Chattanooga City Council Meeting - July 29, 2025

The Chattanooga City Council met on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 7:23 PM. The meeting included final reading of ordinances, including the urban chicken ordinance, discussions on future agenda items, a committee meeting on paving and parks, and public comments on several community issues. The council approved consent items, passed ordinances, and heard presentations on the city's paving plan and parks and outdoors vision.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
• Ordinances on final reading: Approved the urban chicken ordinance (amending city code on urban chickens) with two opposed; approved right-of-way abandonments at 200 block of West 27th Street, 600 block of North Crest Road, and a rezone at 2105 Randolph Street from IH to TRN3.
• Resolutions: Approved a library grant of $430,500 from the state; authorized green grants agreement with Chattanooga Food Center for $99,660; approved on-call design contracts for 10 firms totaling $1.5 million; approved change order #4 for wastewater treatment plant improvements for $1,486,622.69; extended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Hiring Grant period to March 19, 2029.
• Purchases: Approved three purchases: ammunition for police ($112,458.22), fleet renewal with detail experts ($65,000), and synthetic turf installation at Warner Park ($1,881,208.14). Two sole source purchases reported: wastewater database maintenance ($49,391.44) and SIG P320 pistols for police ($26,000).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Andrew Jones (Timber Ridge Drive): Expressed concern about the safety of SIG P320 pistols, citing misfiring incidents and a recent Air Force fatality; also opposed translating the chicken ordinance into Spanish, arguing for English literacy instead; criticized council members for leaving early or arriving late.
• Emily Byland (Battle Academy PTA President): Provided context on the proposed parking permit issue near the school. She noted that Battle Academy is a Title I school with 41% of students eligible for SNAP, 270 zoned students, and over 500 total students, many magnet without magnet transportation. She stated that 24/7 resident-only permits would restrict access for parents, especially those with children with disabilities, pre-K, and UTC Child Care Center infants. She urged the council to consider the school community's needs.
• Andrea Killerbrew (Battle Academy parent): Stated she has two sons at the school and relies on street parking. The permit would force her to choose between parking and therapy appointments. She asked for a 15-minute grace period in the morning and afternoon to avoid tickets, as she cannot afford $5 twice daily.
• Chelsea McCamus (Belvoir community): Her family has been part of the Cowart community for 10 years due to children attending Battle Academy and UTC Children's Center. She argued that the permit would harm local businesses and that parents and staff should also receive permits if the motion passes. She noted the school parking lot is less than half the size needed.
• Joshua David Kapelish (VFW Chaplain): Thanked the community for the Fallen Five Memorial Service. He spoke about the importance of first responders and veterans, arguing that budget allocations should prioritize safety and security, and that pay for first responders is a matter of respect.
• Unnamed senior citizen: Requested the council institute a tax freeze for qualifying seniors before any tax increase, asking for ethical consideration for the aging population.
• Curtis Lancaster (Tunnel Boulevard): Reported that his mailbox was damaged by a city vehicle (driver uninsured) and that he has flooding on his property. He sought council assistance.
• Marie Mont (District 6): Highlighted the growing liability of the police and fire pension fund, which increased from $5.8 million in FY2018 to $18 million in FY2025, a 210% increase. She warned that the fund could reach $30 million by FY2030 and urged the council to address the pension restructuring, noting it affects the city's bond rating.
• Reverend Ann Jones Pierre (Chattanooga Hamilton County NAACP President): Requested a complete analysis of the city's defined benefit retirement funds, which are underfunded. She noted that the city's bond rating was lowered from AAA to AA+ in September 2024, and urged timely action to protect employees and taxpayers.

Discussion Items

• Urban Chicken Ordinance: Councilman Burns suggested translating the ordinance into Spanish and providing educational materials through the library and UT Extension. Councilman Elliott supported broader language accessibility. The ordinance passed on final reading with two opposed.
• Sole Source Purchase of SIG P320 Pistols: Chief Chambers explained that SIG restricts government sales to a single distributor per region, hence the sole source purchase from Accurate Law Enforcement.
• Mandatory Referrals for Right-of-Way: Chairwoman Hill discussed two items: (A) a land swap condition for a conservation easement, to be finalized with a map; (B) an abandonment at 700 North Market Street, where she requested the ordinance be limited to parcel 016 and a utility easement added for natural gas and cable lines. Legal counsel assisted with drafting.
• Future Considerations – Chattanooga Opportunity Fund Transfer: Councilman Clark asked about the termination of the fund and the transfer of $588,809.89 to the Industrial Development Board (IDB). Sharita Sedown (Senior Advisor for Economic and Workforce Development) explained that unspent funds were returned after an audit, and the IDB is the historical vehicle for small business programs. Councilman Clark asked about legal obligation to use the IDB; legal counsel noted statutory authority. The item will be voted on next week.
• Parks and Public Works Committee Meeting: The committee heard two presentations:
  • Paving List Presentation: Greg Harold (Engineering Manager) presented the pavement condition index (PCI) scoring system, costs, and the FY26 paving plan. Key points: FY26 budget is $6 million, expected to complete 32 lane miles (down from 60 in FY25 due to lower budget). Cost per lane mile dropped to $188,000 from $220,000. Rebuild costs are $825,000 per lane mile via contractor, but $250,000 using city forces. The department is exploring AI and sensors for real-time PCI updates. Council members discussed district disparities, with some districts (e.g., District 1, 2, 3, 6) having few or no projects on the FY26 list. Staff explained that the list prioritizes worst-condition roads and that a five-year strategic plan is in development.
  • Parks and Outdoors Presentation: April Firth (Administrator of Parks and Outdoors) outlined her vision for the next 12 months, emphasizing maintenance of existing assets, focusing on one or two major projects (e.g., the family multi-modal facility/skate park), growing the sports economy (soccer and basketball), enhancing arts and culture, and championing Chattanooga's National Park City designation. She acknowledged a large deferred maintenance list and the need for diverse revenue sources. Council members asked about the role of the parks council and deferred maintenance funding.

Key Outcomes

• The urban chicken ordinance passed on final reading (2 opposed).
• Right-of-way abandonments and rezone were approved.
• All resolutions and purchases were approved as recommended.
• The council will consider the mandatory referrals with conditions (land swap and utility easement) at the next meeting.
• The transfer of $588,809.89 to the IDB will be voted on next week.
• The Parks and Public Works Committee heard the paving and parks presentations; staff will provide district-specific paving plans and PCI scores.
• Councilwoman Dotley addressed the Battle Academy parking permit issue, noting a meeting with the school, superintendent, and mayor's office scheduled for the week of August 18 or 25, and that any council action would be deferred until a solution is found.
• The city attorney announced a retail liquor store license at 4862 Bonnie Oaks Drive meets requirements and is recommended for approval.
• Public comments on the pension fund prompted calls for a comprehensive analysis and restructuring discussions.