(upbeat tune) - [Narrator] You are watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting a production of WTCI PBS.

[crowd conversing] - Good evening everyone and welcome to our Tuesday February 21st City Council agenda business meeting.

I'll now call this meeting to order.

Dr. Berz, you have a floor ma'am.

- Thank you sir.

For a number of years, Tyner High School is in my district, and for a number of years I've had the privilege of very quietly supporting in different ways, things that they needed.

I like it being quiet cause the most honorable giving is anonymous giving.

And so we've done basketball uniforms we've done when the kids went to a tournament, we've done the drinks, we've done that.

And you don't ever want a thank you note for anything, and that's why you stay anonymous.

But tonight I can't be anonymous because it's not about me.

It's about a team of young men who are outstanding who won a state championship and I expected to see balloons in the sky.

I expected to see parades down the street.

I mean here are public schools with something really wonderful happening.

So tonight I thought, you know, we need to do that.

And we have a group of young men here who are outstanding.

Guys, I'm really proud of what you did.

You should be very proud.

Be sure and text your parents if they're not watching cause we're streaming.

We spend a lot of time talking about the wrong things kids do and we don't spend a lot of time honoring the good things that kids do.

And you're doing some really good things.

You're bright, you're strong, you're fun to be with, and you've got all kinds of great future.

And for that I'm very proud.

I'm a product of the public school education.

I very much believe in quality public education and you're a testament to that.

Now I know Josh, your captain couldn't be here cause a state tournament in basketball.

So we will have a certificate for him as well.

I'd like to ask Jonah Chapman to come up.

So we at the city council have a certificate for each one of you with your name on it.

Signed by me and the chair, because the city council wants to honor you.

And let me tell you who's gonna take these.

Can I trust you?

- Yes ma'am (crowd laughing) - All right, here's what it says, "The certificate is proudly presented to Jonah Chapman of the 2022 to 2023 football team for Tyner Academy for winning the Tennessee State Championship.

TSSAA, division one, class two A. Congratulations.

(crowd clapping) You're our leaders of the future.

And I take that very seriously and I know you do too.

And in that they, the mayor's office, has some proclamations for you as well.

- Thank you council members that will be tough to follow, but I'll do my best.

On behalf of Mayor Kelly and the administration we are also incredibly proud of you all.

And so we've got a certificate here, recognizing the team.

I will not be redundant and read it, but congratulations.

We're incredibly proud of all of you.

And then we also have a certificate recognizing Josh Jackson who is council member, said, has been recently named Mr. Football, and incredibly proud of him and each of you, and the coaching staff, and the school staff.

Thank you all for being here and once again, we're incredibly proud.

(crowd clapping) - You had a number of incredible adults that worked to make this event happen.

Your coaches, your principal, all of that.

But guess what?

This is about you.

They may have coached, they may have taught.

They may have driven a bus, they may have nurtured you, but guess who did it?

You.

Be very proud.

Thank you very much for being here guys.

- Counsel we'll continue with our agenda this evening.

I will take a motion on the minutes.

Please have a minute, motion on the minutes and will stand without objection.

Order of business for city council's ordinances on final reading, Madam Clerk legal item A please - In ordinance amending Chattanooga city code part two chapter 21, section 21-2-32.

Jurisdiction of office of administrative hearing officer restrictions on authority relating to short-term vacation rental, litter and overgrowth issues.

- I have a motion to approve.

I have a second to that motion.

Questions for comments on final reading?

All those in favor say aye.

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries.

Madam Clerk item B please.

- A resolution to repeal resolution number 3-0-806 adopted on June 29, 2021 and adopted new rules of operation for the Chattanooga City Council.

- Motion of approval.

- Motion to approve.

- Say - Have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries.

Legal Item C , Madam Clerk please.

- A resolution authorizing the mayor his designee to execute a waiver release and termination of revisionary interest and reconveyance right with the Chattanooga Hamilton County Hospital Authority Erlanger Health Erlanger Merge CO LLC in Hamilton County - I have to approve.

- I have a motion to approve.

I have a second to that motion.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All those in favor say aye.

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries.

That concludes our ordinances and resolutions for this evening.

We do have purchases, five purchases this evening.

Mrs. Satterfield, are you presenting?

- I am.

- Wonderful.

- Yes.

We have five purchases recommended for approval this evening.

The first is from the Wastewater department.

This is a new blanket contract for bueno pump parts.

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

Five bids were requested and one was received.

The invitation was re-advertised and resulted in no additional bids.

The award will go to Carl Eric Johnson, Inc. Second also from Wastewater department.

This is a one-time purchase of Brentwood Poly Kim Chains.

The award will go to Guthrie Sales and Service as the sole authorized representative in Tennessee for a total cost of $141,600.

Next from the facilities Division of Public Works this is a new blanket contract for custodial services at the Family Justice Center.

This will be a four year agreement not to exceed $55,000 per year.

12 bids were requested and six were received.

The award will go to ABM Industry Group LLC.

Next from economic development.

This is a blanket contract for an affordable housing team coordinator.

This will be a four year agreement not to exceed $89,840 total.

12 bids were requested and one was received.

The invitation was re-advertised and resulted in no additional bids.

The award will go to May 8th Consulting.

And last from technology services, a new blanket agreement for the purchase of a fire department records management system for use by the Chattanooga Fire Department.

This will be a five year agreement totaling $572,856 and 70 cents.

The award will go to Locality Media, Inc., doing business as first due as a sole source agreement.

This item was to be purchased using a cooperative agreement but a cost savings was garnered by going directly to the supplier and that was it.

- Move approval.

- Have a motion to approve purchases this evening.

- Thank you.

- Have a second to that motion for those of you new to our meetings and those following along online for the first time.

Purchases are sent, and we can advance the council to ask questions.

And again today at 3:30 during our agenda session to get those questions answered and or asked any additional information that is needed.

Have a motion on the floor to approve and that has been seconded.

Questions or comments before we vote on purchases?

All those in favor say aye.

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Thank you counsel.

We have no RFP to report, no emergency purchases.

We did have 10 contract renewals that are listed in your packet for this evening.

Next we'll move into committee reports.

Councilman Henderson will start with you.

- No report.

- Councilwoman Hill.

- No report.

- Councilman Smith.

- No report, Mr.

Chair.

- Councilman Hester.

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

- Thank you sir.

Councilwoman Coonrod.

- No report.

- Councilwoman Noel.

- No report - Dr. Berz.

- No report.

- Madam Vice Chair - Equity and Community Development.

Will meet next week with a departmental report and a report from United Way.

- Thank you ma'am.

That will end our committee reports for this evening.

We are now ready to recognize persons wishing to address counsel this evening.

If you would like to address counsel this evening please come to the podium.

- Good evening counsel.

John Jonah 1808 Duncan Avenue.

I thought I'd show up tonight cause I figured you guys would come looking for me wondering what happened.

It's been a while.

2,352 miles of road is what the Chattanooga Department of Transportation is responsible for.

We resurface about 60 miles a year.

So if you do the math, that's about 40 years it takes to resurface all of our roads.

I don't know if you've noticed there's quite a few roads that need resurfacing and that's because the average lifespan of a road especially your heavily trafficked ones, is around 20 years.

The best way that we can fund these roads right now seems to be to grow our city.

And the way we most often choose to grow our city is by a new suburb like Mount Aetna or Aetna Mountain whatever it might be called.

The challenge here is this is almost like a Ponzi scheme.

We get quick money but now we have to fund those roads in 20 years and we'll need two more Aetna Mountains to fund the one that funded us and kept us solvent now.

This ever expanding suburban sprawl is an increasing tax, both on us as a community, and our future community as a whole.

I came here tonight to actually propose a solution, a small one, a test that we could do to strengthen our community, and reduce the amount of roads that we have to be responsible for all while making transportation more efficient.

McCallie Avenue right now in Highland Park where I live is four lanes unnecessarily for about eight blocks it connects some of the city's best resources.

The second biggest national cemetery in the country.

Warner Park Sports Facility, the zoo, Orchard Knob Reservation.

It connects them to a pedestrian community and UTC.

It doesn't connect to the interstate.

It no longer goes through the tunnel.

It is a street that should be thriving with businesses and should be safe for multimodal transportation.

I recommend that we do a 90 day complete street trial.

Let's make a two-way protected bike lane from Orchard Knob all the way through to UTC.

We'll have to get rid of some parking, but I'm sitting here thinking there really is no risk cause after 90 days, if it's not safer, if it's not more efficient, if it doesn't give the city less roads to maintain we can always go back.

However, what could go right?

It could be safer, it could be more efficient it could make students more active and healthy.

It could increase accessibility both for opportunities in the neighborhood to downtown and from downtown to more affordable housing in the neighborhood.

I'm sending an email to all of you.

So looking forward to hearing back and partnering with whoever is willing.

I've already met with this Department of Transportation.

I'm talking to city planners, plan on introducing this to the RPA.

And what I want to do is make our city safe for everyone.

When New York City introduced 24 miles of bike lanes in New York City, traffic accidents went down not for car pedestrians.

Overall.

Car drivers were safer and roads pushed through more people per hour as a result of adding bike lanes.

We've done this in other cities and we've done this here with Main Street (timer beeping) by necking it down to two lanes.

Thank you very much.

- Good evening.

- Hello.

Good evening City Council.

I am disappointed that I have to be here this afternoon to share these words with you all.

- Could you tell us your name and your district please for the record?

- Oh yeah.

My name is Lida Navarro and I'm here today asking for each of you to do your part... do I have to do my address?

- I'm sorry, we were asking for your name and your district - Oh!

- And some council members are looking for the district.

- I'm sorry.

My name is Lida Navarro and my district is nine - Nine.

Thank you.

- Yes, sorry - My apologies.

- No, you're fine.

My name is Lida Navarro and I'm here today asking for each of you to do your part in keeping Mayor Kelly's administration accountable for their actions and equity and political interference that has led to the release of Esai Navarro as the director for the Office of New Americans.

On September 7th, 2022 Mayor Kelly announced his appointment of Esai as the inaugural director for the city's Office of New Americans.

And he said, and I quote, "She brings an expansive network of local and nationwide diverse partnerships spanning several sectors to her work with the city, along with an unmatched heart for her community that aligns with the values of Mayor Kelly's one Chattanooga plan."

All of the letters that community members have written have determined that that was the truth.

The establishment of the Office of New Americans in the appointment of Esai gave this community hope that because she has the reputation of getting work done with integrity and keeps the community at the forefront.

But the fact that Esai Navarro was unable to release any work for the six months that she was employed and was met with comments like, "There's no appetite for your work."

And, "I cannot catch any heat for this right now".

While to me, the whole office is giving as we say in Spanish (speaking Spanish) which in English means a lie, a scam, or just a show with no sustenance.

If this administration is not committed to uplifting the community, then it just needs to be honest so that we can put people in office who will.

Because appointed people serve at the pleasure of the mayor and the mayor serves at the pleasure of the people.

If Mayor Kelly's administration was truly committed to ensuring the Office of New Americans had the best leadership in place for the community Esai Navarro would be given an opportunity to finally do her job without interference.

The one Chattanooga plan mentions prioritizing justice over charity.

But what does that look like in this moment?

In this moment, justice looks like giving Esai her job back over charity, which is allowing two organizations to hold a closed door meeting on February 3rd with Mayor Kelly and one of their board members who just so also happens to be the chief of staff, to dictate who and who should not be in office.

Again, I stand before you today asking for each of you to keep this administration accountable and ensure the person in this office is not protecting the interest of organizations, but is working for the people.

And you can start by ensuring the person who gets to direct this office to be confirmed.

Thank you.

- Good evening.

Before I start my time, I wanted to ask you, I have two letters from community members that are working and could not come.

Their letters won't take long but I don't want to read the letters and take away from my three minutes.

- You have three minutes ma'am.

- Okay.

All right.

My name is.

- You're welcome to send the letters if they're written out.

- Yes, I'd like to send the letters.

- You're more than welcome to do that, yes.

- They both work in District Nine and live in District Six.

- Thank you so much.

- Okay.

My name is Nate Velasco.

I live in District Six and I work in District Nine.

My work has a lot to do with the community, with the Latino community.

And it's not my first time here but this is so close to me and I'm very nervous so.

I just wanna tell you that the week of August the second a letter was read to the city council by a volunteer who was at the airport working with the refugees that were coming through.

A lot of people applauded because we talked about Chattanooga being a good Samaritan and we didn't want to treat these people less humanly.

And I was the person that wrote that letter.

I was still at the airport when I wrote it.

I couldn't be here to to read it, and I am so disappointed also by the firing of Esai Navarro.

And I wanna say that because we wrote letters to lots of the members of city council this week.

And I was so disappointed that I didn't get a letter back from my council people, but I did get a letter from the very person that fired her.

And to me that was violent.

I feel like representation matters.

There's been a lot of firing in that office and I have here over 30 projects she was working on that were not allowed to get off the ground.

The community knows her, the community supports her.

She was meeting with pastors, she was meeting with community members.

And we have seen her work in the past outside of that office.

So we trust her and we don't understand how come they didn't give her the time to put to work the things she was working on.

And she got fired.

When we wrote the letters there was a rumor that she was getting fired.

So we rapidly wrote letters and we wanted you to investigate to see if there was anything that can be done so that this could be stopped.

By the time I got my letter, she had already been fired by the chief of staff and the chief of staff is the one that writes me the letter and I quote, "I do want to acknowledge your concern and let you know that Mayor Kelly places the highest priority on ensuring our office of New Americans, that the Office of New Americans has the leadership it needs to best serve our immigrant and refugees communities while building strong coalitions with a wide range of residents, partners and advocates, etc., etc.

Well, I want you to know that today one of the immigrants from Nicaragua was here that day.

He's sitting right there.

He doesn't speak English, (timer beeping) but he felt it was important for him to be here today and let you know that what she did that day for him and many others matters.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you ma'am.

- Hello counsel.

- Welcome.

- Hi.

- My name's David Johnson.

I live in District Nine.

Hello councilwoman.

I wanna share with counsel a major, safety, economic and social problem.

I use Brandon Road as a walker and driver daily.

Typically use the signal at Elmwood but that's been closed for a few months.

So what I have to do instead is get on Seminole, and try to take a left across several lanes of traffic coming through the tunnel as traffic is coming up to enter the tunnel, it's terribly unsafe.

It's just not a pleasant place to be.

As a walker, a driver, a biker, anybody.

It's not pleasant.

This section of Brandon Road is just statistically unsafe.

I personally witnessed an SUV upside down against the building where it had been going so fast and flipped on the road.

This constant threat affects the economic life of numerous businesses.

And these are some of the businesses that are immediately impacted.

Art Warehouse Studio 34, which is used by the pop-up project.

Gannon Art Center, Hatch Outfitters, Anthology, Elliot Blake, Toes Yoga, Foxy K-9, Vision Stained Glass, L Squared Construction, Ripple Theater, Pupil Ready, Higher Quest Vena Nails, and Victory Fuels.

They did not ask me to do this, I just thought you should know what businesses are there and deal with that issue every day.

This is a state route and TDOT must approve permanent changes to it.

Several of you have other state routes that face this same issue.

We understand that working with TDOT is difficult, but we have an example locally where our city administration has been able to affect the change of a street that TDOT manages by collaborating closely with them and showing intentionality.

And thinking not just how quickly can we move cars, but how can we make this a safe place for everyone?

I thought you should know that the TDOT mission is to provide a safe and reliable system that supports economic growth and quality of life.

That doesn't sound like Brandon Road to me.

And it doesn't sound like some other roads that are in several of your districts.

We know that city administration, when it wants to, can intentionally affect the design of our streets working collaboratively with TDOT.

And so just this last week we noticed that there were little strips across the road that's likely from a traffic study being conducted.

I think it would be appropriate to share the results of that traffic study with the general public so we can all understand how are vehicles moving through this area.

Are they moving faster than the listed speed limit?

I would guess yes, but this information is real data that we can use.

Through that effort we'll understand what options are available to TDOT.

I would also ask that the city administration work intentionally with TDOT, in a mutual way, to meet their mission that they have listed that also supports thriving neighborhoods.

I know there are several people across the city that care about the same thing.

Thank you.

(timer beeping) - Good evening council, my name Mr. Boston, the owner of 2807 North Chamberlain Avenue on a lot of property in East Chattanooga.

I'm no (indistinct) to the council.

I got a problem.

My grandfather 88 years old, he been living in East Chattanooga.

He one of the first black men on North Chamberlain.

When (indistinct) came about the church got there.

He got a letter in the mail the other day talking about the city code.

They going to cite him for having an old car in his yard.

The people at the city code should have came to him.

Correct?

He had some wires and cars in his yard.

My grandfather worked in the foundry all his life, and raised six kids and raised me.

I'm the grandson.

I'm the go-getter in the family now.

I take care of my grandfather, my grandma dead.

We very known to East Chamberlain.

We know strangers, we own a lot of property out there in East Chatt.

But the code enforcer should of came a different way.

My grandfather had that car 50 years.

One of his first cars when he worked in the foundry, He was happy for that car.

Now it's fixing to be taken away from the city cause y'all got a code.

That a rundown car can't be in the yard.

Guess what?

My property right next door.

I got 12 cars in the yard.

They all run.

If the city go down to the (indistinct) office and the courthouse, they can see who car run or not.

They shouldn't have to come in our yard, private property and say the car can't go up and go back.

They can find out a different way.

I'm not a fool, I work in this kind of field.

I've been 26 years.

I know the rules.

So we got some new people that moved in the community.

Houses in our community that runs 229,000 to 300,000.

When my grandfather moved there, the house was 30,000.

I'm 45 years old.

I was born and raised in the neighborhood.

We get three or four people in that neighborhood, now they want to come down there and take over.

East Chattanooga don't need no criticism like that.

Crime is high in East Chattanooga.

I ready for the money y'all spending out on the city code.

Give it to the police department to make the streets safer in East Chattanooga.

Get them (indistinct) they need to work a high crime neighborhood.

What are they doing?

That's wrong.

I can take it farther.

I go viral all the time.

I won't mind going viral again for my grandfather.

Please can we reconsider what we doing?

Get with the city code people and readjust this thing for the Black folks in East Chattanooga.

This just the beginning.

If I have to take it farther naturally, I will.

Cause I love my grandfather, I love my community.

and I once was a urban (indistinct) community but now I'm a business owner on one of the biggest businesses here in Chattanooga.

I love y'all.

May God bless y'all, may keep you and may strengthen you and have a good night.

- Anyone else wishing to address counsel this evening?

Counsel, I'm not seeing anyone.

- Move to adjourn - And we are adjourned.

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