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

(upbeat music) - We have no special presentations today.

We will have our 2023-2024 budget public hearing today.

So, with that, we will open up the hearing, and (gavel raps) City Attorney, would you please read the rules - [City Attorney] At this time, we're gonna have a public hearing on the budget for 2023-2024 and would request that anyone coming forth wanting to speak in this meeting come up to the microphone up front for that purpose.

No person can have more than three minutes to speak and address the counsel upon the matters in the budget ordinance that are in effect today.

So, if you'll come up front and line up, we can get it going.

- All right, and just as a quick correction, it'll be two minutes for the public hearing.

- Excuse me.

- That's all right.

Thank you, City Attorney.

It'll be two minutes for the public hearing for a total of 30 minutes, so as he stated, if you would like to speak on the budget, please come up.

And can we get two minutes on the clock please?

- I don't get 30 minutes?

- No, not today.

(laughs) (everyone laughs) - Good evening, Madam Chair, Council.

My name is Jason Brown, and I'm the organizer for SEIU Local 205.

It represents the employees non-sworn here in the city.

I'm here to speak in support of the passage of the budget, which includes a step plan, something that has been an agenda item for us and taken a lot of years of discussion, and I'm glad to say that we are on the verge, I hope, of seeing that happen.

In my estimation, this is the third or fourth significant investment that you and the mayor's office have made in the wages and benefits for city employees.

It's a major ordeal for these working people.

It has lifted several people out of poverty based on real statistics that we have as a union.

So, I just wanted to come up here and be the first, and not the last, to say we appreciate this investment, this next investment, in wages and the city's continued support for Head Start.

That's a big deal, too.

Early learning and Head Start is where it all begins, and we appreciate your investment very much.

Thank you for your time.

- All right, thank you.

- Hello.

- Hey, Lynn - My name is Lynn Rutherford.

I'm in District Seven, and I work for Parks and Outdoors.

I'm a natural resource supervisor, and as a supervisor, I just wanna say that I also appreciate this continued investment in our employees.

Our people are all we have, and as a supervisor, I just wanna make sure that my team is taken care of and that they stick with us a long time.

They work really hard, and I ask them to do really difficult work, and they shouldn't have to worry about paying their medical bills.

I think that city employees should be able to afford to live in the city where they work.

So, yeah, I agree with Jason.

Really appreciate what you've done so far, and (claps) let's keep it up.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Hi, I'm Steven Russell, District Three.

I'm the recording secretary for the Chattanooga chapter of SEIU.

I also work at the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus at the Wastewater Department.

I'd like to echo what my friends have, in SEIU, said.

This has been a multi-year project, I guess, as far as the getting the step plan put in place after the such overwhelming support from the city about getting the $15 an hour minimum wage, we polled our members, and the number one issue they said was having a step plan.

We feel this is a really important thing to, you know, for long-term investment for employees so they know that they can stay with the city and make a career out of it.

So, I'd like to thank the Mayor's Office and his staff and Budget Department and City Council as well for continuing to work hard to, you know, invest in employees and thank everyone for their hard work.

Thank you.

- Uh-huh, thank you.

- Good afternoon.

My name's Robert Ledford; I'm the Chief Steward of the SEIU Local 205 Chattanooga chapter.

I know most of you remember me when, about four years ago, we started running the $15 per hour minimum wage, and everybody said, "You'll never get it.

"It's just way too high."

So when Mayor Kelly ran, I just dumped on him all the time.

"Are you gonna get our $15 minimum wage put in?"

He said, "I guarantee you, I'll do it."

So he did it, and he's continued to give us raises, and we thank him for that, and we just, you know, we're glad we finally gettin' some for our employees, and I just appreciate what he does.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Good evening.

My name's Jack Thomas, the President of Chattanooga Firefighter Association, and we, too, rise in support of this budget.

Two things I'd like to talk on is apparatus replacement and also our training tower that we've been trying to get replaced for awhile.

Apparatus replacement, our current reserve fleet is from the 1990s.

One of the things that this budget will do will allow us to take some of our frontline equipment and move that to our reserve fleet.

That way, when one of our trucks go down, we're getting in something that's a little bit better for everybody in this room, for our firefighters, and for the city.

We're gonna be able to purchase two squads, which is our technical rescue trucks that allows us to be able to carry our new equipment with us instead of having to call out and request that.

One engine, one mini-pumper, and one 75-foot clamp.

Again, with the whole goal of being able to move our current fleet to our reserve fleet.

Our training tower.

We've been trying to get a new training tower for as long as I can remember.

When I was hired in 2000, that was on the list on trying to get that training tower replaced.

We have trained thousands of firefighters here in Chattanooga and the surrounding area with our current tower.

It has been needing to get replaced for awhile.

Working with Hamilton County and this budget's able to put our part into that so we can move forward and get us a training tower to be able to train our firefighters for the next 40 years.

So, thank you.

- Thank you.

- Keith Liles, Vice President of the Chattanooga Firefighters Association, and seeing no one behind me, I'm gonna be real short.

(everyone laughs) I'm grateful for the help that you guys are giving our brothers and sisters over at SEIU.

I'm also very grateful for the budget requests that have been done for our department as well.

Our staffing is, we've stopped the flood of people leaving, but now we are facing some people retiring, which is a good thing, so this addresses that.

In the past, whenever we've added firetrucks or fire stations, we've always robbed from Peter to pay Paul.

We've taken double companies, cut 'em down to single companies, split 'em up, and put the other trucks over there.

This time we're actually gonna hire new firefighters, and that's something we haven't done in a long, long time.

So, I just wanna say thank you to that.

Thank you for getting Station 15 built again.

Those guys moved out of 15 is over to 6's yesterday, so it's kind of a big deal (laughs) so (everyone laughs) we're grateful for those guys to get it, so thank you very much, and I'll cut it short right now.

- [Raquetta Dotley] All right, thank you, Keith.

All right, Council, seeing no one else lined up for the public hearing, we will close the budget hearing.

(gavel raps) Can I get approval on the minutes summary?

- Moved.

- Okay.

Minutes came without objection.

We have no ordinances on final reading.

Ordinances on first reading, Madam Clerk, if you'll read Item A.

- An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 21, Section 21-137, Abatement by City and lien for costs thereof; notice; hearing; appeal, subsection c, relating to service of notice.

- Council?

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- Okay, moved and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, Item B.

- An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 17, Section 17-3, 2018 International Fire Code 912.3.1 and by adding a new Section 17-43 requiring structures to have a key lock box installed on the exterior of the structure for fire safety purposes.

- Councilman Henderson.

- Move it.

- Second.

- All right, so moved and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, Item C, the alternate version.

- An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2844 Eblin Drive from R-1 Residential Zone to M-2 Light Industrial Zone subject to certain conditions.

- Right; is the applicant present?

Okay, is there opposition present?

You don't have to get up, Sir, yet.

- I'm sorry?

- You don't have to get up yet.

- Oh.

- All right.

(laughs) Any opposition present?

Okay, Councilwoman Berz, you hit your light.

- [Councilwoman Berz] Sure.

I wanna check one of the conditions that I think you read and that had to do with the 30-foot buffer.

- Yes, Ma'am.

- And did you put the type one foliage?

- [City Attorney] It says a type, let's see, type A, 30-foot landscape upper to be installed.

- With the tall trees?

That's what I wanna make sure.

- Yes, Ma'am.

- Is that correct?

- [City Attorney] The type A is, yes, Ma'am.

- Yeah, okay, fine.

Sir, just a question, if you'd approach please.

You've reviewed this?

You've reviewed this?

- Yes.

- This represents everything that you guys have agreed to?

- Absolutely, yes.

- Thank you.

I move approval.

- All right.

It's been motioned and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, Item D, Alternate Version.

- [Madam Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2701 Benton Avenue from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse/Zero Lot Line Zone subject serve conditions.

- All right, is the applicant present?

Okay, is any opposition present?

Councilwoman Noel.

- Thank you, Madam Chair.

Attorney Field, could you read what the conditions are please?

- Yes ma'am.

Let me get my list up here.

In this case, the conditions for this property are, let me get my numbers back on here.

Four nine, I'm (indistinct).

Hit the wrong one up here, sorry.

Just one second.

I will be right with you.

- Fine.

- You're fine.

- Yes ma'am.

The conditions for this rezoning are that it is from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-T/Z Residential Townhouse Zone subject to the condition of no more than two single family detached dwellings with accessory dwelling units, and the accessory dwelling unit is not required.

- Okay.

- Yes ma'am.

- [Councilwoman Noel] So, Ms. Ford, are you okay with that?

You do understand that, correct?

Okay, thank you.

So, move to approve.

- Second.

- Arrived at motion and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion carries.

Item C, Madam Clerk.

I'm sorry, Item E. - An ordinance closing and abandoning an unopened right-of-way in an alley located in the 3800 block of St. Elmo Avenue, as detailed on the attached maps, subject to certain conditions.

- All right, can I get a motion?

I'm sorry, thank you; Councilman Ledford?

- [Councilman Ledford] Madam Chair, this is in your district, and I'd like to move for approval.

- Second.

- Thank you, thank you.

Case made motion and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, Item F. - An ordinance closing and abandoning an unopened right-of-way in the 2500 block of Chamberlain Avenue, as detailed on the attached maps, subject of certain conditions.

- Councilman Hester.

- This is in Councilwoman Coonrod's district.

I wanted to move to postpone this for two weeks, where she can adequately review this item - All right.

- Second.

- Okay, it's been motioned and properly seconded to defer for two weeks.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion carries.

Under resolutions, if there are no objections, Council, we would like to take Items A through D as a group.

I'm sorry, Councilwoman Berz.

- [Councilwoman Berz] No, Ma'am, I was just gonna ask for approval of (indistinct).

- Okay, just hit your light again.

And, Madam Clerk, could you read Items A through D?

- [Madam Clerk] Yes.

Item A: A resolution confirming the appointment of Nadia Kain to the Industrial Development Board for District Six with the term beginning on June 7, 2023 , and ending on June 6, 2029.

Item B: A resolution confirming the appointment of Gertha Lee-Sharp to the South Region Community Advisory Committee to District Seven with a term beginning on June 7, 2023, and ending on June 6, 2024.

Item C: A resolution confirming the appointment of Daisy Madison to the Sports Authority of the County of Hamilton and the City of Chattanooga with a term beginning on June 7, 2023, and ending on August 30, 2026.

Item D: A resolution confirming the appointment of Brett Smalley to the Sports Authority of the County of Hamilton and the City of Chattanooga with the term beginning on June 7, 2023, and ending on August 30, 2026.

- Okay, Councilwoman Berz?

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- Okay, it's been motioned and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Is there anyone here that has been appointed to any of those boards?

If you are, could you please stand?

I see one person.

Ms. Gertha.

All right, thank you so much for your service.

(everyone applauds) We appreciate you very much.

Thank you.

All right, under Economic Development, Madam Clerk, could you read Item E?

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into an Office Lease with Hamilton County Mental Health Court, in substantially the form attached, for the use of 368 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center at 5705 Uptain Road, identified as Tax Map Number 157M-A-012, with an effective date of July 1, 2023, for the term of four years with an annual rent of $1.

- Okay, Councilwoman Berz?

- Move approval.

- Second.

- Okay, I hear a motion and a second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion carries.

Item F, Madam Clerk.

- A resolution adopting the Tax Increment Financing Policies and Procedures, a copy of which is in the form substantially attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference.

- All right, Councilman Ledford.

- [Councilman Ledford] Thank you, Madam Chair.

And in confirmation one more time, we did this at 3:30, but this is a big step forward in really solidifying our TIF policies into something that is across the board that we can all understand.

Some of what we're doing here is adding stronger language to protect our school taxes, acknowledging community impact of development, ensuring a third-party review with a credentialed public advisory firm at the expense of the applicant are some of the items that we've addressed in creating a stronger TIF policy which is better for all of us.

And I applaud the work that's been done on this by everyone involved.

And with that, Madam Chair, I will move to approve.

- Second.

- All right, we have a motion and a proper second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed.

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, Item G. - A resolution to accept and receive equipment and materials from the Knox Company to be used to require all new construction to install key lock boxes on the exterior of buildings and locking fire department connection, FDC, caps which includes the Key Secure 6 system, mounting brackets, eKeys software, docking stations, and FDC wrenches, in the amount of $48,924.00.

- Councilman Henderson.

- Move to approve.

- Okay, I have a motion and a second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Item H, Madam Clerk.

- A resolution confirming the appointment of Michael Mallen as the Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of Chattanooga with a four-year term beginning on June 7, 2023, through June 6, 2027, pursuant to City Code Section 21-236.

- Councilwoman Berz.

- Move approval.

- Second.

- It's been motioned and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed.

Motion passes.

Mr. Mallen, thank you so much for serving.

We appreciate you very much.

(everyone applauds) Much needed.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

- Thank you, Madam Chair, (indistinct).

- Yes, yes.

We're excited you're comin'.

All right, we'll take items, without objection from the Council, we can take Items I through N as a group.

All right, Madam Clerk.

- Item I: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Nicole Heyman to the Chattanooga Housing Authority, with a term beginning on June 2, 2023, and ending on June 1, 2028.

Item J: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Deacon Hicks Armor as Chairman of the Carter Street Corporation, with a term beginning on May 17, 2023 and ending on January 5, 2027.

Item K: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Ronald Parson to the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board, with a term beginning on June 7, 2023 and ending on June 6, 2026.

Item L: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Brooklyn Lucas to the Community Advisory Committee Region One, Lookout Valley, with a term beginning on June 7, 2023 and ending on June 6, 2024.

Item M: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Amanda Wagner to the Community Advisory Committee, Region One, Lookout Valley, with the term beginning on June 7, 2023, and ending on June 6, 2024.

Item N: A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Mark Heinzer as the Administrator for the Wastewater Department.

- All right, Council.

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- All right, Councilman Henderson?

- Approval.

- Okay, we have a motion and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Is anyone here that's been appointed to any of the seats?

If you could stand, please.

Mark, I know you over there.

(everyone applauds) All right, congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

All right, Madam Clerk, Item O.

- A resolution adopting the Mountain Creek Corridor Study.

- All right, Councilman Henderson.

- [Councilman Henderson] Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I would like to thank Mr. Dan Router and the folks at RPA for all their hard work in putting in this much needed Corridor Study plan together, and I do move approval.

- Second.

- Okay, all right.

It's been a motion and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion carries.

All right, Madam Clerk, Items P through U we'll take it as a group if there's no objection from the Council.

All right, Madam Clerk.

- Item P: A resolution authorizing the appointment of Katchrina Shavers as special police officer, unarmed, for the Department of Public Works, Stormwater Division, to do special duty as prescribed herein as Water Quality Technician, subject to certain conditions.

Item Q: A resolution authorizing the appointment of Wyatt Stutts, as special police officer, unarmed, for the Department of Public Works, Stormwater Division, to do special duty as prescribed herein as Water Quality Specialist Two, subject to certain conditions.

Item R: A resolution authorizing the appointment of Jennifer Palmer, as special police officer, unarmed, for the Department of Public Works, Land Development Office, to do special duty as prescribed herein as Landscape Inspector, subject to certain conditions.

Item S: A resolution authorizing the appointment of Levi Witt, as special police officer, unarmed, for the Department of Public Works, Land Development Office, to do special duty as prescribed herein as Code Enforcement Inspector II, subject to certain conditions.

Item T: A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to apply for, and if awarded, accept a Safe Streets for All, SS4A, grant, for an amount up to $25 million.

Item U: A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to apply for, and if awarded, accept an Inflation Reduction Act, Urban and Community Forestry Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, FS, Urban and Community Forestry Program, for a five-year grant period, for an amount not to exceed $15 million.

- All right, Councilman Hester.

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- Okay, it's been a motion and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

- Motion carries.

Item V?

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorizing the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chattanooga to enter into an agreement to join the H-GAC Buy Cooperative Purchasing Program.

- Okay, Councilwoman Berz.

- Move approval.

- Second.

- Okay, it's been motioned and properly second; any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item W. - [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorizing payment to Capital Waste Services for Rhea County Landfill and to Republic Services for Bradley County Landfill for three years for Bradley County or Rhea County Landfill disposal of biosolid sludge and other special waste, for a total amount not to exceed $200,000.

- Move to approve.

- All right.

- Second.

- All right, have a motion and a second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

Next up we have our purchases.

Julia, coming down.

- [Julia] Good evening, Council.

We have four purchases this evening.

The first is from the Fleet Management Division of Public Works.

This is a new blanket contract for John Deere Agriculture Tractor OEM Parts and Service from Ag Pro Companies.

This will be a four-year agreement not to exceed $250,000 per year.

This solicitation was advertised four times with no bids received.

It was re-advertised for the fifth time and received only one bid.

The second is from the Street Maintenance division of Public Works.

This is the second and final renewal for masonry materials for local pickup from T.T.

Wilson Company.

A 6% price increase was submitted at the time of renewal for three lines due to the manufacturer's increase in costs.

The total cost estimate is $65,000.

Third is from the Wastewater Department.

This is an increase of $500,000 for bypass pumping rental equipment from Xylem Watering Solutions Inc.

The increase brings the total annual estimated spend to $650,000.

The fourth and final purchase is from the Division of Transportation from Public Works.

This is a new blanket contract for concrete sidewalk grinding services from We Fix Sidewalks.

This will be a four-year agreement not to exceed $500,000 per year.

The apparent low bidder, Precision Concrete Cutting, LLC, did not bid all line items which makes them non-compliant.

- We will (indistinct).

- All right.

I have a motion.

- Second.

- [Raquetta Dotley] And a second.

Moved and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

- All opposed?

Motion passes.

- [Julia] We have one RFP that we're requesting approval to issue.

This is from Human Resources.

That is an RFP specifically to evaluate dental insurance options.

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- All right.

Motion and properly second.

Any comments or questions?

All in favor?

- Aye.

All opposed?

Motion passes.

- We have one emergency purchase to report from the Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing out of the Department of Community Development.

This is an emergency purchase for services from SERVPRO for a total of $77,620.04 for the cleanup of a biohazardous and fire hazardous environment located under Veterans Bridge due to a vacated homeless encampment.

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