Public Meetings - Chattanooga, Tennessee

The Chattanooga Industrial Development Board (IDB) held its regular monthly meeting on October 5, 2026. The board approved previous meeting minutes, received financial and program reports, passed a resolution extending the cure period for a default under the Bend development agreement, and deferred discussion on a request to remove property from the Bend CC&Rs to the next meeting. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the September 9, 2026 meeting. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public addressed the board. Discussion Items - VW Grant and Financial Reports: Eleanor Lou presented four reports. The VW grant shows 99.0% of budget expended with no new transactions for four quarters. The Economic Development Program Summary noted the creation of a new Registered Apprenticeship Employer Incentive Fund, funded by transferring $185,000 from the former Technology Workforce Program and $148,000 from the Innovation Fund, for a total of $333,000 available. The TIFF report indicated that a first payment of $52,299 to the Northgate Mall developer will be remitted in April 2027, with $146,000 cash remaining across TIFF funds. The E2I2 water program has spent $85,000 of its total budget, with a $246,000 payment issued (reimbursement from the city pending). Clay Oliver from City Public Works noted a contract for the remaining $215,000 in VW funds is set to advertise on October 18, 2026. - Default Cure Extension for the Bend Development: The board considered a resolution to rescind the declaration of default previously issued on August 4, 2026, under the development agreement for the Bend project. Attorney Phil Horton, representing the developer, explained that documents regarding ownership transfers had been provided. The board voted to read in a resolution extending the cure period by 90 days from the meeting date (through January 4, 2027), during which no event of default shall be deemed to have occurred while parties attempt to resolve disputes. Mark Mamintov participated by phone. The resolution was approved unanimously. - Airison Property Release from CC&Rs: Phil Horton requested board consent to remove the Airison property (a manufacturing facility and a front lot on Riverside Drive at Main Street) from the Bend CC&Rs. The request came from investors separating from the Bend project. Horton argued the CC&Rs allow removal without consent; Mark Mamintov argued the development agreement requires board consent. The board expressed concerns about the gateway parcel on Main Street and the impact on public housing features and mixed-use consistency. No diagram was available. The board decided to defer the discussion item to the November 2, 2026 meeting, and requested that a diagram of the property be provided. Key Outcomes - Resolution Approved: Unanimously approved a resolution extending the default cure period for the Bend development agreement to January 4, 2027. - Item Deferred: The request to release the Airison property from the Bend CC&Rs was deferred to the November 2, 2026 meeting, with a diagram to be provided. - Reports Accepted: Financial and program reports were received without formal vote.

The Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board met on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 7:30 PM in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The board approved consent items, conducted a contested towing violation hearing, and postponed an Uptown Taxi public hearing. No public comments were made. This summary is based solely on the meeting transcript, as no agenda or minutes were available. Consent Calendar - Approved the August 2026 meeting minutes and the September 24, 2026 special meeting minutes unanimously. - Approved the driver permit renewal for Alfred Wiley of Mercury Cab. - Noted no updated taxi inspections or vehicle insurance fees were submitted. - Approved the Chattanooga Carriage Company inspection; all horses and carriages passed, with only minor wear-and-tear issues noted. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public offered comments during the public comment period. Discussion Items American Tow and Recovery Violation Hearing (Ordinance 35-163) The board heard a citation against American Tow and Recovery for allegedly failing to follow the city’s towing ordinance during a May 31, 2026, accident on I-24. Vehicle owners Mr. and Mrs. Hinton testified that the tow driver did not ask where they wanted the vehicle towed, did not inform them of the destination, and only pointed to a sign at the tow yard. They stated they were prepared to pay at the scene and would have paid for a tow to their home. Tow driver Nathaniel Anderson testified that he did not speak with the owners at the scene, took the vehicle to the yard on a police rotation call, and told them to call the office about pricing. Company attorney Dan Ripper argued that the ordinance only requires the driver to take the vehicle to the company’s place of business unless the owner secures payment, and that no payment arrangements were made. Board members expressed concern about the company’s communication history and noted this was the company’s third violation, including one prior 30-day suspension and one verbal warning. The board also discussed the lack of an explicit financial penalty in the ordinance but proceeded with a suspension. Uptown Taxi Public Hearing and Vote (Continued) The board was scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on Uptown Taxi’s application, but the required separate notice for the company had not been properly sent out for this meeting. The board explained that the previous September meeting lacked a quorum and the notice had expired. A new notice must be sent at least 14 days in advance. The board voted to continue the matter to November 5, 2026. Key Outcomes - American Tow and Recovery: The board voted (with two members dissenting) to suspend American Tow and Recovery for six months, beginning November 1, 2026, and to require the company to reimburse Mr. and Mrs. Hinton for their towing fees. The company has 30 days to appeal. - Uptown Taxi: The board voted to postpone the public hearing and vote to the November 5, 2026, meeting after proper notice is provided. - The meeting was adjourned without any public comments.

The Chattanooga Beer Board convened on October 1, 2026, at 12:57:30 UTC. The board approved prior minutes, addressed temporary event permits affected by an OpenGov computer issue, heard a restaurant applicant request a beer permit for an October 13 opening, and acted on hearing officer recommendations for fines and suspensions. Minutes and Routine Approvals - The board approved the minutes of the September 16/17, 2026 meeting by voice vote, with no opposition. Temporary Event Permits and OpenGov Issue - The officer said beer permit 1452 at 1627 Roswell Avenue and several temporary event permits were technically approved by regulatory or zoning but could not be completed because of an OpenGov/IT error that had existed about one week. An IT troubleshooting meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. - Zoning reviewer Levi testified that zoning approved TE 151 (Reflection Writing Campfire Concert Series, 400 Garden Road), TE 153 (Greater Chattanooga Public Television Corp., Ale Trail Off the Track Beer Festival), TE 154 (Pickle Barrel LLC, Oct Dubber Fest, 6001 International Drive), TE 155 (Smart Music Project, Twilight Harvest Moon, 20 Choo Choo Avenue), TE 156 (Reflection Writing, Tails, Trails, and Ales, 400 Garden Road), and TE 158 (Reflection Writing event, 326 East Main Street). - The board voted unanimously to approve TE 153 and TE 154 subject to the IT correction. TE 151, TE 155, and TE 156 were already approved administratively. TE 158 was left pending because the applicant still needed to submit a revised land-use document. - The officer said he would not treat permits stuck solely by the OpenGov error as enforcement problems. New Beer Permit Applications - Beer 1446 (Hair of the Dog) remained on hold for building inspection. - Beer 1457 (Damn Whiskey Corporation) received zoning approval during the meeting and then regulatory approval; the applicant still had to pay the permit fee and print the permit. - Beer 1458 (Damn Whiskey Corporation) had been approved by regulatory on September 29, 2026, but was affected by the OpenGov error. No board vote was required for these items. Forge Garage Request - Scott Estes, representing Forge Garage, said the restaurant planned to open to the public on October 13 at the former Abuelos location in Hamilton Place and had hired 150 people. He applied for beer permit 1463 and temporary permit TE 1461 to allow staff training before opening. - Estes said all required FBI fingerprints were complete except for two passive investors; one was being fingerprinted that morning and the other had an appointment on Monday. A board member proposed conditional approval, but another board member opposed it as a precedent-setting departure from the normal process. - Staff explained that if the remaining fingerprints were submitted and cleared, the permanent permit could be approved administratively without a board vote, making the temporary permit unnecessary. Estes agreed to withdraw TE 1461 and submit the fingerprints. No motion was voted on. - Staff noted the regular beer permit fee is $250, and temporary event permit fees are $100 for the first day plus $50 per additional day, not to exceed $250. Fines and Hearing Officer Recommendations - Hampton Inn and DoubleTree had unpaid fines from earlier violations; the officer offered to hand-deliver the notices while doing compliance checks. No formal action was taken. - Mapco Express: The hearing officer recommended a three-day suspension or a $250 fine. The board voted unanimously to impose the three-day suspension and then set it for October 16–18. - Chattanooga Breakfast Club (3006 Dotson Avenue): The hearing officer recommended a $1,000 fine. Owner Mr. Craddock denied selling or possessing beer, said he did not have a beer permit, and said he had given beer away in the past. The officer cited body-camera footage from about 4:12 a.m. showing an open case of beer and people with cups containing alcohol. The board voted to reduce the fine to $500. Mr. Craddock said he intended to appeal. - Reagan's Place: The hearing officer recommended dismissal of an overservice citation because the overserved person said they pregamed at an apartment and did not remember going to Reagan's. The board unanimously accepted the dismissal. Key Outcomes - TE 153 and TE 154 were approved; other temporary permits were either administratively approved or deferred. Beer 1457 was approved and needs fee payment and printout. - Forge Garage received no immediate permit vote; the applicant will withdraw TE 1461 and submit remaining fingerprints. - Mapco Express suspension was scheduled for October 16–18. - Chattanooga Breakfast Club fine was reduced from $1,000 to $500, with an appeal indicated. - Reagan's Place citation was dismissed. - The meeting adjourned after no further business.

The Chattanooga City Council met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for an agenda session followed by a voting session. After opening with the Pledge of Allegiance, council heard a CARTA parking enforcement update and a DTS SMART grant report, then recessed until 6:00 p.m. for an attorney-client meeting before returning for votes on ordinances, resolutions, purchases, board appointments, and a street renaming request. No written agenda or minutes were available; this summary is compiled from the transcript. CARTA Parking Enforcement Update Charles Frazier, CEO of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), presented an update on the consumer protection and parking compliance ordinance. Key points included: - By December 2026, the Chattanooga parking network will include 18 facilities with 4,774 off-street spaces; six are privately owned operators joining the network. - First-hour free spaces are projected to grow from 1,143 to 2,723, a 138% increase; rate-protected spaces will grow from 2,284 to 4,774, a 108% increase. - Licensed private operators must charge no more than 150% of the $2 on-street rate, capping hourly rates at $3, and must use a one-hour minimum parking increment. The annual licensing fee is $1,000 per lot. - Enforcement begins October 1, 2026, starting on streets only, with no booting in lots or garages. CARTA will boot no more than two vehicles per day for the first two weeks and will target only vehicles with more than $500 in outstanding penalties. Private operators will not receive licenses until November 1, 2026. - During the 120-day amnesty period, only 53 people used a 35% discount, 26 used a 25% discount, 11 payment plans were set up, and 2 hardship cases were processed, collecting about $16,000 against more than $4 million and 64,000 outstanding citations. - CARTA will launch a beta website map at ChattanoogaParking.org showing first-hour-free locations, validation locations, all 18 rate-protected locations, a search feature, and green/yellow/red rate-coding. - Councilman Harvey praised the $3/hour cap and called the expansion "spectacular"; Councilwoman Hill asked about the low amnesty uptake and urged tourist education; Councilwoman Dotley noted she already paid $8 for several hours downtown, possibly reflecting market pressure. Regional Planning Commission Appointment Discussion During consideration of Regional Planning Commission appointments, Councilman Elliott asked nominee Ethan Collier about concerns he had heard: the 73 Shallford Road rezoning, allegations of suing neighbors to acquire land, and whether too many developers serve on the commission. Collier said the Shallford Road property was renovated but the planned addition was never built after neighbors imposed conditions; he called the land-acquisition lawsuit allegation "an absolute lie," explaining he spent more than $170,000 suing LLCs under the Neighborhood Protection Act to force demolition of 25 blighted, vacant homes in Milltown, and said he did not buy those properties. He defended having developers on the commission as peer review. Councilmembers Hill, Burrs, Harvey, and Henderson expressed support for his service or appreciation for his answers. The RPC appointments were later approved. Department Report: SMART Grant V2X Project Gerald Neal (Chief Information Officer), Ryan Huddleston (Director of Intelligent Cities), Sarah Abel (ITSA), Fire Chief Terry Knowles, and CARTA Chief Innovation Officer Daniel Dufour presented the closing report on the USDOT SMART grant received in March 2024, operational from January 2025, ending September 30, 2026. Deployments included 13 roadside units, 13 LIDAR units at 13 intersections, and 28 onboard units on fire trucks, CARTA buses, and city test vehicles along East Third Street and Central Avenue. The technology supports emergency vehicle preemption and transit signal priority, with no personally identifiable information recorded. Chief Knowles said the fire department's preferred approach is turning all intersection lights red so fire apparatus can clear intersections more safely; CARTA installed V2X devices on 12 buses in two weeks, reducing install time from four hours to 30 minutes. Future expansion includes more than 80 additional intersections through an Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation grant, 20 more through congressional funding, and coordination with CARTA's $25 million FTA-funded autonomous shuttle program. Key Outcomes - Minutes from the September 22, 2026 council meeting were approved as published. - Ordinances passed on final reading: lowering the speed limit on Bonnie Oaks Drive from 50 to 45 mph at TDOT's request; closing and abandoning the unopened right-of-way in the 900 block of Dodge Avenue. - Ordinances passed on first reading: amending the C-PACER energy financing program and amending the General Pension Plan. - Resolutions adopted included: Family Justice Center grant application up to $800,000 for supervised visitation; Brownfield grant agreement amendment; Downtown Chattanooga Alliance/CBID financial report and FY 2027 budget; Chattanooga Public Library grants ($430,500 state metro grant; up to $20,000 technology grant with 50% match); and $25,000 in ARPA funds to the International Bluegrass Music Association for the 2026 Bluegrass Festival, with Councilman Harvey abstaining. - A large package of board appointment resolutions was approved, including Michael Webb (Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals; Plumbing Examiners), Justin Baggett (Electoral Examiners), Marvin Brewster, Kenny Smith, and Charles Young (Electrical Examiners), Beverly Bell and Lee Helena (Form-Based Code Committee), Paul Norman Judd and Mark Stoffman (Gas Examiners), Nathan Byrd (Historic Zoning Commission), Scott McKenzie (Mechanical Examiners), Christy Rashid and Robin Stearns (Office of Family Empowerment Board), Brett Smalley (Sports Authority), and Regional Planning Commission appointments of Janice Gooden, Ethan Collier, Matt Lyle, and Nathan Byrd. - The council approved a Riverside Drive slope repair change order with K Industries LLC, increasing the contract by $92,005.14 to $247,575.14, plus a $15,577 contingency, for a total not to exceed $263,152.14. - Council approved a five-year agreement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for police training facilities, totaling up to $235,000. - Four purchases were approved: Tennessee Guardrail bridge repair increase of $80,300 (new annual total $160,300); a four-year wastewater line and tank cleaning agreement with PCI at up to $1 million per year; a six-month ADS Environmental Services extension for $450,000; and a one-year Brewer Media Group radio advertising agreement not to exceed $65,720. - An emergency purchase for brush pickup services with Big Woody's in the amount of $44,450 was reported; Public Works staff said the effort had brought brush pickup to within three days of being caught up. - Councilwoman Noel moved to table the resolution renaming Canon Avenue to Lehman Pierce Avenue until the proper street-renaming process could be sorted out; the motion to table passed. She also said a recent newspaper article about the issue was incorrect. - Councilwoman Burrs asked whether the Raccoon Mountain public works project had a spending cap; staff said they would review the contract. - Committee announcements included the Walnut Street Bridge reopening celebration on Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., Brainerd Golf Course's 100th anniversary celebration, and a Budget and Finance Committee meeting on October 6, 2026, with a budget amendment public hearing on October 20 and first reading on October 27. Public Comments & Testimony Fran Pierce, a District 8 resident, said her father Lehman Pierce lived on Canon Avenue for all 84 years of his life, served on City Council for 19 years, and fought for the community, including against drug dealers and prostitutes. She said the street renaming had been discussed for about eight months and commemorative signs had been posted, and she asked why the item was tabled and why the community had to keep waiting. She noted she had been at the meeting since 3:00 p.m.

The Budget and Finance Committee convened on September 29, 2026, at approximately 4:26 PM to discuss several budget amendment items, including remediation and potential expansion of the Police Service Center, a holiday bonus for city employees, and funding requests for the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Eastdale Collective, and Purpose Point Learning Academy. The committee also set dates for the public hearing and first reading of the budget amendment. Consent Calendar - Approval of minutes from the previous meeting – passed without objection. Discussion Items Police Service Center Mold Remediation and Expansion - Chief Chambers detailed the discovery of pervasive mold in the north building (built 1974) following a change in the makeup air unit setting. Initial remediation ($1.2 million) proved insufficient; Bell Four restoration found mold throughout ductwork, asbestos, obsolete electrical systems, and ADA non-compliance. - Three options presented: 1. Gut renovation to shell (replace interior, no expansion): $17 million. 2. Renovation plus expansion (18,000 sq ft): $26 million total ($17M renovation + $8.9M expansion). Would allow CPD to vacate the fire training facility and give fire department more space. 3. New building (three floors, 80,000 sq ft): $36 million. - Chief Chambers stated that both options 1 and 2 would address all issues and extend building life for 25+ years. Councilmember Clark requested a structural survey of the building envelope before committing. - Committee members expressed preference for Option 2 (renovation + expansion) as the most cost‑effective (same functionality as new building for $10M less). - Funding model undecided: bonding the $8.9M expansion would replace other capital projects; using the entire $26M from the reserve fund would drop reserves from 34% to 26%. Chief of staff recommended funding the whole project from reserves to avoid disrupting planned capital projects. - Next step: Administration to provide a briefing on opportunity costs if bonding is used, and a structural survey of the building exterior. Holiday Bonus for City Employees - Chair Henderson proposed a $1,000 one‑time bonus for all non‑elected city employees, costing an estimated $3.6 million (including payroll taxes and benefit impacts). - Discussion centered on eligibility (part‑time, temporary, sworn/non‑sworn), taxation (bonuses taxed at a flat 40% rate by the IRS), and equity. - Councilmember Clark suggested a tiered approach: - Employees earning under $45,000: $1,000 - Employees earning $45,000–$120,000: $750 - Employees earning over $120,000: $500 or $0. - Councilmember Hill asked for a prorated option for part‑time employees. - HR Director Erica confirmed current employee counts (384 full‑time regular, 132 part‑time, total 516 civilian employees) but later a reference to 2,653 employees (likely including sworn) caused confusion. The $3.6M figure assumed all city employees including sworn. - Several councilmembers questioned the sustainability of a one‑time bonus versus permanent pay increases, especially given the impact on reserve funds. - No final consensus; the committee requested additional analysis from HR on tiered and prorated options for the October 6 meeting. UTC Endowment Fund ($250,000) - Consensus to include in the budget amendment with no further discussion. Bessie Smith Cultural Center – Reallocation ($250,000) - Request to repurpose $250,000 from the existing fund balance (total balance $555,000 after FY27 allocation) to fund planning for the “Dream Forward” project (specialized project management, facility planning, funding strategy, etc.). - Executive Director Paula Wilkes stated the money is needed for technical capacity building before fundraising; the city’s annual maintenance contribution has kept the building operational. - Some councilmembers expressed concern about drawing down the fund balance by half. The committee voted to move the item forward to the full council. Eastdale Collective ($250,000) - Councilmember Elliott proposed $250,000 from the reserve fund to partner with the Enterprise Center for community development in Eastdale (staffing, marketing, supplies over two years). - Debate arose over funding source: Councilmember Hill preferred the Economic Development Fund (which has $25 million), while Chair Henderson and others argued for using the reserve fund to reduce its large balance. - Administration was agnostic. The committee agreed to move the item forward; final funding source to be decided. Purpose Point Learning Academy ($245,000) - Councilmembers Dotley and Clark explained that the city inadvertently caused a staffing shortage at Purpose Point by hiring away their Head Start teachers without a transition period, leading to the closure of two classrooms (16 seats). - The requested $245,000 would supplement teacher pay to reopen the classrooms. - Several councilmembers requested more detailed cost and sustainability data. The committee decided to postpone discussion to the October 6 meeting, asking for a written plan. Key Outcomes - Police Service Center: Committee consensus to pursue Option 2 (renovation + expansion, $26 million). Staff to provide a structural survey and opportunity‑cost analysis of bonding the expansion. - Holiday Bonus: No final decision; HR to present tiered and prorated options at October 6 meeting. - Bessie Smith Cultural Center: Recommended to move forward with reallocation of $250,000. - Eastdale Collective: Recommended to move forward; funding source to be determined. - Purpose Point Learning Academy: Delayed to October 6 for more information. - Next Steps: Committee will reconvene on October 6, 2026, at 3:30 PM in the chamber to finalize recommendations. Budget amendment public hearing set for October 20, first reading on October 27.

The Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board held a special meeting on September 24, 2026, to address items not completed due to a lack of quorum at the September regular meeting. The board approved routine driver permits, renewals, and vehicle inspections for taxi and tow companies, and deferred a vote on Uptown Taxi's application to the next regular meeting on October 1, 2026, due to public notice timing concerns. Consent Calendar - New driver temporary permit: Mark or D. Shoe from NUGA Taxi approved. - Driver permit renewals: Willie Kitchens (Mercury Cab), Mario Rivera (NUGA Taxi), and Anthony Duggard (Mercury Taxi) approved. - Updated taxi inspections and vehicle insurance: Mercury Cab 221 (Barbara Slater) and Mercury Taxi 204 (Vernard Owens) approved. - Updated tow company inspections: Goodell's Record (64-3 Middle Valley Road, District 6), Marstiller's Record (6808 Connor Lane, District 5, secondary location; 2105 East 24th Street Place, main location) all approved. All consent items were approved unanimously by voice vote. Public Comments & Testimony - Mr. Easter addressed the board regarding the Uptown Taxi public hearing notice requirements. He stated that under Section 35-48, a seven-day notice must be given to the public via newspaper, and that since the previous hearing was cancelled due to lack of quorum, the public may not be aware of the new hearing date. He noted that the current meeting (September 24) falls within a 6-7 day window for the next board meeting on October 1, requiring immediate action to meet notice requirements. - Mr. Anderson responded, gently correcting that Tennessee courts have held that public notice via the board's website and city posting is also acceptable, not just the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He thanked the board for holding the special meeting to address the previous quorum issue. - Janie Parker (representing Marstiller's Record) thanked the board for allowing her tow company to relocate. She noted that her company had paid approximately $12,000 in rent on a location they could not use while waiting for approval and appreciated the board's assistance in moving forward. Discussion Items - Uptown Taxi Public Hearing and Vote: The board discussed the status of Uptown Taxi's application. A public hearing had been scheduled for the previous meeting (September) but was not held due to lack of quorum. The board confirmed that a notice for this special meeting was sent to the newspaper on September 15, 2026, and also posted on the board's website. The deputy city attorney verified the notice date. Board members debated whether to proceed with a vote today or postpone to the next regular meeting on October 1 to ensure proper public notice. It was noted that August's meeting minutes were not yet approved pending transcription, and the previous attorney had handled the matter. Ultimately, the board chose to hold the vote until the October 1 meeting to allow sufficient notice and potential appearance by the applicant. - Meeting Minutes: The board discussed that August 2026 meeting minutes needed transcription and would be presented for approval at a future meeting. Key Outcomes - All consent calendar items (driver permits, renewals, vehicle inspections, tow company inspections) were approved unanimously by voice vote. - The board voted to hold (defer) the vote on Uptown Taxi's application until the October 1, 2026 regular meeting. The motion passed by voice vote. - The board confirmed that the next regular meeting is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at the same time. - The meeting was adjourned by motion.

The Chattanooga City Council met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. After opening remarks, the pledge/invocation, and approval of the previous meeting's minutes, the Council held an agenda-review discussion, heard a downtown budget presentation, took a recess until 4:45 p.m., and returned for the voting session and public comments. No separate agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript. Discussion Items - Axon contract (Resolution 9A): Chief Chambers said the Chattanooga Police Department requested a five-year renewal for body-worn cameras, tasers, interview-room cameras, and in-car cameras. Staff explained that Axon included 36 license-plate readers (LPRs) in its officer protection package at no additional cost, but that the LPRs were not requested by CPD or DTS and the city was not obligated to accept or deploy them. Staff also said CPD requested AI translation software for body-worn cameras to help officers translate conversations. - Councilman Harvey quoted a Times Free Press article stating the city currently has 1,100 camera streams through Axon, up to 300 of which could be enabled with AI software, and that Axon's Fusis system can search for people, cars, and visual descriptors such as make, color, or bumper stickers. He said he supports about 90% of the contract but had constituent concerns and believed the city should 'pump the brakes' on the LPR technology, noting nearby municipalities are pausing similar Flock cameras. - Councilman Clark said he saw value in the LPRs for high-crime areas and his district, citing community safety survey results showing less than half of his constituents feel safe. He asked the administration to accept the cameras and then work with council members on deployment. Councilwoman Burrs proposed an amendment making ALPR deployment subject to council review. A council member from District 9 asked that no cameras be placed in that district without an earlier community conversation. Staff committed that the city would not deploy a single Axon LPR anywhere without returning to the council. - Next week's agenda preview: Councilwoman Hill asked about proposed changes to the general pension plan; the city attorney said the changes add federal required definitions for designated beneficiaries and eligible designated beneficiaries, that the pension board recommended them, and that editor's notes would not remain in the final version. Councilwoman Noel said she had received opposition to renaming Canon Avenue and planned to meet with staff and door-knock before proceeding. Councilman Harvey said he supports a mayoral-office festival item but will recuse himself from that vote because he plans to perform at the festival as a bluegrass musician. He also supported Janice Gooden for the Regional Planning Commission but said 12 years is enough for the mayor's reappointment of Ethan Collier to the commission. - Future considerations: Councilman Harvey said he was stuck in the Odell's on the Go drive-through protruding into the road and welcomed the item on the future considerations list. Special Presentation - Downtown Chattanooga Alliance / Central Business Improvement District: Executive Director Steve Brooks presented FY2026 results and the FY2027 budget. He reported an FY2026 surplus of $28,000 against an original budget of zero, resulting from hours not performed by the ambassador-contract vendor. For FY2027, he highlighted roughly $754,000 in assessments after a $25,000 bad-debt and waiver allowance for the Block by Block ambassador contract, $39,000 for beautification projects, $22,500 for public relations, a 2% assessment collection fee paid to the city, approximately $22,300 for office rent at 407 Broad Street, and a balanced budget with a cap of $150,000 for ambassador services and Miller Park. - In response to Councilman Clark, Brooks explained that homeless-services spending dropped from $20,000 in FY2026 to about $3,000 because a state grant now funds the Homeward Bound transportation program. The remaining $3,000 is used for food and drinks, which the state grant does not allow. Councilwoman Dotley thanked Brooks, saying she had initially opposed the BID but now praised its results and noted interest from Main Street and Rossville Boulevard in a similar model. Committee Reports - Councilman Henderson reported that the Budget and Finance Committee met at 2 p.m., discussed budget amendments and proposed legislation capping future tax increases, and scheduled its next meeting for September 29 at 12:30 p.m. as a new start time. - Councilwoman Hill thanked RPA staff for the unanimous vote on Plan Chattanooga. - Councilman Clark announced a Saturday ribbon-cutting for the new pavilion at Lake Hills Park on Bellevue Avenue from 3 to 6 p.m., with food, inflatables, and games. - Vice Chair Elliott thanked attendees of the District 9 town hall and said a recording, slide deck, and project dashboard would be posted. - The chair welcomed Kristen Acuff as deputy chief of operations, and Councilwoman Dotley recognized County Commissioner Montre Basley. Public Comments & Testimony - Jan Purdy, District 3, thanked RPA staff for Plan Chattanooga outreach and asked that minor Hixson and Big Ridge modifications be included in post-adoption work. - Sheena Benevente, president of the Battery Heights Neighborhood Association, said her community participated extensively in Plan Chattanooga but felt its input was not captured or applied. She noted that an open records request remains unresolved and asked for awareness that other communities may have lost input too. - Jaqueline Ramsey proposed a controlled pilot program for a low-speed vehicle mobility service in downtown Chattanooga. She said it would fill short-distance transportation gaps connecting parking, hotels, restaurants, venues, and the South Broad and Erlinger Park development without replacing CARTA or other shuttle services, and would collect data on ridership, safety, routes, and demand. Key Outcomes - The Council accepted the prior meeting's minutes as published. - Final-reading ordinances adopted: 7A (beer permit expiration amendment), 7B (through-street speed schedule amendment), 7C (rezoning 5502 Dayton Boulevard from R-2 to CNT), 7D (rezoning 1307 Hickson Pike from INST to CNT), 7E (conditions lifted and amended for 5313 Champion Road), and 7F (drive-through use and stacking amendments, prohibiting drive-through egress from crossing the River Walk or greenway connector). - First-reading ordinances passed: 8A (reducing the speed limit on Bonnie Oaks Drive from 50 mph to 45 mph from Boris Drive to 400 feet west of Silverdale Road, at TDOT's request) and 8B (closing and abandoning the unopened right-of-way in the 900 block of Dodds Avenue). - Resolution 9A, authorizing a five-year Axon contract with an annual spend limit not to exceed $3 million, was amended so that 'subject to final review of ALPR equipment installation and service by the city council before deployment of such technology shall occur.' It was then adopted as amended, with one no vote. - Resolution 9B was adopted, authorizing the Fire Department to accept a $59,309 Hamilton County Homeland Security Grant award for biological detection equipment for the Hamilton County/Chattanooga Type 1 Hazmat team. - Resolution 9C was adopted, adopting Plan Chattanooga as the city's comprehensive plan. Councilwoman Noel read into the record the RPA's six-month amendment language for the Battery Heights and Campbell Street/New York Avenue area, including removal of language stating traffic counts do not warrant a crosswalk, addition of resident safety concerns, and future pedestrian infrastructure and service request reviews. - Resolution 9D was adopted, authorizing CPD to apply for and accept the FY2026 NIBIN modernization grant of $300,000 for new equipment and five years of annual maintenance. - Purchases were approved: a one-year extension for standard protective footwear at an estimated $150,000, with the vendor's requested 13.25% increase negotiated down to 7%, and a four-year wastewater road plating services agreement with TNT Concrete at a $140,000 annual limit.

The Budget and Finance Committee met on September 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. to discuss three major agenda items: identification of peer cities, a proposed budget amendment, and an ordinance to cap property tax increases. No public comments were heard. The committee decided to continue deliberations at a follow-up meeting on September 29, 2026. Consent Calendar - No consent calendar items were presented. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were received. Discussion Items - Identification of Peer Cities: Dr. Acuff presented a list of 15 peer cities from his budget analysis. Council members discussed the need to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons, especially regarding wastewater and other enterprise funds that affect full-time employee counts. The administration expressed comfort with the full list, but council prefers to narrow it to 5–7 cities. Councilwoman Heel raised concerns about confidence in comparability for specific departments (e.g., fire ISO rating). Councilman Clark suggested the council first decide what metrics to compare rather than rely solely on Dr. Acuff’s list. The committee agreed to gather further input via email and revisit the topic next week. - Budget Amendment: Chairman Henderson introduced a proposed budget amendment drawing from the unreserved fund balance (targeting 29% reserve) for the following items: $17.5 million for mold remediation at the police service center (with additional $1.5–2.5 million contingency), $3.6 million for a one-time holiday bonus of $1,000 per full-time employee (possibly tiered), $250,000 for a WTCI endowment, and $245,000 to preserve early learning seats at Purpose Point Learning Academy. Chief added two more items: funding for an Eastdale Collaborative project through the Enterprise Center (amount not finalized) and a reallocation of existing Bessie Smith Hall reserve funds (estimated $250,000) for capacity-building toward the museum's “Dream Forward” project. Councilwoman Hill questioned the lack of detail on several items, noting the large size of the amendment early in the fiscal year. Councilwoman Dotley requested specifics on the holiday bonus (whether part-time employees are included, potential tiering) and whether moving to a new building might be more cost-effective for police. Chairman Henderson urged council to email additional questions for next week’s meeting. - Ordinance to Cap Property Tax Increases: Chairman Henderson presented an ordinance to cap future property tax increases at 12% over the previous year, unless a supermajority of seven council members approves a higher amount via roll call. The 12% figure is based on Chattanooga’s historical average over four-year reassessment cycles. Council members expressed support, with Councilwoman Dotley and Councilman Harvey favoring the cap for taxpayer protection. Councilman Clark asked about frequency of increases and suggested tying the cap to revenue growth or cost increases. Councilman Harvey noted that some states (e.g., Texas) have similar caps. The committee took no formal vote but agreed to continue discussion. Key Outcomes - Peer Cities: The committee will collect council members’ criteria for comparison via email and aim to narrow the list to 5–7 cities for the September 29 meeting. - Budget Amendment: No decisions were made. The committee will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (possibly adjusted to 12:30 p.m.) to discuss detailed proposals and costs. Council members were asked to submit questions in advance. - Property Tax Cap Ordinance: The ordinance was introduced and discussed but not voted on. It will be revisited in future meetings. - Next Meeting: Scheduled for September 29, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., with the possibility of starting at 12:30 p.m. The committee will focus on the budget amendment and peer city selection.

Note: The transcript shows the chair initially called the meeting for September 21, 2026, but then corrected the date to July 20, 2026. Per the provided timestamp, this summary uses September 21, 2026. The board met to approve multiple financing and tax-abatement transactions for affordable housing developments, ratify prior executive actions, and receive updates on existing projects. Discussion Items - Standard Runyon Ventures LP – Joy Field PILOT (Item 6): The board considered a 15-year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for a proposed 199-unit affordable senior housing development on Mountain Creek Road. The project sponsor stated 159 one-bedroom and 40 two-bedroom units, targeting households aged 62+, with amenities including elevator service, on-site management, and parking. The site is zoned RN3 and has a building permit. The project will share a driveway with an adjacent senior living center; two public letters expressed concerns about flooding and traffic, which the sponsor said were addressed via a traffic study (estimated 30 morning/50–60 evening trips) and a 60-foot stream buffer designed with the building department. The PILOT freezes pre-development city and county taxes (excluding school taxes). City Housing Director Megan Miles confirmed the city and county waive additional taxes beyond school taxes. The board voted unanimously to approve. - Standard Runyon Ventures LP Bond Issuance (Item 7): Two resolutions: (A) Ratification of the chair's August 5 execution of a disclosure letter to underwriter Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, needed because the deadline fell before the prior board meeting. (B) Authorization of up to $38 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds to finance the Joy Field project. Both approved unanimously. - Bond Issuance Items (Item 8): Ratification of the chair's execution of conditional commitment letters and borrower/issuer certifications for nine additional projects (Matco, Standard Gaap, DGA Ridgeview, Clear Branch Townhomes, Standard Brainerd) to meet a federal deadline of August 12, 2026. One application was submitted that week. Approved unanimously. - CNE Mill Town PILOT (Item 9): Ratification of an inspection and maintenance agreement for private stormwater facilities on property held by the board. Approved unanimously. - Simpson Organization – TSO Market Center PILOT (Item 10): Ratification of a second amendment to the deed of trust due to a change in ownership interest. The PILOT has about two years remaining; low/moderate income unit requirement was previously resolved. Approved unanimously. Other Business & Updates - Erlanger Health System: Board attorney noted a July 23 news article about Erlanger signing a letter of intent with South Carolina-based Prisma Health, with a 120-day due diligence period. The board holds outstanding bonds for Erlanger and for Common Spirit Health (formerly Memorial Hospital). Members were advised to monitor for potential amendments to existing bond agreements; current compliance is not affected. - Non-Payment Notice (B&B Crane, One West Side): A supplemental notice sent September 8 regarding a payment delinquency was forwarded to CHA (Chattanooga Housing Authority). It is expected to be resolved by the next meeting. - Annual Pilot Reporting (Market City Center): The board submitted its annual compliance report to the state comptroller's office for the Market Street City Center PILOT. Key Outcomes - All five resolutions (Items 6–10) were approved unanimously. - The board ratified prior signatures by the chair on disclosure letters, conditional commitment letters, and maintenance agreements. - The board authorized a $38 million bond issuance for the Joy Field senior housing project. - Staff will continue to monitor the Erlanger/Prisma Health situation and the One West Side payment issue.