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

(bright lively music progressing) - Alright, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Tuesday, February the 2nd Council.

I now call this meeting to order.

Our Pledge of Allegiance and invocation should he desire this afternoon will be from Councilman Mitchell.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Please join me.

- [All] I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

- Mr.

Chair, I'll move the agenda.

- Alright, sir.

Thank you very much.

We do have a special presentation this afternoon by Councilman Gilbert, recognizing Black History Month.

Councilman Gilbert.

- Thank you, Chair.

Thank you for opportunity to say a few words about the great people that I'm going to just call out their names.

Some of these individuals have provided scholarships for kids through sports.

Some have given scholarship themselves, and also helped small businesses out.

You have some individuals who have speak with college kids to encourage them that if they don't have the funds, that they keep moving and keep going, and God will make a way out of no way.

You also have individuals here that have given a lifetime of help by bringing NFL football players to discuss and talk to kids and encourage them to go to college to do their best.

So tonight, I'm gonna read this proclamation.

Whereas, this Black History Month February 2021, I, Councilman Gilbert, along with my colleagues, give honor to these heroic and selfless individuals in our communities for doing their part to excel our city forward.

They come from many areas of our community and have made many contributions to our city of Chattanooga; and Whereas, Black History Month seeks to emphasize Black history and its cultural contributions to American life, and is designed to recognize and pay tribute to the many contributions of African-Americans to the history, society and culture of the United States of America; and Whereas, Black History Month celebrates the achievements of African-Americans in the Arts, Civil Rights, Education, Entertainment, Government, History, Law, Literature, Medicine, Military, Music, Politics, Science, Sports; Whereas, Black History Month allows us an opportunity to recognize the heroes of African-American history including: Our dedicated community service leaders Greather Tinker, Ezra Harris, Dennis Leftwich, Edward Freeman, Gregory Martin, Yolanda Finney, Stephen West, Cedric Dozier, Sharron Pryor, Leroy Smart, Logan King Taylor, and Albert Woodard and family; Our community safety and outreach leader, Captain Jerri Sutton; Our media and entertainment legends Magic Crutcher, Greg Funderburg, Greg Toney, Keith Landecker, Chee Chee Brown, John L. Edwards, Eric Foster Williams, Terran Gilbert, Willie McClendon, Samuel Patton, and Darryl Wheeler, Sr; Our heroic educators, Marcia Smith, and Principal Gary James; Our new-era of athletes trailblazer, Madison Hayes; I want to stop there.

You know, Madison actually was brought up through the city when it comes to sports.

She's been an outstanding ambassador for the City of Chattanooga when it comes to breaking records, into softball, basketball, volleyball, and now she's in college breaking more records.

So I want to put emphasis on that particular person, she's young, and she always give back to young people.

She tells them to be positive.

She tells them to believe in God and all things will be fine.

And our honorable contractors and community builders Wiley Simmons, Jerry Hanner, and Bobby Adamson; and Whereas, I am immensely proud of that history and our diversity as well as thankful for the countless contributions of African-Americans in Chattanooga and throughout this nation; this month, and throughout the year, I urge our residents to celebrate that heritage and continue to fight for equality and opportunity for all.

Now, Therefore, I, Russell Gilbert, Councilman of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and on behalf of the Chattanooga City Council, hereby acknowledge and celebrate your contributions to the City of Chattanooga, Commonwealth of Tennessee and the United States of America.

I commend you for your many accomplishments and extend my best wishes for continuing success in the future.

Thank you, Chair.

- Thank you, Councilman.

(Councilpersons applauding) - Good work.

Great work.

- I don't know if anybody was out there and wanted to say something.

(indistinct) had problems getting on the Zoom, but if you want to see a hand raise, you can just see if they want to say anything.

- Yeah, Mr. Harris.

- Councilman, I'm gonna leave that up to you, sir.

I have a Ezra Harris and I got a Mr. Gilbert on.

- A Mr. Harris?

- Do you wanna bring Mr. Harris in?

- Yes, sir.

- I think he put his hand down.

- Terran's up though.

- Bring Terran up.

- He's got, he's got, Mr. Harris got his hand back up.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

- Hello?

- Hey.

- You're on.

- What I want to say it's beautiful what we are doing in our city.

We're setting an example for other cities to know that we are all in this together.

And I would want to also give thanks for the City Council members that are African-Americans that are making history right now in this is pandemic, and also what they're doing for our city.

Also, Nicole Gwyn, we appreciate you for what you're doing as an African-American in your role and what God has allowed you to do, and I want to say everybody that is on here, thank you all for allowing us to appreciate our culture and what we are doing here in the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

So I want to say thank God for all you all, and let us continue to make history.

God bless.

- Thank you, Terran.

Alright.

Councilman, you good, sir?

- Yes, sir.

- Alright.

At this time, could I get a motion on the minutes?

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the minutes to approve with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote?

Madam Clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved.

We now move to newer order of business for the City Council.

We have no ordinances on final reading tonight.

We do have a couple of ordinances on first reading.

Madam Clerk, if you would read 6A please.

- An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 6626 Shallowford Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone, subject to certain conditions.

- Councilwoman Berz followed by Councilman Ledford.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I move that this be deferred one week to February 9th.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion to defer till February the 9th with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote?

If not, roll call Madam Clerk.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Okay.

Motion to defer till February 9th does carry.

Madam Clerk, if you would, with no objection from the Council, let's read 6B and C please.

- Item B.

An ordinance closing and abandoning the eastern right-of-way of the 300 block of Tucker Street, as detailed on the attached map, subject to certain conditions.

Item C. An ordinance establishing an easement across city-owned real property located at 1210 Mercer Street for the construction of a public right-of-way within the easement.

- Councilman Mitchell.

- Move approval.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve items 6B and C with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote?

Madam Clerk, roll call please.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved.

We now move into our resolutions for this afternoon.

Councilman Mitchell, do you have a comment sir or is that an old hand?

- Well, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I didn't have one, thank you.

- Resolutions.

Madam Clerk, let's take 7A, B, and C together please, if there are no objections from this Council.

- Item A.

A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a First Agreement to Exercise Option to Renew, in substantially the form attached, with the Forgotten Child Fund, Inc., to lease approximately 1,142 square feet of office space located at 1715 E. Main Street, identified as Tax Parcel No.

156B-D-011, for two (2) additional terms of one (1) year each, for the period through October 31, 2021, for the amount of $1.00 per year.

Item B.

A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Economic and Community Development to amend the guidelines for the Affordable Housing Fund to allow up to $500,000.00 to be utilized for rent, mortgage, and utility assistance for low-to-moderate income households impacted by COVID-19.

Item C. A resolution authorizing the Chief Information Officer (CIO) to renew blanket agreement with IT Pipes, LLC, for the purchase of sewer asset inspection products and services for first optional one year renewal term beginning January 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2021, with one optional annual renewal remaining, for an amount not to exceed $60,000.00 for contract year.

- Councilwoman Berz followed by Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Move approval, sir.

- Second.

- Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve items 7A, B, and C, with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote?

If not, Madam Clerk, roll call please.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- Motion carries to approve items 7A, B, and C. Madam Clerk, now, with no objection from this Council, would you read 7D through 7H, please?

- Yes.

Item D. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve Change Order No.

2 (Final), for CTI Engineers, Inc., relative to Contract No.

W-16-021-101, MBWWTP Recycle Pump Stations and Drain System Upgrade, a Non-Consent Decree Project, for a decreased amount of $335.45, for a revised contract amount of $542,943.24.

Item E. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve Change Order No.

1, with Reeves Young LLC, of Sugar Hill, Georgia, for Contract No.

W-17-004-201, Chattanooga Wet Weather Combined Sewer Storage - Phase 1, a Consent Decree Project, for an increased amount of $6,477,193.99, for a revised contract amount of $53,046,293.99, with a contingency amount of $2 million, for an amount not to exceed $55,046,293.99.

Item F. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to award Contract No.

R-17-004-201, Greenway Farms New Conference Facility, to J&J Contractors, Inc., of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the amount of $1,577,600.00, plus a contingency amount of $150,000.00, for an amount not to exceed $1,727,600.00.

Item G. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to award Contract No.

R-20-017-204, Summit of Softball Complex Improvements from the Easter Tornado 2020 - Backstop Area and Outfield Netting Replacement, to Premier Fence, LLC, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in the amount of $195,472.62, with a contingency amount of $20,000.00, for an amount not to exceed $215,472.62.

And Item H. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Transportation to enter into a Partnership Agreement, Project No.

T-21-004-809, with EMJ Corporation for the River Rock Project located at 100 East 4th Street and to accept a contribution of $45,535.14 towards the cost of eighteen (18) modern light fixtures, including installation and wiring.

- Alright, thank you, Ma'am.

Vice-Chair Smith followed by Councilman Oglesby.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I know we just read five items, but there's one in here in particular that I'm very excited about.

Our Greenway Farms New Conference Facility, it is the largest city construction project we've had in this district since building our Fire Hall 11, and the largest before that was a renovation of the YFD.

Before that, I can't even tell you when we've had this type of investment.

So I am really excited to get this going and to make it happen.

We've been working on it for a number of years, and it's just amazing to finally be to this point, and I can't wait to see shovels be put in the ground.

So thank you from the entire Council, the administration, everybody that has helped work on this over the years to get us to this point so we can begin construction.

I truly do appreciate it.

And with that, sir, I move approval.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Heck, I'm excited for you too after hearing all of that.

(Councilpersons laughing) Second.

(laughing progressing) - Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve items 7D through H with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

I am seeing no hands.

Madam Clerk, would you give us a roll call please?

- Yes.

Councilwoman Berz?

- Absolutely yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Mmmhhh, yes.

(Councilpersons laughing) - Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Alright, nine yeses.

- Thank you.

- Motion to approve item 7D through H carries 9-0.

- Way to go, Ken.

- Appreciate it.

- Alright, everybody through high-fiving?.

- Yep.

- That's a lot of hard work.

(Councilpersons laughing) - We now move into purchases.

Council, as you pull up your purchases for this afternoon, would you bring Mr. Sammons in, Mr. Vice-Chair.

- Yes, sir.

On his way.

- Thank you, sir.

- Hi, good afternoon.

I guess it's good evening now, Mr. Sammons.

- Good evening Mr.

Chair and members of Council.

We have a few purchase items to present to you for approval and we have one emergency purchase to bring to your attention.

First, starting with the City Wide Services Division of Public Works.

The first two items; starting with High Visibility Work Clothing being awarded to Reflective Apparel Factory.

This is an increase of $30,000 for a total amount of $55,000.

The next purchase item is one Caterpillar 308 Mini Excavator being awarded to Stowers Machinery Corporation at an estimated amount of $115,177.30.

The next item from the Parks Division of Public Works.

We have a purchase of one (1) Toro Workman HDX - 2WD (Kubota Gas) Utility Vehicle being awarded to Smith Turf & Irrigation at an estimated total amount of $26,650.96.

The next three items are from our Chattanooga Police Department.

The purchase of three investigative vehicles; The first being awarded TT of Columbia for an estimated annual cost of $30,656; The second being awarded to Alan Jay Automotive Management, Inc. for an estimated annual cost of $32,760; And the third being awarded to Freeland Chevrolet LLC for an estimated annual cost of $27,300.

The next item from the Department of Information Technology; the purchase of software for Police, City Courts and the Department of Information Technology, being awarded to Tyler Technologies for an estimated annual cost of $600,000.

And the last item from the Head Start Division of the Department of Youth and Family Development, kitchen equipment repair services being awarded to Mountain City Service for an estimated annual cost of $130,000.

And that concludes the new purchases for this evening.

- You've heard the purchases.

What is pleasure of the Council?

- Move to approve.

- Move approval.

- Second.

- Alright.

We have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's purchases with a proper second.

Questions or comments?

Councilman Ledford, did you get your questions answered sir?

- Yes, I sure did.

Thank you Mr.

Chair.

- Alright.

I see no hands.

Madam Clerk, would you give us a roll call please?

- Councilman Oglesby?

- Yes.

- Councilman Mitchell?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Gilbert?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Vice-Chairman Smith?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yeses.

- So moved.

Alright Mr. Sammons, did you have an emergency purchase you need to report?

- Yes, sir.

We have one emergency purchase under the Mayor's Emergency Declaration.

It is related to COVID-19.

It's for the Department of Youth and Family Development.

It is the purchase of 85 Guardian Air Beyond air purifiers for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs being awarded to Aerus Electrolux.

It is PO# 560289 for a total of $76,415.

- Mr. Vice-Chair?

- Thank you, sir.

Tony, thank you very much.

And a special thanks goes out to the chief and the administration for working with us and me on making sure that we could get this approved and done as an emergency purchase due to COVID.

This is something that I heard from our YFD board members.

They were worried about making sure that the students that they were bringing back in would have clean air where they're at, and so I just wanted to say thank you again for everybody involved to getting this pushed through as quickly as possible to get these purifiers in for our Head Start program.

Thank you, Tony, and Kerry, and everybody else that helped make this happen.

I really appreciate it.

- You're most welcome.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Thank you, chair.

I was just gonna mimic what Ken Smith said.

Thank you, Ken, for taking the initiative, although I am the chair.

However, it was scheduled to be on the agenda for next week, so I didn't want anybody to think it was being overlooked.

It was placed on the agenda, but thank you, Ken, for reaching out to try to get it as an emergency purchase.

Thank you.

- Alright.

Thank you, Mr. Sammons.

- Thank you very much, and you have a good evening.

- Mr. Vice-Chair, you can excuse our guest.

- Sure.

- We now move to committee reports, and I will take them as I see them on the screen.

Mr. Vice-Chair.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

No report.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- No report.

- Councilman Oglesby.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Today, we heard a great presentation for an affordable housing PILOT from CNE.

That's all I have.

- Thank you, sir.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Planning and Zoning did meet today.

We covered all items on the agenda, and got an update on our steep slope vegetation component which should be ready in a few days.

- Thank you.

Councilman Mitchell.

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

We'll have Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting next week following the Agenda Session.

Thank you.

- Very well.

Councilwoman Coonrod.

- No report.

- You didn't have a committee?

- It wasn't what we asked for, no report, Chair.

- Thank you, Ma'am.

- Councilman Gilbert.

- No report.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Got no report, sir.

- Alright, very well, thank you.

What is the pleasure?

- Move we adjourn.

- So moved.

We are adjourned.

We'll see everyone back next week.

- Thank you.

- Have a great week.

- Alright, have a great week.

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