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

(upbeat music) (gavel bangs) - Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to our Tuesday, March 1st, council agenda.

Now I call this meeting to order.

Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation this afternoon will be given by Councilwoman Coonrod.

- [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.

- Thank you, ma'am.

We have no special presentations this afternoon, Could I have motion on the minutes?

- [Man] No move.

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

Any questions or comments before we vote?

All in favor, aye.

- [Man] Aye.

- Any opposes, no.

So moved.

We have no ordinances on final reading this afternoon.

No ordinances on first reading.

That takes us down to resolutions.

Madam clerk, if there are no objections from the council, would you please read 7A, and B together as a package, please.

- Item A, a resolution authorized the mayor or his designee to apply for, and if awarded, accept a Community Development block grant, Childcare grant, from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Develop for the purpose of providing physical improvements to childcare facilities, in the city of Chattanooga, for an amount not to exceed, $283,500, and subsequently to enter into an agreement with the Southeast Tennessee Development District for a multi-year period, beginning on March 1, 2021 and ending December 31, 2023 for the administration of the Community Development block grant, Childcare grant, from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, for an amount not to exceed, $21,345.

Item B a resolution authorized in the city of Chattanooga to provide a sub grant of, $207,595 from the American Rescue Plan State and Local fiscal relief funds to the Chattanooga area Food Bank, for the purposes of: funding emergency food assistance, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

We have a motion on the floor to approve item 7-A and B, with a proper second, are there any questions, or comments before we vote?

All in favor "I," - "I."

- Any opposes?

No?

So moved.

That takes us now to purchases, Chief, make it quick.

(laughs) (microphone clatter) - Yes, sir.

As fast as I can.

We have five purchases tonight.

The first is from the Facilities Division of Public Works, new blanket contract for Supplemental Custodial Services.

Four bids were received, and the award will go to: "Detail Experts," as the best bid meeting specifications.

This will be a one year contract, with an amount not to exceed $270,000.

Second, Waste Resources Division of Public Works new blanket contract for: Cleanup Sewer Backup Services.

Two bids were received, and the award goes to: "Disaster Master," as the best bid meeting specifications.

This will be a four-year contract, with an annual amount not to exceed $325,000.

Third, from Fleet Management Division of Public Works.

Four blanket contracts for: Heavy Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services.

These will be four year contracts, with a combined annual amount not to exceed $610,000.

Four bids were received, and the awards will go to all four bidders as follows: "Stowers Machinery Corporation," with annual amount not to exceed $250,000.

"Power Equipment Company," with an annual amount not to exceed $180,000.

"Kubota of Chattanooga," with an annual amount not to exceed $90,000.

"Chattanooga Tractor and Equipment Company," with an amount not to exceed $90,000.

Fourth, Fleet Management Division of Public Works, new blanket contract for "Tri Axle Dump Trucks."

Two bids were received, and the award goes to, "Lee Smith, Inc," as the best bid meeting specifications.

This will be a four-year contract with an annual amount not to exceed $1,200,000.

Fifth, City Wide Services, Public works.

First of two renewals with, "Piping Supply Company" for corrugated pipe metal pipe.

The vendor submitted a price increase of 38% at the time of renewal.

Renewal is recommended for approval, with an annual amount not to exceed $55,000 and finally, City Wide Services, Public works.

First of two renewals with "Straight Path Distributing, LLC" for corrugated pipe, metal pipe.

The vendor submitted a price increase of 23%, at the time of renewal.

Renewal is recommended for approval, with an annual amount not to exceed $20,000.

- All right, council, you've heard the request for tonight's purchases.

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

Questions or comments before we vote?

All in favor, "I" - "I" - Any opposes?

No?

Motion to approve does carry.

- Thank You, chief.

- Thank you.

- That takes us now to committee reports.

Councilwoman Coonrod.

Mr. Vice chair.

- No report, Mr.

Chair - Councilwoman Berz - Yes, Mr.

Chair, thank you.

- Today.

We had a report on the redistricting, that we are planning for the city.

Uh, we had some interesting discussion about all of it and it is set on the agenda for, for a vote, for I believe it's, April 5th is that meeting.

In no way does this effect anything going with District 8 now and the selection of a new person.

- Thank you, ma'am.

(clear throat) - Councilman Hester.

- No report.

- Councilman Ledford.

- Chairman, Planning and Zoning did meet today, we covered all items on our agenda.

- All right.

Thank you, sir.

And as a way of report during our strategic planning this afternoon, uh, we did decide as a council that the applicant interviews for District 8, would start at three o'clock on March the 8th.

Each candidate or each applicant, will be given three minutes, uh, to address the council and then, council members obviously will have the ability to ask questions to follow, uh, the nominations, and vote to fill the District 8 seat will take place at our six o'clock meeting, under other business.

Then we move to other business, and I think we do have a announcement by the city attorney, on a settlement.

- Mr. Attorney.

- Yes, sir.

The City Attorney's Office, would like to announce a Settlement in the matter of employee Eric Callaway, who has had three on the job injury claims.

There's been a negotiated settlement in the amount of $150,000, in that case.

We just wanted to present that to you, unless there's any objection.

- All right.

I am not hearing any objection at this time from the council.

That takes care of all of our agenda items this afternoon.

And it brings us to the time that we recognize persons wishing to address the council this afternoon.

Do we have anyone in the audience that would like to address the council this afternoon?

Okay.

All right, I'm gonna ask the attorney if he would to read the rules to address the council.

And if you would like you can go ahead and make your way to the podium.

(laughs) - Thank you.

At this time, anyone that wishes to speak to the council at this point in time has specific rules that the council has for this particular meeting on here.

This is the public comment section.

Each person wishing to address the council can be recognized only from the microphone.

Can't have more than three minutes to speak at a time.

And you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative, and quasi-judicial authority and not upon matters that are other or another agency.

Don't use any vulgar or obscene language, or use the floor to personally attack, or personally denigrate others, and address your comments to council as a whole.

Having you made those comments, Please go forward, Ma'am.

- Right, and give us your name and district number, if you would please.

Uh, hold on one second.

Mr. Itiki, can we get three minutes on the clock.

Thank you.

- My name is, Susan Gilmore and I'm from District 7, and I'm here tonight because I wanted to express my concern about my neighborhood, because the very value and unique character of our established urban and north shore communities, is currently being threatened by the proliferation of short term vacation rentals.

I say this as a south side resident, voter, and residential realtor.

My very own neighborhood is being transformed, right before my eyes.

From a community, to a hotel district.

And the past few months, five STVRs, were added.

Another neighbors long term tenants, were operating a non-licensed, non-owner occupied STVR, and then another neighbor, most recently, applied for yet another non-owner occupied STVR.

Finally, the neighbors had had it.

We coalesced 17 letters of opposition were written and the neighbor withdrew his application.

But, it was a hollow victory for the neighborhood.

The STVR governing ordinances are vaguely written.

So now, that very same applicant, has applied as an owner occupied, for an owner occupied permit maintaining that, he is renting his primary residence.

And so none of the requirements of being a non-owner occupied STVR apply to him.

Even though he only intends to rent his home, when he is out of the country, thousands of miles away, working on the other side of the Atlantic.

Chattanooga residents, living in this STVR overlay are desperate for you to take immediate action.

To review, clarify, and revise the ordinances regulating these income producing properties.

And if you cannot do that, then, I beg you to consider an immediate moratorium on the issuance of further permits until these ordinances can be reviewed and clarified.

I know tourist Dollars are important, but your residents need to come first.

Thank you.

- Good evening, commissioners.

My name is Betty Maddox Battle.

I reside at 2320 Green Forest Drive in the 5th District.

And I stand before you today.

I'm very disappointed, very disappointed.

I am the mother of a son that was murdered in 1993.

I've been before you all several times.

What we are doing today, in this day and time, to curb the violence in our communities where we live is totally unacceptable.

What is going on in our community today?

I am the founder and organizer of a 501C-3, Homicide Support Group.

On September the 25th, there was seven black females that were shot.

Two of them was murdered.

We haven't had anything brought to the community in reference to what is going on with the investigation.

I stand here as a grieving mother, pleading with you all, begging with you all, for some type of support.

I have over 30 years of law enforcement.

I know what it is to testify in court on a murder trial.

I also know what it is to process a crime scene, to see a dead body there and photograph that dead body.

I'm deeply hurt.

And I'm deeply disappointed.

We run for office.

You all sit in these positions and bishop, the late Bishop Desmond Tutu said it best, "If you help us, we will remember."

"But, if you do not help us, we will remember."

This is the time, it's time out for foolishness.

We're losing our kids.

It's chaos all over the world.

People are dying.

Babies are dying for no reason at all, and you all have to forgive my passion right now, but somebody gotta speak.

There has been no arrest.

No kind of communication on what is going on.

Because my understanding, when I moved back to my hometown, I was born and raised here.

I didn't just come here.

So, that being said, we've got to find out.

We gotta collectively come together.

Where is the homicide support group here in the city of Chattanooga?

These children are traumatized.

Seeing their loved ones shot down.

A mother's grieving all over the place.

We need to collectively come together, bring these young people to the table.

And I leave you with this, in the book of Zachariah 7:9.

This is what the Lord Almighty says, "Administer true justice, and show compassion to one another."

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

- My name is Anne Watley.

I'm in district nine.

I have called before.

We're here today asking that someone will please assist us.

We are from the Battery Heights community.

You all, I would assume you approved a contract for them to come in and take.

They took over a property and they're under renovation now.

But the problem is that with the residents up there, we have 147 units that's being occupied with the residents up there.

They're treating us as if though we are not human.

They're coming in saying that they're gonna do different works to the apartments but nothing is being done.

You have wires, which is dangerous hanging out.

And I have sense enough to know what protocol is.

We've talked with management, we've talked with the one above management.

We've had meetings.

We've had Zoom meetings, but all we ever hear from management is, that we're gonna get to it, some of the parts didn't come in, or they're gonna come back.

They're gonna do this and it is not safe.

And then when you try to talk to the contractors they're saying, well, they told us to skip this apartment.

Don't do this.

Don't do that.

I have experienced renovation before.

With the housing authority and other properties.

I know that it is not right for people to have to live the way we are living.

And I'm asking you all, please, please consider it and try to get us some kind of questions or get us some answers.

So that we'll know exactly what else is it that we can do as a community.

And we in District 9, and I've talked to Councilman Coonrod about it before.

- Its yours, Chief.

- You think you could get, Uh, Ms. Watly, Could you get with, right behind you there?

- I'll talk to you.

- Okay, good.

- After the meeting, just get with Jermaine and see if we can get you some answers.

- Good evening, my name is Denise Norman, and I'm also from District nine.

I live out there where Ms. Anne Live, and just like she said, this renovation thing.

I live in a handicapped apartment and they saying that they gotta move us out for six weeks.

The way they renovating, they putting people in hotels for 14 days, when they come back stuff still, ain't done.

And by me being handicapped, I have to ask for help cuz I just can't ask for help right then.

I have to make arrangements.

So we got all this stuff packed up because they said they gonna come and do the apartments.

I'm grateful for the renovations.

I'm grateful for 'em and I'm not complaining.

I'm just stating my concerns.

And we do ask about 'em, but they don't never give us a straight answer.

They put notes on our door.

Last week we supposed to get new doors.

I'm the only one in my building ain't got a new door yet.

They say the handicaps a special place.

And it's gonna take them a while to do them.

I understand that.

But in the meantime, I got to find somewhere to go stay until they get finished.

Otherwise, they going to finish it while you there.

Then they coming in the houses, excuse me, with no masks on in this pandemic.

And I got underlying issues, and I asked them, I can't speak that other language.

And you tell them to put the mask on.

So I just do this.

And we got the right to not let them in our house without being threatened with this here Corona.

I've been staying safe so far.

I'm vaccinated and I've been staying safe so far.

And I want it to stay that way.

Some of 'em nice enough to get a mask and come in there.

But last time they was in there, I had to sit in my house with a mask because they did not have one on.

And if we say they not able to come in there then that mean they gonna do something going somewhere else.

All I want to do, is to live comfortable while they doing this, while they doing it They putting people in hotels for 14 days.

When they come back, they house still ain't finished.

My girlfriend had to go take a bath over somebody else's house, because they ain't finished with her apartment but they'll allow her to come back and say they were finished Every day, they waiting on this.

They waiting on that, and they just completely forgot about me and I just want, answers.

All I wanna know, is that doing this renovation just make it comfortable for us.

Especially me, because I am handicapped, and I'm gonna speak real fast at the end of this.

I'm gonna speak real fast.

I just wanna let, let y'all know that, all I want is some answers and some help and to just move in a comfortable way and, and, and, and live and live.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- Hey, what, Jermaine.

Is this one of the apartment?

Let me address Jermaine just a minute.

Is this one of the apartments?

Is this the apartment that we gave a pilot to?

- Ma'am called?

- Yes, I believe so.

But we were trying to double check that to verify it though.

Yeah.

- I thought we did.

And I thought in the agreement that laid out how this renovation would take place.

- So we could follow up with that.

- Okay.

- And follow up with the property managers.

- Okay, please.

Thank you.

- Yes, sir.

- I also, my name is Melanie Melcovancone.

I also live in District 9, in Battery Heights.

The renovation is a "Nightmare on Elm Street."

It's living, we are.

I just came back from the hotel.

My apartment was not finished.

I'm disabled, both hips replaced.

They are doing, they're not doing anything for the handicapped.

They just, whatever.

Get it done.

We don't care how you get it done.

Whether you're hurting.

I also have arthritis.

So the issues at hand are now overwhelming.

And it's a big problem.

Alco management now has taken over Battery Heights and the renovation.

I don't know who thought the renovation up, but it's nice for the renovation.

'Cuz now the handicap, we get a washer and dryer hookup.

That's all I care about.

I care less about the rest of it But, we have no closet space now We're scrapping to try to figure out everything, where we're gonna throw stuff out, and the thing it is just horrible.

And I'm hoping that somebody, that granted them the money, or whatever they got will make them acknowledge that they're gonna have to do a better job with the renovation.

Thank you.

- Councilwoman.

(Clears throat) - Councilwoman Berz.

- Yeah.

my question is who are they?

Who is the "they" that, I mean... Well, I was asking the administration.

I'm hearing everything you said.

I just wanna know who "they" are.

- The company is Alco management.

And so that's who we would have to follow up with.

To figure out how best to rectify the situation and to address the constituent's concerns.

- All right.

And so when we helped them out, - Yes, ma'am - Did they have certain things they were supposed to do?

Or do we have certain criteria like, requiring masks, like the various protocols that they were to follow since we helped them out?

- Well, if I'm not mistaken, the pilot was approved before the pandemic.

So I don't... - Before what?

- Before the pandemic started.

So before, prior to 2020, so I don't know that any of that was thought of back then, when that was approved.

- Did we not have, do we not require ...

So we hired somebody... Talk to me about this, they're rehabbing?

- Right, so we don't, the city doesn't hire them.

The owners of the property hire them.

- Uh-huh.

- Okay.

And so, what we'll need to do, is talk to the owners of the property, which in this case is, Alco management.

To see what, what the issues are, with the contractors that they've hired.

But, they don't work for the city.

They work for the property manager.

- Right.

And how big was, I believe we gave them a pilot.

- Yes.

We're double checking that to figure out what the length of the term was.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

- Because masks should have been required.

People should be treated with dignity.

I mean, I know you know all this.

- Yes, ma'am.

- This isn't fusing with you, but... - Right.

- Just because of the rent people pay doesn't mean they shouldn't be treated equitably.

All the things I heard, don't pass the test for me.

Especially, if we gave them a pilot.

- Yes ma'am - Okay.

- Yes, ma'am.

- I know you're and that's not a criticism of you.

- Right.

- I just think this isn't okay.

- Right.

Absolutely.

We'll get to the bottom of it.

- Okay.

Thank you very much.

- Yes.

Ma'am - Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Thank you, chair.

Thank you, Ms. Anne, and everybody for coming up here.

I appreciate you doing that, and rallying up the troops.

This conversation been ongoing.

I have reached out to the property owners.

They're located out in Memphis, we've had several conversations and I just recently reminded them about the pilot, and the agreement that they agreed to.

And this is the pilot, that we approved prior to the pandemic.

And in that, in it, it also states like they're gonna 'Cause the rent increased significantly.

Like doubled, and their terms was agreed.

So a place that was once $500, Now they're paying market rate and the agreement was that they would keep maybe, and we would get about 9-12 Section 8 units.

But I have talked to you about it so, I'm glad my constituents came up so you know, it's just not me saying it, it is a legit concern and hopefully, you all can nudge them to do something different.

And so through my phone calls with them, I was able to get them to agree, to have them placed in a hotel for 14 days.

They did agree to that, but it's other things that, that's more serious that's happening, that they're not adhering to.

So, I would appreciate your nudge on that.

- Yes ma'am.

- Thanks.

- Thank you.

All right, is there anyone else that would like to address the council this afternoon?

Council, I am not seeing anyone else that would like to address the council.

What's your pleasure?

- Meeting adjourned.

- So moved.

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