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

- Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to our Tuesday, August 2nd city council agenda session.

Tonight, we do have a special presentation and I'd like to turn the floor over to Dr. Berz, please.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

This is a special occasion.

For these past several weeks, we have been listening to very worthy organizations that have come and made their pitch for ARP money, which we have approved with pleasure and look forward to their work.

As I was sitting there listening, I realized that we have a very important group, unsung, who did not apply for funding but who has all along been doing really terrific stuff.

It's been my pleasure to be working with them, to be talking at my office, to be plotting and planning things that they can do with and for our kids.

We hear so many unkind things about the police and we never hear the good things.

For the past couple of weeks, the Chattanooga black police officers and firefighters have been offering things in the community that I think they deserve the right to brag about, and we need to listen to, because I couldn't be more proud of my friends that I'm working with.

They make me feel good.

So without further ado, Sergeant, if you would come forward.

And please bring your friends.

Thank you.

(audience laughs) How about those two?

- Yes, Ma'am.

- They're notorious.

I know them.

Come on.

- Before we introduce ourselves, good evening to the council, good evening to the citizens of Chattanooga.

Before we start to introduce ourselves, I give you a quick backdrop of how this all came together.

Back before I started and Sergeant Young started, there was a collaboration with black police and black firefighters.

Majority of us are from these communities that have been stricken with violence.

So what we decided to do a couple of weeks ago, actually about a month or two ago, we started to work together to go back to those communities that we come from, 'cause a lot of people in those communities know us.

And that helps build that relationship that we've been missing for so long.

So what we decided to do was every month, we plan on doing something.

No matter if it's something big, if it's something small, we wanna get out there in the community to show them that we all are one, that we not separate.

So, I'm gonna introduce myself.

I'm Sergeant Jason Holmes with Chattanooga Police Department.

- I'm Sergeant David Young with the Chattanooga Police Department.

- Firefighter Allen Green with the Chattanooga Fire Department.

- Retired Captain David Brooks with Chattanooga Fire Department.

(audience laughs) - And notice he said retired.

- [David] I picked that up.

(all laughing) - Okay.

All right, We have a release that we are gonna actually hand over to the secretary so you all can have it for your archives.

So I'll start off.

So August 2nd, 2022, the National Black Police Officer Association, Chattanooga chapter, and the International Associations of Black Professional Firefighters, Chattanooga chapter would like to present the following release.

On June 26th, 2022, these organizations in collaboration with the a Avondale Recreation Center and a host of other supporters and volunteers hosted the first annual Juneteenth three-on-three basketball tournament.

The event was birthed from the ideal that community relations with the police and first responders and fire department is vital for one to feel safe and connected.

With recent high profile violent events, it became clear that many youth and families have developed a heightened fear and have to question safety when choosing to attend or partake in social events and/or the opportunity to explore and enjoy the city of Chattanooga.

The men and women associated with these organizations have provided two events to date and plan to offer these safe activities for the months and years to come.

The Juneteenth Tournament provided youth and families with free food, healthy competition, resource information and health screenings, and the chance to engage with the first responders outside of an incident response.

Gerald Perry and the staff of the Avondale Recreation Center were highly engaged in the planning process and provided hands-on support throughout the day.

Councilwoman Berz believed in division of this event and provided her support as well.

The volunteers and those that submitted donations ensured that the water, Gatorade and food was available for all in attendance.

The images provided to the council give you the best reflection in the fun we all had.

Oh, can I keep going?

Oh, also present was Councilwoman Coonrod.

Apologize.

(audience laughs) She's actually was out there shooting ball with the kids.

Apologize.

On June 9th, 2022, the IBPFF hosted their annual kickball tournament in partnership with the PPCH, Pain, Perseverance, Character and Hope incorporated.

Due to the weather, the fun was moved inside with various games, in attendance and participating in competitive fun.

The officers, EMTs, firefighters and community members got actively involved with a tug of war, several races and Dodge ball.

Also present was, our mayor also, he was there, and I didn't realize he had a arm on him, we was playing dodge ball.

So yeah, he can't participate no more in block dodge ball.

(audience laughing) Also before I move on, present that was at the kickball was our newly-elected, or newly (indistinct) (all laughing) Chief Murphy.

As noted prior the collaboration between these organizations continue to grow, on August 6th, 2022, the assistance and support we provided at the back-to-school bash being held at the Shepherd Community Center.

The Order of the Eastern Star chapter, letters of endurance, number 874 is partnering and hosting with the Chattanooga chapter of the National Black Police Association, the Chattanooga chapter of Black Firefighter Association.

Also, the bash will be open to the community and will provide another opportunity for the community members to engage with first responders, retrieve community resource information, enjoy free food, and do so with a sense of safety and security.

Free school supplies, giveaways, and haircuts will be provided.

As each event concludes, plans will be made to highlight and promote the next community's safe family fun and relationship-building activity.

Plans are currently being made to host a fire and safety informational at the Bethel Christian Academy.

The students there will also be treated to lunch and games with the police and firefighters.

In this commitment of these units, it is the commitment of these units to be visible, engaging, supportive, and rooted in the city.

- Can I get a motion for our minutes, please?

I do have a motion for our minutes.

They have been seconded and they will stand without objection.

We do not have ordinances on final reading.

We will move into ordinances on first reading under community development.

Madam clerk, item A.

- [Madam Clerk] An ordinance amending Chatanooga City Code, part two, chapter two, by adding article 16, Chattanooga Department of Community Development, including the office of family empowerment advisory board.

- Do we have a motion to approve?

Do we have a second, any questions, comments before we vote?

All those in favors say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Opposed?

Motion carries.

Madame clerk, under planning, item B, please.

- An ordinace to amend Chattannoga city code, part two, chapter 38, zoning ordinance, so as to rezone an unaddressed property in the 7500 Block of Standifer Gap Road, from R-1 residential zone to R-T/Z residential townhouse.

There are a lot line zone due to certain conditions.

- Is the applicant present?

I do have an applicant.

Is there any opposition and/or persons wishing to address the council on this matter?

I do have persons wishing to address the council on this matter.

At this time, I will turn this over to Councilman Smith.

But before we do that, do you need your seven minutes?

No?

- Mr. Hugh, would you like to come forward?

(indistinct) Please, sir.

The floor is yours.

- I'm a little slow.

My yard was not accustomed to all the rain and I had a little slip.

So, I do have a few aches and pains.

But what I'm gonna talk about is not an ache nor a pain.

It's something that we really are proud of.

I'm Hugh Gardener.

My wife and I, Mary of 68 years, have lived at 7466 Twinbrook Drive.

And it's located directly behind the proposed town home, oh, that project that we're talking about.

We've built this home and have lived in it for 45 years.

We've enjoyed the privacy, the security of the trees, the land behind us, which has also served as a sound barrier between us and I75.

I'm only speaking tonight for my wife and I.

Although we're sad to see our buffer and probably wild life disappear, we're not specifically opposing the rezoning request, mainly because of the conditions originally discussed and presented that included the height restriction of the town homes, limiting them to four units prepared and the two-storey height restriction for those units on the southern border.

The 20-foot undisturbed area, additional 10-foot landscaped area, and now a seven-foot security fence that will be located at the 30-foot border closest to the town homes.

If the rezoning is approved, we hope that the developer will proceed and operate in good faith based on these conditions.

Our word is our bond and we are voting for the project.

I want to especially thank Councilman Ledford for his help, all his communication and personal visits with us and our neighbors.

Also I wanted to thank Alan Jones for his engineering also for meeting with us and our neighbors and the emails and communications.

With that, I'll say thank you.

- [Ledford] Thank you, Mr. Gardner.

I appreciate those words.

I'm now going to call on Councilman Smith.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr. Gardner, thank you.

(indistinct) All right, Thank you, Mr. Gardner, for coming up and giving us those words and I agree a hundred percent about word being bond, but I also believe in making sure that that word's written down.

So with that, I do have one change that I will be recommending.

But first let's get this on the floor and move to approve.

- Do we have a motion?

I do have a second.

- All right, now I would like to move to amend.

One of the conditions still states a six-foot fence.

I would like to amend that to say seven-foot, please.

- [Ledford] I do have a motion to amend.

I do hear a second, questions or comments on the amendment to seven feet before we vote.

Those in favor say, aye.

- Aye.

- [Ledford] Opposed?

The motion to amend has-- - Moved to approve has amended.

- [Ledford] Motion to approve has amended.

I do hear a second, questions, comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye as amended.

- Aye!

- Opposed?

Item is approved as amended.

Thank you.

- [Smith] Thank you.

- Madam clerk, resolutions under community development, item A, please.

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorized the administrator for the department of community development coast division to enter into agreements with grass busters, lawn maintenance and river city remodeling for litter abatement and structural boarding services with an option to renew with each vendor each year for up to four years for amount not to exceed $350,000.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do hear a second, questions, comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Opposed?

Motion carries.

Under fire.

Madam clerk, will you please read without objection items B and C. We'll take those as a package.

- [Madam Clerk] Yes.

Item B, a resolution to amend resolution number 29780, entitled a resolution authorizing the director of wireless communications to execute a lease agreement for the Tennessee Valley Regional Communication System, TVRCs, with Cole Creek Ventures for a tower site located on Windrock Mountain in Anderson County for a term of three years and with a monthly rental amount of $1,600 for years one through three, with an escalating clause for years four through nine, as described to the end for a total of $57,600 by adding additional funds in the amount of $13,200 for a revised total amount of $70,800.

Item C, a resolution to amend resolution number 29781, entitled a resolution authorizing the director of wireless communications to execute a lease agreement for the Tennessee Valley Regional Communications System, TVRCS, with Cole Creek Ventures for a tower site located on Cross Mountain in Campbell County for a term of three years and with a monthly rental amount of $1,600 for years one through three with an escalating clause for years four through nine as subscribed to the end for a total of $57,600 by adding additional funds in the amounts of $13,200 for a revised total amount of $70,800.

- Councilman Henderson.

- Move to approve items B and C. Thank you, sir.

I have a motion to approve items B and C. I do have a second, questions, comments before we vote.

All in favor say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Opposed?

Items carried, B and C under parks and public works.

Madam clerk, item D, please.

- A resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to enter into a public private partnership agreement with MBSC Black Creek, LLC for the collection and long term study of data related to infiltration, evaporation and water reuse volumes at Black Creek Club in exchange for the issuance of credit coupons at market rate in accordance with city code section 35612.

- Councilman Henderson?

- [Henderson] Move to approve.

- [Member] Second.

- Do we have a motion to approve, with a second, questions, comments before we vote on this item?

All in favor say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Opposed?

Item carries.

Mr. Goldberg, a shortlist of purchases this evening?

- Yes, sir.

We have three items for approval tonight.

First item from technology services, new blanket contract for a citywide social media management platform.

This is a sole source procurement and the vendor is Sprout Social.

This will be a two-year contract in the annual amount not to exceed $42,631.20.

Second from technology services, a new blanket contract for crime watch cameras.

This is a sole source procurement and the vendor is Convergent Technologies, LLC.

This will be a four-year contract with an annual amount not to exceed 1,500,000.

Third from Fleet Management Division and Public Works.

We have the purchase of a STPH 4.0 truck-mounted pothole patcher.

This purchase utilizes national cooperative purchasing alliance contract 05-26.

The vendor is Jet-Vac, LLC and the amount is $185,334.60.

- I have a motion to approve purchases.

I do hear a second, questions, comments before we vote.

All in favor say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Oppose?

Purchases are approved.

We have two RFPs this evening.

- [Goldberg] Yes, sir.

The first one is from, well, first I'll say we are requesting approval to issue RFPs, not approval to award any contracts at this time.

The first RFP is from human resources for behavioral health services for sworn employees.

An RFP is necessary because cost is not the primary determining factor.

Qualifications approach and location of services are important factors as well.

Second one is from the regional planning agency.

This is for a market study to assess existing real estate, market conditions and trends within the city of Chattanooga in Hamblen County.

An RFP is necessary because cost is not the primary determining factor.

Qualifications and approach are important as well.

- Thank you.

I have a motion to approve the RFPs for this evening.

I do hear a second, questions, comments before we vote.

All those in favor say aye.

- [Members] Aye!

- Opposed?

Thank you, Mr. Goldberg, RFPs can move forward.

- [Goldberg] Thank you.

- Committee reports.

Let's see.

I started, I think, that way last time.

Councilman Henderson.

- [Henderson] No report.

Councilwoman Hill.

(indistinct) Councilman Smith.

- [Smith] No report, Mr.

Chair.

- Councilman Hester.

- [Hester] No report.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- [Coonrod] On August 16th, we have a complete-- - Hit your light for me since you're announcing that date, please.

(indistinct) Okay, your light's not coming on so I wanna make sure everyone heard that.

August 16th, we will have a community development committee meeting and we'll talk about workforce development.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Noel.

- [Noel] No report.

- All right.

Dr. Berz.

- [Berz] No report.

- Madam vicechair.

- [Dotley] No report today, but the Equity and Community Development Committee will meet next Tuesday for updates on neighborhood services code enforcement and a presentation of the west side of all's plan.

- Thank you.

That ends our committee reports for this evening.

We do have an announcement by the city attorney, Mr. Noblett.

- Yes, sir.

On Friday I participated in a mediation in the case of Titus Hartford versus officer Elliot and the city has resolved for $29,000 plus the mediation costs in this case.

And I think there's a $200 fee beyond that.

That's it.

- [Ledford] Thank you, Mr. Noblett.

- Yes, sir.

- We now come to the part of our meeting with recognitions of persons wishing to address the council.

Does anyone wish to address the council this evening?

If you do, please come to the podium.

If you'll come one at a time, just for safe reasons, that would be wonderful.

I appreciate that.

And Mr. Attorney, will you please read our rules for public speaking at city council meetings.

- Yes, sir.

In the end of each council meeting, the chair will recognize members of the public who wish to address the council.

Here's your rules.

Each speaker has to come up to the microphone.

You can only speak at the microphone that's provided.

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

Can't use vulgar language or obscene language.

No use of forward personally attack or personally downgrade others.

Speakers should address the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members.

And if you wanna do so, you can only do it one time a day and you can't allow disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting, which is prohibited by Tennessee law.

And a person commits an offense if the person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting, a physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting to occur.

Thank you.

- [Ledford] Thank you, Mr. Noblett.

Good evening.

Can we get three minutes, please?

And we have that.

Yes, ma'am.

- Mariemont, District 8.

I have several things that I wanna address this evening.

The first that I have pulled drugs off of two young men in my community, and I didn't want to report them to the police because I don't want them to be penalized, but rather be helped.

But I felt that what I pulled off of them was fentanyl.

There needs to be an understanding in my purview, what do we do when we identify people in our community are using opioids?

How should they be safely disposed of?

What should families and friends have on hand should we need to save lives and loved ones who might potentially have an overdose?

Number two, I have a question this evening as to how does the city intend to mitigate the monkey pox that is popping up in our city, that is spreading all across this country, and limit the possibility of an endemic.

As far as the road map to end gun violence, I have several questions about that that people in this room, I think, need to write down.

The first is how do you intend to establish community trust with your plan which I do not feel has been done?

What is the intended outcome annually?

How will you measure progress and what alternatives have been explored?

How do you intend to change or impact social norms?

Have you considered that institutional and structural racism account for much of the defacto segregation that has historically impacted our communities and led to hotbeds of violence?

An excellent book on this would be by Jelani Cobb, which is The Essentials of the Kerner Report, which was a study that was commissioned by president Linda Baines Johnson in 1968, after various different riots happened in 1967 and continued violence.

What they outlined in the report was rather shocking but true.

That the majority of the violence is a byproduct of white supremacy and racism in our society.

And there were 12 grievances that they outlined in the study, which was the first level of intensity that causes problems are police practices, unemployment and underemployment, inadequate housing, the second level of intensity is inadequate education, poor recreation facilities and programs, ineffectiveness of the political structure and grievance mechanisms, and the third level of intensity is disrespectful white attitudes, discriminatory administration of justice, inadequacy of federal programs, inadequacy of municipal programs, discriminatory consumer and credit practices, and inadequate welfare programs.

And I also just want to state rules for this council go both ways.

If we cannot attack you and outline you, then the council cannot do that to us either.

And chairman, you failed in your duty as a chairman, in my purview, to allow any council person that I feel would attack a black person for white sport.

- Hello, my name's Harold Guntner.

I live in District 8.

And this is my first time addressing the council so if I break the rules, I couldn't quite hear the city attorney.

I am not intending to.

I'm just offering some constructive criticism.

I appreciate all of your service as I do everyone who serves our city.

But I wanna talk about job preparedness as it pertains to the police.

I don't think they're paid enough, but I also believe they're not trained properly for certain instances.

Allow me to illustrate this with an eyewitness account of a friend of mine who lived block away from 1705 South Liley Street on July 24th, 2022.

Police were called by a man's mother or grandmother to come remove him from her premises because he was acting in a way that was threatening to an old woman.

When the police arrived, every other member of the family was outside of the house, and the perpetrator was inside the house alone unarmed.

The matriarch of the family walked up to the police and handed them the key to her house, implying that they were welcome to go in, and then she nevertheless verbalized her consent.

The police set up on the front lawn and instead of trying to reason with the man, they started threatening him through the bullhorn.

The man was not a threat to the police.

As I said, he had no weapon.

The police on the other hand were well-armed.

In fact, this one man inside of a residential home unarmed was warranted bringing a police tank out, an armored vehicle.

The police had a social worker on call two blocks away, sitting in a car waiting to be called.

They didn't call her in.

Instead they smashed out the windows of this old woman's house.

They cut a hole in a roof in order to shoot several tear gas canisters into the house.

When the man came out with his hands high in the air, he was tackled by police and violently detained.

To call this police response an overreaction would be intentionally obtuse.

My recommendation is that the person who owns this house be contacted by someone from the city.

I'd start with an apology, but also follow up with a show of good faith and offer to fix her house for her.

It was reported to me that the woman could not retrieve her prescription medicine for 24 hours due to the tear gas.

So, I have a request in for the police report, but obviously this body before me now is way better-equipped.

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