All right, guys, we have the thumbs up from Rick.

Thank you, Rick.

I call to order this meeting of the Chattanooga City Council for Thursday, August 19th, 2025.

I'd like to invite Councilman Davis to lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.

Moment of prayer.

Father, we lift up to you today, all of those who've been affected by the flooding in our city this past week.

God, we just pray that you would bless them as they recover.

And we also, though, give you thanks and praise for the many ways we've seen your spirit at work in this city through your people over this past week for the many many acts of braveness, bravery, kindness, generosity from our first responders.

Amen.

Our our city officials and employees, our churches and nonprofits, and just individual citizens.

God, we we thank you for all of these ways that you've been at work amongst us.

And finally, we pray that you would guide and direct this council today and pray that your name would be glorified in all that we do.

Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Okay, I'm now going to turn the chair over to our budget chairwoman.

Councilwoman Rikita Dotley for the public hearing on our 2026 budget amendment.

Yes, ma'am.

All right, hello everybody.

Thank you all so thank you so much for coming and being uh committed to civic engagement.

So uh just a reminder uh we'll call the public hearing so order.

Uh this is a public hearing for the uh fiscal year 2026 budget amendment.

The mayor's proposal uh reintends to exceed the certified checks rate to 1.93.

So first we will start out with uh Chief of Staff, Kevin Rowe, he's gonna come and do a uh brief updated presentation uh regarding the mayor's uh budget amendment proposal.

Well thank you, madam chair, and I also want to thank everybody for being here, whether you support or um you're here in opposition of 193.

I just I think it's great that everybody's here.

Um Bible says that in an abundance of council their success, and I know that when we get to the end of this process, we're gonna land in a successful place, and we are gonna hopefully move in that direction some more today.

So just a recap, we did the the Kelly administration did come out and adjust down the initial rate of 199 to 193, but the fundamentals are all still the same.

We want we're trying to find the right balance between affordable property taxes, reliable services, and community improvements.

Um, and I made this graph five minutes ago because I think that it's important just to realize that the fundamental issue that we are trying to bring to the the forefront here is that irrespective of what the rate is today, we know that the city of Chattanooga has critical needs for resources and for programming and for services that our citizens and our businesses rely on every day, and we know that they cost an amount of money that is going to probably continue to rise that those costs for those services and for those resources.

And then we also know just time value of money that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.

And so, what the mayor has put forward is what we believe to be a fine-tuned, calibrated approach that um effectively splits the difference between um high end of 225, which is what the previous adopted tax rate was, and what we've heard some other council members um throw out there around the 169-168 figure.

So let's just talk about what 193 will do.

Current for FY26, the current projected general fund revenue is a 345 million dollars.

Well, we're proposing at 193 would move that number from 345 to 390, producing 44.85 million dollars of incremental revenue over and above the enacted amount.

So what will we do with that revenue?

Well, 31.5 million dollars of it is going to be for operations purposes, primarily around public safety and infrastructure priorities.

Obviously, police and fire are our number one goal here.

That's it's the impetus for the whole endeavor.

Um, but we're also proposing that we fund some other critical needs that we know that we need as it relates to both public safety and to um to infrastructure and and some other items.

Then on the capital side, um, we would pull $13.35 million dollars to continue to fund similar types of expenses, but that would be categorized as capital expenses.

So that would move the new capital budget from I'm sorry, yep, the new capital budget from 191 and change to 204 and change, which is just under a 7% increase if we were to adopt this proposal.

And then on the operation side, it would move what is currently a $345 million operating budget.

Um it would increase it by about 9% to $376,746, and then the median impact, the incremental cost that we are asking Chattanoogans to um to invest, is about $34 a month again on median average.

And then the asterisk here is the 390 figure in the operations ordinance, it's going to show 390 because we have to first capture all of the revenue before we can transfer the capital portion of it.

But then at the end of the day, those two numbers for the respective budgets, capital and operations would be what they show there.

And then um again, on average, $34 a month would be the incremental cost for your average Chattanooga, and you can see how that breaks out across the respective council districts.

And then just a reminder you know, we want to constantly be thinking about well, how does this stack up kind of in a broader context?

So you zoom out a click, and you can look at Knoxville, you can look at Nashville, and then you can basically just run simple division to get to an operating dollar figure per resident whose dollars go to get those services and those resources provided by these respective municipalities.

And you can see that that even with a rate of 193, um, we are by no means out in front.

You look at Nashville and Knoxville, and one of the things that the mayor says is you know, directionally, what kind of city do we want to be in?

Are we appropriately resourced to be that kind of city?

And I think that um that this figure would move us in the right direction.

And then the last slide here, I just want to remind everybody that it isn't just about property taxes.

You have to look at the total effective tax burden for uh for citizens.

The state of Tennessee in generally, in general, um, is third lowest in the country in terms of total tax burdens.

Now, this is 22 2022 figures that we got from the tax foundation.

Um, but this is a very attractive tax environment for people.

That's why we have so many new people coming.

People want to be in Chattanooga, people want to be in Tennessee generally.

And whether we did 225 or 193 or 167, we are not meaningfully talking about changing our broader status as a very competitive environment and a very desirable environment.

So what we're trying to do is find the right balance that allows us to maintain the momentum that we have so that we continue to be an attractive place to work and to live while also ensuring that we're appropriately resourced for the city.

Thank you.

Is that it?

Is it all right?

Thank you so much, Kevin.

I appreciate the presentation and just a brief overview before we start public comment.

So just uh our attorney prepared to re to read our rules.

I do want to highlight a couple of things I highlighted before and after he reads the rules.

Um each person will have two minutes to speak.

This will be limited to one hour.

Uh, and at the end of the hour, we'll see where we are, and we can adjust as necessary.

So, with that, if you plan to speak, please line up at this podium.

And if you know anything about me chairing a chair in the committee, please line up at the podium, please.

Uh, if you plan to speak.

And then with that, our uh city attorney, would you please read all the rules?

Yes, ma'am.

And uh the chair of this uh committee on here can set limitations based upon the council's rules that we have in effect here.

The council has adopted those rules back in 2023.

And at this point in time, let me tell you a little bit about what to do.

Can't have more than two minutes to speak on this issue, address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quasi judicial authority and not on matters which are not under their authority or regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Don't engage in any vulgar, obscene language while you're up here, nor use the floor to personally attack or personally denigrate others.

Dress your comments to the council as a whole and not towards individual council members, and lastly, do not engage in disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting that's prohibited by Tennessee law, and someone commits that offense if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with a meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering.

Having stated those rules, go right ahead, please, ma'am.

Okay, before we get started, I do want to know uh a couple things.

Thank you so much, uh Phil.

Again, it's two minutes right now, limit to an hour, and also please be sure to state your city council district if you don't know what it is.

Um, state your address so that we'll know where from what district you're speaking from.

And if you don't, I I will ask you.

And your rules do allow you to extend that time if there is an agreement among the council members as you get to the end of the hour.

Okay, that works.

Oh, that works.

Okay, with that, you go.

I mean, we I know you were getting ready.

I'm Donovan Conico with Signal Centers.

Our address is 109 North Germantown Road.

As a leader in the nonprofit sector, I first of all I want to say thank you.

You know, this is a difficult issue for everybody, and and I really appreciate your thoughtful consideration about what is best for Chattanooga.

As a leader in our nonprofit sector, I see every day how the strength of our community depends on the strength of the city services around us.

Public safety, safe roads, affordable housing, and community spaces aren't abstract budget lines.

They are the foundation that allows families to thrive and nonprofits to fulfill our missions.

And as nonprofits, we know that underinvestment today in those kind of services leads to greater cost and suffering tomorrow.

This proposal is not just about taxes, it's about sustaining a quality of life, safety, and opportunity that makes Chattanooga the great community it is.

The proposed property tax adjustment represents an investment in our shared future.

While no one welcomes higher costs, the measure ensures we can retain police officers and firefighters, maintain critical infrastructure, and provide support for families on the edge of housing insecurity.

These priorities directly intersect with the work of nonprofits, which is too often end up bearing the cost when public systems are underfunded or fail.

Chattanooga has adopted the one Chattanooga plan, and it's clear that investment in critical infrastructure and funding a safety net of services for those who are struggling provides a way forward for all Chattanoogans.

The adjustment is more about than about dollars and cents.

It's about keeping Chattanooga a safe community where families can thrive, strong city services, give every child and neighbor a chance at a better future.

Thank you.

Thank you, Donna.

What district?

I'm from uh district three.

Um, I just want to read this out.

Uh the people of Hamilton County deserve the truth.

We aren't getting it.

You told citizens property taxes are going down, and that's a lie.

The truth is assessments doubled and assessments and tax bills double.

No amount of slick wording or lower rates changes that.

It's not leadership, it's manipulation.

If you had been transparent from the start and told people yes, there will be a tax increase.

We could have had an honest debate about how much, but doubling taxes, it's not fair.

Now, let me be clear.

I support and respect our police officers and firefighters.

I have many of them that are my friends.

But this is a Trojan horse who using them as cover to push through a massive tax graph that benefits city leadership.

And here's the problem.

The police department already raised salaries before this hike.

They've advertised it themselves.

$60,000 starting pay, a take-home and other benefits with only a high school diploma required, and far too often an aggressive attitude towards the very citizens they that they're supposed to protect.

That's more than what they're that's more than what many hardworking college graduates in this county earn starting out.

So don't tell me this increases for first responders.

That's just another excuse.

Meanwhile, families are being crushed, including mine.

Everything is unaffordable.

If property taxes double, landlords will also raise rent, and renters will suffer as well.

It's already takes two incomes just to cover housing with one person's entire monthly income often going straight towards rent or a mortgage.

And if you have kids, it's worse.

I personally pay over $3,000 a month just for daycare for my three-year-old and 10-month-old, so my wife and I can both work.

Families are already desperate, and you want to make it worse.

That's why I'm demanding a full independent audit of city and county spending.

Show us where every dollar is going before you take one more cent from us.

Right.

Thank you so much, sir.

And could you state your name, please?

Daniel Bradley.

All right, thank you so much.

Hello, my name is Beta Bagayavaggie, and I live at 1816 South Holly Street.

I'm a student at UTC and I currently serve as a student student body president for the 25-26 school year.

I'm not only a student of the university, but I'm also a resident of the Highland Park community.

Thank you to the council for allowing me to speak today.

As a student, we see firsthand how investments or lack of them shape our daily lives and our futures.

Community centers, libraries, parks, and safe streets are not just services, they are the foundations that allow young people to learn, grow, and stay in Chattanooga after graduation.

When our city invests in housing, job training, and crime prevention, it creates pathways for students and young professionals to build stable, thriving lives here.

That's why I strongly support Mayor Kelly's a place where students and families alike can feel safe, connected, and supported.

Cutting this budget would only weaken essential services and also send a message to students and young people that Chattanooga is unwilling to invest in its future.

We deserve a Chattanooga that invests in us, not one that undermines opportunities with short-sighted cuts.

The 1.93 plan is a responsible compromise, lowering the tax rate while keeping Chattanooga resilient, competitive, and welcoming to the next generation of leaders who want to call this city home.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair, Council.

My name is Leanne Wiles.

I live at 1309 Woodhill Drive in District 2.

I want to thank you all.

I've I've mentioned this to all of you individually, but thank you all for your thoughtful consideration through this process throughout the entire budget process.

I'm a member of the community advisory committee through the Department of Community Development.

I'm a board secretary of Head Start, which is under the Department of Early Learning, and I'm president of my neighborhood association, where the Department of Neighborhood Services and staff from other departments consistently show us support.

But the reason that I'm so involved and the reason that I'm here today is the dream of one Chattanooga.

I graduated from Hickson High School and I moved away for 30 years.

When I returned, I felt lucky to live here.

And then I read the One Chattanooga plan, and I realized that not everyone is lucky to live here.

We still have two Chattanooga's and the communities that have long been disadvantaged remain so today.

Steep inflation has hit every department while record numbers of new residents are moving in.

The city is being asked to do more for more people with much less.

And city departments provide essential services, maintain infrastructure, support economic vitality, and sustain our quality of life.

Any change is going to be hard, but what matters most to me is who it will hit the hardest.

And historically under-resourced communities will feel cuts to services the most.

As our needs outweigh our current revenue.

When it comes to the management of fiscal affairs, I would give you some unsolicited advice that my father gave me as a young man.

That being, you can keep up better than you can catch up.

The city finds itself in the posture of catching up because the administrators of the purse strings over the years did not keep up.

Now the burden falls upon you.

I do understand that we are not dealing with infinite dollars.

Furthermore, I know that we are dealing with taxpayers.

However, raising the salaries of Chattanooga PD and FIA to be competitive within our region is a must.

I have lived in three different states and five different cities due to ministry, and I have never seen policemen and firemen and women have to hustle so hard for their money.

Likewise, the additional dollars raised beyond what is needed for police and fire aid other necessities, such as community centers, sidewalks, and the paving of streets, which are not luxury items.

What kind of city would we be to brag about high-speed internet but lack functional community centers, or to boast of our aquarium, yet to stumble on the sidewalks on our way to the aquarium, or to buy a brand new Volkswagen from one of our largest employers only to have the front end torn apart because of potholes.

Therefore, I ask that you would play and look and understand that it is better to keep up than to catch up.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

I'm Harriet Whitaker.

I'm a resident of the Great District 8, and I want to say how much I appreciate the work that all of you do for our city.

Since my husband and I moved here in 2013, we've been impressed with both the growth and the quality of life we found in Chattanooga.

We see that much of the time our elected officials work together to sustain our city as a kind of place where people who were born here choose to stay, and others choose to move here because we work together to make the city better for all of us.

As a realtor, I know that our reasonable cost of living is a key factor.

People see that our tax rate sustains the city's services and resources that benefit every one of us.

Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining those services has increased, just like our grocery bills and the cost of virtually every service we pay for.

We deserve a Chattanooga that's safe, with good roads and quality services, and representatives with the courage to support a fair and affordable property tax proposal that will ensure that our city is appropriately resourced.

There's a strong argument for holding the millage rate where it's been for the last four years, but the 1.93 rate is a quality compromise plan that lowers the tax rate while ensuring Chattanooga has the resources it needs to remain a great city.

I trust that our elected officials will do the right thing and support the mayor's plan to keep Chattanooga strong and growing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I am William Ladd III, and I'm representing First Baptist Church and First Baptist Cares as president in the Great District 8.

I stand today to support the mayor's compromise millage rate proposal from 1.99 to 1.93.

In my 16 years as a citizen of Chattanooga, I've seen the city grow, evolve, and face challenges with resilience.

And someone deeply, and as someone who is deeply invested in this community, I believe our collective voice and active participation are key to shaping a stronger future for all Chattanoogans.

In my view, the collective voice and active participation includes allocating resources to growth and the flourishing of all Chattanoogans.

The 1.93 Miller's rate proposal is a positive step in that direction because it represents a commitment to funding the essential services and infrastructure that support our city's long-term well-being.

Our police officers and firefighters deserve to be compensated fairly for the critical work that they do to keep our city safe.

Affordable housing is a significant challenge facing Chattanooga's working families and seniors.

The 1.93 compromise plan will allocate resources to preserve affordable housing for present and future residents.

There are those who say taxes are too high during a time when their property values are at historic highs.

I was raised by people who instilled in me, to whom much is given, much is required.

Meaning when we are fortunate enough to see our property values rise and our personal wealth grow, we have a shared responsibility to invest in the community that made that growth possible.

Thank you for the time, for your time, and let's work together, continue making Chattanooga a city that works for everyone.

Sorry.

Good afternoon, y'all.

My name is Jeremiah Chambers.

I'm a resident of the Great District 8 as well, but I'm also a junior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Council members, I come to speak to you today in support of our mayor's plan.

This plan is greater than politics.

It's greater than policy, it's greater than creed, race, and color.

But I want to talk to you also about the spirit of collaboration.

As a born and raised Chattanoogan, I was taught with the values that working together, of building bridges, and sitting across the table from someone who you disagree with, only to find out that you have more in common than you do, they sorry than you do this than you do in disagreement with them.

Because at the end of the day, we discover that our city represents the spirit of commonality, the series, sorry, the spirit of making things work in the spirit of a truly strong city.

Yet in a world, in a world of division that often dominates the largest scenes in front of us, we've chosen not collaboration and any total.

We've chosen to tear down ourselves right in front of us.

And here are sorry, I'm here in support of our mayor's budget because this budget does more than just balance numbers.

It invests in people, it invests in equity and invests in the future of Chattanooga that I want to live in.

Yet our sorry, this budget ensures that the most disadvantaged communities are no longer left behind, that raises for our salaries while our first responders are upheld to, the men and women who protect our city every single day.

It strengthens our Family Justice Center, providing them with essential support and staff that they need to support needy families.

And it provides crucial support for our city officers that are struggling with battling inflation that they have been struggling with for years upon end.

These are not just mere investments for only one neighborhood in our or one district.

These are for every neighborhood, every community, every district in our great city.

Every council member should encourage with the spirit of collaboration working together and making sure that we can pass a tax rate that is probable and that is reasonable for all citizens.

I like to remind you that cities like Nashville, Knoxville, and even just up the road from us, Red Bank have done the similar things like this and have taken less time and represented their communities well.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Emily O'Donnell, and I work in District 7.

I'm here to ask for your support of Mayor Kelly's 1.93 proposed amendment.

As an attorney for Legal Aid Abuse Tennessee and the Eviction Prevention Initiative, I know that families in our community are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of everything, and I understand your desire to reduce costs and taxes.

However, the mayor's proposed budget amendment is a thoughtful and wise investment in our city's future, not just a series of expenditures.

Investments in infrastructure, services, and public safety ensure high rates of return.

An independent cost benefit analysis of the eviction prevention initiative estimated conservatively that every one dollar of public money invested in the program yields $4.84 cents in return in public dollars.

Eviction doesn't just burden the families that lose their homes, it burdens our hospitals, our schools, and our mental health resources.

People who have been evicted earn less and pay less in taxes.

The children who have been evicted have reduced educational outcomes and earn less over their careers.

Eviction prevention initiative attorneys expect to represent over 500 families in the next year that will not only help those families but will yield over 2.4 million dollars back to the city taxpayers.

Thank you for your commitment to investing in our future.

Good evening.

My name is Jessica Stewart, and I'm the president of SEIU Local 205.

Our address is 3922 Volunteer Drive.

I'm here tonight to speak on behalf of Chattanooga City employees, and we ask that you support and fully fund the mayor's proposed budget.

This budget includes our proposal to increase the pay for those employees who are subject to being placed on call.

This affects everyone from electricians to truck drivers, maintenance workers, fire and police, just to name a few.

Being on call means you give up your normal freedoms of movement.

You have to stay home and or near a phone in case you're called on to respond.

When the recent flood event in Chattanooga, in many cases, the men and women who were working on these issues were not only those on regular shifts, but those who were on call.

They made sure that they were available, they responded, and they did their jobs.

Employees who are on call provide a critical service to the citizens of Chattanooga and deserve to be fairly compensated for that.

The current on-call pay of $10 per day has not changed in 10 years.

I think we can agree that these employees' time is worth more today than it was 10 years ago.

There's been a lot of talk among this amongst the city council about what is critical in this budget.

The time that the men and women give up to be ready and to respond to emergencies is critical to them and their families.

The calls for service from citizens of Chattanooga are critical to the safety and security of all who live here.

And the services that the employees of Chattanooga provide after hours are absolutely critical.

We ask that you support the mayor's proposed budget and fully fund this improvement to on call and callback pay so that the hardworking men and women of the city of Chattanooga can feel their time is appreciated and rightly compensated.

Thank you.

My name is Michael Whitfield.

I live in District 4.

I'm also president of my homeowners association.

And I'm commenting on two things here.

Of course, the tax taxes is proposed here for and increase for police and firemen.

I agree they do need to be paid, all the city can afford.

But I'm gonna suggest something.

I don't know if you have, but this is my suggestion on this, and that's why I'm gonna comment on still across the board raises structure, salaries should be based on, I feel I don't know if you've considered this on duties, performance as for private business does.

My previous my career for 40 something years was a department manager, and it was based on performance and uh and private business as salary monthly and annually too.

Uh and the city tax in if city tax increases approved by taxes increase, my tax city taxes will go up 32 percent.

I'm I'm I'm a fixed I'm fixed income.

Uh and and uh from what 401k, you know, that's fixed income, and I I have annuities I draw in retirement, but to Social Security, the maximum it ever goes up is maybe two percent.

Uh and this would be a hard blow to me.

One of the reasons my wife is in a memory care facility, and that's a large chunk of money that I I've been paying now for about seven seven, a little over seven months.

And of course, the the uh, and of course there's no Medicare through Blue Cross as I have it.

No, none of that's paid by there.

That's strictly mine that I have to pay, and then of course the tax increase would be a large blow.

I do qualify now for a course a tax freeze under the city that was just increased.

But my my question is gonna be and somebody can answer this later.

Why can't the tax my flat tax freeze be based on what I paid for taxes in 2024?

All right, Mr.

Whitfield.

And and who decides that whether it's 2024 or now, is that a decision made by council or is it made by Mr.

Whitville?

You your two minutes are uh we want to make sure we have room for everybody.

Okay.

All right, thank you so much.

We appreciate you.

Is my time up?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Hi, my name is William Lloyd, and I'm a resident of District 4.

Um, this is the cover of the city's annual outside financial audit.

Uh the most recently published audit as of fiscal year in June 30, 2024, shows that the general fund has discretionary, purely discretionary funds in it of 152.9 million dollars.

Now we hear a lot about inflation and it's ravaged the city, but during periods of inflation, the city has allowed this general fund pot to build to almost 153 million dollars.

Rhetorically, how has this government allowed that much of a war chest to accrue when the needs for public service and our public servants are so obvious and have been known for years?

That kind of a crude war chest would indicate the taxpayers may have been overtaxed.

And so the question comes in if this is approved.

Are going to continue to see this general fund discretionary amount increase and not be used?

What I would ask is as a taxpayer is for transparency.

Tell the taxpayers why do we have this much money and why are we not using it for the needs that are very obvious and are sitting in this room?

To have our police chief and fire chief and our public servants have to come essentially begging for a raise, is just not it's not proper.

And so, in addition to transparency, I would ask on behalf of all taxpayers, use the money you already have in your treasury before you look at increasing taxes.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Blake Wright, and I'm running Ron Elliott's district, District 11.

And first off, I'd just like to say I do not know why so many cops and police are here.

Y'all gonna get paid, okay?

Both the plans.

Um, so like obviously they're gonna get their money, but the question is how are we gonna pay for it?

And so far that I'm aware of, there's Henderson's, that's 1.69, and you know, there's the mayor's, that's 1.93.

Now, I everyone in the year of our Lord 2025 knows we're hurting, like working class people are hurting, we don't have affordable housing.

And I just feel that from my understanding, Henderson, the plan that you have created, Ron Elliott did not like it because it has blanket cuts, right?

So I'm asking for you and for Jenny Hill to work together with Ron to look at the line item cuts he's already pulled out because district or sorry, district nine trust.

I was thinking of my county district earlier.

Uh District 9 trust Ron Elliott to look at what you know is being spent now and look at responsibly as someone who's from District 9 who's going to be hit hard by these cuts, as a working class individual who does not yet own his own home and should be you know able to buy one in his own district.

And as someone who is a black man in a majority black working class district, I think his input could be very valuable to that.

And so if there are cuts that equal 1.69, like the number you y'all have agreed on, I feel like that would be a worthy proposal that you know pays these people what they deserve to get paid while also protecting the working class in Chattanooga.

And so I'm just here to ask for that.

And um, I tried to call y'all beforehand and I wasn't able to reach you, but I left voicemails, so like work it out with yourselves.

Thank you.

Uh good afternoon.

My name is Joe Degatano.

I live in District 2 on Westwood Avenue.

Um, I'm here to ask two things.

I'm here to ask that y'all take care of the fire and police, give them the raise, but I'm also asking you to be careful with everybody's money.

The fire and police also pay property taxes, so it we don't want to give them with one hand and take with the other.

Everybody in this city is going to feel a large property tax increase.

And I say large because we hear a lot about the raises to the fire and police, and I uh they deserve it 100%.

Um give them more if you'd like.

But as I saw those figures up there, my quick calculation showed about 47% of the mayor's proposed additional revenue was for fire and police.

That was raises, I think a truck or two, and maybe uh something about take-home cars.

I'm not sure it was up there briefly.

But if that's only 47% of the total the mayor wants, then I think there is room for compromise between where comp where council members Henderson and Davis and Hill have proposed the 1.69 rate.

I would just ask you all to come together and put roll up your sleeves and do a little bit more hard work because we can take care of the fire and police, we can also take care not to jack up prices on everything in this city when inflation is already out of control.

And when I say jack up prices, the lands landlords are going to pass this tax increase on to the tenants.

They are.

The commercial tenants, many, if not all of them, already have triple net leases, which means they pay the property taxes.

So what does that mean?

Well, they're gonna have a higher bill that they have to pay, and they're gonna increase the prices on everything that they sell.

So prices are going to go up.

We can have services, we can have the best fire and police available, and we can treat them well, but we can also come to a compromise that doesn't just add another $34 to everybody's bill.

That's not nothing for a family that's coming in on fumes every month.

Just keep that in mind.

$34, what's that?

Perhaps that rents the students' band instrument for the month, and now it's gone.

Thank you very much.

Good evening, Council members and everyone in the room.

Good to see y'all this evening.

Uh, my name is Sharonda Brown.

I'm the founder of Sister R in and Friends, creator of Hooked on Healing 423.

Why am I here today?

Because we targeted our company targeted the inner city community.

37406, 37410, uh Avondale, East Chattanooga in those areas, so that we could make a difference.

We know that crime is high in those areas, and we know that that community is underserved and under-resourced.

What we did was took our kids out of the city and took them to the river, to the lake.

And what we called it was hooked on healing 423.

The children of Chattanooga, Tennessee, our inner city kids went viral, right?

For healing.

They went viral for teaching people how to meditate.

They went viral for teaching people how to fish.

They went viral for canoeing.

They went viral for journaling, right?

These things are the things that I would I want to come today to say thank you to the city of Chattanooga, thank you to Dr.

Morahaj at the Office of Community Health for supporting our initiatives.

These kids are asking every day for additional help.

Mental health therapy.

Do you know how hard that is to get these kids, these inner city kids, not to rap.

They rapped.

We did all of that.

We did all of those things that fit into our culture.

But the bigger piece here, guys, is our city and our kids need healing.

My name is Sharonda.

I'm with Susta RN and Friends Incorporated.

I'm looking for partnerships and continuation.

I'm also looking to partner with more cops because we did have cops.

We had nurses.

I am a registered nurse by background, graduated from University of Tennessee.

I also went to Brainerd High School, want to plug my high school.

And I just like to thank you guys and want to see that partnership.

Please give these people a raise.

They definitely need it.

Uh and thank you for having me.

Thank you, Sharon.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Sharon.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

I'm gonna speak for some of the seniors, and the senior to me is over 80, not 65.

And I just fail to understand how our real estate jumped so much, really since COVID.

And I know it affects everybody because everybody lives somewhere.

Your rents have gone up, housing has gone up, and all of a sudden I'm in an expensive home that I never even moved into at that rate.

So 25% increase on taxes for me is a lot.

We were self-employed, have very small social security coming in.

It's very limited income.

I live off of savings that we've accumulated.

It's hard for me on a 25% increase on a price of home that I can't believe I live in.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Ma'am.

Ma'am, excuse me.

What I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

Vivian, okay, because I know I talked to you on how history.

One.

Okay.

Thank you.

Hi.

Good afternoon, Council members.

My name is Catalina Kay.

I am a mother, a fire wife, and a Chattanoogan.

I'm here to give you insight into my husband's schedule and the danger it poses on the city safety.

Well, I'm out well, I'm at home putting out little fires on the other side of town.

My husband's running into literal fires, lifting the fallen elderly, and handling every other emergency in every one of the neighborhoods that you represent.

After his 24-hour shift, he comes home and he heads out to Mow Lawns.

Once he's finished with that, he comes back to take a nap if our toddler allows him to.

Then he's off to work his night job.

On average, he works 109 hours a week.

The exhaustion from that schedule is not just unhealthy, it's dangerous.

Public safety is compromised when firefighters are forced to work multiple jobs on top of their department uh shifts.

Along with stretched schedules, staffing poses a threat to community safety.

It's crucial for Fire Station 21 to be a double company station.

In 1976, when Station 21 opened, the East Brainerd area's population was an estimated 24,000.

The current population is 52,000.

That's a 96% increase, and it's only continuing to grow with all the new development.

This doesn't include unincorporated East Brainerd, where Station 21 provides mutual aid to both TRICOM as well as Catoosa County.

East Brainerd is too populated to only have a one company station.

We need staffing.

We need more staffing, or the amount of calls is going to burn out our firefighters.

Chattanooga Fire Department proves their dedication to the city every single day, not only in emergencies, but also at community events like touch a truck, fundraisers, and school safety demonstrations.

Our firefighters do so much more for the community than most people ever see.

So the question isn't what can our firefighters do for our community, but rather what can our community do for our firefighters to ensure that safety remains a top priority.

We're not asking to get rich from serving our neighbors.

They're asking for more time with their families.

They're asking not to choose between paying a bill and putting a balanced meal on the table.

So I ask that you please back Mayor Kelly's proposal because our firefighters are people too.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

And as we've heard so much great information and uh opinions and people's stance on where they're at, I'm standing here and not telling you which budget to take or which position to take.

What I am asking is as you're considering which route you're going, that you come up with something that's a long-term permanent plan.

Um a lot of times we fix things for right now, before five years from now, we'll be right back in here on the same issues valuing the same thing.

So I asked you all, as you all know your district, you know your constituents, and many of you have studied these budgets, that you look at something that's going to be sustainable and not something that fixes right now, but something that's going to be continuous long out the, you know, if you stay here or you don't be here or whatever, that is still moving forward, and that we're not coming here saying, well, the last person didn't do this and do that.

So I asked all of you as you look at this.

Is whatever you're going to choose, is it going to be sustainable for the future, not just for 2025, but 2026, 27, 20 on down the road.

I think that is a part of being responsible to that.

This is sustainable and not just a quick fix for right now.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Edward Hewitt, I also live in Ron's district.

Um, to keep it short and sweet, I really don't understand why we're worried about the police and firefighters.

We have established we are going to fund you guys.

You're getting your money.

So let's focus on the rest of the city, please, because that's what we're here to talk about.

How are we funding everything else?

Thanks.

Have a good night.

Thank you.

My name is Sabrina Daniel.

My address is 4410, Maryland Drive.

Not sure about which district.

Um I've spoken down before, but I just want to bring out a couple of things that I learned in the ADCOC committee meeting.

And one is that we have a lot of positions that are not filled.

And they've not been interviewed for.

I just learned a little bit about that today.

You know, if we have a huge discretionary fund, it seems to me like we should go into at least part of that before again, we raise taxes.

Um folks are really concerned about their specific district.

The problem is that even if we've committed, someone is committed to services.

There are some people in your district who've lived in their homes for generations, generations, generations.

A home is more than brick and mortar.

And some of them will be run out of their homes.

So I just pray that you consider both of those things before that we work compromise.

That everybody gives just a little bit so that nobody has to suffer a whole lot.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Council Jeff Miller and I serve all of our citizens in every district.

I've had the opportunity to work directly with most of you on a range of public safety projects.

I've talked through security measures for city council meetings with you and helped address other safety concerns to protect each of you and the public during these meetings.

I've had conversations with you during campaign season about how hard it is to recruit and retain officers when our pay isn't competitive.

I've worked with you to implement drone technology to reduce loud disruptive vehicle traffic in neighborhoods.

I've shared how our drone first responder program can help combat violent crime in neighborhoods that need the most support.

I partner with you to support your special events, protecting the public and minimizing risk to the community so that they can participate without fear.

I've even sat with you all during these exact meetings to ensure the meetings in this room are safe and orderly.

And I put myself in a position to immediately respond.

If we stay the lowest paid, we will stay the least staffed.

Officers are taking on more responsibility, longer hours, and getting less compensation in return.

And if we only match surrounding agencies, we'll still lose officers because the workload here is much heavier.

We don't just need to catch up, we need to lead.

More now than ever since Hampton County Sheriff's Office released a starting salary of $62,000 a year for officers.

The Chattanooga Police Department has always been held to a higher standard and rightfully so.

But if we expect CPD to leave through innovation through specialized training and through the work we've all done together to keep this city safe, our compensation must lead to.

The expectations are already there.

We're just asking for the investment to match.

I'm proud to be an officer of the Chattanooga Police Department.

I want to keep doing this work for our community and for you all, but we need your support.

Good afternoon to all.

I'm Sergeant Ernest Crawl, the Chattanooga Police Department Special Operations Support Bureau Community Outreach.

As a 28th year venture to the Chattanooga Police Department, I've been privileged to watch the growth of this city from Ross's land and growth from a local landmark to a nationally known tourist site along the Tennessee River.

You know what I haven't seen growth?

The noble Chattanooga Police Office serving this city.

To help ensure the safety and the growth, the growing community, the people of and the people that visit this city, we need to not only recruit but also retain good police officers.

No police officer that puts their life on the line every day should have to work three or four extra jobs just to take care of their families.

Think about that.

And we still have to go to work.

As a library resident of this great city, I strongly urge you to help maintain the safety of our city.

To hear, thank you for your service.

It's very kind, and we thank you.

Now's the time to act upon that statement.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, council members.

My name is Sydney Cassavant.

I've been a patrol officer with the city for over six years now.

And since 2020, I've been a member of our peer support team along with other officers.

As a peer support team member, I take on the responsibility as well as other officers take on the responsibility of checking in on the mental health of our officers on a day-to-day basis.

Every day I watch our guys witness and carry some of the most unimaginable horrors the city has to offer.

I see them needing breaks and time off.

I talk to them about taking time away from work, time to heal and release pieces of the trauma they've been carrying, knowing good and well these men will not.

Too many times I've heard I can't afford it.

I've seen officers get bruised and banged up on calls for service, but they brush it off and come to work hurting because they know that taking leave from work means taking money from their families.

The money from our salaries, not alone, us alone, not enough.

So officers are forced to work overtime or find extra employment elsewhere.

The stress officers deal with throughout their careers.

Men and women who are passionate about their jobs.

Men and women who find joy and purpose in serving their community.

However, when those men and women have to find a balance between salaries and purpose, those people have no choice but to choose their family's health and well-being and leave for higher compensation.

When I began my career, I signed up for a job that paid 36,000 a year, working long hours, expecting little to no gratitude with the possibility, probability of injury or death.

I've never believed that careers with power should include high sums of money.

However, I do not believe that what we've been asking for regarding this raise continues a high sum, constitutes a high sum.

I believe what we've been asking for is fair and reasonable.

I fear that if there are no significant changes, if there's only the bare minimum change, the Chattanooga Police Department will see a mass exodus.

Leaving the city to save itself.

Okay.

This raises so much more than higher paychecks.

This raise is an investment in the future of our city.

I hate to do it too.

No, you're does it.

No, I love you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Benjamin Piazza.

I'm a sergeant with the Chattanooga Police Department.

I currently work in the intelligence division as a supervisor for the real-time intelligence center.

Council members, thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

I've been a police officer since 2008, the same year I became a husband, and two years before I became a father.

In 2012, my wife and I fell in love again, this time with Chattanooga.

And we moved here to raise our family and make an impact.

I joined the Chattanooga Police Department in 2013, and I've never looked back.

Through CPD, I've built strong connections with the Tennessee Department of Child Services and local foster and adoptive networks.

In 2020, despite COVID, we opened our home as a foster family.

By 2023, our family of five grew to eight through adoption.

Today I'm the proud father of six incredible children.

Grateful for every day for this job bringing them into our lives.

But in those challenges, my wife and I found purpose.

We've been able to support other first responders and their families facing the same struggles, turning our trials into a way to help others serve the community even better.

One stress I hear most from these officers is financial strain.

Combined with the daily pressures of the job, it can be overwhelming.

I work alongside incredible officers with servants' hearts, and I don't want to see them leaving C at PD simply because another agency offers higher pay.

The people of Chattanooga deserve the very best officers.

And those officers deserve the best we can do to keep them here, serving from a place of strength, compassion, and integrity.

We can't afford to wait until we lose them to realize their worth, our worth.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Joseph Fogg.

At the end of my second year as a police officer, I had attended a training for critical stress debriefing with several other CPD officers.

Training included departments from across the state, including Memphis, Nashville, and other large departments.

During the training, they showed a list, they showed us a list of the 25 most traumatic experiences a police officer can experience.

As a two-year officer, I'd already experienced 21 of them and some multiple times.

The CPD officers I was with all had similar numbers, with one having experienced 25 of the 25.

I had his time at CPD.

The next highest after us was in the teens.

CPT officers do the most work and experience the most monotramatic calls with the least pay in our region.

In my time in this department, I have watched us lose many highly qualified officers to other departments do solely to pay and officers needing to support their families.

We ask you to pass the budget amendment proposed by Mayor Tim Kelly to fairly compensate Chattanooga's first responders.

Thank you.

So I do want to note that we are right at the one hour mark.

Um and we do want to continue to hear your public comments.

Could I just have a quick show of hands of who all still in chance to speak so we engage our time?

Okay.

I'll choose the way I see the line.

Who's not in line?

I'm so sorry.

Okay.

Anybody else that plans to speak?

You already spoke.

Get it.

Yeah, you gotta wait till next week now.

But we'll be here next week doing the same thing.

Uh so is this everybody in line?

That's who's speaking.

Is anybody else planning to speak?

All right.

Yeah, you can see.

We love you.

You can't.

I wasn't gonna hold you back.

You know I'm not going to pay.

He's gonna be the caboose.

So this man right here with his purple shirt, right?

Hands, they let the people see you.

Yay.

So he's a caboo.

So if you plan to speak, um just get in front of him.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

So we pay right here.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Andrew Peker.

I'm the director of training for the Chattanooga Police Department.

I was gonna start with a please, but I actually want to start with a thank you to everybody in this room, to council.

Um we know we are supported, and we appreciate that.

And you have all made this not a thankless job, and we appreciate that.

Uh, as part of my role as a training director, I talk to all of the officers that leave, whether they're retired or resigning.

Um, they turn in all their gear, we have a conversation, and many times now I see tears welling up in their eyes.

They don't want to go, they don't want to leave.

CPD is a family, they want to be here, they know that this city supports them, and they chose to be here.

And it hurts them to have to make the decision to leave.

These officers have to explain to their families why they want to work for CPD when the same job at departments in any direction are going to pay them far more money.

I can't tell them how to explain that to their families.

I myself work three jobs.

I work in a movie theater, I work at Erlinger Hospital, and I'm a police officer.

I'm tenured, I'm not going anywhere, but I can tell you that it hurts to know that if I worked anywhere else, I'd probably only work one job, and that is priceless to my wife and my three kids.

CBD officers, as was just stated, we're exposed to a lot more calls, more death, more trauma than any of any other agency around here.

We're busier, that's okay.

We get that, but we do it for a lot less money.

We want to be here, we want to serve.

Now, my pleas.

Please fix this problem with our pay and maintain it.

Uh I respect that this is difficult for the taxpayers.

I am one.

Um, but I also know we are appreciated, and I appreciate your attention.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening.

I'm Sergeant Brown, but I'm also Officer Brown on the other side.

Okay.

I've been with a department for two and a half years now.

I've also been with a department for my whole life.

My father served 30 years with the department.

He dedicated his whole life to it, never looked back.

However, as a child, I had to observe him work six extra jobs just so we could support two children.

You know what it's like to where you can't even see your own father every night because he has to go.

There's many days, weeks.

I wouldn't even be able to see him more than five, ten minutes.

When he picks me up, drops me off for school.

Because he had to work six extra jobs.

That's hard on somebody.

That's hard on the family.

I don't blame him.

I know he had to do what he had to do.

I know it probably led to why you had to have a divorce and split up the family.

That happens because you're overstressed and you're overworked and you're underpaid.

Six extra jobs is not what we should be working.

We should only have to work one job.

And I'll go ahead and put it in perspective.

I've been with the department for two and a half years, like I said.

I already have to work multiple extra jobs myself just to be able to afford.

We start out at 44 for the academy, go up to 48.

Those numbers are not very good.

Rent alone is about 1200, 1300 bucks just to live when it was the 25 mile radius within the city limits.

We can't afford to do that.

And I hope to put in perspective to help with everybody else.

Because I hate seeing people come into work, be upset, not be able to do anything, and then us get blamed for not having proactive stuff.

We we're tired.

We can't be proactive if we're tired and we're overworked and underpaid.

And I would like to retire from this as soon as possible.

I'm tired of being.

I'd like just my one job because I love the city of Chattanooga.

However, when other agencies, such as county is 62,000, it's hard to pass up on that opportunity.

And I know so many of my teammates are the same way.

So thank you.

Good evening.

Good evening, council members and sir.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today.

My name is Officer Curtis Botcha.

And in those seven years, I've served along some very brave and heroic men and women, and I've enjoyed most of it.

This job has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life, and I'm honored and grateful to bear this badge.

On June 24th of this year, I became a father.

Before that day, I don't think I cared one singular ounce about my pension plan or my salary.

All I knew is that I had one of the best jobs a man could ask for, and at times I could not believe that I was paid to do it.

However, when I saw the face of my baby girl, my priorities changed.

My career, which had been until that moment until that moment entirely me focused, became redirectorate.

My chief aim became the sustainment of my family.

After all, what good is the impact I have on my city if I cannot provide for my wife and daughter?

While this job is more than enough to keep me busy, it is not the only one I have, in addition to patrol duties.

I work extra jobs providing security for my church, community events, and occasionally terribly inconvenient road closures.

As I said before, I love my job, but its salary has not been enough to live off of.

This reality is driving me to make hard choices to support my family, chief among them, whether to stay at the agency I love or pursue other opportunities.

I have a bachelor's degree, I'm a registered paramedic, Yablo and Paquito Espanyol.

And as a mil as a member of the military special operations community, I've been trained to the highest standards of tactics and of medicine.

With my background, I have constant opportunities to utilize my training status and certifications elsewhere, doing jobs that make me enough money to support my family.

Yet I stay because I love my job.

I care about this department, and I see the potential here for excellence.

This raise that our administration and unions are fighting for is not abstract.

With it, we have the opportunity to recruit and retain talented police officers who hold the line and maintain the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.

I love this badge and I have high expectations for the people who wear it.

Do not make us scrape the bottom of the barrels for other agencies leftovers.

There is too much stake in this line of work.

I myself am hopeful for the possibility of a competitive salary because I don't want to leave this department.

Give me what we need to support our families, and we'll gladly stay.

Good evening, council.

My name is Chris Melonix, and I've been the FOP president for the past four years.

Those of you who were on the council in 2021 may remember when I came before you and explained how our low pay at that time was hurting the men and women of the Chattanooga Police Department and the city.

I can with complete confidence tell you that we are in worse shape in 2025 than we were in 2021.

Our numbers have continued to decline, our services continue to be impact, and we are severely deteriorating both in staff and in morale.

This is extremely disheartening.

We now have a command staff that is trusted by the men and women doing the work.

We have a mayor who prioritizes public safety and fair compensation for first responders.

What we do not have is competitive pay.

We have 71 operational vacancies.

Those vacancies equate to empty districts, slower response times, and a more dangerous city.

I was talking to one of our task force officers the other day.

He told me that in the last few months he has been a part of seizing 30 kilos of meth and eight kilos of fentanyl.

He looked at me and said, Imagine what we could do if we were able to fill the other four positions.

The residents of Chattanooga deserve to have police officers who are highly qualified, highly motivated, and highly trained.

We are not attracting enough of these individuals because we are the lowest paid comparable agency in the Southeast.

Just last week we saw the heroics of our CPD officers saving lives during the once-in-a-generational flood.

You've all seen the body camera footage, and you know that these officers made penny on the pennies on the dollars and had to replace hundreds of dollars of their own equipment.

No one signs up to do this job to get rich financially.

We sign up to this job because we believe in helping our community.

We need additional funding for cost of living adjustments, more training, and equipment like vehicles.

We are asking that you, the council, be brave, make the hard decisions, be leaders, explain to your constituents why this is such an important issue, and pass the plan Mayor Kelly has proposed today.

A plan that will send the message to your officers that you care, that you see them, and you appreciate the valuable services that they provide.

Hi, I'm Stephen Russell.

I'm a uh citizen of uh District 3, and I'm a city employee, proud to work in the wastewater department.

And I'm also a member of SEIU Local 205.

My president uh eloquently spoke earlier, so I won't try to top her, but uh I just want to remind folks that the we we are we do support our men and women in uniform, but also because they support us.

And what I mean by that is they've they've said we want we need raises and they do need raises as well as the rest of the city, but they want to make sure that the budget does not cause uh folks to lose their job, and we were smart enough to do that, and uh I'm I'm very confident we can do that.

Um, the as far as the on-call pay, I wanted to kind of give people some perspective.

The current uh rate for the last 10 years or so is ten dollars an hour, or ten dollars a day and two hours two hours of callback pay.

Is ten dollars a day worth it to people to miss their their uh kids' baseball game on the weekend or miss a uh family reunion or something like that?

It it doesn't, it doesn't make sense.

We can't keep up uh funding it that way because we're not gonna be able to keep people to uh do those emergency calls.

Um you know, when when the when the folks and the the police, you know, we call them for fighting crime, we fight we call the firefighters for fires, and folks in wastewater, when the boat bio solids hit the fan, you call us.

So, you know, we need to keep that funded.

Um, and in the last few seconds, I also want to stand in solidarity again with our uh members of the UAW and ask the city council uh please support them in any way you uh possible.

And I'm asking my uh city council uh member as well for that, and uh with that, see y'all later.

Thank you.

Hey, John John, District 9.

City Council, you know who I am, everyone else, I'm a frequent flyer here, and uh I'm not here to sew Discord or to um uh or to stoke a binary.

I do want to start off by saying that I used to be a volunteer firefighter, uh, a nationally registered EMT basic.

I have to say that last part because the paramedics would call me out on it if I just said I was an EMT by itself.

Um I've seen the work first responders do, and I know that no matter what we pay them, it can never be enough.

Um, and that it was something that I did for as long as I could, and I didn't continue doing it because of the pay.

Uh at the time it was $13 an hour.

Um I I do also want to say this to make sure that we're clear on things.

From my understanding, both budgets that are proposed today and next week fully fund the firefighters, say and police officers save station 21 being built.

So there is some room for creativity and having both of these things funded and possibly discretionary funds helping with the fire department.

So I would like to know if that is a viable option, if that's something that could be looked at.

The second thing is um if they're both being funded, then what is the difference?

And can we make the conversation about that?

Can we make the conversation about what are we standing to lose by not accepting today's budget versus next week's?

So um, as you can see, I haven't chose a side.

I want a discussion on what do we stand to lose because I know, and I don't think it was talked about here, we stand to lose one fire station being built, station 21.

But besides that, police and fire are fully funded.

Um the last thing I want to say is in regards to systems.

This is something we will continue to visit unless we build a city that can sustain itself, its infrastructure, its police officers, and a lot of that is gonna come down to our zoning and our development and our building patterns.

And now you're saying that's the John John I knew to come up here, the one harping on that.

We need to develop responsibly and we need to build more, especially in our urban core in Envil.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys.

I'm out of district one.

I believe the police department's gonna get their bonding under this either budget.

I think that the you guys should be able to look at your waste of a lot of your money.

Um I see public works sometimes setting up the street from my home, sitting four or five trucks sitting all day long.

You know, somebody needs to monitor some of the mint money that's spent, maybe and look at where we've got a lot of waste in different places.

I just know I had a ditch put in, took three years for them to come out and do a job.

You send six men to do a job that should have took two with the half million dollars worth of equipment.

And the policemen are talking about how many jobs they take.

Most people out here working have two to three jobs that they're working also to make ends meet, and I appreciate their services, but the other taxpayers that are out here that's not represented today, they do two to three jobs too to make ends made.

All I have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, before you start, is there anybody else that's going to speak?

Steve is done the booth.

All right.

All right, don't do away nobody.

My name's Stephen West.

Uh I live in my councilman's district five.

Thing I want to say is policemen firemen, they deserve their raise.

Everybody else in the city deserve their race as well.

The thing about it is, you know, they risk their lives.

Everybody's alive to work with the city.

And one way or another.

I work for the public works department.

And as that guy just said, you know, and I'm not gonna tick-tack with him about that.

If he knows what we go through, he wouldn't be saying that.

Because you got to make sure the water flows the right way.

First of all.

Now, right to the fire police.

They deserve their raise.

They risk their life every day.

Because if it wasn't for a fireman and Mr.

Clark knows about it, my mom wouldn't have been here as long as she had if it wasn't the armor.

And I appreciate that.

And the thing about it is the policeman.

I work on a knucklebone truck.

And that's the arm that reaches over to the side and pick it up.

If they see me out there, they cut them lights on.

They stop traffic for me.

And I appreciate everything that y'all do for me.

And I can only speak for me.

I can't speak for the rest of my department.

I just know what they do for me.

And the thing about it is give them their raise.

I'm on the other side of that, and hopefully next year, they put everybody in this budget.

Because everybody in this, everybody in the city is underfunded.

And I and I want to say this.

I call this the Millionaires Club over here.

I've always said that.

And you remember that could set that, remember, long little chip.

It's the Millionaires Club.

Well, they're the one that makes 100 something thousand dollars a year.

And the reason why I say that is because they can make decisions without checking with us.

Checking with the people who need the help.

Because if you want to save money, and I'm gonna say it now.

Cut out this call-in system without our departments.

Go back around, split the city up in four pieces.

Thank y'all.

Right, thank you so much.

Anybody else?

Let's go.

All right, go ahead and get that.

My name is Chris Dooley.

I live at 729 Sherry Cove Road.

I'm in Chip Henderson's uh district.

Uh I'm an old police officer.

Uh 1972, I started as a fireman.

1974, I became a police officer and then served for three additional uh police departments.

I there went on and became a military officer, so I'm retired now.

But I would wanted to put in my two cents about the tax increase on behalf of the police officers and others.

Having done that, I can tell you that they need it.

This is something that police officers and firemen need to do, and they need to be taken care of.

I am concerned, however, about the additional uh uh money that it may be spent to and that the that the government itself maybe should look at how that money is being spent after you've taken care of the police officers and the firemen and others.

We need to have uh trust in the government and to make sure that everything is in a transparent way, a way that makes sense and that we can then get agree in a compromise way in most cases so that we can not only put the burden on taxpayers, but we can also put the burden on the government itself.

So I'd ask you to uh support the nine percent tax increase for the police and fire and not to burden taxpayers any more than you need to for things that are just nice to have and watch out for your senior residents and others that are on a uh fixed income because they don't have the money to be able to pay for all this.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right, all right, with that, I want to thank everyone for coming um to this meeting to the this budget uh public hearing today.

Just as a reminder, we will have another public hearing next week for FY26 budget amendment, Councilman Henderson's alternate proposal re-intent to exceed certified tax rate to 169.

So that'll be next week, same time at 3:30.

And uh, Mr.

Attorney, is there anything else before I end this hearing?

No, ma'am.

Believe you're good.

All right, thank you so much.

With that, thank you all so much.

I'm gonna turn it back over to our Madam Chair Hill to continue our business meeting.

You are welcome to stay because why not be engaged?

Uh, but if you don't, uh you're welcome to leave.

And madam chairs, okay.

We have about about two or three minutes if for those who want to leave.

Okay, well, all right.

It ends the public hearing until next week.

So next week.

I don't know why I get that loud nuclear.

All right, that's it.

I just turned it down.

I don't know why we had somebody standing there as well.

That one is exposed.

Yeah, so Modera and I'm gonna go.

All right, how's it going there now?

I'll flick it this way.

No shouting.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, yeah.

What were you getting?

Oh, wait, that was my very first year.

Yeah, my very first year out of the water.

We thought we were ready because we were making 18.

Yeah, I was not taking that.

Very first looking for a lawyer.

I was getting the walking $65 a month.

It's changed over here.

Do we have really any understanding of what that resolution is?

I thought it's done.

I got one.

Well, I gotta we're gonna drive on the help.

Regardless of what uh thing we did.

I saw those.

I want to make sure that even if the lower one happens, it's not about it.

All right, I'm gonna call this meeting back to order, please.

Council, we are going to be looking at our agenda for today.

You'll take a look at today's agenda.

We have items on our final reading.

Several planning items.

My intent is to take those as a package.

If you have a problem with that and you need us to pull any items, please hit your like.

Okay.

Moving on to ordinances under first reading.

Under wastewater, there is an item item A in District 2.

Um, I would be um amenable as district two representative for a motion in favor of this item.

We also have a wastewater item in district eight, madam vice chair.

Okay, moving into resolutions.

We have a council office resolution, economic development, mayor's office, parks and outdoors, and public works.

Please hit your light if you have any questions about any resolutions.

Yes, sir.

Hit your light.

Is your mic on because I I can't hear you.

Is my mic on?

Because they can't hear you.

Maybe turn your little volume guy up.

Mine is we can my volume is up as far as it'll go.

But his volume's up as high as it'll go.

Okay.

Here, I was thinking you might say, let's just not do agenda and just go straight to the business meeting.

But that's not what he said.

Okay.

All right.

Nobody hit their light for resolutions.

Take a look at purchases, please.

Under purchases, we have several items that are one time capital purchases for public works for equipment.

Sewer.

All right, seeing no lights.

Let's take a look, please, at next week's agenda.

On our two week agenda, there will be a second public hearing with the intent of hearing the alternate proposals.

As well as a capital budget ordinance.

And in the document that Kevin shared in our packet and with the public that will outline the exact expenses that will be going into that capital budget purchase.

Okay, resolutions.

Please hit your light anybody if you have any uh questions or concerns about any resolution items.

All right, looks like we don't have any questions there.

Let's take a look at future considerations, please.

Okay, looks like we are set with that.

Client or we are going to need a short attorney client meeting.

Uh, I think we'll need uh fifteen minutes.

And uh Councilwoman Dotley.

Yes, Madam Chair, you mentioned uh reord is all of these considerations.

Will we have a presentation for that?

Would there be a presentation from administration about that?

Kevin gives a thumbs up.

Okay, yes, we will have a presentation on that when they get closer.

Okay, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thumbs up all around.

Great.

Okay, any other questions?

All right, we will um adjourn until five thirty.

Okay.

Or not adjourn, recess until five thirty.

We are back in session.

Madam Clerk, will you please take the ordinances on final readings?

Items A through F as a package.

Item A, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chap 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's the rezoned property located in the 1000 block of Lupton Drive from RN3 residential neighborhood zone to CC commercial corridor zone subject to certain conditions.

Item B.

We're taking it as packaged.

Item B, an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chap 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's a rezoned properties located at 1721, 1723, 1725, 1735 join a row from CNT neighborhood transition commercial zone and r and one six residential neighborhoods, neighborhood zone to R and three residential neighborhood zones sub to certain conditions.

Item C in ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chap 38 zoning orders.

So it's the rezone property located as 7117 Bonnie Oaks Drive from RN16 residential neighborhood zone to CNT neighborhood transition commercial zone subject to certain conditions.

Item D in order is to amend Chattanooga City Cooper 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's the lift condition number one from ordinance number 13935 of previous case number 2022 0233 on properties located at 4905 and 4907 Patent Town Row and to add a new condition.

Item E in order to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chap 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's the reason property located at 3524 Broad Street from CMM CMU 1 commercial misuse zone to CR regional commercial zone subject certain conditions.

Item F an ordinance to approve corrections to the official zoning map as referenced below.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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

Please hit your light if you've got any questions or comments.

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Ordinances on Dirt First Reading.

Wastewater item A, please.

And ordinance closing and abandoning multiple sanitary sewer easements and the 1500 block commercial street and the 1100 block of Luptonville's crossing, including one a sewer easement beginning at MH number S 118 N001, then it's northeastern eastwardly 3770 feet to MH number S 118 L001.

Number two, a sewer easement beginning at MH number S 118E053, then Southwest 1171 feet to MH number S 118 E306 and number three portions of 30 inch first main and 48 inch gravity sewer easements as described in the attached documentation text map numbers 118 EE 006 118 KE004 007 through 020 118 KE 027 028 and 039 as shown on the attached maps subject certain conditions actually 38 instead of 39 in there the last one 038 38 council thank you council we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second all in favor uh opposed motion passes item b please in ordinance closing and abandoning sanitary sewer and easement in the 400 block of power metal street beginning 20 feet northwest from m number s 146a 019 then's 287 feet to m number s 146 a 020 for a total of 287 linear feet tax map number 146a F 008 as shown on the attached map subject certain conditions thank you council we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second please hit your life you've got any questions or comments all in favor opposed motion passes council i've neglected i believe to get our minutes approved at the top of this agenda so i'd like to get a motion on the minutes please all right minutes will stand without objection thank you all right moving into resolutions item a please a resolution confirmed the appointment of a veronica brine to the city of Chihattanooga Sports Authority Board for District 5 for a term beginning on August 20 2025 and ending on august nineteen twenty thirty one motion to approve council we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second do we have any questions or comments all in favor five opposed motion passes is veronica bryant here today we thank you very much for your service out there on YouTube item b please resolution authorizing the administrative for the department of economic development to enter to an indemnity hold harmless and contribution agreement with due james LLC and substantially the former test and to authorize the pavement of 269 thousand dollars for reimbursement to do James LLC for the placement of lightweight flowable field into the city's rights away at Brawl and 8th streets as necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the

Out there on YouTube.

Item B, please.

Resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Economic Development to enter to an indemnity hold harmless and contribution agreement with due James LLC and substantially the former tax and to authorize the pavement of 269,000 for reimbursement to due James LLC for the placement of lightweight flowable field into the city's rights away at Brawl and 8th Streets as necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the city sidewalks and rights away.

Thank you.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second.

Do I have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Item C.

A resolution authorized the mayor's design to enter into a contract with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and inform attached to be approved by the city attorney pursuant to the interlocal agreement reference and resolution 32562 for real-time traffic management and other expenses related to the 2023 U.S.

Department of Transportations USDOT Smart Grants Program Award with funding through the SMART grants program.

Council approved second.

Thank you.

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

Got any questions or comments, please hit your light.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item D.

A resolution authorizing the administrative for parks and outdoors to apply for and if awarded accept a Tennessee Tourism Enhancement Grant for the Coolidge Park Live and Electric Project in the amount of 100,000 with a funding match not to exceed 100,000 from local private foundation support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Please let me know if you've got any questions or comments.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item E.

A resolution authorizing the administrative for the department public works to approve change order number two with Jay Brennan Construction Inc.

of Dalton, Georgia, relative to contract number E23017201.

City Hall Annex Improvements for Window Trimediate Remediation Rooftop Doorway Weatherproofing and 88 bathroom additions for an increase of 128,973 and 27 cents with a contingency in the amount of $50,000 for a revised amount not to exceed $2,140,130 and 75 cents.

Move to approve.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Let's move on to purchases, please.

Okay.

I have uh six purchases recommended for approval this evening.

The first one is for fleet.

It's a one-time purchase of a of one backhoe loader for use by public works in the amount of 133,564.46 cents.

This purchase will be utilizing the state of Tennessee contract.

The second one is for fleet.

It's a one-time purchase of a GO fill natural gas portable repo fueling station to include maintenance training and shipping used by fleet in the amount of 112,000.

The award will go to onboard dynamics as a manufacturer and so distributor.

Number three is also for fleet.

It's a one-time purchase of three 2026 international dump trucks for use by public works in the amount of 521,523 and 21 cents.

This purchase will be utilizing the source well contract.

Number four is for fleet.

This is a one-time purchase of one 2025 New Holland tractor and roadside mower for use by public works in the amount of 179,000.

This purchase will be utilizing the source well contract.

Number five is also for public for fleet.

It is for uh year four renewal.

CMI equipment sales has requested a four percent increase due to the increase in manufacturing of goods.

The estimated annual spend will be 170,000.

Fleet has approved the increase.

Number six is for wastewater.

This is a one-time purchase of a desuric plug valves.

This so source award will go to Echo Tech as the exclusive authorized distributor in Tennessee in the amount of 66,759 and 50 cents.

I also have one RFP format recommendation.

It's for risk management.

They're seeking a third-party claims administrator for for entry on duty and occupational health programs.

Thank you very much.

All right, second.

Great client council.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Thank you very much.

All right, committee reports.

Councilman Henderson.

No report.

Councilman Davis.

No committee report, but there will be a district three out of all meeting Sunday from two to four at the Hickson Community Center.

And I bet you can guess what we'll be talking about.

Thank you.

Councilman Harvey.

No report.

Councilman Clark.

Thank you.

Um Chairman Hill.

I do have a report for community development.

As you know, over the weekend, we're like, oh, sorry.

Oh.

Oh, we'll get you on mic.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Over the weekend, uh District 5 hosted the flood relief donation drive at Brainerd.

And the in the uh Brainerd community.

And um during the flood, um, one of our rank centers was uh turned into a um shelter and Tuesday night.

We had the pleasure of spending the day up and put Cedric and some other people.

We were out in the community.

It's about 1 a.m.

just assessing the damage and thank you again.

Oh, is it 2 a.m.?

Thank you for that correction.

And so uh our community centers were used as a safe haven for families as we rescued them off of the interstate.

So thank you to public works and the fire department and our police department for doing that level of community development.

Then the that same weekend, we were able to raise a thousand dollars in cash on site and then collected about 22 about 20,000 estimated value of supplies from corporate um donations from Walmart, Home Depot, and others in communities.

I just want to thank the community uh for stepping up and um I hope we will continue to step up even as a council to help those individuals who uh may struggle to pay the deductibles and other flood relief they may need.

Only two percent of Chattanoogans and how much the county have flood insurance.

And district five was all of our districts were impacted, but we I think disproportionately we had some of the according to the 311 data, we were disproportionately impacted.

So anyway, I just want to thank you all for that, and um, and I hope you all continue to show it for each other in those uh matters of uh national natural disaster.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Elliott thank you, madam chair.

Uh District 9 had a successful town hall uh last night.

Thank you, Chairwoman Hill for attending.

Uh Chief Chambers, Chief Knowles, uh Chief Hewitt, and everybody else in attendance.

Cedric was also there.

So thank all city staff that was there to support us.

Um also I want to push this out to the public.

Once again, we are still collecting assessments for those affected by the floods in hopes of getting some type of relief dollars.

Um I think the mayor's office just released their pathway.

You can also continue to send it to our council offices if need be at uh council that's clerk at Chattanooga.gov.

Please send in your information and we'll send it off to the county um in hopes of getting some type of relief dollars from either team or FEMA or who that may be.

I also want to uh really uh thank all of our first responders, public works, parks, everybody else for this last week for really uh coming out and uh showing up for our community.

So I really appreciate you guys for all of that, and that is all, madam chair.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Dotley, yes, thank you so much for my committee report.

Of course, we had our public hearing today for uh fiscal year 26 mayors proposal intent to exceed the certified tax rate to 1.93.

So I just want to thank everyone for their uh participation and the civic engagement that came from that and the civility that came from that.

I appreciate it so much.

Um just a reminder next week we'll have councilman councilman Henderson's intent uh proposal for FY26 um intent to exceed the certified tax rate to 1.69.

That will also be at 330 next week.

Um also to note on August 26th, same day, we will vote on both of those next week.

So we'll vote on vote on the mayor's as well as on councilman Henderson's next week, and then whichever one makes it out of the wash there, we will vote on on September the 9th.

All right, so I just want to make sure everybody was clear and everything, as we won't be here on the second.

Thank you.

All right, that's it.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Okay, councilwoman first.

Thank you, madam chair.

Uh, I do not have a planning and zoning committee, but I do want to make an announcement, a district six announcement that I will have also have a town hall meeting this week.

It'll be Thursday at 6 p.m.

at the Tyner Community Center.

Thank you.

No report.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

All right.

We have now reached the time in our meeting where we are happy to recognize persons who are here and wish to address the council.

Um, if you are here when would like to address the council, please go ahead and line up behind the podium.

And whoever's first in line, do me a favor and pull that light up a little bit higher, because it is right in my eye.

Um is there anybody?

No.

Looks like we've got one or two.

Of course.

Sure.

At the end of each council business meeting, the chair will recognize members of the public who wish to address the council, and here's your rules.

Thank you.

Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized at the microphone up front for that purpose.

Can't have more than three minutes to speak.

And you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quasar judicial authority and not on matters which are not under their authority or regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Uh, do not engage in vulgar or obscene language, nor use the four to personally attack or personally denigrate others and address your comments to the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members.

And lastly, do not engage in disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting which you is prohibited by Tennessee law.

And someone commits that offense if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering.

Having stated those rules, go ahead, Mr.

Bell.

Okay, and uh thank you, uh Mr.

Attorney and uh counsel.

Uh I want to get to this.

I've got so much.

This is the last time I'm ever going to pack my backpack with the life of Monty Bell and haul it around.

It's time for my money.

Uh December of last year, I met with the former chair.

Uh I was leaving the company of a friend of mine, and I said to the former chair, you need to inform District 6 and everyone else to stop the shenanigans.

Apparently, the message didn't go forward.

But in January, beginning of the year, my friend unfortunately became victim of a plane crash that was getting ready to land at the Reagan.

She's talking to you.

Uh the Reagan National Airport uh helicopter flew into her plane.

But while she was here, uh she spoke at the Hamilton County Commission talk with a black person by the name of Reuben M.

Taylor that like her, he lied, like he does me.

Um it's called Black on Black Crime enforced by whites.

With the time remaining, I can't see the clock.

Uh, you've got until next week, and that's all of you, uh, to get together with your city attorney, whomever they've got appointed at the county.

Uh get with Sharon Daniels and Larry Henry in the circuit court.

It's docket number 25 C 919.

You are county chair, Jeff Aversal has until Thursday of next week to respond.

His failure to do so will put him in the same position as the former editor of the Times Free Press, David Tulis.

He will be in default.

You want to look at Monty Bale's homeless encampment listed 727 East 11th Street.

That's always been my address since I've been here.

And you all let a character named Monty Bur challenge that.

It was so ridiculous.

211 billion 34 million, you have lost.

This lawsuit is in the trillions.

I don't know.

I can't see 40 seconds.

Let me show you what we got here.

Docket number 18 D 1308.

It's a false police report filed by your circuit court judge JB Bennett, a character that's been in my life for over 17 years.

He's a friend of your city attorney.

He's a friend of this person from Lookout Valley that suspended me.

Marty Bell is going to visit Lookout Valley.

And your chicken.

I think you're going to be surprised who you bullied.

Your chickens will come home to roost.

200.

11 billion.

34 million is what you owe.

Thank you, Mr.

Bell.

Are anyone else here who would like to address the council tonight?

Council seeing none.

We are adjourned.

Thank you.