and couldn't see the vision for myself.

I really appreciate you.

You showed me when the best time to plant an Oak tree and I planted those seeds and I watched those trees begin to grow.

So again, thank you Ms. Donna.

- Thank you, my pleasure.

- All right council.

Anybody else?

Okay.

Ms. Williams, I think this time it's for real.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair - Thank you for being with us.

- My pleasure.

- All right Mr Vice-Chair, you can excuse our guests.

(applause) - Now moving into your order of business.

Could I get a motion on the minutes please?

- Second, second - We have a motion on the floor to approve the minutes with a proper second questions or comments before we vote.

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Council woman Hill.

- Yes.

Council man Ledford.

- Yes.

Council man Hester.

- Yes.

Council woman Byrss.

- Yes.

Council woman Dotly.

- Yes.

Council man, Bird.

- Yes.

Council woman Coonrad.

-Yes.

Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

That's nine yesses.

- Let's have it.

Next on your agenda is the election of officers for your city council.

At this time, I will now open the floor for nominations for the chair, Council woman Byrss.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I think this is a really exciting time for us to be working together and for the new administration.

I think continuity is really important as we go through a number of changes.

So I would like to nominate you as chair.

Is that okay?

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor With a proper second... Councilwoman Dotly.

- I had a question about the nominations as far as the criteria for chair and vice chair.

Could you explain it a little bit as we go into these votes?

- Could you build, when you say the criteria for chair, obviously, I mean you would have to be a sitting council member.

Other than that, it's, it's really up to this body who they would like to nominate at that point.

- So there are no like year guidelines as far as being a first year kind of - No ma'am.

Would you like to be nominated for chair?

- No, no.

(laughs from members) I was just asking as far as criteria is concerned.

- Sure, any anybody sitting up on this day can be nominated for a chair or vice chair position.

- Thank you.

- Okay.

Do we have any other nominations for chair at this time?

(indistinctive comment) - Nominations will be closed.

We'll now take a roll call vote.

Madam clerk - Council woman Hill.

- Yes.

Council man Ledford.

- Yes.

Council man Hester.

- Yes.

Council woman Byrss.

- Yes.

Council woman Dotly.

- (laughs) Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

Council woman Coonrad.

- I thought about it, nah, yes.

Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- So the motion for nomination as approved and you will be stuck with me for the next year for your chair.

Thank you, council, for your trust and in, in my ability and leadership and I promise Council woman Byrss that I would not embarrass her for this next year.

So I'll do my best ma'am.

All right at this time I will open nomi-, open the floor for nominations, for vice chair, Councilman Byrd.

- Thank you chair.

I just want to say thank you definitely for your leadership.

And it's been a pleasure, definitely working with you and for vice chair, I say, why break up the team?

I think we have a good thing going and I would like to nominate Ken Smith for vice chair.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to nominate Ken Smith for vice chair.

- Second.

- We have a second Council woman Coonrod - Oh, I was going to second, but I think I want to nominate myself.

No, I second it.

(laughs) - Don't mess with me right now.

(laughs) - You know, I got to sir the pot.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to elect Ken Smith as our vice chair with a proper second.

Is there any other nominations from the floor?

(indistinctive comment) - Do I have a second?

- Second.

- Nominations are now closed.

Madam clerk roll call vote please.

- Council woman Hill.

- Yes.

Council man Ledford.

- Yes.

Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

Council woman Byrss.

- Yes.

Council woman Dotly.

- Yes.

Council man Byrd.

- Yes.

Council woman Coonrod.

- Yes.

Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- Mr. Vice-chair sounds unanimous.

You are a new vice chair.

- Thank you, counsel.

I will do my best to make sure that chairman Henderson does not embarrass himself during this next year.

- Yes, I appreciate that sir.

- Much appreciated.

- All right, moving on.

We now come to ordinances on final reading Council if there are no objections I'd like to take and bundle planning items six a through e. If there's no objection from the council Council Ledford.

- No, sir.

I was going to make the motion for you on your item number one, but you bundled them.

- Okay.

Madam clerk, would you please read planning items six a through e please?

- Yes.

Item a, an ordinance to maintain Chattanooga City code to a chapter 38 zoning ordinance so that's the reason why the property property's located in the 600 block of West view row from our T1 residential townhouse zone to our one residential zone Item B: an ordinance to a maintain Chattanooga city code part two tab 38 zoning ordinance.

So that's the rezone part of a property located in the 6100 block of highway 58 from R1 residential zone to C2 convenience commercial zone, all subject to certain conditions.

Item C: an ordinance to maintain city code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone properties located at 2500 Coward street and the 2500 block of Williams street, and in the 2200 block of West 26th street are three residences onto UGC Urban Jenner commercials zone, subject to certain conditions Item D an ordinance to a main Chattanooga City code part two tab 38 zoning warnings.

So as to rezone property located at 2203 Millie street from R1 residential zone to R2 residential zone.

Item E an ordinance to main Chattanooga city code part 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance So as a rezone property located at 2218 Bailey Avenue from R2 residential zone in a UGC urban commercial zone.

Subject to certain conditions.

- Councilman Ledford followed by Council woman Coonrad - I mean Council woman Byrss.

I'm sorry.

(indistinctive comment) - Thank you.

Move approval.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor for items six a through E with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote Seeing none.

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Council woman Hill.

- Yes.

Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

Counsel man Hester.- Yes.

Council woman Byrss.

- Yes.

Council man Dotly.

- Yes.

Council woman Byrd.

- Yes.

Council woman Coonrad.

- Yes.

Vice chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- Motion carries nine zero.

Madam clerk if you would now six F please.

- An ordinance closing on abandonment on unopened sewer easement located 300 block of Treemont street as detailed on the attached map, subject certain conditions.

- Council woman Hill followed by Council man Ledford.

- Thank you.

As discussed in our agenda meeting I have some unanswered questions about this project overall and because it is really important within district two and specifically within the neighborhood I think it's important that I have a little more time to really understand the history and the future of this project.

So I'd like to make a motion to defer it for two weeks until the week of five three.

At which point we could have the final reading.

- Ma'am are you referring to may the fifth?

- Yes.

I'm sorry.

May the fourth?

- Well, yeah the week of five three - Okay.

So we have a motion on the floor to defer until may the fourth with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Council woman Coonrod.

- Yes.

Council man Bird.

- Yes.

Council woman Dotly.

- Yes.

Council woman Byrss.

- Yes.

Council man Hester.

- Yes.

Council man Ledford.

- Yes.

Council woman Hill.

- Yes.

Vice chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- So moved.

We have no ordinances on first reading this afternoon moving now to resolutions.

Madam clerk.

If you would with no objections from the council I would like to take eight a through C please - Item A: a resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of economic and community development to award up to $40,000 per house for a total amount up to $120,000 in home program funding to habitat for humanity to assist with the new construction at three affordable home owner units located at the following addresses: 239 Canary circle, 305 West 37th street and 3410 Kirkland Avenue.

Item B: resolution to increase purchase order number 551611 unum by $120,000 to cover employee group, life insurance and supplemental life premiums through fiscal year 2021 for a total purchase order not to exceed $698,000.

Item C: your resolution authorizing the police chief to accept $89,107 from the department of justice office of justice programs for the 2020 JAG grant.

- Council woman Byrss.

- Approval.

- Same.

- Same.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve items eight a through c with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call, please - Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Byrss.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Dotly.

- Yes.

Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- Motion to approve eight a through c carries eight, I mean nine-zero.

Now moving to purchases.

Council, if you would pull out your purchase items this afternoon, Mr. Vice chair, if you'd bring in Tony Sammons please, sir.

Good evening Mr. Sammons.

- Good evening, Mr.

Chair and members of council.

We have a few purchase items for your approval along with one emergency purchase under the mayor's declaration, starting with the purchases.

First from the waste resource division of public works we have ground maintenance, pump stations, and CSOs being awarded to special touch lawn care in an amount of $40,000.

Next we have from the department of information technology, technology, products, services, solutions and related products of services being awarded to insight public sector incorporated for an estimated annual cost of $1,500,000.

And the last item also from the waste resource division of public works we have lab equipment services plan being awarded to Perkins Elmer Health Sciences incorporated for an estimated annual cost of $14,883.

And that concludes the new purchases for this unit.

- Thank you, Mr. Sammons, plus pleasure of the council approval.

(indistinctive) We have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's purchases with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Dotly.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Byrss.

- Yes.

Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

Nine yesses.

- So moved.

Now moving to committee reports.

Council, as everybody understands with a new administration comes a reorganization of all of our departments.

I have spoken to the administration and they have assured me Mr. Goldberg, that by the end of may we will have all of our departments into place.

And rather than I think at this time appointing a bunch of committees and then having to reassign I would like to wait until we have all of our departments in place to, to a point at least the most of the of committee chairs.

There are a few that I think we could move forward with that are functions of the council.

One is budget and finance.

And at this time I'd like to appoint Councilwoman Byrss to our budget and finance committee as a budget and finance committee chair so that she can begin working with the administration planning dates and and bring in the sessions to counsel also planning and zoning continues.

And I would like to appoint Councilman Ledford to that committee as a chair so so that he can continue to attend the planning and zoning meetings each month.

And then legislative committee is a function of the vice chair.

So Mr. Vice chair, you will be handling legislative committee and as soon as we have the reorganization of our departments I'll assign each council member a chair over those departments.

Mr. Vice-chair I think also earlier in the day we did talk about some legislation that needed to be brought forth on the Juneteenth.

So if you could go ahead and schedule that committee meeting, sir so that we could hear that.

And then I think also our open spaces master plan as well.

All right.

- Are you okay Mr.

Chair if we go ahead and schedule that for next week?

The committee.

- I am.

I would like to have it next week.

And the ordinance that you mentioned specifically the Juneteenth ordinance that is something that this council has discussed.

A number of times, I do want to give our new colleagues an opportunity to read it and ask questions if they would like, but I'm am interested in moving it along to the agenda as soon as possible.

So if we can get that scheduled next week that would be great.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Excuse me, Mr.

Chair.

- Mr. Sammons.

- Yes, sir.

I'm sorry to inturrupt - You're right.

We have a, we have an emergency purchase don't we?

(laughs) - Yes.

- Well, at least I didn't excuse you and then bring you back like (laughs) last - Go ahead sir.

- We do have one emergency purchase.

That's under the mayor's emergency declaration.

And that is from the department of economic and community development.

Is for additional dollars needed for hotel and food for the emergency relocation of our residents of the patent towers.

It's for, as mentioned various hotel locations and/or a cracker barrel, old country store incorporated.

This emergency purchase request is for a total not to exceed $76,000.

Again, being utilized, we're utilizing the Red Cross' existing vendors.

This will enable us to ensure the continuity of the services are, and there is a minimal disruption to those that have been displaced.

And to break that down a little bit more we will not exceed $64,000, which will be for hotel expenses and for food, we will not exceed $12,000.

Again, that total amount is for $76,000.

All of this being related under COVID.

- Thank you, Ms. Sammons.

Any questions for Mr. Salmons?

Councilwoman Coonrod is up for something else.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, Mr. Sammons.

- Thank you - Mr. Vice chair, you can excuse our guests.

We will not leave him, leave him hanging.

(laughs) All right.

Any questions about committee reports or committee assignments at this time?

Council woman Coonrad.

- Thank you chair.

Last year, I had a follow up about interested in taking part of the budget.

I would like the opportunity to culture, to budget and findings with Councilwoman Byrss (coughs) For the past four years I've been on youth and family development.

- Yes, ma'am.

It is what I like but I want to step outside my comfort zone and offer support to councilwoman and will also get out of (indistinctive) - Councilman, any objections to co-chair.

(indistinctive) Okay.

We'll have some discussion and, and we'll get back.

Okay.

What is the pleasure of the council?

- Meetings adjourned.

(gavel slams) We're adjourned.

(upbeat music) You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga city council meeting a production of WTCI PBS.

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