The Chattanooga City Council met on August 5, 2025, at 7:23 PM. The meeting included routine approvals, a contested fire chief confirmation, a senior tax freeze resolution, and a public hearing schedule adjustment for the proposed 2025-2026 budget. Council members deliberated on the fire chief appointment process and the tax freeze reopening, while multiple public speakers addressed the proposed property tax increase, first responder pay, and budget transparency.
I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Chattanooga City Council for Tuesday, August 5th, 2025. Councilman Henderson, would you please lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance? Okay. God, we just pray that you would lead us and guide us, help us to make the decisions that are in the best interest of the people of this city. In your name would pray, amen. Are we waiting or council? Can I go ahead and get a motion on the minutes, please? All right. Minutes will stand without objection. Okay, you want us just to keep keep going? Yeah, go ahead. Yes, Covenant. Sorry about that. We're expecting Mayor Kelly. Um okay, so council, let's take a look at our agenda for today. We don't have any items on first reading, but we do have some items, or excuse me, we don't have anything on final reading. We have several items on first reading. Um under public works, there are two items uh for district two. I'd like to point out that we will uh be reading the alternate version of item A. And as listed for item B, that is planning version two, which reflects the uh changes we discussed in uh the agenda meeting last week. So both of those council are ready to go from the perspective of district two. Um for resolutions, item A under finance, councilman Elliott um has an appointment and he will be a little bit late today, but he said that he is intending to bring a text amendment to item A. Um Phil, do you have any uh additional information you would like to share with us right now? Yes, uh we were discussing whether there could be some extension of the time period for 2024 taxes, but I believe that uh folks in the uh comptroller's office have said that it will only work for 25 taxes going forward here. So just want to be aware of that. So that may uh alleviate your need for a change. You do need to get the tax rate amount increased to sixty thousand dollars. Okay, so council, we may anticipate um some kind of amendment from councilman Elliott, but we won't know until we get there. Uh all right, so um we do have a resolution to appoint Terry Knowles as fire chief this afternoon. Um let's see, we've got council first on the board. Thank you, Councilwoman. I mean, Chairwoman. I just uh wanted to back up to the resolution about the senior tax freeze. Okay. Um Mr. Attorney, I'd mentioned that I had asked to co-sponsor that and it didn't make it to the agenda, so I just wanted that on the record. Yes. Thank you. And you're in support. Yes, I am. Well, let's see. I think who does that leave out? At least me, I'd be happy to be a co-sponsor. We could all do it. Yes. Um councilwoman Dotley. Yes, this one is about uh mayor's office item B resolution confirm Mayor Kelly's appointment of uh Terry Knowles as fire chief. Uh I did want to make just my statement on the record. While I respect the individual selected, I have uh concerns about the selection process that I've discussed with both the administration as well as assistant chief Knowles. Uh with that in mind, I remain fully committed to supporting the Chinese department is personnel, the incoming chief uh in their continual efforts to serve our community with excellence.