(calm music) - You're watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting.

A production of WTCI, PBS.

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Okay.

All right, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to our Tuesday September the 21st.

The city council agenda meeting.

I now call this meeting to order.

Our pledge of allegiance and invocation this afternoon will be given by councilwoman Berz.

- Thank you Mr.

Chair.

Tonight, we have Cub scout pact 3266 from Berz United Methodist Church.

In the lovely district three and they're gonna introduce themselves, then one of their members is gonna come up here and do the pledge.

So, if they would come forward, please.

If you guys would all introduce yourselves, and then if Mr. Williard would join me up here, I'd love it, thank you.

- Good evening.

My name is Ben Taylor, and I am the Cub master.

- I am Jack Williard.

- Hello, I'm AJ Taylor and I attend Big Ridge Elementary.

- I'm Caleb Davis and I attend Big Ridge Elementary.

- I'm Evan Baldwin and I attend Big Ridge Elementary.

- I am Dean Anderson and I go to Boyd Buchannan.

- My name is Jeff Davis, I am the Den leader and on behalf of our den, we want to thank you all for your service.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- So, would you all join Jack and me in the pledge?

(group Pledge of Allegiance) - [Berz] Move the agenda, sir.

- All right, thank you councilwoman.

Thank you gentlemen, we appreciate that this afternoon.

We have no special presentations this afternoon.

Could I have a motion on the minutes?

- Yeah.

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

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call please.

- The Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- Nine yes's.

- The ayes have it.

Moving now into your order of business, ordinances to file a reading.

Madam Clerk, if there are no objections from the council, would you tape 5a, b, c, and d, together, please?

- Item a: An ordinance to admit Chattanooga City Code to part II chapter 38; zoning ordinance.

So as to rezone properties located at 1629, 1631, and 1633 Jenkins Rd.

from R1 residential zone to RTZ Residential Townhouse zero lot line zones under certain conditions.

Item b: An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part II, chapter 38 Zoning ordinance as a rezone on properties; 2524 Gun Barrel Rd.

and a hundred block of Pinewood Drive from R1 Residential Zone to R3 Residential Zone, subject to certain conditions.

Item c: An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part II, Chapter 38 Zoning ordinance so as to rezone property located at 1402 Cemetery Avenue, from C2 Convenient Commercial zone in R3 Residential zone to UGC Urban General Commercial zone, subject to certain conditions Item d: an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part II, chapter 38 zoning ordinance so as to rezone properties located in the 2500 block of E 16th St, 2300 and 2500 blocks of E 17th St, 2400 and 2500 blocks of E 18th St, 2500 block of E 19th St, 2400 and 2500 blocks of E 21st St, 2300 block of E Main St, 1500 and 2000 block of South Lauderale St, and 1500-1800 blocks of South Watkins St. From C2 Convenience Commercial zone, C3 Central Business zone, and R2 Residential zone to C3 Central Business zone, subject to certain conditions.

- Councilman Ledford, followed by councilwoman Coonrod.

- [Ledford] Move to approve, sir.

- [Coonrod] Granted.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve items 5a, b, c, and d with a proper second.

Were there any questions or comments before we vote?

(paper rustling) (clears throat) Role call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- Motion to approve does carry.

Moving now down to parks and public works.

Madam Clerk, if you would, let's tape 5e and f together, please.

(clears throat) - Item e: an ordinance closing and abandoning an unpen alley in 1400 block of Cemetery Alley as detailed on the attached amount, subject to certain conditions.

Item f: an ordinance closing an abandoning an unpen alley in the 2000 block of Museum St, as detailed on the attached amounts, subject to certain conditions.

- [Henderson] Councilwoman Coonrod... - [Coonrod] Approved.

- Second.

- Well, we have a motion on the floor to approve items 5e and f with a proper second.

Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

Role call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- So moved.

Moving now to ordinances.

First reading, Madam Clerk, if you would, 6a-alternate version.

(clears throat) - [Clerk] An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code part II, chapter 38 Zoning ordinance, so as to rezone properties located in the 1200 block of Gallespy Rd, 3600 block of 3rd St, and 3607 Hoyt St from R1 Residential zone to R2 Residential zone and RTZ Residential Townhouse zero lot line zone.

- Case number 2021-0-21; is the applicant present?

Applicant present?

Is there any opposition present?

Councilwoman Coonrod, I'm seeing no applicant, nor any opposition.

- [Coonrod] Approve.

- Second.

- All right, we have motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes, sir.

- Okay.

All right, any questions or comments before we vote?

Role call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- Motion to approve.

Alternate version does carry.

Moving now to resolutions under economic development.

Madam Clerk, with no objections, would you read 7a and b, please.

(clears throat) - [Clerk] Item a: a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into a second amendment to lease with Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, Carter, and substantiate the form attached for clarification of the indemnification and torte liability requirements regarding the lease premises located in 710 E 12th St identified as tex parson #145EU001.01.

Item b: a resolution declaring surplus of approximately 1.97 acres of tax mount #135EA005.02 and authorizing the mayor's designee to enter into a donation agreement with building and construction workforce center and substantiate the form attached to allow for the expansion of the vocational school, Parsel, and to authorize the execution of all documents for completion of the transaction.

- What is the pleasure of the council?

(all agree) - We have a motion on the floor to approve items 7a and b with a proper second.

Are the any questions or comments before we vote?

Role call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- Motion to approve items 7a and b does carry.

Now moving to education and innovation.

Madam clerk let's take 7c, d, and e, if there are no objections from the council.

- Item c: a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's reappointment of Jim Hall to the metropolitan airport authority.

Item d: a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Monica Kenzie to the BR record board for district seven with a term expiration of July 31st, 2024.

Item e: a resolution amending resolution #30675 and hereby authorizing the interim chief human resources officer to enter into an amended agreement with Johnston and Associates, Inc. for third-party administration and injury on duty occupants, occupational health program claims for an initial term of two years and 22 days with renewal options of three additional one year periods for a total contract payment, not to exceed $2,008,501.

- [Henderson] Councilwoman Berz.

- Move approval.

- Second.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve item 7c, d, and e with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Very well.

Roll call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- So moved.

Do we happen to have Mr. Hall or Ms. Kinsey in the room with us this afternoon?

Okay.

Very well.

7f, please.

- [Clerk] Resolution authorizing the Chattanooga police department to apply for and if awarded accept fiscal year 2022 Eastern Tennessee project safe neighborhood PSN grant from the state of Tennessee offers a criminal justice program for a grant period beginning November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 in the amount of $139,629.

- Councilman Byrd.

- Thank you, Chair.

We discussed this in public safety and if I'm not mistaken, we need your guidance.

Would this be proper to move, to remove this off the agenda?

- Withdraw.

- Second.

- Withdraw.

- Withdraw, okay.

So I would like to move to withdraw this from the agenda.

- Second.

- Thank you.

- All right.

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

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Okay.

Roll call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- Motion to withdrawal does carry.

Moving now down to parks and public works, with no objection from the council, Madam clerk, let's take 7g, h, and I, please.

- Item g: the resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to approve change order Number one for Thomas Brothers Construction Company, Inc.

Effects in Tennessee for contract number R15002202.

Starchy Farms phase two for an increase amount of $42,619 and 40 cents.

Plus a new contingency amount of $20,000 for a revised contract amount of $310,139 and 95 cents.

Item h: a resolution authorizing the administrator for the department of public works to apply for and if awarded accept a grant from the Lyndhurst foundation for the expansion of the bike, Chattanooga bicycle transit system, electric bicycle fleet, in the amount of $100,000.

Item i: a resolution authorizing the administrator or department of public works to enter into an agreement with Talley Construction Company, Inc. relative to contract #T21019201 for construction services associated with citywide resurfacing in the amount of $18,018,651 and 5 cents with a contingency amount of $1,001,865 and 11 cents for a total amount of $19,820,516 and 60 cents subject to appropriation of funds.

- [Henderson] So is the council going to approve our paving contract this evening?

- No... - Move to approve!

(chuckling) (indistinct murmuring) - Okay!

(laughter) We have a motion on the floor to approve item 7g, h, and i with a proper second.

Any questions or comments before we vote?

Roll call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] Nine yes's.

- So moved.

Moving now to purchases.

Council, if you'll pull out your purchase items this afternoon, Miss Julia will come down and read them.

- Good evening council.

We have five purchases this evening.

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

This is to request a contract extension of three months through December 31st for security guard services from SEI Incorporated.

The vendor has submitted a 3% price increase for a total annual cost estimate of $150,000.

The second is from the fleet management division of public works.

This is a new blanket contract for Bolt Fuel Delivery at Birchwood landfill and city golf courses.

This will be a four year contract not to exceed $130,000 per year.

Four bids were requested and two were returned.

The award will go to Sweetwater Valley Oil Company as the best bid meeting specifications.

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

This is a new blanket contract for top dressing, sand for turf athletic fields, and golf course bunkers.

This will be a four year contract not to exceed $120,000 per year.

Six bids were requested and one was returned.

The award will go to River City Athletic Fields as the best bid meeting specifications.

The fourth purchase is from the facilities division of public works.

This is to complete the payment of invoices from detail experts for COVID-19 cleaning of buildings.

The total amount is $14,836 and 74 cents.

This will cause the annual spend to exceed the previously approved $25,000.

The fifth and final purchase is from police and IT.

This is a sole source procurement from Penn link for an all-inclusive platform for investigation, with collection and analysis tools.

This will be a four year blanket contract with a total annual cost estimate of $46,000.

- [Henderson] All right, counsel, you've heard tonight's purchases.

What is your pleasure?

- Move to approve.

- Second.

- We have a motion on the floor to approve tonight's purchases with a proper second.

Questions or comments before we vote?

All right.

Roll call, please.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Ledford?

- [Ledford] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Hester?

- [Hester] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Berz?

- [Berz] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Dotley?

- [Dotley] Yes.

- [Clerk] Councilman Byrd?

- [Byrd] No.

- [Clerk] Councilwoman Coonrod?

- [Coonrod] Yes.

- [Clerk] Vice Chairman Smith?

- [Smith] Yes.

- [Clerk] Chairman Henderson?

- Yes.

- [Clerk] That's eight yes's.

- Motion to approve carries eight-one.

- Thank you, Julia.

Moving now to committee reports.

Councilwoman Coonrod, Councilman Byrd.

- [Byrd] Thank you, Chair.

We had an amazing report today talking about some amendments to the already existing curfew that we have in place and looking forward to more discussion about that.

Thank you.

- [Henderson] Councilwoman Dotley.

- No report.

- [Henderson] Vice Chair Smith.

- No report Mr.

Chair.

- [Henderson] Councilwoman Berz.

- Thank you Mr.

Chair.

Next week we will have the second and final reading of the budget.

We will be having public input from 3:00 to 5:00 that's on Zoom and then from 6:00 to 8:00, we will have in-person, and then we will take the vote.

Thank you, sir.

- [Henderson] Thank you.

Councilman Hester.

- When we met today, we shall meet again in two weeks.

- [Henderson] Thank you.

Council member Ledford.

- No report today, Mr. Chairman.

- [Henderson] Councilwoman Hill.

- We are going to be having an education and innovation committee update on October 19th.

- [Henderson] Great, thank you.

All right.

That covers all of our agenda items this afternoon.

That brings us to recognitions of persons wishing to address the council.

If you are joining us through Zoom and you have registered to speak, would you go ahead and raise your hand at this time?

Is there anyone here in the audience that would like to speak to the council this afternoon?

All right.

Very well.

I'm going to ask the attorney if she would to read the rule for addressing the council.

- [Attorney] (clears throat) Excuse me.

Speakers wishing to address the council shall line up at the podium and wait to be addressed by the chairman.

We'll go through the live comments.

Before we move to the Zoom comments, we ask you to limit your comments to subjects that are within the quasi judicial and legislative authority of the council.

And you will be limited to three minutes unless someone grants additional time.

Thank you.

- All right.

If you have registered to speak through our Zoom platform, if you would go ahead and be raising your hand and we're going to take a audience, anyone that would like to address the audience, Councilwoman Coonrod, did you have a comment you needed to make?

- [Coonrod] Yes, I did.

- [Henderson] Hit your lot.

- [Coonrod] Thank you.

I just wanted to clarify the statement that I made earlier today, because I said a whole lot in quoting different TCA codes that I didn't want the city council or my constituents to get it confused because Carol Bars did make a valid point.

And what I was meaning by with the simple possession is that it can be a citation rather than, you know, them being put in cuffs and taken to jail so I could see how it could be misinterpreted.

And I just wanted to clarify that statement, not to send it to city court, but it can be given as a citation.

We've been talking about all of it simultaneously.

- [Henderson] Okay.

- Thank you, Chair.

- [Henderson] Thank you.

All right.

If you'd like to address the council, please come forward to the podium, Mr.

IT if you'll give us three minutes on the clock.

And just give us your name and district number, please.

- Absolutely.

To begin with, I appreciate each and every one of you guys.

I thank you for putting your lives in on jeopardy for folks like us, that don't have access to a computer.

I'm very grateful for that.

I am from Hixson, Tennessee, and my name is Pam Durham, and I live at 3839 Birmingham drive.

I've had the honor to speak before you once before.

And it was a very pleasure to do that.

And I have a very serious concern.

I'd like to bring before you, if you don't mind.

Some of you might remember me.

Some of you might not.

I'm a very hard worker and I've worked pretty much all my life for my home.

And I'm being told that our home is being turned into a council fire.

They're literally taking Dixie Horn's property, it's my understanding, and it is a blessing that we are getting new sewer septic lines.

In the name of Jesus, I wish we got that on Himmel Road before the officer got killed.

We had been asking for that for many, many years.

I'm not sure who is over my district at this point, but I appreciate that.

Sir, I thank you for letting me know that, sir, in the name of Jesus, there's, there's two things that can happen to women.

They can get pregnant within six weeks.

Jesus, forgive them.

I'll pray for them.

And I'm prayed up.

I woke up because Jesus gave me good air this morning.

And I thank him for that.

But there is something you can do about it.

When you're six weeks after nine months, [Henderson] Ma'am.

- The baby is born.

- [Henderson] If you would address the entire council.

- Oh, I apologize.

- [Henderson] You can address council person personally after the meeting if you like.

- I so apologize, - [Henderson] Thank you.

(clears throat) - absolutely to every one of you.

I'm just, I do apologize.

I was just trying to bring it attention to the councilmen over our area, but I'm scared to death that they're going to turn it into a gated community.

And they're going to block our little area off from going down to go fishing, to play on the basketball courts, to ride our go-carts down there.

And all that is being blocked off.

The 18 wheelers are coming every 30, 40 minutes, and none of them say T dot or C dot.

None of them say, "City of Chattanooga."

This is contractors work.

When Dollywood called and asked, "can I please turn it into a waterpark for our community?"

We were told it was uninhabitable land.

It was contaminated and not for human consumption, human livable, and we asked them to excavate it.

And they said that wouldn't work either.

Now we're being told that the reason I'm upset is because our taxes are gonna go up and we're going to be turned into a 37405, and we won't be, we won't be Hickson anymore.

We'll be turned into a north shore, and there that's the way I feel.

I apologize, but I feel like that we're getting the brunt of the least of us are getting the brunt of it again.

That's wasted property.

Why can't we take that property and maybe do something for our community at such as; giving the homeless affordable housing, or possibly putting a water park in, or Minnie like Winnie for, I've nothing else: jobs.

And on that note, I apologize if I've offended anyone.

You're all beautiful.

I thank you for your time.

I thank you for hearing my concerns, and please don't let this baby get born.

It will be awful when they do.

Thank you.

I appreciate y'all.

- Alright.

Is there anyone else in the audience this afternoon that would like to address the council?

- Okay.

- [Hill] If I may?

- Councilwoman Hill?

- [Hill] Yeah.

Ms. Durham, - [Durham] Yeah.

- You said that you live on Birmingham drive?

Okay, so actually it's not Councilman... Hill, it's me.

And so if you'll just stay afterward, I'd love to chat with you and understand better.

- [Durham] Absolutely, thank you so much.

- Okay.

I'm going to ask one more time.

If you are joining us through our Zoom platform and you have registered to speak, would you please raise your hand at this time to be noticed?

All right, Council, I am not seeing any hands on our Zoom platform, nor in the audience.

What is your pleasure?

- We adjourn!

- We are adjourned.

(clinks gavel) (light clapping) (murmuring) (upbeat music) - You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga city council meeting; a production of WTCI PBS.