(cheerful music) - [Voice Over] You're watching highlights of the Chattanooga city council meeting.

A production of WTTCI PBS.

(music ends) (bangs gavel) - Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to our Tuesday August 9th city council agenda session.

Thank you everyone, and welcome.

We have no special presentation this evening.

I will take a motion on our minutes.

You have a motion on our minutes with a proper second and I will without objection, accept those.

Before we start, I would like to welcome Mayor Tim Kelly and his wife, Jenny, to our meeting this evening and thank you for your attendance.

Madam Clerk under Ordinances on Final Reading Community Development item A, please.

- An ordinance amending Chattanooga city code part two chapter two by adding article 16 Chattanooga Department of Community Development, including the Office of Family Empowerment Advisory Board.

- Move of approval.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second.

Questions, comments before we vote?

All in favor, say aye.

(board members say 'aye') Opposed.

Item carries.

Under Resolutions, council office, Madame Clerk, item A.

- A resolution confirming the appointment of Melinda Hickey to the Police Advisory and Review Committee for district six with a term beginning August 9th, 2022 and expiring August 9th, 2026.

- Dr. Burns.

Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second, questions, comments before we vote?

All in favor, say aye.

Opposed, item carries.

Madam Clerk, item I please.

- A resolution requiring a sourced authority to report certain information annually to the City Council.

- Let me clear the board.

There we go.

Board's clear, item I. Councilman Henderson.

- Thank you, sir.

First, I do want to thank this council for entertaining this resolution on short notice, but I believe it does provide for some transparency and some oversight with this council concerning the revenues that will be generated through this TIF so I move for approval.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second.

Questions, comments on this item before we vote.

All those in favors say 'aye'.

Opposed, item carries.

Madame Clerk, under Human Resources without objection items J and K we'll take as a package.

- Item J.

A resolution authorizing the appointment of Peter Yakimovich as special police officer, unarmed, for the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, CARTA, to do special duty as prescribed herein subject to certain conditions.

Item K. A resolution authorizing appointment of Thomas Begue as special police officer, unarmed, for the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, CARTA, to do special duty as prescribed herein subject to certain conditions.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second.

Questions, comments before we vote.

All those in favors say aye.

Opposed items J and K carry.

Under Mayor's Office, item L, please.

Madam Clerk.

- A resolution to confirm the mayor's appointment of Todd Morgan to a five year term beginning on August 9th, 2022, and then ending August 9th, 2027 on the Historic Zoning Commission.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second.

Questions, comments before we vote.

All in favor, say aye.

Opposed, item carries.

Under Planning.

Madame clerk, item M. - A resolution to delegate review authority for eligible subdivision plans to the Chattanooga Hamilton County Regional Planning agency staff as detailed in Tennessee code annotated section 13, 342 and updated by the adoption of public chapter 9 94.

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have several seconds.

All those questions, comments before we vote.

All those in favors say aye.

Opposed, item M carries.

Under Purchases.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair, we have two purchases tonight.

First is Public Works.

New blanket contract for grounds maintenance at landfills.

Three bids were received and the award goes to Love and Contracting Company Inc. As the best bid meaning specifications, the low bidder was unable to fulfill the agreement.

This will be a four year contract with the annual amount, not to exceed 165,000.

And second item is from Treasury.

New blanket contract for printing, folding, stuffing, mailing and postage for tax bills, summons and past due notices.

three bids were received and the award goes to Diversified Company's LLC as the best bid meeting specifications, the low bidder was not selected due to past performance issues.

This will be a four year contract with the annual amount not to exceed 55,000.

- I have a motion to approve purchases this evening.

I do have a second.

Questions, comments before we vote.

All in favor say aye.

Opposed.

Items carry.

- Thank you, sir.

- Mr. Goldberg, we have no RFPs?

We have no emergency purchases?

- Correct.

- We'll move onto Committee Reports.

Councilwoman Coonrod.

Councilwoman Noel?

- No reports.

- Dr. Burs.

- No reports, sir.

- Councilman Henderson?

- Thank you, sir.

I would like to report that we need to have, or I'm gonna announce a short term Vacation Rental Ad Hoc Committee.

August the 30th at 12:30, where we will receive an update on the progress that's been made and also help provide some direction.

- Will that be in the conference room, sir?

- That will be in the council conference room.

- Thank you very much, August 30.

Thank you for that announcement.

Councilwoman Hill?

Councilman Smith?

- No report.

- Councilman Hester?

- We did meet today and we'll meet again in two weeks.

- Madam Vice Chair.

- Is the Equity and Community Development Committee.

Equity and Community Development Committee met today.

We got an update on neighborhood services, code enforcement, as well as a presentation on the west side evolves project.

- Thank you so much.

That concludes our committee reports.

I do have a spot on our agenda before we recognize person's wishing to address council for Mayor Kelly.

If you'd like to come.

- Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you council.

Good evening.

It's great to see y'all and I just wanted to thank you and congratulate each of you because tonight's vote on the stadium was a demonstration of your vision and a massive step forward for the future of this community.

After decades of plans and studies and public meetings, the transformation of Chattanooga's long neglected Western gateway will begin at long last and together we will create a thriving community that will increase prosperity and quality of life in our city for generations to come.

This project will conservatively generate tens of millions of dollars in new money for schools, and it will provide millions more and new permanent tax revenue to pave roads, invest in infrastructure and support workers, not only in the South Broad district, but across our city and county.

But this is about more than just increasing our tax base.

This is about new housing, new commercial space for our small businesses, new living wage jobs and new public green spaces and trails.

It's about creating a vibrant new district that will help attract and retain talent in Chatanooga and act as a big, beautiful, welcome sign to visitors coming into town.

This is about connecting our neighborhoods, bringing us one step closer to one Chatanooga.

In summary, this is about a huge leap forward towards becoming the best city in the country.

But before I go on, I wanna thank everybody who helped get us to this momentous day.

First off, I want to thank my closest partner and good friend Mayor Jim Coppinger for everything he has done over the past decade to move this project forward.

It's because of his leadership, his passion and his vision that we are here today celebrating this home run for the future of our community.

And thank you as well to Senator Todd Gardenhire and representative Patsy Hazelwood for sponsoring and advancing the legislation that made this project possible, as well as all of members of our local state delegation who supported it.

I also want to thank the city council, especially Vice Chairwoman Dotley in whose district this project resides as well as our county commission and specifically Councilman and Commissioner Smith, who has the, or had rather, the great honor and distinction of voting for this twice.

And I wanna thank the members of the City and the County Industrial Development Board for their vision on this catalytic project.

I could not be more grateful for all of your steady, mature leadership throughout this process.

And I look forward to continuing to work with you as the South Broad district grows into reality.

Thank you also to Perimeter Properties.

Not only for donating the land for the new stadium, but also for the steadfast commitment to ensuring our Western gateway becomes a real jewel and a textbook example of how a community can renew itself.

Their leadership, vision and patience will allow us to revitalize South Broad the right way.

And finally, I want to thank the Lookouts.

Their fans, and their large and diverse ownership group for their love of Chattanooga, their commitment to staying here and their partnership in the construction of the stadium that will spur a generational revitalization in the South Broad District.

So what's next?

What's now?

Well now it's time to look ahead to the exciting work of transforming our Western Gateway into a spectacular new community.

Great cities are made up of great spaces and with master developer Jim Irwin's vision and leadership, I'm confident that the South Broad District will become one of the most epic, beautiful riverfront spaces in the country.

And I know he believes that, or he wouldn't have taken on the job.

When Chatanooga revitalized its downtown, following the construction of the aquarium, which I might add, happened despite vocal opposition from the same predictable quarters, cities from all over the world sent delegations here to study what we did and how we did it and I feel sure the same thing will happen again.

And although this story really isn't about the Lookouts, it's no small thing that your wise decision today means we get to keep our historic team.

The second oldest in the nation, I might add, which otherwise we would've lost.

As you know, the old AT&T field was clearly out of compliance with major league baseball rules.

Rules that we did not write and we can't change or argue.

And had we failed to act, the Lookouts would've simply had to pack up and go.

Jenny and I look forward to ballgames in the new stadium and enjoying its more open family friendly environments and not staring directly into the sun.

And of course when the Lookouts aren't playing, this venue will be home to countless memories for Chattanoogans and regional residents alike in the decades to come from concerts to school events, to food drives and fireworks.

It will truly serve as a year round public asset for our region.

And I'll say it one more time.

This project really isn't about the stadium and it's not just about the surrounding new development, as great as that will be.

It's primarily about the renewal of the entire South Broad District and community, which will ripple across our city and county.

And that's why I'm committed to ensuring that as the new South Broad District develops and grows, those who live nearby, will have every opportunity to grow and prosper along with it.

In the coming months, my team will be working alongside the developers and the community to draw up a community benefits agreement, to create and preserve affordable housing in the area and to provide residents with pathways to new living wage jobs.

And will also be working to ensure that as much of the stadium as possible is built with local hands using local contractors and local labor.

And for the first time, with the creation of the Alton Park Connector, we will be connecting an urban neighborhood to the Riverwalk.

Opening up alternate transportation options for Alton Park residents and increasing access to jobs and shopping throughout the South Broad corridor, bringing together two formally disconnected Chattanooga communities.

And I'll close with this.

I normally don't talk this long, you know.

The sad fact is, and it's a fact, that there is nobody left alive in Chattanooga who's ever really seen a golden era of prosperity here.

Let that sink in.

It's the truth.

And there has never, ever been an era of prosperity in our history that included all Chattanoogans.

And because of that fact, unfortunately, too many people in our community lack the vision, the courage and the confidence in the future to imagine what might be a better city for all of us.

But as we look to the future, my hope is that today will mark the beginning of a new era of investment and inclusive growth in Chatanooga in which we fundamentally shift our trajectory upwards and forwards.

When we say one Chatanooga, it means changing our mindset to growing the pie for everyone, not just fighting over the scraps of an old broken world.

It means investing in our future, not trapping ourselves in the past by refusing to believe in the possible.

It means looking ahead with hope and with courage to what we can and will accomplish together and overcoming the fear and cynicism that for too long has held us back.

Folks, quality of life is what sets cities apart these days.

And it's up to us to leverage these God-given natural resources to create high quality urban spaces that bring happiness and opportunity to everyone who calls Chatanooga home.

As well as our friends across Hamilton County and the region.

I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to make this happen.

As the famous scientist, Jonas Salk said, hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.

Well today you have demonstrated that courage and thank you for that.

And congratulations again on being part of this important and pivotal piece of Chatanooga history.

Thank you all.

(applause) - Thank you, mayor.

We'll now move into Recognition.

A person's wishing to address the council and that would first person would be Councilwoman Hill.

- I really appreciate what the mayor had to say about all the different people that were involved, but I think that it's really just as important for us to take a second and say a big thank you to Jermaine Freeman and to Brent Goldberg who have been carrying the water on this for a very long time.

I think they've had a lot of really late nights, and I know that this body has asked a hell of a lot of questions and we've wanted a lot of details because our goal has always been to benefit the most Chattanoogans we possibly could while also protecting our economy in every way possible.

And they've really bent over backwards.

So thank you both very much.

(applause) - Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

Hello, my name is Reverend Anthony Chapman.

I'm representative of the lesser heard in the 1813 Wilson Street area.

Two concerns that I'd like to address with the council.

The first being this election we just had where we had a runoff.

There were several questions that was posed to me about the council taking precedent of having a caretaker or a interim running for the position that she was holding the spot for.

They were holding the spot for, and in this case, in this last election, there was a winner in the candidate, but not by the 50 plus one.

So there was a runoff.

Our question in the community that was kept coming up was if one candidate wins by the majority and not have a 51% of the council, does that person win?

Or does the council decide to set precedent again by allowing a interim to hold the position for another term, for a term?

That was the first question.

Second question was on the stadium, the impact disparity steady that has, should have been done or have been done.

How does that affect the voting, seeing that they're talking about bringing more houses into the community.

More at probably the same price that the Riverfront is at right now and not being affordable to all residents and will African Americans and brown and black companies get opportunity to be part of the process and get the jobs that y'all claiming or that the mayors claiming that will be afforded to it.

But if you could answer the question on the voting, if y'all going to allow Miss Neely to continue to hold a seat, if she does not have the majority after this election comes up the recall election, not recall, but the runoff come up are y'all going to allow her to stay in that position?

Or does that go to who has the most votes?

I will sit down and listen to your answer.

- Madam Vice Chair, I see your light.

- Mr. Chapman, I respond to that.

In regards to elections, the council cannot take precedent over any elections.

Elections are ran as they've been run.

And so, nothing fraudulent or anything else has been done.

It's unfortunate that misinformation has been spread apparently to you and to others, but it's incumbent upon every candidate.

Anybody that decides to run for office no matter who they are, to be familiar with election laws and the potential outcomes of any election.

And just from a show of hands from my colleagues up here, how many of you all have participated in a runoff because you did not receive 50 plus one?

So as you can see, thank you, Chris Anderson, also our mayor, Mayor Kelly, who just left.

I think everybody was aware that he also was in a runoff.

So it's not us deciding that, oh, well, we wanna keep this person, so that's what we're gonna do.

But it has happened, not just to, as you saw members of this council also, I'm sure you are aware of the runoff with Mayor Kelly and his opponent, but has happened many times.

And typically if there are three people in election, you can count on a runoff most of the time.

So it's incumbent upon candidates to be informed and educated about the process so that when these things come up, they are aware of those things and that the community is informed about what is correct and what's accurate.

So again, Mr Chapman, I'm sorry about any misinformation, any, anything you received that was inaccurate, but thank you for asking that question because you know, it is important that people know that we are not, you know, we all have to earn our votes.

Every person up there has to.

So no one is entitled to skip the process.

So thank you Mr. Chapman for that question.

Well currently, because there is a runoff, the interim stays the interim until that runoff is complete until the election cycle is done.

So currently the election cycle, it is not complete because in essence, when you look at it, no one really won that election.

So because no one won because no one got 50 plus one, the interim stays in place until there is a absolute winner for that.

So the actual election is gonna be September 15th, early vote.

And it's August 26th through September the 10th.

And again, election, September the 15th.

So make sure you share that information and everything.

And any other questions you have, I'd be happy to address you after this meeting.

Okay.

Thank you.

Just stick around for me, okay?

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Madam Vice Chair.

- Re my district date.

I definitely do not feel entitled cause I don't think any candidate that would campus six days out of the week in the middle of the summer would feel entitled to anything.

To my beloved District Eight community.

I want to publicly thank you for your love support, encouragement, in what has proven to be a confusing weekend.

I'm grateful to see years of hard work in the spreading of fresh ideas.

It's paying off with dividends in real time.

Do not be discouraged for Galatians 69 says and let us not grow weary in doing good for in due season, we will reap if we do not give up.

To our city's leadership, I'm excited that six more weeks of work will afford me the opportunity to serve my community with you and act as a bridge of connectivity, of information, communication, transparency, and intergenerational collaboration between the dais and the people.

And to so many that are in this room from organizations like Caleb, grassroots folks that have been coming back and forth, concerned citizens that have been involved in this process.

I am excited because I'm seeing so many of the things that we have talked about in the community at the ground level are now being adopted by the leadership in the city.

For a long time, we've talked about ideas like Community Land Trust.

We have fought for a community benefits agreement.

And even though that didn't go the way that we wanted it the first time we did not give up, and this is a testament of what can happen when we refuse to give up.

Sometimes the winds are not immediate or expedient, but it pays off when we collaborate with one another.

When we remain boots to the ground and we continue to champion the things that are important to building, not just one Chattanooga, but a new Chattanooga.

And I'm excited because the future is just as abundant as we want it to be.

And I look forward to helping to build that new Chattanooga, with each and every one of you.

Thank you.

- Evening, sir.

Hey, my name's John John.

I am from Highland Park and my main purpose in coming up was actually to make sure that Mr Chapman's second question, get it answered about black and brown people and the opportunities they will be afforded with the South Broad.

But I figured since I was up here and I had three minutes, I wanna make sure his question gets addressed since he's used his three minutes, but also to share a few of my thoughts.

Now I know the decision has been made, but I want to talk about TIFs in general that a lot of times in cities across the country, TIFs are seen as solutions for economic problems.

When really they're just a way to disguise economic problems.

I am fully in agreement with the development of South Broad and everything that Mayor Kelly came up here and spoke about.

I am on board with that vision.

The challenge I have is seeing the economic monoculture that is the baseball team as the driver.

What gave me pause was when Mayor Kelly pointed out that they couldn't make decisions about that team, that our hands were tied.

These anchor tenants, that's going to be driving this.

The anchor tenant is the term used for that team can become a ball and chain tenant.

Just ask Nashville and the Titans.

Ask Oakland and the Raiders and including multipurpose complex, like the Raiders and the Oakland A's had together.

It was neither a good baseball stadium nor a good football stadium and they both are leaving or have left that stadium.

So I am, I give pause to the TIF and the mono culture economic policy of triple down and ripple out from one big business.

And I just wanted to state that here today as my position, but also just make sure that Mr. Chapman's question about opportunities afforded to the people in that neighborhood and their businesses and not just large contractors gets addressed today as well.

And I just need that time.

You can have the rest of it.

- Okay.

Thank you.

I do have a light from Madam Vice Chair Councilwoman Dolan.

- Yes.

Thank you so much for asking and Anthony, thank you for asking as well.

I apologize for that.

Yes.

We will be working on a community benefits agreement.

I'm very excited about that.

That is something that was brought up from the community.

And so I'm in the process of getting all of that scheduled, but I can put that out.

We will be having our first meeting on Monday, August 22nd, 6:00 PM right here in these council chambers, Caleb will be leading the discussion with that.

And so I am very excited about that.

Through that, we'll be able to identify the areas that will be most beneficial to the community from the community.

So that is the starting point for us.

And that's possibly the potential two community benefits agreements.

So we are in a good place with this and I'm excited to see how this is gonna impact, not just the current residents of these neighborhoods, but those that may possibly come as well.

So thank you so much for re-asking his question too.

Yep.

Thank you.

- Thank you, sir.

Any other persons wishing to address council this evening?

- Curtis Lancaster.

A decision has already been made, been spoken about, like I said, I'm all for the future of development, but I think the stadium is a big mistake.

But you already done voted on that issue.

And, but the two things I have questions about.

What is the progress of what being done for our homeless people?

That's down on 10th and 11th and what is the progress?

What are there more we gonna do to get this situation rectified about the homeless?

- Joda?

Will you raise your hand?

If you'll turn right around and talk to the mayor's chief of staff right there?

I think you'll probably have some information that involved ARP funds that he would like to share with you.

So I appreciate your question, sir.

Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to address tonight?

If not council, I will ask for an adjournment.

- Meeting adjourned.

- We have it.

(bangs gavel) (cheerful music) - [Voice Over] You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting.

A production of WTCI PBS.

(music ends)