[Cheerful Music] - You're watching highlights of the Chattanooga city Council meeting, a production of WTCI, PBS.

- All right.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to our Tuesday, October the fifth, city Council meeting.

I now call this meeting to order.

Our pledge of allegiance and invocation, this afternoon, will be given by Councilman Byrd.

- All rise, please.

- [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.

We do have one special presentation this afternoon, which will be given by Councilwoman Dotley.

- Thank you, Chair, Chattanooga city Council proclamation: Whereas what began in 1968 as Hispanic heritage week under President Johnson and was expanded by President Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 day period starting on September 15th and ended on October 15th.

And whereas each year the United States observes national Hispanic heritage month by celebrating the culture, heritage, and countless contribution of those whose ancestors were indigenous to North America, as well as those who came from Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Spain.

And whereas, although too numerous to recognize individually by name, Hispanic and Latino individuals serve as civil rights leaders and community organizers, politicians, soldiers, educators, journalists, first responders, pioneers in art and science, healthcare professionals, athletes, inventors, entertainers, and so much more.

And whereas Hispanics continue their rich tradition of significant and diverse contributions to the cultural, educational, economic, and political vitality of not just Chattanooga, but our nation.

Now, therefore, I Raquetta Dotley, of the Chattanooga city Council, do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2021 as Hispanic heritage month and encourage our residents to honor the rich diversity of the Hispanic and Latino communities and celebrate the many ways they contribute to our society.

Raquetta Dotley, city Councilwoman, district seven.

And thank you, Councilwoman Coonrod for this.

- All right.

Could I have a motion on the minutes, please?

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

Questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councillor Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Eight yeses.

- The aye's have it.

Moving now to our order of business for this afternoon.

Ordinances, final reading, Madam clerk, 5 a please.

- An ordinance to suspend the second division of Chattanooga city court effective the end of the current term and before the next general election and to amend Chattanooga city Code Sections 12.18 and 12.19.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

We have a motion on the floor with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- No.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- That is seven yeses.

- Motion does carry.

Moving now into ordinances on first reading.

Madam clerk, would you read 6a please?

- An ordinance amending the Chattanooga city code Part 2, chapter 25, section 25.2, curfew for minors.

- Councilwoman Coonrod.

- Motion to approve.

- Second.

- Mr.

Chair.

- Well we have a motion to on the floor to approve with aa proper second.

Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Mr.

Chair, I would like to, I forget.

What's the word?

- Would you like to move to substitute the pending ordinance?

- To move to substitute the pending ordinance with 2019 Tennessee Code, Title 39, Chapter 17.02.

- Okay.

All right.

We have a motion on the floor to substitute the pending ordinance with the new ordinance that reflects the state version.

Do I have a second?

- Second.

- All right.

Are there any questions or comments?

Now, this is a motion to substitute, and then there'll be another motion to approve as substituted.

Everybody understand and clear what we're voting on?

We're moving, at this time, just to substitute.

Madam clerk, roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson.

- Yes.

- That's eight yeses.

- The motion to substitute does carry.

- Now, Councilwoman Coonrod.

Okay.

Now we have a motion on the floor to approve as substituted.

Do I have a second?

Now with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

This is a motion to approve as substituted.

Madam clerk.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Eight yeses.

- Motion carries.

- Moving now into resolutions.

Madam clerk, Councilman Byrd indicated earlier today that he wanted to defer items A and B if there's no objection.

Let's read those together.

- Item A: a resolution considering short term vacation rental application number 21 STV R 1 30 for a property located at 1454 Jefferson Street.

Item B: a resolution considering short-term vacation rental application number 21 STV R 1 50 for a property located at 1450 Jefferson Street.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Thank you chair.

It was brought to my attention that both of these parties, one was sick and one was out of town.

And so with that, I would like to move to defer for one week.

- Is it your intention to defer until the October the 12th meeting?

- Yes, sir.

- Well we have a motion on the floor to defer until October the 12th with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Eight yeses.

- Motion to defer until October the 12th carries.

Moving now, Madam clerk, into the finance, 7c please.

- A resolution to accept the current year financial report from the Chattanooga business improvement district, and approve the proposed budget for fiscal year 2022 activities, including authorizing the interim treasurer to collect a special assessment fee for tax year 2021.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

- Motion to approve.

- Second.

We do have a motion on the floor to approve item 7c, with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Councilman Ledford.

- Mr. Chairman.

I just want to note, we did receive a letter from the downtown Chattanooga Alliance, doing business, I guess, in the form of the bid or vice versa there.

Still, I'm reading through it, this has come forth again in the 11th hour, even later than it did last year.

And I still have some concerns.

So I just wanted to voice that.

I'm going to try and read this letter before we get to the vote, but I'm going to do my best.

- Okay.

If you need to pass, you can always, we can come back to you if you need to do that.

- Thank you, Chairman.

- Any other questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- No.

- Councilman Hester?

- No.

- Councilman Ledford?

- No.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- That's five yeses.

- That is five yeses.

Motion to approve does carry.

Moving now into parks and public works.

Madam clerk, if there are no objections, would you take 7D and E together, please?

- Yes.

- Item D: a resolution authorizing interim, deputy administrator of parks and outdoors to enter into a second amendment to aquarium Plaza, water feature maintenance agreement with the Tennessee aquarium and nonprofit agency, and substantially the form and task for the term of three years with the option to renew for additional terms of three years each, with a term expiration of October 10th, 2030, with a full compensation subject to their appropriation of funds for the annual amount of $322,500.

- Item E: a resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to accept grant funds from the Lyndhurst foundation to cover the contract that calls for an update to Chattanooga's downtown tree inventory in the amount of $35,000.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

- Motion to approve.

- I second.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve items 7D and E, with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Eight yeses.

- Motion does carry.

All right.

Now moving into purchases.

Julia?

Are you with us this afternoon?

- Good evening council.

We have five purchases this evening.

The first is from the purchasing department in the mayor's office.

This is the first of two renewals for paper goods from American paper and twine company.

The vendor supplied their renewal approval and a price increase of 12%.

No additional funds will be added.

The second is also from the purchasing department in the mayor's office.

This is the first of two renewals for paper goods from Jacobs paper company, the vendor supplied their renewal approval and a price increase of 16%.

No additional funds will be added.

The third is also from the purchasing department at the mayor's office.

This is the first of two renewals for paper goods from COS business products and interiors.

The vendors supplied their renewal approval and a price increase of 14%.

No additional funds will be added.

The fourth purchase is from the fleet management division of public works.

This purchases to repair six trash trucks to include cylinder removal, pressure washing, RNR floor plate repair, AR 500 water plates, where needed and reassembly.

The award will go to Garage Bound, LLC, for a total annual cost estimate of $42,000.

The final purchase is from community development.

This will be a new four year contract for overgrowth and litter abatement, as well as structure boarding.

Four bids were requested and two were returned.

Due to the level of demand, the award will go to both Grass Buster Lawn Maintenance and Tire Construction Co. for a total annual cost estimate of $400,000.00.

- Council what is your pleasure?

- Motion to approve.

- Second.

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

Are there any questions or comments about our purchases this afternoon?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Eight yeses.

- Motion to approve purchases does carry.

Anything else Julia?

- Yes.

We have one RFP format recommended for approval.

We're requesting approval to issue this RFP, not approval to award any contracts.

This is from economic development.

This is a request to solicit proposals for development and resource center for community businesses and especially disadvantaged businesses to be located in the Kelly building, using the RFP format to 1. allow for the proposals to include use of the Kelly building and 2. to allow for selection of the best offer based on the applicability to the need, the plan for accomplishing the end result, and the qualifications of the proposer, rather, in addition to the cost to the City.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Moved to approve RFP.

- Did I hear a second?

- Yes.

- Okay.

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

Questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- Sorry.

Did you say you were going to pass?

- Yes.

- Okay.

- Councilman Ledford?

- Yes.

- Councilwoman Hill?

- Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

Let me give, Councilman Hester you did pass.

You do have an opportunity to, to voice a vote if you wish at this time.

- I say yes.

- Okay.

- That's eight yeses.

- Okay.

Motion to approve does carry.

I assume that was all of the items that Julia had for us as she is no longer at the podium.

All right Council, we are down to our committee reports at this at this time.

Councilwoman Coonrod?

- No.

- Councilman Byrd?

- No.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- No.

- The vice chair is not here.

Councilwoman Berz?

- No.

- Councilman Hester?

- No.

We met today and will also in two weeks.

- Thank you.

Councilman Ledford?

- Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Planning and zoning did meet today where we covered all items on our agenda.

- Thank you.

- Councilwoman Hill?

You want to hit your light?

That way we can all hear you.

Thank you.

- We'll have a brief meeting of the innovation portion of the education and innovation committee on the 19th.

That's in two weeks.

- Very good.

Thank you.

That completes all items on our agenda this afternoon.

Madam clerk, did we have anyone register to speak on our zoom platform?

- No, no one has registered.

- No one has registered to speak on our zoom platform.

Is there anyone present with us this afternoon that would like to address the Council at this time?

Okay.

Very good.

I'm going to ask the attorney, if she would, to read the rules to address the Council.

And if you'd like to go ahead and proceed to the podium, you can make your way down at this time.

- Each speaker wishing to address the council shall be recognized only at the microphone provided here at the podium.

Wait for Chairman Henderson to recognize you, please, and state your name and district number.

Limit your comments please, to subjects within the legislative and quasi judicial authority of the Council, and we will limit your comments to three minutes unless you're granted extra time.

- Thank you.

- Mr.

IT, you want to give us three minutes on the clock, please?

There we go.

- Good evening, Council.

My name is Sean Nix.

I reside in 27, 25 Canon avenue in Councilman Anthony Byrd's district, district eight.

It is a pleasure to speak with you all today, but I feel like I shouldn't have to speak to you all about the pressing matter of gang violence and violent crime that has taken place in our community.

As a educator, as a advocate, for those who feel that they are voiceless, I felt that I was compelled to speak with you all today.

I attended the meeting with Commissioner Mackey and city Councilwoman Coonrod made a powerful statement that we need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and that's right, we do need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, but we also need to think about those who do not have those, the foundation to pull up from.

And so I'm speaking to you all today, I'm urging you all, to think about the social economic status that we have in our community.

The economic divide that we have in our city.

Bridging the divide in our community between the "have's" and the "have-not's" People talk about the hurt that's in our community, but they don't understand where hurt comes from.

Hurt people, hurt other people.

And I believe that we need to start implementing true change in our community.

And it starts with social and emotional learning.

It starts with teaching individuals at a young age, while we have our Y of D centers, teaching them how to deal with their emotions, and how to work on those skills, or how to deal with trauma.

As an advocate for the LGBT community, I deal with trauma each and every day.

As an educator at East Lake Academy, I deal with trauma each and every day.

One of my students lost their mother right in front of their eyes.

Right in front of their eyes they lost their mother.

At 13.

How can we deal with that?

It's time for us to put aside our egos, it's time for us to work together, it's time for us to truly bridge this divide in our community.

It's time for county and city to work in tandem, to put forward social policies that are going to increase the lifespan of our citizens.

And I yield my time.

Thank you.

- Alright, sir.

Go ahead, please.

As soon as we get three minutes on the clock, you can begin, sir.

- Okay.

- Oh, there we go.

Hello city Council.

As the guy who spoke before me, it is a pleasure to have this forum to be able to come in and speak.

My name is Timothy Dale.

I am a father.

I'm a single father of three boys and two of my, me and two of my sons, my two youngest sons, we moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee in November of last year.

And we came here because my sons love football and, and they want, they're athletes, and they think they can make it to the NFL.

And I was, I was living in Georgia previously, but I found out things didn't work out well, COVID-19 kicked me and I lost my job there, so I started calling places in the state of Tennessee that had a shelter that would take a young, man and children, because it's not very common that they have shelter for that.

So anyway, me and my boys said, we, we came to Chattanooga so my boys can get involved in the Peewee league football team.

Unfortunately, when we got here, I had lost my, my, my ID on the mega bus.

So we weren't able to get into the McKellen center.

So we stood out there on 11th street, where all the homeless people are, you know, and everything.

And we waited, tried to figure out what we're going to do next.

And the young lady told her there's a hotel room down the street.

She took a liking to my son.

So she just stopped, started giving him things.

And when then she, and then she told me that lady over there, who was Marlene Marsh over there, she, she rents rooms.

So I said, can you talk to her for me?

Cause I don't know her.

She talked to her for me.

And Marlene knew I had money in my pocket.

I gave her the money.

She took me to Alton park.

So on April 15th, and I'm going past all the eviction things that she did illegally towards me, on April 15, we went to court, eviction court.

The judge ruled in my favor, gave us an extension.

And by the time me and my boys got on the city bus to head back home, when we got there, our house was on fire.

There's it's known that she had someone set it on fire, but as a whole nother story.

So when the house got set on fire.

We became homeless and we started looking, calling agencies and stuff.

They barred me from downtown.

All, all agencies on 11th street bar me.

They won't tell me why I'm barred.

They won't give me any type of documentation.

They won't give me any type of story or anything.

So, I came to city hall to complain.

They had us come back.

The next day, when we came back, the next day, defects took my sons from me and the way they did it, they held us in the lobby for hours, four and a half hours before a judge would give her a thing to take my boys.

I'm not a bad father.

And I want my sons back and I need someone to help me get 'em.

- Chief, is this a job that maybe Jodah could look into?

Sir, after our meeting, you see the gentleman right here with his hand up?

- Yes, sir.

- Would you get with him after the meeting?

- Okay.

Thank you very much, Council.

- All right.

Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to address the Council?

- And it will be brief.

Good afternoon, Council.

My name is Brian Bush and I come this evening to inform you of my intention to run for Chattanooga city court division one in next year's election.

As many of you probably have seen in an email, you received early this afternoon, I'm running because I think the court could better operate to serve the people of Chattanooga.

And I certainly look forward to working with each of you to make division one, a stronger, more effective court to serve the people of Chattanooga.

Thank you for your time.

- Hello.

My name is Dexter Josh and I'm an employee at Public Works.

I've been there for 18 years and I'm a knuckle boom operator.

Recently, they had changed our area, knuckle boom driver, made him a, a five and he left the other four down here.

They've been driving, I've been driving like for 10 years.

And he left us back at, at fours.

And I don't think that's fair.

We drive him the same machine and, and I told him, I said, well, they want you to drive for garbage if you have to.

If you have to raise my hand to drive, but they want you to move in that department to be able to drive, which I don't think is fair.

I think if they wanted me to drive, they can just come to ask my supervisor.

And then I just go and drive.

Because when they low on help, they saying they orders over to us to feel for them, to drive for them.

So we have no problem with doing it, but why did I have to stay a four, when he turned everybody else fives?

And I'd been there for so long, it's like about five more drivers.

That's doing the same thing.

That's all.

- All right, Council.

I'm we have no one registered speak to us on our zoom platform.

Seeing no one else in the audience, what is your pleasure?

- You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga city council meeting a production of WTCI, PBS.

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