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

- Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Tuesday, October the 19th, City Council meeting.

I now call this meeting to order.

Moving now into your order of business for the City Council.

Ordinances final reading Five A please.

- [Clerk] In ordinance of Chattanooga city code Part 2, chapter 25.

Section 25, 2 : Curfew for minors.

- Council woman Coonrod.

- [Court Member] Second.

We have a motion on the floor to approve 5A with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote.

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill.

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford - [Ledford] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hallister - [Hallister] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Mcbers - Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Byrde - Yes - [Clerk] Councilman McCoonrod - Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Smith - Yes - Chairman Henderson - Yes - [Clerk] 8 yeses.

- So moved?

All right.

Madam clerk, if you'd take a deep breath with no objection from the council, would you take five B all the way through eom please.

- [Clerk] Item B: in ordinance to a main Chattanooga city code part 2, chapter 38, Zoning ordinance.

So as the reason on property located at 1312 east 36th street from M1 manufacturing zone to R2 residential zone.

Item C: An ordinance to a main Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as region of parts of the property is located in the seventy two hundred and seventy three hundred blocks of Bonny Oaks drive from our one residential zone to our four special zone with conditions and to see to convenience commercials on with conditions for parcel three.

Item D: An ordinance to main Chattanooga city code, part two, chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance.

So that's the region of property located at 6701 shallow for road from R1 residential zone to O1 office zone, all subject certain conditions.

Item E: In order to remain Chattanooga city Co part to chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the regional property located at 2618 and 2620 Car street from R3 residential zone to UGC urban general commercial zone, 70 certain conditions.

Item F: An order, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part two, chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the regional property located at 2603 William street from R3 residential zone to UGC urban general commercial zone, so to the certain conditions.

Item G: An ordinance to a man, Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38, Zoning ordinance.

So as a reasonable property located at 1621 toggle street from R2 residential zone and M2 light industrials zone to UGC urban general commercials on subsidies condition, item eight, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's a reasonable property located at 1024 east main street from M1 manufacturing zone to UGC urban general commercial zone, subject, certain conditions, item I an ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code, part 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's a reasonable property located in the 1000 block, east 16th and 1690.

Faking street from M1 manufacturers all to UGC urban general commercial zone sub, certain conditions.

Item J an ordinance to amend Chattanooga city Code part 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to resolve property located at 1495 east 40th street from R1, residential zone to UGC, urban, general commercials, all subject to certain conditions.

Item K an ordinance to a mention of the city code part 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's a regional property located at 1314 Duncan avenue from R3MD moderate disease.

To UGC urban general commercials, all subjects or conditions, item L in ordinance to amend Chattanooga city code part 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance So as the reasonable property located at five 13 Dodds avenue from R2 residential zone, to C2 convenience commercial zone item M an ordinance amending Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38, articles 6 height and other special exceptions division, one height and area exceptions, section 38502, lots of record three single family dwellings and section 38504 projections over yard.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

- move to approve we have a motion on the floor to approve Adams 5B through eom with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please .

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrad - Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Byrde - Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hester.

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford - Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - yes - [Clerk] Chairman Smith - Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson - Yes.

- [Clerk] Eight yeses - All right.

Motion to approve items.

Five B through M does carry.

We have no ordinances on first reading this afternoon that moves us to resolutions under economic development.

We have a short term vacation rental hearing.

Madam clerk.

Would you please read 7A - [Clerk] Resolution concerning short-term vacation run application number 21 STV R149 for property located at 1802 Knickerbocker avenue.

- Case number 2021-07.

Is the applicant present.

Thank you.

Is there any opposition present?

Okay.

All right, Councilwoman Hill.

This is your district.

We do have an applicant with opposition.

Would you like a presentation?

- [Councilwoman Hill] Yes, i Would.

- Okay Kaleb - [Kalen] Kayla Fisher land development office 1802 Knickerbocker av SDVR 21149.

Here's a map of the surrounding partially loaded.

A map is surrounding short-term rentals.

The purple being non-owner occupied issued, and the yellow being an application and process the blue being the app application under consideration Now this is downward view of the property front view of the property up Knickerbocker down Knickerbocker.

And here's the image of the driveway that they have.

Here's a timeline of their application from turning it in notice letters, being mailed a notice, signed, being posted city council hearing today.

And as a note, the property has not yet been inspected.

- All right.

Any questions for Caleb while he is there - [Hill] No questions for Caleb right now .

- Okay All right.

The applicant will have a total of five minutes and then we will turn our time over to the opposition and they will have a total of five minutes.

So sir, would you like to come at this time and present to the council?

If you'd give us your name, please?

- My name is Brad warden.

- All right.

- Thank you for your time - Hold on one second, Mr. Artie, give us a five minute clock, please.

There we go.

- Okay.

I understand the concerns the neighbors have.

That is a great neighborhood with a great culture.

That's what attracted us to the neighborhood.

We actually own the lot next to it.

1800.

We're building a house for ourself.

So the 1802 is, we bought it because we're buying 1800.

It'd be a great place to have the Airbnb next to SB.

So he's managed for us.

So there's no way that we're going to invite problems into this great neighborhood.

And we're a part of it.

And sitting right beside it, we'll be able to manage, supervice our product, that project, no issues.

not going to be a Airbnb where we live in Hickson or somewhere else.

We'll be right next door to it.

There's a concern about a gate behind it.

There's plenty of parking enough for four cars.

That gate locks so apparent.

There was an issue at some point in the past where people were driving through the other person's driveway, there's a gate there.

So the gates locked.

I don't know how somebody would use it.

And we'll put that in our terms and conditions that they cannot break the chain and go through the gate.

So the concerns that I saw were really about just the culture of the neighborhood that we're going to be a part of.

And we don't want to disturb that at all.

And again, with us living right there, there's no way we'll let that happen.

Thank you.

- [Henderson] Any questions for the applicant from the council at this time?

You do understand you have a total of five minutes.

Are you a forfeit in the rest of your time?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

All right.

Give us five minutes back on the clock.

Is there any of the opposition that would like to speak here this afternoon?

If you would make your way.

- To the podium, please give minutes to speak.

- Yes, sir.

- Well, it's nice to know that the wardens are planning to build a home.

I knew they were building a home there because that property that they're building on is right behind my house.

The problem that we're having is that not only, you know, the, when people build these, when people have these non-owner places that they're waiting for short terms, there's a lot of potential problems.

I did my research.

I'm a good librarian.

And a lot of times it does help tax wise in the city, but it prices people out of the neighborhood.

And that would be such a shame because this is north Chattanooga.

I've lived there all my life.

This is north Chattanooga where doctors and lawyers, kids go to normal park.

And then this is probably don't remember.

But several years ago it fell in disfavor.

They thought about closing all park and now there's a resurgence.

And it would be sad if, because we have these in our neighborhood.

If that happened again.

And I say these, because there's not just one.

If you're looking at my house, the house to the right has applied for one of these 81802 Knickerbocker is right behind my house.

And I'm not talking about across the street.

I'm not talking about it.

It's not even a house distance from me because that house was built for the house for the mother of the people we bought our home from.

So it's really, really close.

And then at the end of the property where they're building their house, which is right behind my house, catty-corner to, that is another house that has applied for this short-term lease thing.

So we've got three houses in a block area.

And if that happens, my house, my house price is going the toilet I've looked it up and realtors say that they have, they have a real hard time selling these houses because people don't want to live where these are.

It takes longer to sell the house and want it takes longer to sell the house.

Your house price goes down.

I'm not, I had planned to live there, death or diapers.

I feel like I should open a motel six in my house.

And that way, then we'd just fit right in the neighborhood.

So I do ask you all to consider this north Chattanooga is a very special place.

People come from other places to live in, in north Chattanooga.

I know that for a fact, people tell me that all the time at the library.

Thank you so much.

- Hi, I'm Ashley English.

I am at 1708 Knickerbocker.

So my house is one over from the lot that the wardens are building their home on.

I'll be really brief.

We moved here in May, 2020 from Johnson city.

We chose north Chattanooga because, and specifically the Knickerbocker avenue area, because it was kind of tucked away.

We love north Chattanooga.

It's where I met my husband.

We wanted to raise our kids there.

My husband is a physician at Erlinger ER, so he is gone often at night, random hours of the evening, overnights I'm home alone with my two girls right now i feel safe currently where we are.

I'm not sure how safe I would feel if there were people I didn't know, to, you know, one house over and then also across, directly across the street, which that comes up in the next meeting.

So I know Nashville has a problem with Airbnbs.

I, I do not want to take money from anyone's pocket, of course, but I just wanted to move to a neighborhood where families could flourish, where kids could feel safe.

And we wanted to get to know our neighbors.

And of course, due to COVID, we haven't gotten to know many of them yet.

And I just, if two of my surrounding neighbors are Airbnbs and I just feel like we've taken two wonderful homes away from families that could use them.

And like our other neighbors spoke there.

This is a map with all of the Airbnb's close to us.

Dartmouth street has a ton of them.

Our street has narrow streets.

So parking, you know, it depends on the, how many, guests are there.

I know kids wait on the bus in the morning to go to normal park.

I just don't know how comfortable I would be with my own kids waiting out there.

If I didn't know who was across the street or across the way, that's really it.

I just want neighbors who love this community.

And I want to stay here and want to flourish.

Thank you.

- Okay.

Hold on one second.

Go ahead and put three minutes back up.

There were each person, he just, we just have a total of five minutes for opposition.

I think there was about three minutes left or something like that.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Mr Henderson.

My name is Tom Stampson and I live at 1714 exabyte I'm slightly outside of the 300 feet.

So I did not get a letter, but I did formally oppose this short term vacation rental, a couple of points I would like to make.

I mean, exabyte is intersects Knickerbocker, right?

Where the short term vacation rental is taking place and the property next door 1800 that was currently being cleared.

And I guess a future home was going to be built on that by the wardens.

It's right at the intersection of exabyte.

I live just up the hill on exabyte very short little street.

So anyway, losing the sense of community is probably one of the big things for me.

And there would probably be three other people here tonight and opposition.

One of them has COVID.

The other two had small children.

They've got to attend to, so our numbers might be light, but we do do oppose this 1800 Knickerbocker.

The lot that's being cleared next door, 1802, the short term vacation rental in question then 1707 Knickerbocker, which is right across the street from Englishes house.

That house was also purchased recently by Brad and Tuba warden.

They fixed it up and sold it.

Now that house, not by them, but by the buyers is, have, has applied for a short term vacation rental.

So, you know, it's turned this little area.

Our little community is, turned it into a, like a hotel district and that's, I don't know why, but all of a sudden it is, but anyway, so that's why I'm here.

I would like to stop this.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Councilwoman here.

You want to hit your lot again, please?

- Thank you.

Chair, Mr and Mrs Warden, I had the pleasure to speak with you all when you were looking at getting a variance on your lot.

And I know that you are, are genuine in your appreciation for Knickerbocker and very genuine in your love for north Chattanooga.

I have gotten a great deal of feedback from the neighbors who live there full time.

I'm glad to hear that you all are going to move forward with building your home and becoming part of the neighborhood.

It does feel to me like some trust has been lost and perhaps by living there, you'll have an opportunity to regain that trust and build a neighborly relationship with the folks that, that you so appreciate.

You've spoken to me a great deal about how much you, you love Knickerbocker, but I know that our homeowners there love it as well.

So I'm going to have to move to deny this request for a short term vacation rental, please.

No, it is not because I am anti short-term vacation rental, but we have to make sure that our neighbors are on onboard with businesses like this, moving into their streets, especially when it comes to non-owner occupied units.

I believe that you'll have the opportunity to reapply for this in a year.

So perhaps in that amount of time, you could work with your neighbors.

So I'm sorry that I'm going to have to deny this, but that is what I am going to motion to this council to deny this application.

- That isn't a form of emotion.

Is that correct?

- Correct.

- Do I have a second?

Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to deny case number 2021-07 with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford Councilman Hester - [Hester] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] yes - [Clerk] Councilman Burt - [Burt] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod - [Coonrod] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Smith - [Smith] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- Yes - [Clerk] 8 yeses - Motion to deny those carry Moving now to 7B please.

- [Clerk] A resolution authorizing the hands from CD treasurer to a man by extending purchase order number 526211 to Harris computer systems for an eight month renewal period, November 1st, 2021 through June 30th, 2022.

For the purpose of billing and collection of property taxes for an amount not to exceed $75,775.

- Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] Move to approve.

- We have emotional floor to approve 7B with the proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrad councilman Byrde - [Byrde] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hallister - [Hallister] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford - [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] vice Chairman Smith - [Smith] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Henderson - Yes - [Clerk] 8 yeses - So moved, moving now to the mayor's office.

Seven C please.

- Your resolution confirmed in the mayor's apartment of Jameela archaea as city treasurer.

- Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] We have approval - We have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - [Hill] Yes, - [Clerk] Councilman Ledford - [Ledford] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hester - [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Burt - [Burt] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrad - [Coonrod] Yes - [Clerk] vice Chairman Smith - [Smith] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Henderson - [Clerk] Yes - [Clerk] 8 yeses - Motion to approve.

Mr.Kia does pass.

Congratulations.

(audience clapping) All right.

Moving now to parks and public works under public works item E we found out during our committee meeting, I had a typo area area error conceit.

Is that how you say that canasita has been updated in the online version?

So that has been corrected.

So Madam clerk with that being said, would you please read 7 D through H please?

- [Clerk] Yes item D a resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to enter into an agreement for grant administration services with Southeast Tennessee development district for technical and professional administrative services for 3 city projects, finance through the clean water state revolving loan fund for a total project cost not to exceed $22,500 item E a resolution authorized the administrator for the department of public works to purchase a permanent sanitary sewer easement from Athens distributing company located at 2735 kind of Cedar drive Hixson, Tennessee parcel number 110BB001 track number 4 Athens district relative to the wet weather storage facility, face 6 weeks.

And number one, pump station contract number w19007 for an amount not to exceed $28,350 item F resolution authorized and renewal, a blanket contract number D19002201 demolition services for the department of community development resolution number 30056 with power construction company chatting in Chattanooga, Tennessee for year three of a three-year blanket for an amount not to exceed $500,000 item G at resolution authorized and renewal contract number W16011101 The on-call blanket contracts for landscape architect, design services resolution number 30534 with number one AC engineering consulting each two bar design solutions, three Alfred Benish and company four CDM Smith Inc five CORI engineering, six HDLA seven Reagan Smith associates Inc eight Ross Fowler, PC nine Stantec consulting services Inc and 10 WMW eight landscape architects for year two of a five-year term with these 10 firms at $1,250,000 total annually for use by all departments, item H a resolution to amend resolution number 30716 to increase the annual, not to exceed amount by an additional $800,000 where reviced not to exceed amount of $1.5 million for the remainder of year three of a four year term for the on-call blanket contracts for structural engineering services, contract number E18008101 resolution number 29704 for the following seven con consultant firms.

- What's the pleasure of the council.

- Second, - we have a motion on the floor to approve item 7D through H with a proper second.

There Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrad - [Coonrod] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Burt - [Burt] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hallister - [Hallister] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Ledford - [Ledford] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - [Hill] Yes - [Clerk] vice chairman Smith - [Smith] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- [Clerk] 8 yeses - Motion to approve item 7D through H does carry moving now to purchases.

Counsel If you'll pull out this evening's purchases, Julia will come and present them.

- Good evening council.

We have six purchases this evening.

The first is from the parks maintenance division of parks and outdoors.

This is to pay invoices to Jana king Chattanooga region from expired contract numbers 550642551384555484 and 555485 for custodial services for the Riverwalk extension Miller park, citywide parks in Tennessee river park facilities.

The total annual cost estimate is $25,051.

The second is from citywide services and public works.

This is a new blanket contract for front end loaders and refuse pickup services.

This will be a four year contract not to exceed $210,000 per year.

Four bids were requested and three were returned.

The award will go to capital waste services.

LLC is the best bid meeting specifications.

The third purchase is for the fleet management division of public works.

This is for an increase, which is needed to cover services as well as various mower OEM parts from CMI equipment sales Incorporatted Through contract expiration.

This is an increase of $75,000 for a total annual estimated spend of $300,000.

The fourth is from information technology.

This is a sole source three-year agreement for arc GIS products software from environmental systems research Institute incorporated.

The total annual estimated cost is $150,000 in year one and $165,000 in years, 2 and 3 the fifth purchases from the waste resources division of public works.

This is a six month contract extension for program programmable logic controller services from admin electric co incorporated.

This extension includes a 16.6% price increase on two line items for a total annual estimated costs of $450,000.

The sixth and final purchase is from the Chattanooga division of transportation and public works.

This is a new blanket contract for guardrail installation and repair.

This will be a four year contract not to exceed $75,000 per year.

Two bids were requested and one was returned.

The award will go to Tennessee guardrail incorporated as the best bid meeting specifications.

- All right council you've heard this evening purchases.

What is the pleasure of the council?

We have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second questions or comments before we vote Roca.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Conrad - [Clerk] Councilman Burt - [Burt] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz - [Berz] Yes - [Clerk] Councilman Hallister - [Clerk] Councilman Ledfard - [Ledford] Yes - [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill - [Hill] Yes - [Clerk] vice Chairman Smith - [Smith] Yes - [Clerk] Chairman Henderson - Yes - [Clerk] That's 7 yeses - So moved (upbeat music) - You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga city council meeting a production of WTCI PBS (upbeat music)