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

A production of WTCI PBS.

(upbeat music) (gavel hitting wood) - Good evening and welcome to our Tuesday, April 4th, City Council business agenda.

I will now call the meeting to order.

- [Council Member, Ledford] Thank you.

Council member, Coonrod.

We have a special presentation tonight.

Ma'am, you have a floor.

- [Council Member, Coonrod] Thank you Chairman.

If Mr. Sonny Lee Mosley Jr's family will come join me at the podium please.

I'm gonna read this proclamation.

Whereas, Mr. Lee "Sonny" Mosley Jr. Began his life's journey on December the sixth, 1938 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

As a young child, his parents gave him the nickname "Sonny", which became a term of endearment for everyone that knew and loved him.

He was a very proud husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

And was always his family's greatest protector and supporter.

Whereas, he was raised in the West side community.

And was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, East eighth Street.

He accepted Christ at a young age and remained an active member of the church by serving on the usher ministry until his passing on December the 20th, 2019.

Whereas Mr. Mosley was educated in the Chattanooga public School system.

Graduated from Howard High School in 1956.

He prided himself on being one of the students who attended Howard at his original location on Carter Street.

He furthered his education at Tennessee State University before returning home to Chattanooga to reside.

Whereas, in 1965, Sonny became one of the first African-American police officers hired to protect and serve in the city of Chattanooga.

He served with the Chattanooga Police Department for 28 years before retiring at the rank of Sergeant in 1993.

Whereas, after leaving the police department, he returned to the law enforcement field as the Lieutenant of Hospital Security Administration at Erlangar Health Systems.

Serving for 15 years upon retirement from Erlanga.

He continued his last assignment as city traffic court officer under the Honorable Judge Russell Bean.

Now, therefore, I, Demetrus Coonrod, councilwoman of Chattanooga City Council, do hereby honor and recognize Mr. Lee "Sonny" Mosley Jr. For a law enforcement career that spanned over 43 years.

As a police officer, He prayed for dedication to do his job well.

Keep his community safe, and show compassion for those in need.

Mr. Mosley fulfilled that prayer by living an exemplary life of service to the family, community, and the city that he loved.

(hands clapping) - [Daughter Of Mr. Mosley] This is our daddy.

(people at podium laughing) (metal clinking) This is his twin, my brother Corey.

This is my sister Yolanda.

We have another sister Serena and our brother, our oldest brother Duane passed away in in December of 2018.

But we are all, and oh!

And this is his little mini me, partner in crime.

Demi, my niece, his granddaughter, spent a lot of time with my daddy.

But, we are very proud to be the legacy that Daddy left here, in the city of Chattanooga.

And it's not often that we meet anybody that has not encountered Sonny Mosley or Officer Mosley.

And so we're very proud and grateful and thankful to Councilwoman Coonrod.

Who lived in Eastdale with them, with us for this recognition.

He'll be very honored.

Very honored.

So, thank you.

(people clapping) - [Council Member, Ledford] Now moving into our agenda, we'll take a motion on our minutes this evening.

- [Council Members] Second.

- [Council Member, Ledford] a motion on the minutes.

They will stand without objection or order of business for city council ordinances on final reading.

Madam Clerk planning item A, please.

- [Madame Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two, chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So, as to rezone properties located at 7368, 7376, 7384, and 7390 Old Cleveland Pike from R one Residential zone to RTZ residential townhouse zero lot lines zone subject to certain conditions.

- [Council Member, Ledford] Dr. Berz.

- [Dr. Berz] move approval.

Thank you - Have a motion to approve.

Do I have a second to that motion questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye Opposed?

Item carried.

That will conclude our ordinances and resolutions for this evening.

We have purchases this evening.

We have 14.

Ms. Julie, are you presenting?

14 purchases this evening, five contract renewal, zero rfp, zero emergency purchases, and zero sole source to report.

- [Ms. Julie] All right, let's see if we can set a record.

Transportation Division of Public Works.

This is a new blanket contract for bike share operations from Shift Transit, llc.

One bid was requested and one bid was returned.

This is a five year agreement with one five year renewal option.

The city will not be paying for the use of the bike share operation.

Second, is from the wastewater department.

This is a new blanket contract for standard valves.

This will be a four year agreement not to exceed a hundred thousand dollars per year.

The award will go to Consolidated Pipe and Supply and Piping Supply Company as the best bids for the city of Chattanooga.

The third is from the wastewater department.

This is an increase of $125,000 for an annual estimated spend of $215,000 due to increased usage of MSA parts from Gexpro.

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

This is a second final renewal for service repairs for all medium and heavy duty vehicles from Lee Smith, Inc. A 37% price increase was submitted at the time of renewal due to the increase in labor and part costs from the manufacturer.

The total annual estimated spend is $1 million dollars.

Fifth from the Fleet Management division of Public Works.

This is a new blanket contract for fueling station repair services and upgrade seven bids were requested in two were returned.

This will be a four year agreement not to exceed $150,000 per year.

The award will go to SPATCO Energy Solutions as the best fit for the city of Chattanooga.

The six is from Technology Services.

This is a new purchase agreement for professional services to provide website development for the city.

13 bids were requested and seven were returned.

This agreement is not to exceed the amount of $998,402 and 82 cents.

The award goes to C I N T Inc. Is the best proposal for the city of Chattanooga.

The seventh is from the mayor's office.

This is a renewal of $118,000 blanket contract with a $50,000 price increase for the essential Community Services hotline from the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.

This will be a renewal for one year agreement not to exceed $168,000 dollars.

The eighth is from Human Resources.

The next several items are related to moving multiple healthcare contract terms from the fiscal year to the calendar year.

These are all six month extensions of the contracts to align with the calendar year.

I'll read them as the plans their provider and totals.

Vision benefit plan from Blue Cross, blue Shield Tennessee for $105,000.

Health Plan administration services from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tennessee for $725,000.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager Services from Epiphany RX for $377,000.

Dental services for active employees and retirees from Cigna for $675,000.

Healthcare and dependent daycare FSA administration from Ameriflex for $31,000.

Life and disability insurance and leave management from Symetra life insurance for $671,000.

The final purchases from the facilities department and Public works.

This is a new blanket contract for supplemental custodial services.

Six bids were requested and three were returned.

This will be a three month agreement not to exceed $70,000.

The award will go to a Detailed Experts is the best bid for the city of Chattanooga.

- [Council Members] Thank you.

- [Male Council member] One item for technology services to C.I.N.T is for $998,402 and 83 cents.

I think it was a little bit difference in.

- [Ms. Julie] Yes sir, I was off by one penny, apologies.

83 cents.

- [Male Council member] All right, no problem.

- [Council Member, Ledford] Have a motion to approve purchases this evening.

- [Female Council Member] Second.

I have a second to that motion.

Thank you.

Questions or comments before we vote on purchases?

And for those of you who recently joined us over the past few weeks, we do look at purchases a week in advance.

We have an opportunity to ask questions of staff.

And again, today at 3:30, which we have done.

Ah, there's a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

- Those purchases are approved.

Now come to the time in our meeting where we recognize persons wishing to address the counsel.

So if you would like to address counsel, we ask that you please line up at the podium.

- [Brett Starns] Yes sir.

I'm Brett Starns.

I'm here to speak about the unsheltered in Chattanooga.

It's been around 19 months since the last time I stood here before y'all, speaking of the urgency of building shelters in Chattanooga.

And at that time, unfortunately, I was one of the unsheltered.

In that time of homelessness.

I felt hopeless alone in the world, without a purpose.

I found myself in that cycle of addiction and homelessness.

But praise God, since that time, I've found a home.

And I stand before you today.

Not only as a man who has a home.

But, a sober man.

And most importantly a man of God.

Now, I stood before you before, about a year ago, lost and without a purpose.

But now my purpose is to spread the word of God.

Through my testimony, sharing with others that God is still working miracles every day.

And when I say miracles, I, I, I mean, through the the shelters that are being built that will be a miracle for somebody.

As it was for me.

That my, my brother, Capelish went out of his way to build one.

Maybe not up to code or standards, but he got it done.

And so, as a person who comes, comes from those shoes, has walked in that mile.

You know, lived in a tiny shelter, I can tell you that they will help people.

But yeah, it's been like 19 months since the last time I stood here.

And that time y'all have managed to build zero shelters.

I've seen something being built, you know, but to me, I'm no expert, but I just don't think that's good progress.

So, I'm mainly here to encourage y'all to continue seeking ways to be more productive.

Maybe as I say, not put all your eggs in one basket.

You know, but you know, as a person that's been through those situations.

I just want to reiterate the importance of this cuz the last time I stood here I believe was wintertime.

And y'all had caged a a little shelter in front of the homeless community.

It ain't a cage, you know, it's cold with 13 degrees outside I believe.

And now here it is over a year, something later and nothing it seems, I know y'all working.

But, it seems to me know there's no progress being made.

There should be faster progress and just get together.

I don't know what the hold up is.

I don't know what it is.

But, I encourage y'all to maybe keep working at it.

So, I thank y'all.

(people clapping) - [Joshua Pellisure] I'm an advocate for unsheltered citizens here in Chattanooga.

I will email you, excuse me, I messed up my speech here.

I come here quite a bit.

And so basically I try to say something to affect the situation and create a sense of urgency.

So I read a book from a guy at Harvard, you know, I didn't go there, but you know, the world of books is good and the internet, right?

We can reach a lot of people so don't take it from me.

But creating a sense of urgency is important.

And then creating a guiding coalition, right?

A book from John Pete Carter.

I should give that man of recognition.

But basically we have to cut the red tape and get some things done.

It's a box, you know, it's a shelter for people to stay safe, dry, and warm.

So, the truth is, you see, it's not that difficult to see.

And in between you and me and the rest of humanity, some citizens in the scenic city of the south have been left out in the cold.

A bold withdrawal of resources for those who truly need so little yet offer so much thanks in return, A frustrated yearning for normalcy and human decency is all these people needed for most.

A restart.

So, why not start small?

My organization, Tiny Homes for the unhoused people.

Built 11 tiny homes.

That served approximately 24 people.

During the harshest time of the year.

And Brett's, a United States veteran, like me.

And we have that wing man concept.

And we've never left his side.

He needed a roof over his head.

And because of the efforts of our team.

And many in the community, We were able to do that.

And today he stood here with me, you know, a changed man, cause I didn't leave his side.

And so over the course of that six months, I also learned we housed four pregnant women who stayed safely in those homes.

And I knew that, you know, they'd never would meet code.

and I you were gonna tear 'em down.

So, I made sure that we didn't spend a lot of money doing that.

So, you know, my goal is to build homes for about $5,000.

and five hours with teams of five people.

That include Girl Scouts, boy scouts, veterans, chaplains.

And I know we can do that.

And we're gonna build 50 of them.

So, I'm gonna put together that plan and email you and hopefully we can get together with that sense of urgency.

And it's important to include people because we can take all of our ideas and combine 'em together and create a holistic solution.

You can vote on the different homes and if nothing else, we can take and move 'em.

And somebody will have a really cool shed.

You know what I'm saying?

So with thinking differently in non-permanent foundations, we can move these homes, even though it might get somebody through, you know, a month or two.

Having a woman be secure in there is very important.

And elderly folks and veterans, you know, we've got 57 homeless veterans in Chattanooga.

That's 57 too many.

And I can guarantee you that if I was in charge of the homeless veteran program, there'd be zero.

And I would start immediately.

So, you know, building things is not that hard.

It's a matter of working together and I know we can do that.

As Americans, we've got 50 stars on our flag and you know, we've had terrorist attacks in Chattanooga.

And Chattanooga strong means something to me.

and I've carried that flag across the country and I brought it back here.

So let's work together.

Thank you for your time and I appreciate your effort.

(people clapping) - [Male Voice] Thank you, Josh.

- Good evening, Marie Mott, District 8.

Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard says, The life must be understood backwards.

It can only be understood backwards.

But must be lived forward.

Over the last several months, I had an opportunity to reach out to the district attorney's office about the unlawful, unethical, and immoral, a due influence of our counsel and our Mayor, into the District eight race.

And I received a response from her office to submit evidence to an investigator.

For her to decide whether or not she's gonna prosecute the people who were involved.

Over the last several weeks, I didn't submit that information.

I actually took some time to speak with my mother, before I made a decision.

And ah, she specifically asked me, she said, Baby, what's your difficulty in walking away from this?

I said, Mama, cuz what they did was wrong.

It was public and everybody saw it.

And she said, Baby, don't worry about it.

You know, don't worry about it.

And she recommended three books for me.

She said, babe, you're in transition.

One was Elisabeth Kubler Ross on Death and Dying, which is an excellent book.

And Transitions and Managing Transitions by William Bridges.

And she dropped a gem on me like only a good mother could, and she said, Baby, whatever you focus on that is what grows.

When I went to Harvard, the best part wasn't meeting all people from all over the world.

It was on the plane ride at home.

The Lord answered my prayer from supplication.

And that was God, why am I here?

Purpose?

What is my purpose?

And he spoke to me on the plane and he said, Marie, you're here to build the next generation of leaders.

When I came back home, I ran for public office and I had decided I was gonna send another young black African-American professional to Harvard.

By the time I got to the end of last year, I sent four.

By now, it's five two to M.I.T.

One of my mentors from six years just got into Harvard Medical School and made a 518 on the MCAT, which puts her in the 96 percentile of all medical students across this nation.

And my mentee.

Marquais, we started with 0 dollars.

And now he's up to over a million dollars in scholarships and just got accepted into Stanford University.

I could fight back against you for a mistake.

I feel a mistake.

But, I choose to give you grace, that you didn't give me.

Love, that you didn't extend me.

Kindness, that you didn't give to me.

What I choose to do, in this moment, is to solidify who I am to this city.

Which is a change agent.

And a person that is building the next wave of leaders.

That is going to hold some of these seats and seats of power all across this nation.

I didn't lose, I promise you, I won.

(people clapping) (alarm beeping) - [Aaron Berry] Aaron Berry, District three.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

How do we replace corporate representatives off the seats of our council?

And replace them with, we the people, people that we chose to be put in these seats.

Well, how do we do we do that?

Well, we signed petition.

And right now we got petitions going around for state of Tennessee.

To remove the the Menn voting machines.

Outta Hamilton County and the state of Tennessee.

Going back to the old ways of hand count paper ballots by real individuals.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna come here every Tuesday, I'm gonna smile at you cuz I know the time's coming.

TikTok.

TikTok.

Because we're gonna replace you guys on that seats.

With people that we want.

And that's what the next call's gonna be.

We need everyone in Hamilton County and the city of Chattanooga to come to Miss Glenda's organization.

What is States of America, Miss Glenda, you still in here?

What's it called?

- [Miss Glenda] Tennessee Neighbors for Liberty.

- Say it louder for me.

- [Miss Glenda] Tennessee Neighbors for Liberty.

Tennessee Neighbors for Liberty.

And we need some good candidates cause we're gonna raise the money for you.

And we're gonna put you in there, 'cause, you're gonna be the voice of us.

These machines will be outta the state and this Hamilton County by the next election cycle, ladies and gentlemen, because they're unconstitutional and the truth is coming out about 'em.

When that happens, we're going to elect new council members.

And those council members are going to ask for a invested criminal investigation, on the individuals that's taken bribes.

Taken things and didn't listen to the people.

Listened to corporations.

And when that happens then we're gonna change the way the police departments run.

And the fire department run.

They're gonna get actual retirement benefits and they're gonna get actual things that they deserve.

Not what, 30 years for a 50% retirement.

Well goodness gracious, are you 50, 60 years old?

By the time we retire, that's half, that's like we're half their life.

They're not old enough to be able to commit to that.

I want their safety as at my heart and my soul.

So at 20 years into their, their careers, their heart's in the right place.

But, their body just can't take it at 30 years.

It's just hurting.

Right?

So, for us to award them for their service to us.

Because, it takes a general kind of breed of person to put your life in front of.

Say keep your life for somebody else.

We come far and few in between.

And those people that serve you in that substance need to be rewarded well.

You don't do it because for the rewards, but we need to give them a pat on the back.

So, we're gonna have to put new people in here.

So, we start taking care of a city, not these corporations.

We should already had bus stops and things that was protecting our cities.

Have you guys been down our roads?

You're putting this horse.

The cart before the horse.

(alarm beeping) But, you know what, I'll talk to you next week and Tuesday.

God bless.

Have a good week.

- Good evening.

Evening.

I'm here again.

I'm, I'm, I'm only here this time to say thank you.

And I'm gonna ask the members of the Brothers United, if they would stand.

We certainly do appreciate you all putting your trust in us.

When we come asking you for something for our young people.

And I'm just looking at the flow of what's happening here in front of me today.

And we talked about son Sonny Mosley and those type of men.

Empowered us to do the right things when we was coming up.

You know, I, I knew those men.

I was kinda afraid of those men.

Because, they could put the fear of God in you.

And your mama and daddy would do the same thing after they told on you.

So, we want to get back to that.

These young men here are stepping up to the plate to say, Hey, we wanna put on this youth camp so that we can put back productive young men and women.

Back into the city of Chattanooga.

The same way that you all have entrusted in us.

I heard the gentleman talking about the fire service.

Well I retired when I was 55.

And I think I look good at 62.

(audience laughing) And feel good.

So, I appreciate my 28 year career in the Chattanooga Fire Department.

On behalf of the city of Chattanooga.

And all we want to do, is to continue to give back, every day.

Because, you gave to us.

And what we want to do is to let our young people know that we still love them, we care for them.

That youth camp that we're going to put on.

We're definitely gonna invite you out to participate in it.

Once we get our agenda solid.

We will come back and give you an invite.

Cause we're going to have event nights.

And you are gonna be part of one of those event nights.

Where our young people can look at you, and touch you, and see what it is to be in city government, Cousin Coonrod.

So, that knowing that they can have relationships with people that they see at a distance, is just that close.

These young men, they have, they have endured some of my conversation.

And you all don't get that conversation.

Because it's in private.

And I kind of say what I want to say.

But, these young men, they are standing here, they are 100% with this youth camp.

They're 100% committed to the city of Chattanooga.

Because they love they jobs.

As that gentleman said, they take a special person to put their life on the line.

I've been married 30 years, I used to leave my house, didn't know that I was gonna come back or not.

But, I went out to do a job.

And now that's what they're stepping up doing.

They're sacrificing and they're bringing their families to city council meetings.

That that's a good thing for this young lady to see that her daddy is an intricate part into the city government.

That's what we want.

That's what we want to get back to.

And I know that I just only had three minutes.

(alarm beeping) That's why I asked Allen to stand up here, cause I know he got something to say.

- So, just to follow up with Fred is I try to, anyway.

In recent years, Brother Brooks, and I used to have conversations about what is it that, we could do to kinda jumpstart our organization.

And he said to me, I don't know if you remember, he said, he said, purpose, purpose.

Give brothers purpose and it will go.

And that's what we have set out to do.

I liked reading the book, A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

Having made it all the way through, I always start over.

But, it's a purpose-driven life.

And that's what we are on now as the Brothers United.

It's a purpose-driven life.

A mission, you know, it's all purpose every day.

It was never about the money.

It was never about seeing what we can get from the city.

or city council or the mayor or the county.

It has always been about our community.

About our kids.

Then being a profession that we're in.

You don't know if you're gonna go home.

You just don't know you.

You don't.

Every day we get up and go work those 24 hour shifts.

We don't know if we're gonna make it back.

You know, there are doubts.

But, we still, still do it anyway.

Of course, you all know it's not about the money.

Again, it's about purpose.

We know every day until we retire, even after that, that we have a purpose.

And we always talk about how can we make ourselves better?

How can we make ourselves better?

So, we can make our community better?

And if we not doing that, then what are we doing?

And I just again, go along with Fred.

And on the behalf of The Brother's United, we appreciate you all.

We thank you all for trusting us, you know, with the resources, just with your time letting us come here ask.

Some of you all said that we're gonna cause trouble tonight.

We always cause trouble.

That's what we do best.

- [Female Voice] Good trouble.

- Good trouble.

- Anyone else?

Wishing, wishing to address counsel this evening.

Mr. Smith?

- [Mr. Smith] Yes, my name's Mike Smith.

I'm the Executive Director of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition.

I live in district three.

We are the federally recognized continuum care lead agency for the 11 counties in south southeast Tennessee.

One of my daily responsibilities as the lead technical expert of all things homelessness in the region.

Is to look at communities across the country.

And look for best practices.

What can we do better?

Well, in speaking with my peers from across the state.

One of the things I've come to realize is that, it's not, there's some things that we can do better.

Sure.

And we're always looking for those.

But there's some things that we can also share with the other 95 communities in this country or counties in this, in this state.

So June 27th through 29th, we'll be, we will be convening leadership of all 11 or all 10 continuum cares from across the state at The Chattanooga Convention Center to show best practices.

We, we want to lift up all of Tennessee together.

Because, all, all of the leadership and I believe that there is an end to homelessness.

And we're gonna go there together.

- [Council Member, Ledford] Thanks Mike.

(audience clapping) - [Council Member Ledford] Anyone else wishing to address counsel?

Counsel, I'm seeing no one at the podium.

We are adjourned.

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