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

- All right.

In preparation for our vote on the budget, that's coming up, we are going to offer an in-person public input session.

And for that, I will turn the chair over to our Committee Chair, Council Woman, Carol Berz.

- Thank you, Mr.Chair.

So tonight, we're going to have follow-up input.

This afternoon, we did it by Zoom for all the people that wanted to join us by Zoom tonight, it's all public input in person.

You each will have two minutes to speak.

Once we have all the input, and this is to the council.

It's my obligation to ask you, if you're ready to take the first vote next week, and we will vote on the record for that.

If not, then we'll have to figure out what else we're going to do.

But for the record, I have to say, yes.

You're ready to vote.

- My name is Serena kefir.

I'm in district eight, so thank you, city council members.

I'm here today as a union member, and then also a city employee of the city's homeless services division, to speak about the proposed budgets for city employees.

I urge you to see how truly important it is for the raises of city employees included in this budget.

These raises will allow city employees more time with their families, less stress financially, to feel more established in their careers that they have with this city, and so much more.

Many, including myself, have second jobs as city employees and do other things to obtain money such as giving plasma.

I personally, myself, go and I give plasma.

And while it's great to donate, I shouldn't have to do that to make up for my income, to pay for my bills.

And to continue to work on my day as a recent college graduate, that moved to Chattanooga to do this job.

As for me and my department specifically, I really urge you to look at these numbers again, from what we have seen specifically, our increases in wages don't match what we are told we're worth to the city.

We're consistently told how important our department is and how our work is so crucial and important to the city of Chattanooga and its homeless scene here.

And so, I feel that many of you, including yourself, have made referrals to our office and to our team because of the homelessness issue in each of your districts.

Our job is an eight to five and our passion and care are not though.

Many of us have passions for this field that have led to these degrees and then to this work that at least need a bachelors degree for these jobs.

And many of us have obtained more to do the work we do to be making under livable wages with these raises.

Even so, I feel like is a disgrace to our field, to the work we do, to the city, and to our clients we help.

When our college financial debt is more than our salary, there's a serious issue at hand.

If our work is as important as you say it is, and as city hall makes it to be to our department- - [Carol] Hey ma'am, your time is up.

Thank you very much.

- Please pay us what we are worth and what our knowledge is worth too.

(audience clapping) - Hi, good evening.

My name is Blondale Garner.

I stay in district three and my department is Headstart.

And this is to the members of city council.

I, Blondale Garner, a teacher assistant at Headstart would like to encourage you to all consider raises for the teacher and teacher assistance, as well as the early staff members that Headstart.

The raises would help with much needed income for those with families and children, to lift them up on their pay scale so they would not have to work two or three jobs.

Headstart is the lowest paid of all city workers because we're federally funded and our small raises come from what's left over.

This year we will only get 1.8% raises, which isn't much, and it's not enough to live on.

I asked that you increase rages for me and my coworkers.

We deserve it and much more.

Our families and children deserve well-qualified and well-paid staff as well.

I'm a member of FCIU local 205 strong members, strong workers, working together to improve local workers lives.

Sincerely, Blondale Garner, union member, city worker.

(audience clapping) - [Carol] Thank you, ma'am.

- (indistinct) city counsel.

my name is firefighter J case.

I live at 362 Carnation Street, District One.

I am a city resident.

I'm a city taxpayer.

I'm also a fortunate ration firefighter to this department.

My family has worked here since 1928.

I've been here since 2006.

All that being said, I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into when I took this job 15 years ago.

I knew the pay wasn't going to make me rich, but I knew if you serve the city helping others, and the benefits weren't bad.

I also knew that there would be a time, you might have to do a second job.

And the salary at the time of $28,500, it became a necessity.

Fast forward, 15 years, and it's still a necessity.

We worked 60 hours a week for the fire department.

Then, I work a minimum 30 hours a week on my second job.

That's a lot of time to be away from your family and friends, every week.

My second job was collective of four or five other firefighters who were members of this union and this department.

We decided to work for ourselves and work together because we all understand the constraints of our primary job.

After only 15 years in the job, I only make about $11,000 more than when I started.

That's a problem, but department can't keep staffing.

We can't getting people to hire, all this goes back to money.

Our pay scale now have become shameful at times and laughing stock to other departments around us that don't even come close to call bomb experience level that we have.

I have personally helped on Happy Y'all's campaign over the years whether knocking on doors, putting out signs, hanging signs or anything else for the campaign, in one day of hopes to better this department and our firefighters.

Well, today is the day.

Pass this budget and improve the city employees lives.

- [Carol] Thank you.

(audience clapping) (indistinct) - Sergeant with Shannon Police Department, live off Fees Brand road.

I don't know what district, sorry.

I wouldn't plan on speaking, I don't have any notes, but I just want to talk something very quickly to you from my heart.

I've been here 25 years.

I have struggled.

My family has sacrificed for me to do this job working two, three extra jobs, selling plasma, doing whatever I had to do to put food on the table.

I've got my 25 years in, so I can retire.

My concern is for the officer's coming up.

We are at a critical point with the loss of officers.

It's getting dangerous because we don't have backup coming.

It's very critical.

It's not just police department.

It's also the fire department.

My question is for y'all.

How much does it cost to pay and train an officer?

To take him through and go through in service or go through their training.

And then all of a sudden, was it maybe $100,000?

Being conservative.

And then they leave within a year or two.

That's money being lost by the city.

We need to have a pay increase to maintain the officers here, it's not for me.

Like I said, I got my 25, but as for the officer's coming up.

We're going to lose them.

And I've talked to other Councilman here.

You don't have to worry about Florida or all these other places that these officers are gonna leave, but you have to be competitive in our own area.

We're losing people to the county Red Rank, Saudi Daisy, East Ridge, something to think about.

- Thank you for taking time to speak.

(audience clapping) Is there anyone else?

Actually it costs a little more than $1000, it is a big loss.

But you were close.

Yeah, you're doing good.

All right, if there's no one else to speak, then that ends our public input session.

Sure, I don't... Yeah, I don't have any... Yeah, go.

Mr.Chair, pay attention.

(members laughing) - Thank you, ma'am.

I'm just curious, looking out across this room.

Is there anybody in attendance this evening that is not in favor of this budget?

This is my ninth budget and that is the first time I've ever been able to say that.

So, thank you to the mayor and to the administration and for all of you, for everything you do every single day to support the city.

And I'm going to be very proud to do the same.

(audience clapping) - Okay.

I think we're all in pretty good shape.

I have to formally ask the council if they're ready for the first vote next week.

So, if you will call the roll, ma'am.

I need five yeses and then it's a go for next week.

So would you do that please?

- Councilwoman Corot?

- [Councilwoman Corot] Yes.

- Councilman Bert?

- [Councilman Bert] Yes - Councilwoman Donnelley.

- [Donnelley] Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- [Carol Berz] Of course.

- Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] Yes.

- Councilman Laffer?

- [Laffer] Absolutely.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] Yes.

- Mr. Chairman Smith?

- [Chairman Smith] Yes.

- Jeremy Henderson?

- [Jeremy] Yes.

- Okay.

Thank you very much.

We're good to go.

(adience clapping) - So at this time, could I get a motion on the minutes, please?

Got a motion on the minutes with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] Yes.

- Councilman Laffer?

Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- [Councilwoman Berz] Yes.

- Councilwoman Dolly?

- [Councilwoman Dolly] Yes.

- Councilman Berg?

- [Councilman Berg] Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- [Henderson] Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Let's have it.

Moving out to purchases.

Julia, who will come present the purchases this afternoon.

- Good evening council.

We've got four purchases as well as one emergency purchase this evening.

The first is from parks maintenance, parks, and outdoors.

This is the first of two renewal options for security guard services through SEI incorporative.

The vendor submitted a 3% price increase at renewal for a total annual cost estimate of $600,000.

The second is from the fleet management division of public works.

The approval is needed to pay invoices in the amount of $27,626 and 24 cents, for both diesel fuel from jet oil incorporated due to contract expiration.

The third is also from the fleet management division of public works.

This is the second and final renewal option for police interceptors and special service vehicles from Ford Murphy's Bureau.

Vendor has submitted a 6% price increase, but no additional funds are needed.

The fourth and final purchase is from facilities and public works.

This is a six month contract to supply supplemental custodial services.

10 bids were requested and forward were returned.

The contract was awarded to detail experts for an annual estimated cost of $119,030.

- [Mr.

Chair] Councilman Byrd.

- [Councilman Byrd] Thank you, Chair.

This one with park maintenance, parks and outdoor security guard services STI.

It says the first of two renewals.

Can you explain that a little bit to me?

If that was to be denied, what would that do?

- So there was an initial contract and then they have two renewal options.

This is the first option of those two.

And if it's denied, we would just have no security.

- [Councilman Byrd] And it's done every... so of the two options there'll be done every what?

- So that's the first of two.

So the next renewal option would come back to council before that renewal option.

- [Councilman Byrd] How long would that be?

- One year.

- [Councilman Byrd] One year.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- [Mr.Chair] Good counselor?

- [Councilman Byrd] Yeah.

- [Mr.Chair] Councilwoman Coonrod.

- [Councilwoman Coonrod] Thank you, chair.

Did something change this requirement for them to have security or have they used another agency before?

- They've been using SEI for the last year.

This is just coming back because there was a price increase at the renewal for the $600,000.

It was a 3% price increase, which is the only reason why it's being brought back for this renewal.

- [Councilwoman Coonrod] Okay.

- And that it's not a $600,000 increase, just a 3% increase, bringing the total annual spend to $600,000.

- Councilman, did you ask if we could rebid it?

We could set the pleasure of the council.

This is just... to note, it's not just for parks.

This is city-wide security.

So, we utilize the parks contract for city-wide security.

This includes security guard in the lobby of city hall, security guards the council used to have out here, for some period of time and any other city buildings, DRC included.

So it is a wide security contract.

It is a 3% increase in pricing.

If council's choices to pull this from the purchases and deny it, then we would rebid it, and bring it back to council with the lowest bid.

- You good, Councilwoman?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Thank you, Chair.

I don't know about my other colleagues, but I don't...

I hear a lot of bad information about ACI.

Our parks are not being secured properly, and this company is just not doing a good job.

And when I talk to constituents, when I'm at the parks, when I'm out is just, is not doing... is just not up to park.

And so I don't know how that would look, but I definitely I'm against this bid here with ACI.

So I don't know how that would look, I guess, just for me to deny it on my part right now.

I don't know how my other colleagues feel with that one.

So I would like to vote on that one separately, and Brent, that's just how I feel.

I'm sorry, that's it.

- Councilman, if you would like that item pulled out, we could always pull that one out separately.

- Yes.

- The only thing that I would say is, we discussed this at 3:30, at our 3:30 agenda session, and this is me personally.

I feel like it's appropriate time to bring it up at our 3:30 discussion.

So, if I have further questions, I have time between 3:30 and six to make some appropriate phone calls.

I am now caught flat footed.

And so my initial response is I'm ready to go forward with it and vote for it, but it's no reflection on how you feel.

It's just a matter of the time.

And this being brought up at 3:30 instead of at six o'clock, but we can always pull this out separately, if that's your desire.

- [Councilman Byrd] Yeah, I would like to pull it out separately.

- Sure.

So counsel, we are going to pull the document link.

The security guard services out, so we will vote at this time on the remaining three items, the bolt diesel fuel police interceptor, and the supplement custodial service, we'll vote on at this time.

Councilman Ledford.

- [Councilman Ledford] I move (indistinct).

- [Councilman] Second.

- Okay.

We have motion on the floor to approve these three items of purchasing.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- [Councilwoman Hill] Yes.

- Councilman Laffer?

Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] Yes.

- Councilman Berz?

- [Councilman Berz] Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Councilwoman Dotley] Yes.

- Councilmen Byrd?

- [Councilmen Byrd] Yes.

- Councilwoman Conrad?

- [Councilwoman Conrad] Yes.

- Councilmen Smith?

- [Councilmen Smith] Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- [Chairman Henderson] Yes.

- Nine yeses - Okay, motion to approve carries nine, zero.

Now we will entertain a motion on the security guard services SEI incorporated.

- [Councilwoman] Move to deny - [Councilwoman] Second.

- We have a motion on the floor to deny with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Conrad?

(indistinct) - Counsel Byrd?

- [Counsel Byrd] Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Councilwoman Dotley] Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- [Councilwoman Berz] Yeah.

- Councilman Hester?

- [Councilman Hester] Yes.

- Councilman Leffer?

- [Councilman Leffer] This is to deny?

- To deny, a yes is to deny.

(indistinct) - Councilwoman Hill?

- Chairman Smith?

- [Chairman Smith] Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- [Chairman Henderson] No.

- That's six yeses.

- I've got six yeses as well.

So motion to deny carries six, three.

All right, Julia.

- We do have one emergency purchase to read into the record for the fleet management division of public works and the police department.

This purchase is for an additional supplier to up-fit police vehicles, specifically for labor and wiring only.

This is necessary expenditure to get new police vehicles in service and will allow the surplus of older units with very high maintenance costs... will allow us to surplus older units with very high maintenance costs.

Excuse me.

We currently have more than 90 new police vehicles waiting to be up-fitted.

And the current supplier does not have the staffing capacity to get these vehicles completed in a more timely manner.

The supplier is blue line solutions and the total cost is $60,000.

The emergency purchase was approved by the mayor's office on August 25th.

- Any questions about the emergency purchase?

Thank you, Ma'am.

Moving now to other business.

We do have a couple of appointments that need to be made this afternoon, I think Councilwoman Dotley.

- Yes.

I would like to add Sooth and Gilmore to the board of signing appeals and appoint Steven McKinney to the board of signing appeals.

- [Mr.Chair] All right.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, you have those appointments?

- [Madam Clerk] I do.

- All right.

Thank you.

That concludes other business and all of our agenda items this afternoon.

We now move to persons wishing to address the council this afternoon.

As we always do, we take a public comment at the end of each council meeting.

So at this time, if there are any persons that have signed up on our Zoom, you could go ahead and raise your hand.

If there's any one here in the room that is present, that would like to address the council this afternoon.

If you have not spoken to us today, let me remind you that, according to our rules, you can only address the council once in a council day.

So if you have already addressed us this afternoon, you would not be able to do so at this time, anyone in the building, in the audience that would like to address the council this afternoon?

Okay.

All right.

And I do see that we have one on Zoom, but I believe she did address this afternoon, correct?

- That is correct.

- Okay.

Anyone else on Zoom that has registered to speak?

If you'd go ahead and raise your hand, I'm want to ask the attorney if she would to go ahead and read our rules.

All right, sir.

Mr.Artif, if you'd give us three minutes, our public comment time is three minutes.

If you'd put three minutes on the clock and you can start by giving us your name and your district number, please, sir.

- All right.

My name is Edward Curtis, and I'm from district seven.

I want to thank the apartment of public work and Mr.Stone for doing a wonderful job in my neighborhood and cleaning up the area and removing the mattresses and taking care of my alley in the back of the houses and stuff like that.

Thank you so much.

That's all I want to say.

Thank you.

- [Mr.Chair] All right, sir.

And you've got three minute.

- Thank you, Council.

I'm Imani Bell, the homeless journalist, it's a great day here at Fox.

It's a rainy Tuesday.

It's always raining on Tuesdays for city council night.

727 east 11th street that encampment.

I was told after trying to assess one of my campers in the courts on last week that I have to have some form of a title within the city council's purview.

I looked that up.

I have a phone that I have to babysit at least four to eight hours each night, trying to have a charge just to make some calls that I may or may not be charged with Harrison after my day is done.

But I have to do that in order to stay in the purview of what's happening to my city, my county and my state.

It's a difficult process to come from anywhere to try to stay within the purview of the city and the county and its tricks.

Particularly when you have a state that avoids all communication, that involves those who are down on the ground, down on their knees, looking up for justice and finding that there isn't any.

So we've tried with ministers to come and assist us.

We've tried with other politicians to come and assist us and we haven't received any assistance whatsoever.

But what we have received as a thuggish element that we don't have time tonight to discuss, but it has to be removed from my encampment.

I have a young lady that I had requested for my district representative, a photograph that he took, the only time that he came to that in capita and I never received it on my phone, I doubt if I'll get it tonight.

I have less than 7% of a charge on my phone that I've got to find somewhere someplace, somehow to charge in order to make any calls on tomorrow.

We've been neglected to the tune of forever and a day.

And it's time that you all stop, within the purview.

Yeah.

I fall within the purview.

And I want to say to you for the record that we do have an audio recording of a gentleman within the camp of Monty Bell, that told us under no uncertain terms that Monty Bell, the homeless candidate for the city of Chattanooga's top job, the mayor, was targeted by Mayor Tim Kelly and this Monty Bell.

And we're going to discuss this in length.

We're going to play this recording.

It's not anything that I asked for just like the sun on a rainy day, it just came through and it's time.

The city and the county, as of tonight, we understand that we all work together so we can stop saying that we're separate and not equal because it's not true.

I'll see you next week.

Thank you.

- All right.

Anyone else in the audience that would like to address the council this afternoon that has not addressed us at this point?

All right, council, I have not seen anyone on Zoom that is eligible to address this council.

I'm not seeing anybody in the audience that wishes to address the council.

What is your pleasure?

(upbeat music) You're adjourned.

- [Narrator] You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council Meeting, a production of WTCI PBS.

(upbeat music)