(upbeat music) - [Announcer] You're watching highlights of a Chattanooga city council meeting.

A production of WTCI, PBS.

(upbeat music) (gavel bangs) - Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to our Tuesday, September 20th city council business agenda session.

I will now call the meeting to order.

We do have three special presentations this evening, and I would first like to welcome City Judge, Sherry Paty.

Thank you for being here.

And the first item of business for this evening is the oath of office for District 8.

- Raise your right hand.

Can you repeat after me.

I state your name.

- [Marvene] I Marvene Noel.

- Do solemnly swear.

- [Marvene] Do solemnly swear.

- That I will support the constitution.

- [Marvene] That I will support the constitution.

- Of the United States of America.

- [Marvene] Of the United States of America.

- And the Constitution.

- [Marvene] And the Constitution.

- Of the state of Tennessee.

- [Marvene] Of the state of Tennessee.

- And I will faithfully.

- [Marvene] I will faithfully.

- Uprightly.

- [Marvene] Uprightly - And honestly.

- [Marvene] And honestly.

- Demean myself.

- [Marvene] Demean myself.

- As a council person.

- [Marvene] As a council person.

- Of the city of Chattanooga.

- [Marvene] Of the city of Chattanooga.

- Tennessee.

- [Marvene] Tennessee.

- During my continuance in office.

- [Marvene] During my continuous in office.

- That I possess.

- [Marvene] That I possess.

- All the qualifications.

- [Marvene] All the qualifications.

- And that I am free from.

- [Marvene] And I am free from.

- All of the disqualifications.

- [Marvene] All the disqualification.

- Prescribed by the charter.

- [Marvene] Prescribed by the charter.

- Of the city.

- [Marvene] Of the city.

- For the office of council persons.

- [Marvene] For the office of council persons.

- And that I will.

- [Marvene] And that I will.

- Without fear.

- [Marvene] Without fear.

- Partiality.

- [Marvene] Partiality.

- Or favor.

- [Marvene] Or favor.

- Faithfully discharged.

- [Marvene] Faithfully discharged.

- And perform all the duties.

- [Marvene] And perform all the duties.

- That may be prescribed by law.

- [Marvene] That may be prescribed by law.

- Upon me as a council person.

- [Marvene] Upon me as a council person.

- Of the city.

- [Marvene] Of the city.

- Or as may be required.

- [Marvene] Or as may be required.

- By any ordinance.

- [Marvene] By any ordinance.

- Or resolution of the city council.

- [Marvene] Or resolution of the city council.

- Of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

- [Marvene] Of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

- So help me God.

- [Marvene] So help me God.

(crowd cheers) - I would just like to say special thanks to all of District 8 residents, who voted on election day and helped me to get elected.

I will continue to work very hard.

Will continue to use my experience, knowledge and common sense to be effectively representative for all of you.

I look forward to working with all my council family, Mayor Kelly, other city officials, and developers to make District 8, one of the best places to work, live and play.

I consider this and honor and privilege.

Thank you.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you councilwoman.

(crowd cheers) - As chair of Education and Innovation Committee, it is with honor that I am here tonight, presenting this proclamation to a group of employees doing incredibly important work in our community for students and their families.

And the proclamation reads as, whereas Community School Coordinators are the key to successful community schools, creating, strengthening, and maintaining the bridge between the school and community.

Whereas Community School Coordinators facilitate and provide leadership for the collaborative process and development of a continuum of services for children, families, and community members within a school neighborhood.

Whereas Community Forward, has seven Community School Coordinators who work diligently to create and manage the partnership that allow all our students to learn and communication to skills, to thrive.

Sorry.

Whereas Community Forward is joining a National Coordinators Appreciation Week and the Institute for Educational Leadership Collaborative for community schools to celebrate and lift up coordinators across the country.

Now, therefore I councilwoman Marvene Noel, on behalf of Mayor Tim Kelly and the City of Chattanooga, do hereby proclaim the week of September the 19th through 23rd, 2022 as Coordinators Appreciation Week.

Thank you to each of our coordinators for your continued dedication to helping our children thrive.

I will now turn it over to Brooke Satterfield to highlight the work of Community Forward Schools and introduce the coordinators who are in attendance this evening.

Thank you.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you, councilwoman.

(crowd claps) - Thank you, councilwoman Noel, and thank you to all of our Community Forward Schools Coordinators who are here tonight.

Our Administrator and Deputy Administrator of Early Learning Karitsa Jones and Christy Vandergriff are actually, they cannot be here in person tonight, 'cause they're actually in DC, trying to bring home some, some money from, for early learning.

But they're obviously extremely proud of this group.

Most of you probably remembered, right after Mayor Kelly came into office, this was one of his very first initiatives, and a historic investment into Hamilton County Schools.

We have seven city employees who are Community Forward Schools Coordinators who work directly in the schools, and work to remove barriers to learning, by identifying needs, cultivating relationships and aligning supports and resources to ensure students and their families are able to flourish.

And so we're very grateful for the partnership that we have with Hamilton County Schools because our work together allows our students to be prepared and to progress and ultimately gives our city and our workforce the opportunity to grow and thrive.

These coordinators earlier this year, they wrapped up their first year in the schools, and they obviously learned a lot that first year.

And so they have just started year two.

And so we're excited and proud to see their work in the community growing.

And I will just quickly introduce you to the coordinators that are here and say the schools that they work at.

So coordinators please stand, when I say your name and stay standing.

We have Marcella Barnes, who serves at Hardy Elementary School.

And we have Leah Blackburn who serves at Tyner Academy, who I believe is maybe on virtually.

We have Julisa Bromfield at Orchard Knob Middle School.

We have Bailey Gibson at Orchard Knob Elementary School.

Brittany McAdoo Dalewood Middle School.

Kia Ruffin Woodmore Elementary School.

Bria Sibley Brainerd High School.

And we also have Caitlin Stewart here, who is, she actually works at Hamilton County Schools, but she is our partner for this program.

So on behalf of the administration, thanks to each of you for all the important work that you do and thank you to councilwoman Noel and council for allowing us to recognize these coordinators.

(crowd claps) - We will move into our regular order of business.

If I can get a motion for the minutes.

(crowd chatters) Do have a motion for the minutes.

The minutes have been seconded and without objection, the council will accept those.

- [Madam Clerk] Item a in ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the reason on part of a property located at 2600 Walker Road from R4 Special Zone to M3 Warehouse and Wholesale Zone.

Item B in ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the rezone property is located at 8147, 8149 and 8153 East Brainerd Road, together with 1101 and 1113 Kinsey Drive from R1 Residential Zone to C2 Convenience Commercial Zone to RT1 Residential Townhouse Zone.

Item C and ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the rezone properties located at 1018 and 1020 East Martin Luther King Boulevard from URM3 Residential Multi-Unit Zone to UCX3 Commercial Mix-Use Zone.

Item D in ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 1002 East 16th Street from R3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item E and ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 2514 East 17th street from R2 Residential Zone to C3 Central Business Zone subject to certain conditions.

- We have a motion to approve.

I do hear a second on items A through E in final readings.

Questions, comments, before we vote.

All those in favor, say aye.

- [Crowd] Aye.

- Opposed items A through E on final reading, due carry ordinances.

First reading planning item A Madam Clerk.

- [Madam Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone property located at 1511 Mulberry Street from R2 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions.

- Is the applicant present?

Is there any opposition present?

Councilwoman Noel.

- [Marvene Noel] Mr.

Chair I move to approve the (inaudible).

- Have a motion to approve.

I do have a second to that motion.

Questions, comments, before we vote.

All those in favor, say aye.

- [Crowd] Aye.

- Opposed?

Item carries on first reading.

Under resolutions, community development, Madame Clerk, item A please.

- [Madam Clerk] A resolution authorizing the Community Development Administrator to award the on-call blanket contract number D22002201 demolition services for the Department of Community Development for year one of four to Tower Construction Company, LLC.

Chattanooga Tennessee restricted for use by only community development, for the annual amount of $400,000.

- Madam Vice Chair.

- [Madam Vice Chair] Move to approve.

- Have a motion to approve?

- [Crowd Member] Second.

- I do hear a second to that motion.

Questions, comments, before we vote.

All those in favor, say aye.

- [Crowd] Aye.

- Opposed?

Item A carries under council office.

Madame Clerk, item B, please.

- [Madam Clerk] At resolution confirming the appointment of Rosalyn Ruffin to the Head Start Governing Board for District 8 with a term beginning September 20th, 2022 and ending September 20th, 2024.

- Chair will entertain a motion.

This is for the Head Start Governing Board for District 8.

- [Crowd Member] Motion to approve.

- I have a motion to approve.

- [Crowd Member] Second.

- I do hear a second to that motion.

Questions, comments, before we vote.

Item carries.

That concludes our resolutions and ordinances for this evening.

Mr. Goldberg, are you presenting our purchases?

We have no emergency purchases this evening, and no RFP's.

Mr. Goldberg.

- Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The first, first of all, we have three purchases recommended for approval.

The first is the Wastewater Division of Public Works has a second renewal of the contract for emulsion polymer.

Polydyne Inc. submitted a 31% price increase at the time of renewal for an annual amount, not to exceed $1,900,000.

Second from Wastewater Division of Public Works, new blanket contract for flow and rain gauge monitoring.

Three bids were received and the award goes to ADS Environmental Services.

The apparent low bidder was Blue Siren, but due to proprietary reasons, they would've had to install 114 flow meters, at an additional cost of $85,500 causing their bid to no longer be the lowest.

This will be a four year contract with the annual amount, not to exceed $900,000.

And lastly, from the Street Maintenance Division of Public Works, we have a contract for asphaltic concrete, that was approved by council on March 1st, 2022.

Since approval, the vendor submitted a 15% pass through cost increase for an increase of $75,000.

And a total annual amount not to exceed $575,000.

- [Crowd Member] Move for approval.

- [Mayor Kelly] Council, you've heard tonight's purchases.

I have a motion on the floor to approve.

- [Crowd Member] Second.

- [Mayor Kelly] I do hear a second to that motion.

Real quick question, Mr. Goldberg, with the asphalt concrete, several projects I believe, have been in the queue for repaving that needed that concrete.

I'm sure that frees that up.

That's good news?

- Yes, definitely.

- [Mayor Kelly] That is good news.

All those questions, comments before we vote on this item.

All those in favors say aye.

- [Crowd] Aye.

Opposed purchases are approved.

- Yes sir.

Mr.

Chair.

So we have two CT0253, Report of Debt Obligation Reports to make to council.

These are forms that are filed with the State Comptroller's office, and we are required to report those to council in a public meeting.

The first one is a loan agreement for the East Chattanooga Rising Project.

The borrower is the IDB, or Industrial Development Board of Chattanooga.

The lender is the City of Chattanooga.

The face amount of the loan is $4 million.

The interest rate is three and half percent fixed.

The debt is unrated.

The purpose of the loan is for public infrastructure, with the East Chattanooga Rising Project.

It is secured by tax increment financing revenues.

It was issued November 2nd, 2020.

Was not reported during the pandemic.

It's being reported now.

And it has a 20 year term, no issuance costs for the loan.

The second one is for the City of Chattanooga as the borrower, the Tennessee State Revolving Loan Fund is lender.

The amount is 19 million dollars.

The interest rate is tax exempt interest rate at .88 percent.

Less than one percent.

The debt is unrated.

This is the purpose of the loan is for consent decree sewer projects.

It is secured by sewer revenues and general obligation, faith and credit of the government.

It was issued on March 8th, 2022, with a 20 year term and no issuance cost.

These reports have been signed by the mayor, will be filed with the comptroller's office.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you, Mr. Goldberg.

- Thank you.

- That concludes our evening's ordinances and resolutions.

We now move into recognitions of persons, wishing to address council this evening.

Is there anybody who would like to address council this evening, If so, I will have Madam Attorney read our public speaking rules.

- [Madam Attorney] Each speaker wishing to address the council shall be recognized only at the microphone provided for that purpose.

You may address the council upon matters within the legislative, and quasi-judicial authority of the council.

Each speaker shall limit his or her remarks to three minutes.

The speaker shall not be permitted to use vulgar or obscene language.

Use of the floor by persons addressing council should not be used to personally attack, or personally denigrate others.

The chair is prohibited from recognizing any person, association or organization to speak to the council during non-agenda matters.

And persons will be allowed to address the council only once per day.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Madam attorney.

Good evening.

- Good evening.

My name is Betty Maddox Badeaux and I live in District 5.

I'm also the founder of a homicide support group, Grieving Relatives In Every Violent Event.

And I stand before you again today, asking you for your support on September the 24th, to come out and celebrate with these family that was murdered.

There's seven young females that was shot, on September 24th, on the west side.

Two of them died.

There has been nothing said so far, as far as apprehending the people, to cause this harm to these families.

We will be recognizing these families and letting them know that they are not alone.

We need your support to come out and support these families and let them know that they are not alone.

And we haven't stopped looking for the perpetrators who committed this crime.

I'm really disappointed in moving back home, after 45 years, what's going on in the city.

It really truly hurts.

It really hurts my heart, because I've told you over and over again, I've experienced both aspects of violence.

Over 30 years of law enforcement, the victim and the judicial aspect.

We got to do something.

There are answers out there.

There are programs out here that can fix a problem.

We cannot throw the baby out with the bath water.

I submit to you today.

I would like the record to reflect myself, and some other grieving mothers and concerns citizens would like to meet with who, what commissioner is over the Public Safety Committee?

Can you please email me at grieve underscore families at E echo, P papa, B bravo, F foxtrot, I India dot com.

Or you may call me at (470) 885-9524.

Please come out and celebrate with us on September the 24th.

And I just want you all to know, growing up here in the city, my mother used to always say, "If your words doesn't match your action, then there's no truth in them."

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak.

- Thank you, Ms. Badeaux.

Good evening ma'am.

- Good evening.

My name is Maronica Tibbs.

I'm known in the community as Sister M, for being on the radio.

I reside in District 5.

I'm here today because I'm a little disturbed, in regards to voting, because I am a advocate for voting.

I try to help those who need their voting rights restored.

I try to help parents who have children in college, like my son was a first time voter this year, so that they can know about absentee voting and all of that.

But I've learned that there have been many people that have voted in the August 4th election that resided in District 8, did not have the opportunity to vote in the runoff election.

Now, according to my research, I was looking at an article that was on a Chattanooga Time, I mean the chattanooga.com.

It was dated March the first.

And it was when the council, was given all the breakdowns of all the districts, and how they were shifting and all.

At the very end of the article, it said, "District," it said, "officials said the change will not affect an election until three years from now.

The election at August for a new District 8 council member, will use the existing district boundaries."

Well I got a phone call from a sister in the ministry with me, and she had told me that her sister had went to early vote at the Hamilton County Election Commission.

But when she got there she was told she was no longer in the district.

She was trying to early vote.

But back in August, they were able to vote in the general election for a candidate in District 8.

However, in the special runoff election, it seems as though the new boundaries have taken effect.

And so since I'm a advocate, and I'm out there on the battlefield, trying to get people to know that your vote does matter and that your vote is powerful.

We're upcoming another election in November.

We wanna make sure that the citizens here know exactly where they are to go and vote.

What I would like to know from you all, if you could give me some information regarding where are we operating?

I did call the Hamilton County Election Commission, because we haven't really had any problems here in this city at all, when it comes to voting, to my knowledge.

And I've always bragged and boast on us.

And then chatanooga.gov is one of the websites I always try to give to our seniors and elders to look for information.

So if you all can send me an email at sistermthibbs@yahoo.com and let me know.

So I can pretty much share with the community where we are on that.

I appreciate that.

And I'm leaving because I'm late for an appointment.

Thank you so much.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you ma'am.

- Hello, Josh Capella here.

I'm an advocate for unsheltered citizens of this community, our homeless, in Chattanooga.

I'm coming here to speak, you know, for their rights and to have them be included in this discussion because they're not quite able to be here, a lot of times.

And so my goal here is to help people, you know, at the end of the day, just to help, be the voice of the people out there.

So I just want you to hear that.

And when I try to speak, I try to speak on their behalf.

So our government is in the position to protect individual and sovereign rights.

And that includes everyone who's an American in this country.

It also has a purpose to collect and redistribute resources, in manufacturing, in a government, we use statistics to accurately analyze and measure averages and outliers.

We all know what average is.

An outlier is a data point on a graph, outside of the bell curve.

And that I can relate to the homeless.

It's the people who fall short of, you know, the monthly bills that they can't pay, and have things happen to them that, you know, we can't explain or express here in three minutes.

And a bell curve traditionally goes from zero to 100.

And if I were to equate that to humans, we all have rights as humans.

And these are some ideas that the government tries to do our best to protect, which is equality, opportunity, safety, inclusion, and exclusion.

Again, back to the redistribution of resources, predominantly money and other opportunities.

But our rights, our human rights, should never diminish with our bank account.

Our outliers, our homeless here in Chattanooga, shouldn't be diminished in their human equality with respect to the rest of us, who are able to feed ourselves and put gas in the tank and pay our bills.

We all know we're going through financial hard times right now.

And so I ask everyone here or myself possibly is, how many homeless people is acceptable in Chattanooga.

What is the number?

What is the statistical average of people who reside within the confines of the city?

How many on average is acceptable to sleep outside in the cold?

November 1st is coming up.

I've set that date in my mind, because we know it's gonna be a cold November, just like the winter.

You know, it's just a fact of life.

And we know there's not enough rooms for everybody to get to.

And we know right now with inflation and other, you know, global things going on, we've got some crisis coming up.

It's a humanitarian crisis.

And I want, I hope for y'all to work together with different people within the branch of government, the executive and legislative branches, and how we can just work together as human beings, as Americans, you know.

I swing hammers for a living, and cut down trees and do all kinds of stuff.

And I really enjoy building things and hugging people.

You can't put, you know, a dollar sign on a hug, and a smile when you save someone's life.

You know, what amount of thanks can you give somebody when you help them?

Right.

So I wanna see how we can help other people with the most resources we have.

Our time, predominantly, some money, you know, but manpower people, and free up some of the laws or legislation that prevents us from doing that.

So thank you for your time.

I appreciate it very much.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you, Josh.

- Good evening.

Lisa Thompson Neighborhood Services Manager.

I just wanted to thank you all so much.

My mom is here with me.

She did not lose a bet tonight.

So she's visiting.

But I just wanted to report from Neighborhood Services.

We are actively engaged in the neighborhoods.

We're doing our Walk and Talk Series.

We've been Neighborhood Association Meetings.

I've sorry, I, again, I'm in my sandals tonight.

I apologize, but that's just how life is.

But I just wanted to say, thankfully, we are very proud to be serving the city.

The neighbors are reporting that they are very pleased with city services.

But there's a lot of work still to be done as you know.

So thank you so much.

And I appreciate my mom staying here.

She doesn't know what a city planner does.

So if you guys just let her know, that she's well appreciated here tonight.

Thank you.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thanks for being with us.

Thanks Lisa.

Any other persons wishing to address council this evening?

If not, we are adjourned.

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