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

(upbeat music) - Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Tuesday, April the 27th City Council meeting.

I now call this meeting to order, our pledge of allegiance and invocation tonight will move on Councilman, Darrin Ledford.

(indistinct chatter) - Mr. Chairman with all due respect I move the agenda.

- Thank you sir, we have no special presentations tonight, could I get a motion on the minutes please?

- I move.

- Okay, we have a motion on the minutes to approve with a proper second, any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hetser.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- The ayes have it.

Council Dotley remind you even during your, while you vote to speak directly into your mic, so that those that are joining us on the Zoom can hear us.

We have no ordinances on final reading this afternoon.

We do have one ordinance on first reading a planning item, Madam clerk if you would please six A - An awareness to a maintenance of a City Code Part two Chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So that's a reasonable property located at 4,200 Willard Lane from R-3MD Moderate Density Zone and R-4 specials Zone to R-3 Residential Zone subject to certain conditions.

- All right, is the applicant with us in the audience or on Zoom?

Okay I see him on Zoom.

Is there any opposition to this planning item in the audience or with us on Zoom this afternoon?

Councilman Hester the applicant is here, I'm seeing no opposition on Zoom or in the audience, sir.

- Okay, for point of clarification, can you give us certain conditions.

- Answered for me from the planning commission version is that correct?

- Correct, correct, correct.

- Okay, there are two conditions that are recommended for this ordinance, one has a maximum density of 15 dwelling units per acre.

And the second condition is no more than five attached units in one single mast town home building.

- Okay, thank you.

I'm ready to approve it.

- Second.

- Okay, we have a motion only for to approve with a proper second, questions or comments before we vote.

If not Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved, sir up here in the front row in the red seat.

Could I ask you to move back to one of the other seats?

I'm not sure how you got past our barricades there, but.

(laughing) Thank you sir, well that's reserved for our media back there to back this, any of these seats that doesn't have a white piece of paper on them would be fine.

(indistinct chatter) Okay, thank you.

Now moving to resolutions, Madam clerk if there are no objections from the council, I'd like to take seven A, B and C together, if there are no objections, okay.

- Item A, a resolution authorized on the Mayor to retroactively enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen and pay for COVID-19 related shelter expenses from April, 2020 in the amount of $38,445 and 26 cents.

With the reimbursable through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.

Item B, a resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Economic and Community Development to apply for, and if awarded, accept Emergency Solutions Grant funds from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency THDA for approximately $161,250.

Item C, a resolution authorizing the acceptance of Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA funds administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security, declared on April two 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, DR-4514-TN.

- Councilman Berz.

- Move approval.

- Okay, we have a motion on the floor to approve item seven, A, B, and C with a proper second questions or comments before we vote, Madam clerk roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson - Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Motion carries nine zero.

Now, council moving into Public Works and Transportation, Madam clerk with no objections I'd like to take seven D and E please.

- Item D, a resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to amend the annual end date of May 14, 2021 to match the software-year end date of September 30, 2021 of an agreement with Club Prophet System to provide city golf courses with POS and reservation software.

Item E, a resolution authorizing payment to Tennessee American Water Company through June 30, 2021 with disconnection fees resulting from delinquent sewer charges for a total amount not to exceed $75,000.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve items seven D and E with a proper second questions or comments before we vote, Madam clerk roll call please.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilmen Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Motion to approve seven D and E carries.

Now council, if you would pull out your purchase items for this afternoon, Mr. Vice Chair, Madam clerk, would you bring in Mr. Sammons?

- You got it.

- Good evening Mr. Sammons.

- Good evening Mr.

Chair and members of council.

We have two purchase items and seating for your approval.

And we also have one RFP recommendation for approval.

Starting first with the purchases, both coming from the Waste Resource Division of Public Works.

The first item is, overhead crane maintenance and repair services being awarded to excuse me, Chattanooga Crane & Hoist, LLC for an estimated annual cost of $100,000.

And the last purchase item, for window tinting and repair services being awarded to Quality Glass for an estimated annual cost of $125,000.

And that concludes the new purchases for this evening.

- Thank you Mr. Sammons, what is the pleasure of the council?

- Move approval.

- Second.

- Okay, we have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's purchase items with a proper second, any questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved, Mr. Sammons anything else from you sir?

- Yes sir, we have one RFP recommendation, the following recommendation for approval as a competitive seal proposal instead of a competitive seal bid, it comes from the Water Quality Division of Public Works for GIS GO special services.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Move to approve the RFP request.

- Second.

- All right, we have a motion on the floor to approve 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 Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- And that motion is approved, thank you Mr. Sammons.

- Thank you very much, you have a good evening.

- Mr. Vice Chair, you can excuse our guest.

We now move to committee reports which we only have at this time three committee Chairs.

So I'm on call on those for the report, Mr. Vice Chair.

- Thank you Mr.

Chair, earlier today we discussed three items in legislative committee.

We discussed the Juneteenth ordinance which the council approved to go on our two week agenda.

We discussed a parks master plan resolution that this council or previous council had tabled.

And there is interest of bringing that off of the table this evening in other business.

And we also discussed revisions to the EIG, which is the Employee Information Guide.

And the council agreed that that item will be placed on the agenda two weeks from this evening as well.

No further report.

- Thank you sir.

Councilman Ledford, Planning and Zoning.

- Planning and Zoning will meet next Tuesday on May the fourth be with you.

- Thank you, Budget and Finance Councilwoman Berz.

- No reports sir.

- All right, very well thank you.

Council, and in a way or have a report after talking with some staff and some council members and it's my hope that we can all get fully vaccinated during the month of May.

I think we will continue the hybrid practice through May and resume our strategic planning in June in the Collins Conference room as council members requested.

So hybrid through May and then our planning I mean, our strategic planning can resume in the Collins Conference room in June.

All right, now moving on to other business we do have some IDB appointments this afternoon.

Counsel, if you would just like to raise your hand and make those nominations, Councilman Ledford.

- Thank you Mr. Chairman I'd like to nominate or appoint... - I think you're nominating sir.

(laughing) - Thank you, Gordon Parker to the IDB please.

- Okay, do I have a second?

- Second.

- We have a nomination on the floor to nominate, or to let Gordon Parker to the IDB board, with a proper second questions or comments before we vote?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Motion carries, Councilman or Vice Chair Smith.

- Thank you Mr.

Chair, there was a question brought to me earlier regarding the term expiration of the individual currently holding the seat.

So at this time I'm going to hold my nomination until next week so that I can get some clarification, sir.

- Very well thank you, Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes, I would like to nominate Patrick Sharply to the IDB board.

- Second.

- All right, we have a nomination on the floor for Patrick Sharply with a proper second, questions or comments before we vote.

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved, and counsel I'm going to wait as well, till I can have a resume submitted to each council person before I make a nomination for my appointment.

All right, any other business at this time?

Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Thank you Chair, I'd like to move the parks plan from the table.

- Second.

- Okay, we have a motion on the floor to take the parks plan off the table with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote on this item?

Madam clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith.

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved, it is removed from the table, Mr. Attorney.

- Thank you, I think we should put it on the agenda next week, just so you got noticed to the public that it's going on, or if you wanna do it tonight... - I think we would be better off doing it next week.

Just so we have notice for the public, is the council good with that?

- [All] Yes.

- Thank you.

All right, now we come to the time where we recognize persons wishing to address the council.

If you are here in the audience and you would like to speak, if you would come to the microphone or if you are with us on Zoom, and you have registered to speak on Zoom, would you please raise your hand at this time to let us know you'd like to speak.

Anyone in the audience that would like to speak?

- Came on Zoom.

- Okay, I'm not seeing anybody in the audience, Mr. Vice Chair could you confirm that Marie Ma is in fact registered to speak?

- Yes sir, she has registered.

- All right, would you please bring her in.

Mr. Attorney, would you read the rules to engage the council and Mr.

IT would you put three minutes on the clock please?

- Yes sir, at the end of each council business meeting the Chair can recognize members of the public that wish to address the council, here are your rules.

You have to give your name, address, or council district before addressing the council.

You can't have more than three minutes to speak, address the council only upon matters within their legislative and Quayside judicial authority and not upon matters which are under the authority of other governmental bodies or agencies.

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

Having stated those rules, please go ahead ma'am.

- All right, Ms. Ma can you hear us?

- I sure can, can you hear me?

- All right, if you'd just give us your name and district number please, you may begin.

- Marie Ma District eight.

Good evening council, it's a pleasure to be virtually with you all.

I just wanna start of course, as I always have with the quote from someone so important to me which is Martin Luther King, Jr. "True compassion is more than slinging a corn to a beggar.

It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars, needs restructuring."

and the restructuring that Martin Luther King Jr was talking about is our society.

One of the things that I'm most proud of that young African American, as well as other people of color who came together last summer during 2020 did as a by-product of protests, is we took that energy and we encouraged our community to come out for the Budgeting For Outcomes process, and make sure that they tell you all, whether you are reelected or newly elected, what we wanted to see happen with our taxpayer dollars.

Overwhelmingly the issues that mattered the most to us are homelessness, housing, as well as police.

And we have seen this consistency that has happened even up until now, despite the outcome of the George Floyd trial, where black bodies are still being murdered at the hands of police.

It is important as it was outlined from various different districts that mental and behavioral health services be given to community members, and those calls be diverted from our police and to a faction of people who could be trusted and unarmed to serve people in the community and to help them, despite various different social problems that they may be having.

I am just speaking to you all, whether you are new or not, whether you know me or not, to hold tight to what over 18,000 people said in the budgeting for outcomes process, that was probably one of the most significant Budgeting For Outcomes processes we've ever had when it came to civic engagement.

And so it is a reminder to each one of you, especially district five, seven, eight and nine we're primarily African-Americans as well as those who are poor, and those who are people of color exist in this city, that they get the fair shake opportunity and we have a restructuring of the edifice of our society that benefits all.

As always, if no one's taking any time of the day to let you know you love somebody, I love you, nothing you can do about it, peace.

- All right, anyone else that has registered to speak on Zoom, if you'd like to speak at this time would you please raise your hand, one last call for the audience anybody in the audience that would like to address the council this afternoon?

All right council, I'm not seeing any one else that would like to address the council this afternoon.

- Move to address... - Oh one second.

Councilwoman Coonrod - My hand was up before little Jeremy, I got to say that, (laughs) but thank you Chair.

The police is here, great.

I need to ask you a question.

- Let me ask you this, is it possible to get with him after the meeting?

I mean, is this something that we all need to hear or is this just a question you have for him?

- Yeah, I got a question I mean, I think it's important for everybody to hear.

- Okay, all right.

- It's just 620 Chair.

It's just 620.

- I'm sorry, I can't understand.

- It's just 620.

- That's not the point ma'am, we've got an agenda that we are following.

- Thank you sir.

- Go ahead.

- Feel attorney, I need to ask the attorney.

Is there anything in our charter or in our policies that says we have a set time to be done with questions?

Also, is there anything in the charter or our policies and rules that says that council members can't ask questions?

I'm I missing something or?

- No Ma'am, but the Council Chair has the control of the meeting and he sets the agenda per the house rules.

That is part of your rules of procedure.

- Right, so I have a question.

- Yes ma'am.

- Thank you Chair.

So it was stated about, and just for my district because I don't, unless I'm missing something.

Is there any data, or any complaints, or anything they says that or shows that police are killing black people in Chattanooga?

Do we have that information?

Is it, have there been any, it hadn't been done in my district since George Floyd, like I don't, I just wanna know if we have any information reflecting it.

- I don't have any data with me, I'd be happy to go back and get some data that I can share with you directly or have somebody share with the council.

The biggest problem we have in our community is violence that is black on black.

- Thank you sir, I appreciate it.

- Can I ask you a question Chair?

- Councilman Byrd.

- Thank you Chair, I see here where we have a public safety meeting coming up on May the fourth.

- Let me, so let me get with you I guess after this meeting, let's talk about.

- Yes sir, thank you.

- All right council, I'm seeing no other hands I vote the closure of council.

- Meeting adjourned.

(gavel bangs) - We are adjourned.

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

(upbeat music) For a copy of this program, please call 423.702.7800 or email videoservices@wtcitv.org.