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

- Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our Tuesday, August-- - [Computer] Recording in progress.

- 17th, hybrid City Council Meeting.

I now call this meeting to order.

Would you please stand with me as we pledge allegiance to the flag?

- [Everyone] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice, for all.

- I would like to read a passage out of Exodus, chapter 18, verse 19.

The advice given to Moses, it says, "Now listen to me, "I will give you some advice and may God be with you.

"You must be the people's representative before God "and bring their causes to him, "teach them the statutes and laws, "and show them the way to live and the work they must do."

Would you bow with me in prayer?

God, we ask that your blessings be upon this medium.

May we make wise decisions in your name, we pray, amen.

This afternoon, we have a proclamation and we're gonna recognize the Second Presbyterian Church on their 150th anniversary.

So, I'm gonna ask those that are in attendance tonight with the church, if you'd please join me at the podium.

We'd like to congratulate the church on 150 years of service to the city of Chattanooga, with a proclamation.

Whereas the dream of a small group of dedicated individuals was realized in 1871, When the Second Presbyterian Church USA was founded with 14 charter members, the church grew and was built at the present day location of 7th and Pine Street and dedicated on November the 15th, 1891.

Whereas the church was dedicated on November the 15th, 1891, and has been served by 10 pastors.

Several of which have served more than a decade each.

Whereas in the early 1980s, the Second Presbyterian was one of seven downtown churches that formed a nonprofit corporation named Chattanooga Ministries Inc. to serve meals to the hungry and homeless, today that organization is the Chattanooga community kitchen.

Whereas in 1980, the church was placed on the national register of historic places.

In 2021, the church was approved by the Tennessee Historical Commission to have a marker placed in front of the church.

Whereas the church has housed the St Matthew's shelter since 1984.

The shelter helps homeless men turn their lives around and move toward independence.

Whereas today, the church is involved with UTC through The Hope House and supports the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, North side neighborhood house, Welcome Home and the community kitchen.

Just to name a few now, therefore I, Chip Henderson, Chairman of the Chattanooga City Council, do hereby honor and commend the leadership and the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church for 150 years as a house of worship and a ministry that reaches beyond its four walls to serve the community in love.

Congratulations to the church.

(clapping) - [Woman Offscreen] This is our 11th pastor, Cathy Meyer.

- [Chip] Cathy (clapping drowns out voice) If you would like to have a few (mumbles) - Hey everyone.

Thank you so much.

I'm Reverend Cathy Meyer, the current pastor there at Second Presbyterian.

Suzanne Rushworth and Sandy Franklin are two of the members of our 150th committee.

It's been a wonderful year for us, as we have celebrated all year long our big anniversary celebration.

We'll conclude the first weekend in September, the third through the fifth, invite you all to come and join with us.

We so appreciate the support of the city and look forward to working with you in the future.

Thank you very much.

(clapping) (laughing) - [Cathy] Thank you.

- [Chip] Thanks.

All right, could I have a motion on the minutes, please?

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

Roll call, madam clerk.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice-Chairman Smith.

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- [Chip] Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses.

- [Chip] The ayes have it.

Moving now to your order of business for the Council this afternoon.

We have some ordinances under final reading.

Madam clerk, these are all second reading.

Would you please read 5 A-B-C-D-E and F, if there are no objections from the Council.

- [Clerk] Item A: an ordinance closing an abandoned portion of an open alley, unopened right away.

West of the 700 Block of Central Avenue is detailed on the attached maps, subject to certain conditions.

Item B: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 24, article 14, section 24502.

Schedule two, speed on through streets.

Item C: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two chapter 38, zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 7453 East Brainerd Road from C-2 Convenience Commercial Law to UGC, Urban General Commercial.

All subject certain conditions, Item D: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38, zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 8187 East Brainerd Road from R-1 residential zone.

An R-2 residential zone to O-1 office zone, R-T/Z Residential Townhouse Zero lot line zone.

Subject to certain conditions.

Item E: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38, zoning ordinance, so as to rezone two properties addressed at 2512 Cowart Street from R-3 residential zone to UGC Urban General Commercial zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item F: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38, zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone properties located in 700 Block of East Martin Luther King Boulevard, from URA-3, Urban Residential, attached three story zone, to UCX-3, Urban Commercial Mixed-use, three story zone.

- Councilman Ledford, followed by Councilman Byrd.

We have a motion on the floor to approve items five A through F with a proper Second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice-Chairman Smith.

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- [Chip] Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses.

- [Chip] So moved.

Now, madam clerk, if you would, Ms. Daisy?

Is Roberta Long in the audience this afternoon?

Oh okay, there she is.

Let's take A, C and D as a package if there no objections, A, C and D. - Item A: a resolution authorizing the administrator for community development to enter into a new agreement with the Chattanooga Housing Authority CHA in order to expand the balance of previously awarded community development block grant CDBG funding in the amount of $87,666.

Item C: a resolution authorizing the Department of Information Technologies, chief information officer to renew the second year of the agreement with application software technology, L-L-C-A-S-T regarding statements of work relating to the master services agreement for ERP, Oracle implementation, hosting maintenance and support services for fiscal year 2022 for an amount not to exceed $2.5 million.

Item D: A resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to approve change order number two for Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for contract number E20010201.

Disaster recovery management services contract, for the renewal year two of the four year term blanket contract for the increase amount of $33,620 for a revised contract amount of $350,527.

- What is the pleasure of the Council?

We have a motion on the floor to approve items seven A, C and D with a proper Second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice-Chairman Smith.

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- [Chip] Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses.

- [Chip] Motion carries.

Now, we do have Ms. Long in the audience with us this afternoon?

Thank you for being here.

Madam clerk, if you would read seven B, please.

- [Clerk] A resolution confirming the mayor's appointment of Roberta Long as the interim assistant city treasurer.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Move approved.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve item seven B, Ms. Roberta Long as interim assistant city treasurer with a proper Second.

Is there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice-Chairman Smith.

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- [Chip] Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses.

- [Chip] So moved, congratulations, Ms. Long.

Welcome aboard.

Moving now to purchases, Ms. Julia, are you gonna read those this afternoon?

- Good evening, Council.

We've got five purchases this evening.

The first is from the waste resources division of public works.

This is the second and final renewal option for a blanket contract with Karl Eric Johnson, Inc. for Moyno pump parts, a 10% price increase was submitted at renewal for a total annual estimated cost of $150,000.

The second is also from the waste resources division of public works.

This is the second final renewal option for liquid sodium bio-sulfite from Southern Ionics.

A 32% price increase was submitted at renewal for a total cost of $980,500.

The third is from Information Technology.

This is a sole source contract with KCI Technologies, Inc.

Which is needed to continue work for city work software hosting and support citywide.

The original contract was awarded from RFP number 157740.

This contract would be for a term of four years with a total annual cost estimate of $55,000.

The fourth purchase is from the fleet management division of public works.

This is for a contract extension with Lee Smith, Inc. for automotive parts for three months through November 30th, 2021.

And we'll include a price increase for parts listed for a total increase of $725,000 for a total annual estimated spend of $2,891,667.

Extra time is needed to get the invitation to bid ready to be advertised in the new Oracle cloud system.

The fifth and final purchase is from the citywide services division of public works.

This is for the purchase of one 5,000 gallon brine tank and eight 1035 gallon anti-icing tank kits for snow and ice prevention on roads from VariTech Tech Industries, Inc. for a total annual estimated cost of $30,321.16 This purchase is utilizing the source well contract number 052919-VAR.

- [Chip] All right.

Thank you, ma'am.

What is the pleasure of the Council?

- [Council Members] Approved.

- [Chip] We have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's purchases with a proper Second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz.

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice-Chairman Smith.

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- [Chip] Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses.

- [Chip] Motion carries, eight zero.

Moving now to committee reports, Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] No report.

- [Chip] Councilwoman Dotley.

- [Dotley] No report.

- [Chip] Councilman Smith.

Vice-Chairman Smith, I'm sorry.

(laughs) - Next week, following or during our agenda session, we will have a legislative committee meeting of which we will be discussing legislation as being put forward before this body to eliminate the second division of city court.

No, further reports, sir.

- [Chip] Thank you, sir.

Councilwoman Berz.

- Thank you, sir.

We have an education session meeting today, according to our public schedule, next week's education session, because we moved with such dispatch, I'm suggesting that we change the time from 10:30 to one.

We have very little to go over and if no one disagrees with that, I'd like that to happen.

- [Chip] Okay.

Is there any disagreement or objection to us beginning at one o'clock from this Council?

- The rest of the schedule will remain the same.

Thank you, sir.

- [Chip] So we will begin our education session at one o'clock next Tuesday.

- That's right, we still have other things on the agenda, the published agenda and that's the public input and the two votes, and those will remain the same.

- [Chip] Thank you ma'am.

Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] No report.

- [Chip] Councilman Ledford.

- [Ledford] No report, Chip.

- [Chip] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] No report.

- Very well.

All right, it is my understanding that this afternoon, we are back with the hybrid form of meeting this afternoon.

We do have a few that has registered to speak, that is joining us virtually.

Is there anyone in the audience that is present here this afternoon, by show of hands, that would like to address the Council?

Okay.

I'm gonna ask our attorney if she would to read the rules for this afternoon.

- [Attorney] All right.

We'll have the in-person people first, line up behind the podium.

Each speaker wishing to address the Council will need to wait for Chairman Henderson to call on you, and please limit your comments to issues that are in the legislative and quasi judicial purview of the Council.

After we have finished going through the in-person speakers, since we are on a hybrid form, the chairman will begin to call on people from the Zoom who have their hand up, and those speakers, like the in-person speakers, will have three minutes to speak.

And I think the Council has agreed to limit comment to one hour this evening, and I think it is 6:16?

- [Chip] Okay.

So I have a 6:15, so the Council did agree earlier this afternoon to limit our public comment time to one hour during the hybrid format.

So if you would, sir, come forward, and give us your name and your district number.

- Good evening, Council.

It's good to see y'all again, my name's Sam (mumbles), I'm district three.

About three months ago, y'all are well aware.

I came in, brought a big crowd with me to speak down here.

And we talked about the pandemic, and shortages in our different departments at work.

At this point in time, it's really gotten worse.

Of course, we know that in Court City is budget time.

And I'm here just to, when I talked with y'all and we talked about essential workers and different situations, y'all seem to be behind us at public works a hundred percent.

And we really appreciate that.

And we're just hoping that everything seems to be moving along pretty good right now.

We appreciate Brent and Ronald very much, working with us and talking with us and keeping us aware about everything that's going on.

And I just want you all to keep in mind, when it comes time to vote on this budget, that y'all are still behind us a hundred percent and you do the right thing, and I appreciate it very much.

(clapping) - My name is Russell McDaniel, district three.

I'm an equipment mechanic two at that fleet division one at 12th and Park, my hire date was 2004.

So I've been with the city about 17 years.

I'm first and foremost grateful for my job that I've got and the people that I've worked with.

Especially in my time of need that happened a few years ago.

There's a lot of good people at the city.

Our situation at hand today is dire in the shop and elsewhere with the drivers.

where we used to have two mechanics per bay in our 14 bay shop.

We now have three on the floor, one in the office, and one parts guy on the first shift.

On second shift, we have five men, mechanics on the floor with one foreman.

We, the mechanics, are expected to maintain a fleet, which according to the vehicle equipment registry for public works shows about excess of 2,600 pieces of equipment, that vary about 30 different types, not just cars and trucks and various manufacturers.

We, the mechanics, are also required upon hiring to have our own tools before we can start.

I don't know if there's any other job that I'm aware of in the city that requires that.

Those tools can range from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the years of service and experience that that mechanic has.

We are also required to have a CDL license, ASE certifications.

The reason for the decline in our workforce is twofold.

Of course, low wages have led people to go elsewhere, but more importantly, a good number have taken a lesser paying job within the city, because of management, management that was unprofessional or untrained, difficult to talk to at times and often spiteful.

There's a dire need to better evaluate, educate, and place the proper people in supervision and management to help bring the morale up in public works and in the shop.

We, the mechanics, have worked everyday during the COVID pandemic up until it hit our shop very hard in January of this year.

We continue to work every day, as we see the second wave approaching.

We work holidays for sanitation department, as well as some weekends when brush pickup is heavy.

When natural disasters strike and snow storms impact our community, we are constantly on duty with the public works drivers and operators, as they clear path for fire police and the EMTS and other crews that are responsible for taking care of the people's needs in the city of Chattanooga.

My plea is this: that the City Council will seriously take into consideration the need for change and improvement that Mayor Kelly and his staff are presenting in this budget, thank you for your time.

- My name is Keith Templin, I'm from district one.

I work for City of Chattanooga, public works, and I have a question.

Earlier this year, the city had received $38.36 million from the American rescue plan to be used in a few different ways.

One was essential workers, and I was wanting to know what happened to that money, and are public city workers eligible to receive that $5 to $13 not to exceed $25,000 per employee.

Are we going to receive that or what happened to the money is what I'm asking.

- [Chip] Sir, I'll tell you what, if you would get with the chief of staff after this meeting?

I think he can, they have explained where those funds are currently, and I think it will answer your questions - [Keith] Thank you.

- [Chip] Thank you.

- Good evening, members of Council, I'm Brad Race and I'm president of SEIU, local 205.

We represent the government workers, general government workers here.

Want to tell you that we support the Mayor's budget.

We support the pay plan.

Our members, the employees of the city of Chattanooga have been the essential workers that have kept this city going through an unprecedented pandemic and incredibly tough times.

Many of our members didn't have the luxury of being able to stay home and work remotely.

They had to be on the front lines.

And even those that had the opportunity to work at home have contributed greatly to make sure our city keeps running and providing the services that we need every day, picking up the brush, picking up the trash, making sure our kids have places to go to, after school.

This budget recognizes those contributions and it's a big step, a big step, but just the first step.

It recognizes their hard work, and it's not the product of one budget cycle.

This is something that our union, Council, the leadership in our city has been working for for years.

So we urge you to support this budget and support the workers of the city of Chattanooga.

Thank you.

- [Chip] Alright.

Is there anybody else in the room that would like to address the Council this afternoon?

All right, Council, I have not seen anyone on our Zoom call that have their hand up, that would like to address the Council tonight.

I'm not seeing any other hands in the audience at this time.

What is the pleasure of the Council?

- [Council Members] Move to adjourn, sir.

- [Chip] Move to adjourn.

(gavel hits table) We're adjourned.

- [Woman Offscreen] Hot-dog.

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