To order the meeting of the Church of the United City Council for Tuesday, September 9th, 2025.

Prayer, if that's okay.

Yes.

If you could bow your head some prayer with me, please.

Dear gracious guy, thank you for the gift of this day and the privilege to serve our neighbors.

Grant this council wisdom that is steady, uh, courage that is kind and hearts that turn towards justice and compassion.

Um help us to listen well, debate with respect, and choose which strengths every household from our children to our seniors to our small business and first responders.

Amen.

Guide our decisions to bring safety to our streets, dignity to our work, and hope to every neighborhood.

Bless those still recovering from recent common good.

Amen.

Council, can I get a motion on the minutes?

Thank you.

Without objection, the minutes will stand.

I have an exciting announcement to make.

Councilman Harvey and his wife welcomed baby Charlotte Anna Harvey on August 29th at noon.

So hopefully that means she'll be a good sleeper.

She was seven pounds, one ounce, and 20 inches long.

She is named after both of her grandmothers.

And I have it on good authority that the mommy and daddy are completely in love, but are utterly sleep-deprived.

So I'm not sure when councilman Harvey will join us on the dais.

Um, I've asked him to think about his paternity leave.

These are new waters for us to uh go through as a council that's certainly joinable ones.

So join me in a quick round of applause to baby.

And the photo I saw, she is cute.

So welcome to the world, baby girl.

Okay, council.

Let's go ahead and move through our agenda review, please.

We have on final reading two items for finance.

These are the second votes on the budget amendment.

Councilman Henderson.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um Madam Chair Dotley, did we get have we received uh an actual line item of the breakdown?

Oh we actually received a line item breakdown of the uh 40 roughly 40 million dollars of revenue that that tax increase generated.

I know we got sort of a broad general on the screen top, but I was looking in my through my emails and I I could not find like a line item breakdown of that 40 million.

Yeah, we've received that and I've just overlooked it.

Um discussed in prior meetings, but I'll let uh chief of staff come up and and finish that quick uh answer.

I wasn't looking.

Thank you, Councilman.

Um, so in addition to the slide that does enumerate how those dollars are going to be expended and the impact on the budget in the actual text of the ordinances themselves, it shows the line item impact and the new totals across all cost centers, um, and specifically where the money will go.

Okay, that is that has been fine, and I just couldn't find it.

Okay.

Um, it has been publicly available and linked to the agenda.

Okay.

And that's where it is currently.

Okay, great.

Oh, I guess that's what councilman has to say.

Okay, thank you, Chief.

Um, Kevin, would you please um send for the council um the slide that you showed us that was the new paving list and all of the capital projects?

You showed us that um in the original, I think, uh, presentation about the budget.

Yes, um, so that we can all see uh you know what those new roads are going to be.

Sure.

Thank you very much.

Okay, council.

Uh, do we have any other questions or conversation about the budget?

Um seeing no lights, I would I would just like to make a point.

Um, on Saturday, there was an article in the Times Street Press that really uh made me sad and and gave me a lot to think about with regard to our responsibilities as the the fiscal oversight for the city.

It was about the fact that Blue Cross Blue Shield has announced layoffs to let go 95 workers.

In addition, Aztec, which manufactures asphalt equipment, um announced in July that it would reduce its workforce by an undisclosed number of jobs during a time of low market demand.

Walker Bocker Chemical in Bradley County, which employs people in Chattanooga laid off 90 workers in July, citing a challenging market environment.

And Miller Industries, the Utawa based towing and recovery equipment manufacturer said in August it would lay off 150 workers across three facilities.

And the company said it had been working to cut its operational spending.

Reviewed its third-party contracts, and reduced corporate sponsorships.

That's jobs that are not filled yet.

And of those, I think as a council, we saw that we had about three million dollars that if we filled our most high need positions, we would still have uh space.

So as everyone considers uh this vote, and I honestly don't expect this to change anyone's vote, but I will say for me, it just gives me a heavier heart about um about this increase.

So that said, um looks like nobody else has anything to say, and that is cool with me.

Um so we're gonna move into planning.

We have several items on first read.

Um planning chairwoman burrs um is gonna be here shortly, but she did text me and let me know that councilman Harvey, now Father Harvey has asked that his two zoning matters be deferred for two weeks, please.

So um actually, council it looks like I'm only seeing one on first read, so he may have another one that's coming up planning commission.

But um, if someone could make a motion to defer that, um, council members would appreciate that.

In addition, uh councilmember says that there's some language that needs to be cleaned up on the item G in the planning uh planning items, and so we will expect some feedback from her about that.

I believe it's related to townhouse massing.

Um do we have any other uh questions or comments at this point about these items on first read for planning?

Okay, seeing none.

Um, resolutions.

Please take your light if you have any uh comments about any resolutions.

Councilman Elliott.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um in regards to resolution C.

Um, some of the authors of this resolution will like uh a few more weeks to revisit the language, so I'll like to push off that resolution for three weeks.

Three weeks, and what is that date?

Three weeks from Tuesday from today.

So that's uh the 30th.

The 30th, okay.

Thank you.

All right, we'll expect a motion for that.

Um item D.

I also expect a deferral on that for one week to the 14th of September.

There's some language that needs to be fixed on that, and that I anticipate will come from council members.

So that's uh nine sixteen.

We would expect a deferral.

Um there's some residual language from the tornadoes that uh doesn't quite line up here.

Okay.

Um got early learning, we have mayor's office items.

Um trying to brush my hair.

Um, before we move on to that item D, if this is appropriate, uh-huh.

Um by pushing this off for those residents.

Can somebody explain this resolution one?

Because I think I understand it by light clarification.

Um I think Phil might be our best one to just try it.

He's been working closely with council members.

So for this resolution D, is this allowing those impacted by the floods to forego the permitting process?

Is that what I'm understanding?

Yeah, and the issue, not the process.

Yeah, okay.

This this would actually waive the residential modification permit fees for those that are involved on their on the current version.

Uh there's some question about whether there would be something for non-residential properties as well, and I think that's the issue to talk about.

How do we capture those who have already applied for the fees?

Is there any way to protect them or any of the those who may be applying and have to pay fees between now and the time that we have to pass this resolution?

Well, if is there any mechanisms to protect them or retroactively refunding their fee?

Um if if they have uh submitted it, I believe there were provisions for uh I guess refunding those fees that they made uh in connection with this.

Uh it was um just not going to be something that was gonna allow them to get a benefit more than the residential modification permit fees uh that would be involved on one.

Uh if there are commercial properties involved, there's also a possibility of grant funding or some type of uh fees for uh non-residential properties, and that's the issue that y'all need to decide on.

Just to clarify, I want to stay on the residential modification fees if I can.

Sure.

For those who apply for those, either prior to today, um going back at least to August 12th of the flood and to the time that we pass this resolution.

Will they be able to be refunded or some type of assistance given to them, especially considering the hardship they're facing?

Currently, as drawn, it would allow uh the fee waiver to go for the time period for anything that was uh damaged on site as of August 12, 2025, is what I understood.

It does not include uh permit fees for electrical plumbing gas or mechanical, and that's the only other question that they might have for you.

Do you want to include that?

It's the residential modification permit fee only right now.

Okay, but there is a reimbursement element to the language.

That's what I was looking for.

That's exactly what I was but if somebody's already applied for the permits covered, they can be revised they could be reimbursed for that.

That's that's clarification.

Okay, Ms.

Turner.

Yes, but I think the the main questions at hand that council members and uh attorney knoblett are working through our um if it will be for um commercial properties as well, and if so, does this green grant apply?

This was language that was used from the tornadoes in 2020, and so obviously we're things change, yeah.

So and funding funding changes yes, um, so we'll expect a deferral for a week on that.

Um okay.

Any other questions on that?

Councilman?

No, ma'am.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um, so early learning, mayor's office, city attorney public works planning.

Anyone have anything else?

All right, looks like we are good on this week's agenda.

Let's take a look, please, at our uh purchases for today.

I thank you, madam chair.

I do have a question questions involving technology services for clarity.

I think you all have received emails from me regarding some of my concerns.

Is General here?

I'm here.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I've got a question for clarity about the KCI technologies project.

Yes, sir.

Um, in the summary details, it mentions that the technology service requested an increase of 200,000 for future projects.

Um in your response, you only mention two specific anticipated projects that total 20,000, and it doesn't quite add up to 200,000 in what you're requesting.

And so I'm a little confused about the math about what the future projects are.

Yeah.

Well, there may be something in the language, Councilman.

There are uh two projects on the board now, one for 119,900.

That's an upgrade for the CityWorks software system.

CityWorks provides capabilities, maintenance, um, capabilities for Moccas and Bend and for public works.

That software program has not been updated for three years.

So that's one project.

And then there's a specific $35,000 project, and that's to do some modifications in a module of CityWorks called Storeroom, and that's where our Moccasin Bend colleagues keep track of their specific kinds of inventory.

So they have some certain things they want CityWorks to modify in the software so they can barcode uh that inventory and keep better track of it.

So those were two of the projects in the 200,000 dollars, and then I think that leaves about 45,000 unaccounted for in the 200,000.

Uh 24,000 of that is for our annual managed services fees, which uh total up at about $6,000 per quarter.

That's an average looking at uh history over time.

The remainder is about $15,000 of a couple of projects there, and I think I enumerated two.

Gotcha.

And uh that would account for the $200,000.

So the language wasn't quite uh clear.

I apologize for that.

No worries.

The managed service cost for KCI, what does that entail and why is that not encompassing their current operating contract?

It is.

It's this is part of the overall uh contract that we have with KCI.

So they operate that software for us.

Um they take support calls for it, they look at new capabilities, they do training for us, that's all in their managed services costs, uh, again, totaling roughly six thousand dollars per quarter.

But we've asked for an increase for this 24,000 minutes cost.

Is that correct?

We've we've included that in the 200,000 dollars, yes, sir.

Uh that we've asked for.

Why would why would they ask for an increase in the managed services cost?

The costs are not increasing.

We just we just put it in the 200,000 dollars.

The blanket that's there now has about three thousand dollars left on it.

So we wanted to cover for this fiscal year, the full fiscal 26 year, those costs.

Gotcha.

Are any so when you take out when you when you consider the current blanket of 200,000, that leaves about $80,000 in the overall estimated, I guess, cost.

Is any of that include like labor or I guess I'm just I'm having really hard time following your y'all's response to this, and I'm not happy about it.

Okay, the public looks at this, and if I look at it on a spreadsheet and I don't know what the spend is, that's a problem.

Yes, sir.

And I cannot explain it in layman's terms and understanding why technology services are requesting $200,000 extra, because it says addition for software services.

So what portion of that goes into their labor cost increase?

So in the two projects, the one for $119,900 and the one for $35,000 uh dollars specifically, those are the two big ticket items.

There is an uplift in their um uh cost per engineer type over uh the prior cost.

So since 2019, we're in a four-year blanket.

Uh and it's time to renew that.

So since 2019, those labor costs have remained the same, even though they have a clause.

It's in general provisions, term two that allows them to increase cost annually.

They have not.

This is the first time since 2019 they've increased those specific engineering type labor costs, and there's a specific breakout that I could provide for you, sir, and for the rest of the council if you'd like to see that.

It amounts to basically a 10% increase in total 2019 to current, and if you divide that over the six years, it's roughly a 1.8% increase per engineer type per year.

So that's where the labor rate changes are in those two big uh.

And this software is mission critical to what you all.

Yes, sir.

If we were to shut down these projects, both public works and moccasin bin would have real problems uh and operating their ongoing uh daily delivery of services to the city.

Gotcha.

My last question has to do with the structure cabling.

Yes, sir.

Uh services, which is how we lay fiber optics.

Is that correct?

That's that's correct.

So uh EPB delivers fiber optics to us up to what's called the optical network terminal.

Then anything from there typically we're responsible for throughout city buildings uh on the moccasin bin campus.

So we have two providers that uh handle our uh network cabling, fiber optic network cabling, and we're asking for an increase for in tech.

That's one of the two.

Both of them were bid out some years ago, and they were selected.

The two people, in tech's one of the two, and uh, and that cabling can happen in fire departments.

We refresh networks there, we recabled.

It can happen in any community center, could happen in this building, anywhere in the city.

And recently we had a cable break at Moccus and Bend, and we had uh NTEC go out and repair that immediately.

EPB told us that's not our cable, that belongs to you.

So we had to dispatch them out there to take care of that.

And the 125 is a contingency amount.

Like, is that is that what we guess based off how we've been maintaining and repairing?

There are some specific work uh on that one that we that we want to have that 125,000 for.

Okay, Gerald, thank you so much.

This was your verbal response was 10 times better than the written response.

But I will like to remind you that we get these inquiries from the public because it's posted, and so when we're seeing these large increases, we have to be able to explain it in layman's terms.

As the chair has mentioned, we are in an environment where we have to look a little closer to how we're spending money.

And the city of Chattanooga is not a cash cow for vendors to come in and ask for labor increases when we're having those policy discussions on how we do it internally.

And so I will be watching more closely and making sure that when we're asking our neighbors to pay more or whatever addition in taxes, that they understand how that's mission critical to what you're doing, because I think technology services, as you know, I am in support of, but we've got to be able to make it make sense for people that are asking us questions about how money's coming in and going out of the city of Chattanooga.

So that's I wanted to be fair and let you understand what the level of scrutiny was because there is and I didn't know.

So thank you so much for that.

And I plan to support these expenditures.

Um keeping in mind that labor increases we're all experiencing it, and when we're negotiating with our vendors, let them know that we're all having those issues and to get to a middle to where we're negotiating where it makes more sense, where it's not at biggest of a hike of 3.5 or what what have you.

Yes, sir.

Pay attention to that, absolutely.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I think you might want to stay.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, thank you, madam chair.

Uh thank you.

This may be a question broadly for the administration.

Um, you can go ahead.

Oh, are you sure?

Yes, it's a it's a technology services.

Um please tell us about what an integrated ballistic identification system is.

Yes, we have a sole source for that.

Oh, we've got two chambers.

My competitors might want to help me with that.

Absolutely.

Okay.

Um, so you guys, I believe, have well, maybe not all of you yet, but we'd love to have all of you all tour um our night.

So we are a CJIC center, so that's Crime Gun Intelligence Center.

So, what that particular uh piece of equipment does is it identifies um shell casings.

Um essentially, there's a fingerprint, if you will, uh, for every shell casing fired by a particular gun.

So this machine who's purchased through the ATF and its partners, um, helps us identify that as well as upload that into a national database.

Um, it is part of our, I guess, more holistic technological solution uh that we have applied towards addressing violent crime.

All right, thank you very much.

Excuse me.

Okay, all right, Councilman Elliott.

Okay, thank you, madam chair.

So this may be a question for Kevin, Mandy or Queston.

Um kind of building on to somewhat to what councilman Clark was saying.

As a new council person, and I'm sure sometimes as a resident, you see these numbers and you don't really know where they're coming from.

Uh we get these budget books, and you know, after you get your head wrapped around the budget book, you kind of get understanding.

To get to my point, is it possible for us to get an understanding or explanation for each time, whether it's a resolution or purchase, understand exactly what fund is coming from?

I see we have a column for it.

What cost center is coming from?

Exactly.

And what was budgeted for that cost center and what is remaining.

So we can kind of see the life cycle of some of this.

I think it's a good government action, so we can kind of provide a little bit more transparency as to where the money's coming from, where the money's going.

And I think it will also help council members get a better understanding of the flow of money as well.

Because I I see this amount, and I'm gonna use um public works, for example, with Jay.

So you have two knuckle boom trucks uh up here, and I know the vast amount of your money goes to salaries.

Um where actually in your budget are is this $521,000 coming from, right?

Exactly.

What cost center?

I don't know that.

I just know you guys probably need more knuckle boom trucks, but I don't know where the numbers and what does that live in the budget?

If we could do that, um, not only in our purchases but also in our resolutions releasing money, I feel like that'll call create a little bit more transparency for things.

Is that possible?

Absolutely.

Great recommendation, thank you.

We uh we'll do it.

All right, thank you.

Cool.

Matt Sure.

I've got a question.

Okay, go ahead, Tom.

I'm so sorry, we're also pushing through allergy season.

Uh, Chief Roy, could ask another question, please.

Uh, in addition to that, I think what would be helpful is kind of maybe pick it back off what you're talking about as we look at how what we spend, right?

Um, we get a lot of inquiries from the public about these items, and now of course they're presented to us on a spreadsheet.

Is there a platform online that if someone wanted to know more details about fleet management division, just the one-time purchase?

Could we present it in a way where people understand like the why?

Like what is this, why, where they can go read it kind of like as a data open source place to where this spreadsheet can be converted into some type of document that does more layman's terms explanation with cost center.

I just feel like the public needs to know a little bit more about when they're requesting us to approve an expenditure.

What does that mean before we even ask the question that is it explained to the public on a platform that's you know simplified?

Sure.

Conceptually, yes, I think we um we probably just need to workshop it a little bit.

I know that we have um chatting.budget.gov where this information is rolled up to the level that it exists in the budget booklet.

There is a point at which things can roll up, like if you if we were to just I I'm not sure exactly the best way to do it, but the short answer is absolutely we can figure out a way to um enhance kind of visibility to this and make it clear, and I think importantly love the idea of contextualizing it, which is something that we want to do um across the board with budgeting as it pertains to capital expenditures and other things, providing additional context for each expensive.

I think it's just the environment we're in with this council.

I mean, you know, elections have consequences.

One of the consequences of this election is that we have council that's a little bit more in tune about the in-depth wherewithal of cost centers.

Not that's not a dig and none of y'all.

I see Rekita going, what the hell?

Well no, but what I'm saying is is that we're pretty aware.

It does not current that apparatus does not currently exist for the public as it is exists for us.

I think it's disparate right now, like and you'd have to click around and know what you're looking for, and we can make it easier for folks.

We should do that.

Thank you, Kevin.

You bet there are lights from the left.

Councilman Elliott.

Yeah, uh, Kevin, I think I have a solution for you.

I don't know if this is still up.

Um, but we used to have Socrata at the city and Office of Open Data Performance Management OPMOD or how whatever the acronym was.

And I know they did a really great job of tracking and providing open source data for items like this.

And I think the platform is still up if I'm not mistaken.

It is, and that's what I'm thinking about.

I just I don't have it in my mind exactly what it looks like right now.

It needs to be dusted often.

I think we still have opmod, do they still exist?

Um, no, but the functionality still exists.

Okay, okay.

Okay.

Kevin, maybe um put a note on your calendar to check back in with us in a month and give us an update on where you're headed with that.

Sure.

Okay, that'd be great.

Okay, council.

Let's take a look.

Looks like we are clear.

Are you good, Councilman Elliott?

Yes, move.

Okay.

Um, looks like we're good to head into our two-week agenda.

Please take a look.

What we'll be uh doing next week.

We will be having a public hearing.

Oh, poor Kevin just sat down.

We will be having uh another budget public hearing because we need to make some additional changes to allocations due to some changes in state law.

Kevin has a presentation to give us on the community development changes uh related to the dismantling DEI Act signed by the governor.

Um so once he's finished making his notes, I invite you, Kevin, to come back up.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, this one should be quick.

We have previously discussed that um going back in going back to May of this year.

There were some actions taken by the legislature, subsequently signed into law by the governor regarding departments of equity.

And so what we did the reason that it matters to us is there were parts of our code of ordinances that were implicated by these changes in state statute, and so the mayor's office asked outside council to just take a thorough review at our entire code and to advise us on some necessary changes.

And so this is a brief summary of the plan that the administration has put forward to um to make those changes, and I just want to make a quick note that on the agenda starting next week, there are three um legislative items to be considered to effectuate these changes.

One is an ordinance that will go in and make specific edits that I'll talk about in various places in the code.

The other one is a budget amendment.

Now I want to be super clear, it is budget neutral because all it does is move the cost centers implicated by what I'm about to summarize for you to align with what the previous ordinance and what the resolution accompanying it describes.

So the resolution is basically a summary of what I'll talk about now.

Our core objectives in undertaking this exercise was obviously number one, we want to make sure that the city of Chattanooga is in compliance with state law.

We also wanted to do it in a way that was organizationally aligned.

We wanted these changes to complement the mission and um and not disrupt it, and then again, budget neutrality.

So today there is a department of equity and community engagement, which is comprised primarily of three core divisions of work, community engagement programming activities, neighborhood services, and the office of new Americans.

The changes that I'm gonna talk about will touch these other two departments, and their respective boxes are not comprehensive.

It's just a this is for illish illustrative purposes primarily.

So community development executive branch.

So what's gonna happen is we're gonna get rid of the department of equity and community engagement.

We're gonna get rid of the Office of New Americans, leaving community engagement programming and activities and neighborhood services kind of floating around.

And so we're gonna put community engagement programming and activities into community development.

Neighborhood services is gonna go into OCS or the Office of Constituent Services, which is housed in the executive branch.

And then what we're also proposing to do is to move community health and uh gun violence prevention into community development.

They already have a symbiotic relationship.

This is this is basically formalizing what um the department of community development does every day, and then we are going to have an office of new Chattanoogans in the executive branch.

So the Office of New Chattanoogans is um Mayor Kelly's name for what he sees as an economic development opportunity around the remote worker environment in Chattanooga.

So we know that our city is a very attractive place for remote workers to come.

A lot of people who work for companies in town work remotely, but we also have a significant number of people who work for companies remotely, and those companies are not in Chattanooga.

And some other cities have done done similar things around this.

This is about workforce engagement.

This is about um enhancing civic and um civic engagement and trying to drive innovation through bringing these people together, getting them more involved with the life of the city, getting them more integrated into what it means to be a Chattanoogan.

And hopefully, as conversations and kind of the cross-pollination happens, we can uncover some additional economic development opportunities around remote work and how can we continue to position ourselves as a city that appeals to people who have the opportunity to work remotely.

So this next slide recaps the same thing that the previous slide showed.

Is that the equity board will become the community engagement board?

And we effectively did a control F scrub of the whole code and went through and updated the language to make sure that it was compliant across the board.

And that's it.

Thank you, Kevin.

I've got some questions on the board.

Councilman Clark.

I thank you, Madam Chair.

Kevin, uh, I want to applaud your team for putting this together.

I know this is probably not the easiest task given the nature of the topic of equity inclusion and diversity, but I'd like for you to speak a little bit about that.

Although it's not entitled, that it is still the heart of this administration to make sure that those ingredients are ingrained in the work that we do.

Um without calling it by name, I do want to be on record and saying I I do I don't support this, but I I recognize why we have to do it, and I thank you for the opportunity to work very closely with you.

We've some of the recommendations came about through our workshopping.

Um tell us a little bit more about how we are in compliance, but more about the ingredients on how we will still maintain the one Chattanooga plan in the work without having to be out of compliance with the state mandate that I think is disgusting.

Sure.

So the Kelly administration created this department, um, if I understand my history correctly, at the beginning of its term, um, because it is part of the one Chattanooga plan.

It's part of Mayor Kelly's vision to ensure that access to city services and resources and programming is made available to everybody, and that 100% continues.

And community engagement, uh, the the body of work that that represents and what our neighborhood services folks do is tremendously important.

Even the the work that the uh Office of New Chattanoogans is gonna endeavor to take upon itself is gonna be done impartially, and it's going to be done too.

One of one of the strengths that we all enjoy about our city is its diversity, um, and that we have people from all over the place, and that's a that's a great opportunity for us to continue to double down on that, and we'll we intend to do that.

Thank you for that assurance.

Thank you, madam chair.

Councilman Elliott.

Um, thank you, madam chair.

This office of new Chattanoogans, are we hiring additional staff for this?

We are not.

So, what we are doing is we just moved some existing positions around a little bit.

Um, this the entire change that you guys will vote on and that we proposed does result in a net reduct reduction of one position that's the chief equity officer is eliminated.

Everything else is people just move into different slots, and many people maintaining their current roles existing in different contexts, different departments.

Who's gonna be doing this work?

So, Miles Huff is going to be our director for New Chattanoogans.

Okay.

Um is that gonna require additional costs at all outside of the case?

It is not.

He's gonna partner with Sharita Allen, who's the senior advisor for economic and workforce development, and they're gonna tag up, and there's gonna be a lot of cross-pollination with our director for community engagement, is Kelly um Valkarcy, and that those three will work together on this initiative.

Are you with Miles of the World?

Somebody to place Miles' position.

The the mayor's office is taking a good look at that.

Anytime you have turnover, I think before you backfill, it's an opportunity to take a look and see do we still need it?

If so, does it need to be the same as it was?

And so we're in that process right now.

The reason I asked, and I just want to make it clear, I'm not trying to be the honoring.

I mean, we're coming out of this very tight budget conversation, and I want to make sure that we're actually using dollars for what we actually need them for.

Um final conversation: are we eliminating the work of the Office of New Americans?

Yes.

The Office of New Americans was geared towards um the Latino population in Chattanooga.

And so that sector of our community is going to continue to have the access that they've enjoyed, but in terms of the core mission.

The core mission is of community engagement is different than the core mission was of for the Office of New Americans.

I'm gonna say this.

It is a little disappointing.

They represent 22% population of the city.

Sure.

If you look up at this dais, they have no representation.

They jumped from 12% to 22 in 10 years.

They have very little institutional support in this community as is.

And let me finish this thought.

I understand the need to align with state law to make sure that we're in compliance.

I don't think that means the work has to die.

And I will also say this while our Latino population may be the largest other minority group outside of black folks.

There are many other immigrants and other folks who do not call America their native home, who now are residents, neighbors, and Chattanoogans, just like every one of us.

And I hate to see us step away from this so blindly and say good luck, because an interpreter is by far not nearly enough of what we should be doing to care for these communities.

So that's all I'll say.

But it is troubling that we're walking away from this work for a communities that already are severely underserved.

It's not a rebuttal, but can I just respond?

Yeah, go ahead.

So I think I need to clean up what I said.

The Latino focus that was exhaustive of what um or that was kind of primary with respect to the Office of New Americans is part of community engagement, right?

So going back to what I said earlier about our commitment to extending access to all of our resources, activities, and programs impartially includes our Latino neighbors.

And we we have invested to ensure that we are doing things to break down the language barrier for folks who speak English as a second language.

Um and we're gonna continue to incorporate it's a lens through which community engagement will happen.

I I look forward to seeing that, and um Cedric, you've been the department head in this follow-in year department, sir.

I would like to see a serious intentional effort to continue this work.

Thank you, sir.

Thanks, Madam Chair.

Councilwoman Dotley, thank you so much, Madam Chair, and mine is more of a statement, if nothing else.

Um when I first got on council, this legislation was some of the first that I was able to participate in and pass.

So I just wanted to say this is sad that our state legislatures, our state legislators took the time to do this and force municipalities to make these changes when our state has many other pressing issues that they could be addressing.

It's unfortunate that equitable, inclusive, and diverse policies feel like an attack to some, because that's what it is, when we claim to want everyone to attain the American dream with this forced legislation that we have to do because they told us to do, because otherwise we wouldn't have made plans to do this at all.

They are forcing us, the state legislators are forcing us to support an American nightmare where there is no diversity, no one is included, and no equity.

So I commend the Kelly administration for your work and your plans to continue to work regardless of these obstacles that have been put in our way.

Um this, when I saw this come up, it was so frustrating because I thought, why does equity, why does inclusion, why does diversity scare people so much?

Why are you so afraid?

What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid of people actually thriving?

Um, and to force our government to force the city of Chattanooga, and every it ain't just us, it's it's across the state, it's a state law.

Um to force us to do that because people are afraid of people that don't look like them is sad and it's pathetic.

And I hope uh, and I plan to continue to support the mayor's administration and the work that you continue to do to try to level the plan field irregardless of reckless legislation like this.

So thank you so much.

Council, do we have any other comments?

Seeing none, um, I will I will add that um the work of equity has been foundational to to why I even chose to run why I served on school board, and I agree completely with councilwoman Dotley about how um it was encouraging to be part of uh this council during Mayor Kelly's first term when we were being very thoughtful, and I am proud of the work that we've accomplished in the last four years, the way that we invest differently um than previous administrations have and are making changes.

Um this reminds me a lot of the conversations we had around our community advisory board for our police.

And that was a tool that was working really well, you'll remember.

Um, and because of state legislature uh decisions, we were given a choice to build something that was ridiculously expensive and unnecessary or stop that program altogether, and we decided to be fiscally responsible and not proceed with that.

Um I am I'm disappointed by this.

And I also appreciate the way that Kevin, you and the team have been very intentional about the way that you have worked through the legal requirements of this law.

Uh and that you didn't just throw the hammer down and delete everything.

Um, because that's kind of the easy route, but you all have taken the thoughtful route here.

And I know it's not an ideal solution.

Um, but I I do believe that the values um that underpin the work can and will continue.

Um certainly that will be something I will be looking for as the representative for district two.

One of our shared values is that everyone belongs.

And frankly, our other values to be a smart city and a city with a strong foundation mean that everybody needs to have an opportunity to be successful because otherwise we're just dragging each other along, just trying to get across the finish line.

So thanks for the presentation.

I don't have any other questions on the board.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Um, so council next week, uh other items on first reading.

Um actually it looks like everything on first reading next week is about is about this very topic.

So we have come to the end of our discussion of our agendas.

Um, if I don't have any other comments, um councilman burst, welcome.

We did go ahead and discuss the uh delays you need for the planning items in district four um and some conversation about their other resolution.

Okay.

Um so I think we're good there.

So with that said, I will hand it over to Councilman Clark for our community development committee meeting.

Okay, don't stop.

Oh, good afternoon, everyone.

We're gonna commence our community development meeting of today, September the 9th.

Um is there a motion?

And motions, the minutes are approved.

Uh we have a short agenda today.

I'm gonna ask our interim administrator Cedric Henson to come forward and give a presentation about construction renovations and development that's happening at our community centers.

I know there's been a lot of interest and talk about what's happening at our community centers with camps and renovations and uh just even in the position itself.

So, Cedric, you have the floor.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you.

Uh so today, uh good afternoon, Council members.

Uh, today I will be providing uh an overview of ongoing and planned improvement projects.

Uh, what we're looking to do is provide some highlights of the critical infrastructure investments we're making, uh, as well as being able to uh talk uh briefly about our deferred maintenance.

Uh so for FY25, uh the Department of Community Development prioritized uh its its projects really into three categories.

Uh first with capital improvements, uh what we're looking to, these are our major renovations, uh new installations, uh, and some focuses this year were uh gym restorations, a parking expansion, and some security enhancements.

So we we wanted to make sure those were corrected.

And then third uh and year after year the challenge with deferred maintenance.

And these are just some overdue uh HVAC to electrical, fire safety uh and roofing that we'll discuss.

And so across our community center, this is just an overview of our community center capital projects.

Across our community centers, we are managing 12 capital projects with an estimated cost of three million.

Uh of this, one million uh is currently funded, leaving approximately two million uh that's unfunded.

Uh, this is primarily tied to the renovation of the auditorium at Hickson.

Uh two projects are already complete, uh, and two are about to begin construction.

Uh, you can see by the pie chart there, uh, just kind of how we are in in the phase.

Uh, all of the others are at a design or procurement stage.

And so at a glance, uh, we'll we'll run through the capital projects.

Uh Carver has restroom and kitchen upgrades that have been completed.

Uh a gym floor restoration will begin within the next 30 days.

Uh, for Chris L.

Ramsey, uh, we are looking at some security gate installation.

Uh it is in procurement currently.

Uh for East Chattanooga, uh, this is the foundation stabilization that we needed to get completed.

It is done.

Uh for East Lake, uh, it's really important for this, is especially as we uh prepare uh for our transition here for a community resource hub uh for some additional parking.

Uh, we we do have a new parking lot with solar lighting.

Uh it's currently at 60% design.

Uh for Francis B.

Wyatt, uh we we have some foundation improvements there.

Uh got get some rain leaders connected.

Uh that is uh looking to begin this month.

Uh here is our big one.

Um we have gym renovations that are near design.

We have some uh the door there, did you see the gym floor is kind of buckling there from from water intrusion.

Uh but the the big one um uh is that the auditorium renovation um and it remains unfunded currently.

Uh the next three are all pretty similar in uh Shepherd Tiner uh and Washington Hills.

Uh we're looking at entrance redesigns uh and as well as some motorized gates.

Uh they're all in the pipeline currently, uh, and it's really just about improving that security and control access.

Uh so here's the uh estimated cost and current status for Shepard.

And then for Tyner, uh estimated cost of 30,000.

This just has the the front entrance redesign, and it is currently out for quotes.

And then last uh Washington Hills uh also receiving a gate uh with the estimated cost and status.

So the elephant in the room, our deferred maintenance.

Um beyond uh beyond capital projects, uh we do uh, in my opinion, face some significant uh deferred maintenance needs, totaling four million dollars.

Uh the most critical areas, as you'll see here, uh we look at these in categories.

You'll see the categories uh to the upper right there, uh, and then the associated task uh that we're seeing in each of these.

Uh for a totaling of 132 tasks.

Um the vast majority of those, about 30 percent, are tied to roofing and exterior issues, uh, while our most high costing uh category is our fire uh and life safety.

Uh that is really tied to updating uh our current fire suppression systems, uh things of that nature uh inside of our our facilities.

Just drilling down a bit so that council can kind of see how your centers are being impacted.

Uh, here are the the amount of tasks uh that need to be done at each of the individual centers, and then the dollars that are associated and tied to those tasks.

In summary, I I think what the work is is it's really about finding that balance.

As you can see in this visual, uh, we are working to strike, you know, a balance between building for the future through new projects, but at the same time protecting what we have by preserving our existing uh assets.

Uh deferred maintenance that that tips the scale if it's not addressed uh and putting at all of our other investments uh at a risk.

Uh so our community centers, we understand they're they're a vital asset.

Uh and we are making progress uh with target capital improvements.

Uh I believe that though if we have to really take a smart uh look at at our deferred maintenance as it remains a challenge uh to really sustain the those safe and functional community centers.

Uh we'll continue to make these smart investments uh in both uh new development as well as our long overdue projects.

Uh so subject to your questions, uh this concludes presentation.

Thank you, Mr.

Hansen.

Are there any questions from council members?

All right.

I am oh y'all are letting up.

Yes.

Let's see.

I'm gonna hit select next.

It looks like we have councilwoman burrs.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Cedric, uh, for this summary.

It's great.

Uh, did you email this to the council clerk?

So we have it, or will you if you haven't already?

Okay.

I apologize that I hadn't seen it yet.

Um, thank you for all the work that you've done in a short period of time to get us up to date on what's going on in the centers, and I've helped heard great things from at least the centers in uh district six about the communication and and um the future focus that you have for those centers.

So thank you for all that.

One of the questions I have relative to the existing budget.

How is what what is built into the existing budget for the upkeep of uh things like tennis courts at uh Chris Ramsey Center and things like that?

What is that those regular maintenance things that are already built in the budget, or are they part of the deferred maintenance stuff?

Yeah, it uh it gets really tricky uh when it when it comes to how the budget is is laid out.

Uh so first and foremost, uh you know, this is a real collaborative effort.

The uh the Department of Public Works actually owns the budget for both parks and outdoors uh for the most part in terms of maintenance and upkeep, uh, parks and outdoors and community development.

Uh and then there's uh another layer of of maybe misconception as uh what's outside of the facilities in terms of you know the you know tennis courts and things of that nature.

Uh it's it it may fall under parks and outdoors and and and not community development.

All right.

Uh for for us though, uh we typically uh run a budget uh annual uh operational budget of around 250,000 a year.

Okay.

So that is so tennis courts.

I'm looking back at April.

Would that fall under you guys?

Okay, I will connect with you offline just for that answer, unless anybody else has wants to know that answer today.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Burrs.

Up next, we have Councilman Elliott.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

Chairman.

Uh Seditor, I appreciate seeing you again.

I think you've been up here probably more than any other department head.

So I'm sure we'll see you next two weeks for another presentation.

Uh no, but I do want to thank you.

Um for my centers, um, you know, I have Glenwood has right now is our senior center.

And I know we're gonna work towards building a standalone senior center.

Wink wink hint hint to mayor's office.

Um I do want to get with you guys offline about some other things, particularly in my other center of East Dale, but I do want to thank you for this.

This is great detail, and I'm really glad you guys are pulling back the fellow and taking account for everything.

So your work's not overlooked.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Elliott.

Cedric, could you go back to the slide?

Thank you.

Uh Councilwoman Dolly.

Yes, thank you so much.

Uh Mr.

Chair.

Uh, first, Cedric, you are doing a great job.

And this is what we were talking about, and you are doing fantastic.

So I hope I hope he stays.

Uh I'm sorry, Jay.

All right, Jay.

Um so um, but I did hope you still love me, Janine.

I love you.

Um, so uh what I didn't see, uh it's a great presentation.

Love what's going on at um East Lake.

I do have two more centers, South Chattanooga, and I know the West Side is gonna go undergo its own uh renovation with the one West plan.

So I just wanted to know were there any updates about South Chattanooga Center?

Yes, uh, and so really our focus right now is gonna be tackling getting after the the deferred maintenance that South Chattanooga has, uh, but the the the projects that we were looking at are coming out of operational costs currently, and so those those are you know detailing the the divider, we're putting in a new divider, getting the speed bumps out at South Chattanooga.

So but those are all coming out of the operational costs.

Okay, that works.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate that.

Thank you, Councilwoman Dolly.

And also, Mr.

Hens' defense, I requested this information late in the middle of the week last week.

Um I forgot we had community development.

And yes, we will be having another community development meeting.

Um but the request was to showcase where we are now ongoing projects that were in the hopper that were completed and to show the deferred maintenance summary of that, which is why I want to go to the screen.

Okay, okay.

Thank you, Councilman McDotley.

Next, we have Chairwoman Hill.

Thank you very much.

Um Cedric, I really appreciate this itemized list and the the photos, honestly.

Um, you know, seeing facilities that are crumbling.

I mean, that Hickson Gym is horrible.

Um, and and seeing you know, walls that are that are cracking.

I mean, just speaks to do we have the right facilities.

Do uh do we have facilities that need to come offline?

Um are they too big or they too small?

What yeah, I'm hopeful that in the next three years we'll be really looking at this holistically.

You mentioned um the expansion of the East Lake parking lot um because uh it needs to have more parking if it's to become a community resource hub.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about how we deploy resources in a sustainable way.

Um I don't know that it's reasonable to expect that every community center can be a resource hub.

I'm sure we need resources at each one, but when we talk about a hub where everything goes, I think one per district makes a lot of sense.

Um so I like where you're headed with this.

I look forward to more with specificity, and I do have a question um about the the list as it is.

I noticed they're um like going through, you know, looking at different things in district two, but I noticed there's quite a few with zero dollars.

Is that just because they're not even on the list yet to be quoted?

Um in terms of and I probably in the laundry list.

Okay, um, like um HVAC mechanical item 11 replace aging HVAC equipment is zero dollars, if only it were so I assume I and that's not a criticism, I'm just asking I assume those things are coming eventually, just not that's correct, Councilwoman.

So um when I see four million dollars in deferred maintenance, I think, whoa, we're pretty lucky to only have four million dollars in deferred maintenance.

Um, but then I also think uh deferred maintenance versus what facilities we have and are they the the right facilities that that we need.

So thank you very much.

Look forward to continuing to work with you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, I do want to echo and I agree with Councilwoman Hill, and that we need to take a broader look at what sustainability is.

If we have centers that are online that are not serving our purpose, I think we need to reevaluate them and ask is it worth it to invest the deferred maintenance?

And you know, no, you know, Fence, I don't I don't believe in letting grass grow under our feet.

I don't think it takes three years to make that determination.

Um, but she's right, we need to look at if bringing them offline is more sustainable for utilization.

We need to determine that not you know as soon as we can.

So okay.

Thank you, Council.

Next, we have uh Madam Vice Chair.

Yes, indeed, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Henson, you suited up today.

You ready for GQ Cover magazine?

Thank you so much for all you do.

I really really appreciate it.

And you know, I'm praying hard that you're gonna stay on board with this community development.

It has been um a breath of fresh air, a ray of sunshine, and you have come in and did some amazing things in such a short time.

And you know, usually you get phone calls when things are not going right, but I've been getting a lot of phone calls about you, so things are going really good.

So that's I want to give you kudos to you for that.

And let me tell you, Carver, Carver showing out.

Could you go back to Carver on the screen?

Oh, yes.

You know what?

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

That is a long overdue for Carver.

It has needed the renovation for years.

So thank you so much for that.

Uh, I really appreciate and then ETH as well.

So thank you for doing some things that need to be done there.

Um, what I'd like to say, Mr.

Chair will allow me just a couple of minutes to give a shout-out to Chief Mandy Green.

Is she here?

Thank you.

And Mr.

James Cutcliffe from IT, is he here?

Where?

Oh, yes.

So let me tell y'all about this.

I reached out and made a request for callless phones for the center.

I was in a center, uh visiting one of my centers, and the individual had to run back and forth to the death to answer the phone, and I was a little confused.

Leave me standing here.

And you run up there to answer the phone and deal with a call.

And so I said, where are your callless phones?

And they said to me, we don't have call this phone.

I was like, what?

Oh no, we're gonna have to fix that.

So I picked up the phone, made a call, and these two individuals jumped right to it, Mr.

Um James Cliff was over here at the office with me like ASAP.

And he went into motion and put things into motion, and let me tell you it came full circle.

So I had said to the individual, I said, why out of all these years have you all not had called this phone?

I don't understand it why you have to run back and forth.

You're missing um being able to provide services for a lot of people that need it, calls are being missed.

And they said that they was told we could not have it by the director, I believe.

And I said, Well, okay, so we're gonna see.

So thank you so much for that.

But something as simple as a callless phone can provide so much more service that is needed and help with safety and things of this nature.

So I am so thankful and so grateful for you and um to all the center managers.

If they're not here, if they're listening out there, I know you love me, love me a little bit more.

A little bit more.

And I want to say um, you welcome.

Uh so thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you, Vice Chairwoman Noelle for that song.

Oh, yes, I can my heart.

Uh, as we wrap up our community uh development committee meeting, Cedric, I want to thank you uh for coming up here every month.

That was intentional.

When we went through the process and the transition process, we made it very clear to the to you and the administration that there are some concerns and there are some level of criticism that I think are valid uh that need to be addressed, and that's not from any perspective or philosophy, it's a fact.

And you have demonstrated every time we've had a community development committee meeting, you have showcased your leadership in responding to requests on a Thursday or Friday and having it ready by Tuesday.

That is grit, that is leadership, and I thank you for leading the ship, even with the new developments that the administration has set forward.

It is my desire to support you past the interim capacity, and I look forward to the administration mandy and putting your appointment forward uh for approval as soon as possible so that we so that we can begin to continue the work of community development.

And if there are no further questions, madam chair, how long would you like for us to recess?

We need to have an attorney client meeting, so we will recess until 5 30.

Okay.

And if is there a motion for adjournment, we will recess until 5 30.

We'll see you back here in five.

Before we get on with the business of the night, perhaps we have some other questions for businesses at the night, which is the baby Charlotte says hello.

Amend estimate estimated general fund revenue.

I'm in sections five and five A, so as to appropriate the same from general fund.

Amend Section 7A to revise provision for sworn employees.

Amend section 7E to adjust authorized positions and to amend fire and police pay plans.

Thank you.

Council hit your life if Madam Chair, budget chair dotly.

Um with that on our second vote, I move to approve.

Thank you.

Second.

Yeah, I just wanted to make a comment.

Okay, go ahead.

You know, uh, for all of you that are here today.

I know everybody couldn't be here every week.

I just want to thank everybody who contributed to the conversation uh on both sides, and I encourage you.

Don't let this be the last time.

I mean, please can please engage uh in your districts in conversations, just ongoing.

It shouldn't just be when we have things that are contentious.

I think that the valuable thing that I got out of it was meeting more people in my district and hearing from more people in my district, and I hope, at least for those in district six that are out there watching, that you'll continue to stay engaged and show up to things because these can conversations will continue, they don't stop with with these sorts of things.

Now we get to work, and now we start working on how we make sure that our districts get the services that we need.

And we I think I can speak for all of my council members that we don't want to we're not gonna do it alone.

We still want to hear from you all what's important.

So thank you all for being here and please continue to stay engaged.

Thank you.

Do you have anyone else?

All right, madam chair, roll call, please.

Not madam chair, madam clerk.

She's the boss of me.

Welcome.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, Councilwoman Dotley.

Yes.

Councilwoman Burrs.

Yes.

Councilman Clark?

Yes.

Councilman Harvey.

He's not here.

Yes.

Councilman Davis.

No.

Councilman Henderson.

Vice Chair Noel?

Yes.

Chairwoman.

No.

Item B.

Item passes with five.

Item B.

In ordinance to amend the capital budget ordinance number 14240, known as the fiscal year 2025-2026 capital budget, appropriating, authorizing, and allocating funds to the capital improvements budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to increase the capital budget by $13,350,000 from general fund operations.

Multiple council, do we have any other comments or questions?

Madam Clerk, please do a roll call.

Councilman Henderson.

Yes.

Councilman Davis.

Councilman Clark.

Yes.

Councilwoman Burrs.

Yes.

Councilwoman Dotley.

Yes.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes.

My chair No.

Yes.

Chairwoman Hill.

Yes.

Motion passes.

Thank you, Council.

Moving to thank you, Madam Budget Chair Dotley for shepherding us through this.

We appreciate you.

And we appreciate all the hard work from city staff.

Ordinances under first reading.

Planning item A, please.

In ordinance to amend Channel and City Go Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance, so as to rezone properties located at 7417 and 7423 mentime drive from RM16 residential neighborhood zone to RN13 residential neighborhood zone submitted to certain conditions.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Council members.

I'd like to make a motion to defer for two weeks, please.

All right, council.

We have a motion on the floor to defer for two weeks with a proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Two weeks is thank you very much.

Is it no?

No.

Two weeks.

Two weeks.

25th.

Yeah, 25th.

23rd.

My 23rd.

Okay.

Item B.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code for 2 chapter 38 zoning ordinance so as to rezone part of a property located at 6401 Mountain View Road from CC commercial corridor zone to INST institutional zone subservant conditions.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present?

Thank you.

Is there any opposition present?

Councilman Burns, would you like a presentation?

Uh no, I'll need to approve unless certain has want to make any remarks.

No.

Okay.

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

Hit your life if you've got any questions or comments.

All in favor.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item C, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's rezone properties located in these 2600 blocks of long and William Street and the 100 block of West 27th Street from RN3 residential neighborhood zone and TRN3 traditional residential neighborhood zone to the Chestnut Street form-based coal context, the CCX9 commercial mixed use zone, subject to certain conditions.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilwoman Dotley.

Okay.

Um with there of another great development for district seven.

Uh move to approve.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Hit your life.

You've got any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item D, please.

In order to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance, so it's the rezoned property located at 2518 Bailey Avenue from R and to residential neighborhood zone to CNT neighborhood transition commercial zone.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilman Elliott, I have no applicant or opposition.

This is in your district.

Would you like to move to okay?

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

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item E, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance, so it's the rezoned property located at 2306 East 14th Street from R and two residential neighborhood zone to TRN two traditional residential neighborhood zone.

Do we have an applicant present?

Is there any opposition present?

Councilman Elliott, this is in your district.

Thank you.

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

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item F.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chap 38 zoning ordinance so as to rezone property located at 2312 East 14th Street from RN2 residential neighborhood zone to TRN traditional residential neighborhood zone.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilman Elliott, this is in your district.

Second.

Thank you.

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

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item G, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38, the Chattanooga zoning ordinance as adopted by ordinance number 14137 on July 23, 2024, to amend the form-based code parking lot landscape requirements, add a new use definition definition for crematoriums and add parking requirements for crematoriums, amend non-conformities for non-residential uses and amend townhouse massing.

Councilman Burrs.

I'd like to make a motion to approve.

And then I'd like to make a motion to amend, please.

Okay.

What is your amendment?

Um actually um a motion to submit an alternate version is originally to amend.

And uh Mr.

Nobleit, I believe has the alternate version.

It just makes a slight change to the uh the townhouse massing section of this uh amendment.

Do you want to do that he let's get a second?

Can we get a second on that?

All right, we have a motion on the floor with a proper second to have submit an alternate version with a townhouse massing change.

Will you please explain that to us, council uh Mr.

Attorney?

Yes, ma'am.

Uh it would be a slight amendment to article um nine uses section 38-42 principal uses and standards for dwelling units, uh, three unit, four unit, multi-unit townhomes provisions and the uh subsection uh three little lies now we'll say uh townhouses outside the urban overlay zone are limited to a maximum of eight attached units, uh cluster uh uh or grouping of townhouse units may not have more than eight individual townhome dwelling units contiguous to one another, except for those properties that were zoned for townhouses prior to the adoption of the 2024 zoning ordinance shall be permitted to have a maximum of twelve attached units.

Council, does anyone have questions?

Okay, let me repeat back to you what I just heard.

Yes, ma'am.

Those finding the document and making changes to it.

So we're uh changing from four max attached units to eight, except for those that were zoned prior to the adoption.

We shall have a maximum of twelve.

Okay.

Um councilwoman burst, can you talk us through the the rationale behind this change?

Yeah, the originally when this was laid out, um, it probably should have been more than four because the max was already 12.

I think it was a consideration of um reducing some of the density but also allowing enough density for for the for the development to be worthwhile since development is such an issue right now, housing is such an issue.

So four seemed a little drastic once we looked at it.

Okay, so the compromise was to go to eight.

Again, reducing the intensity, but not so much that we can't make a good use of the development.

Okay, all right, thank you.

That's very helpful.

Okay, council.

Do we have any other questions or conversation about the alternate version amendment?

Okay, let's go ahead and vote on it then.

Council, we have a motion on the on the floor to amend by submitting an alternate version as read by the city attorney.

All in favor of the amendment.

I opposed amendment passes.

Can I get a motion to approve is amended, please?

Second.

Okay, council.

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

Any questions or comments?

Let me just triple check that we've got our pet cemetery or crematory square.

Wouldn't want to screw that up, would we?

All right, companion animal remains, y'all.

Okay.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Okay.

Moving into resolutions.

Resolution.

Um, I'd like to take items A and B as a package, Madam Clerk.

Item A.

A resolution reappointing Lindia Mathis to the community advisory committee, region nine standard for GAF for district six with the term beginning on November 17, 2024, and ending on November 16, 2027.

Item B a resolution reappointing Nan's Mana to the community advisory committee.

Region I standing for GAF for district six with the term beginning on November 17, 2024, and in and on November 16, 2027.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Burst.

Need to approve.

Thanks.

Okay, council.

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

Do I have any questions or comments?

All in favor, I opposed.

Motion passes.

Are either of our appointees here?

I know that Nan is out of town if she's watching.

Congratulations, Nan.

And I don't think Miss Nassis is here.

Well, thank you all for your service.

Item C a resolution in support of workers that Volkswagen and the bargaining committee of United Auto Workers Local 42, Chattanooga.

Hit your light again, Councilman.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, ma'am.

I would like to defer this item three weeks to September 30th.

Okay, we have a motion on the floor to defer this item three weeks until September 30th with a proper second.

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

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item D, please.

Resolution waiving residential modification permit fees and or giving preference to green grant funding for peak attenuation control TSS and stormwater infiltration requirements for those properties which were directly damaged and are being significantly redeveloped or rebuilt in the city of Chattanooga due to the Tuesday.

August 12, 2025, flood damage within the city of Chattanooga, which will begin on the adoption of this resolution and expire within the next nine months on or before May 12, 2026.

Councilman Burst.

First of all, Madam Chair, thank you so much for getting this on the agenda for this week.

If there is any.

Well, Councilmember, since this was something that you brought to the council, would you like to take a moment and explain your intent with that?

Yeah, so uh I had a had several people in the Belvore area that were having to do some repairs to their homes and you have to get a building permit for a lot of the repairs.

And I think as a as a courtesy similar to what we did when we had the tornadoes in April of 2020, um, we had a similar resolution that allowed folks to um have that permit fee waived, and this just seemed like an appropriate time to do that as well.

So I as much as I'd love to take credit for the original resolution.

I'll thank former councilman Darren Ledford for starting that.

And I think it's a good idea to do what we can within our power, especially why FEMA is trying to decide what to do.

That we uh extend anything we can to help folks that are that are rebuilding.

So thank you, council, for supporting this.

Um, we're gonna tweak it just a little bit to make sure we have the language correctly.

And please, you all out in the audience, if you know anybody that's having to do repairs, let them know so they can take advantage of this and please share the information because uh hopefully it will help some folks.

Um so we have a motion on the floor to defer this one week until the 16th of September.

Can I get a second?

Okay, all right.

We have a proper second.

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

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion to defer passes.

We will look at that again next week.

Item E, please.

A resolution to provide early head start services to 16 early head start children at Purpose Point Learning Academy for services to be rendered to children at the establishment to utilize federal funds from the FY26 grant award for a contract beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026 for a total of 232 days for a service amount not to exceed 184,486.40 cents.

Second.

Thank you.

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.

Item F.

A resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Jared Brock as city treasurer.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Congratulations, Jared.

Look forward to working with you.

Item G, please.

A resolution amending resolution number 32544 to read as follows.

A resolution authorizing the office of the city attorney to engage the following firms for legal and lobbying services.

One Baker Donaldson, two, Bashbury and Sims at PLC, three Butler Snow LLP, four Chambers Bawner and Stowfold PC, five Gearhaza Peters, Elliott and Cannon, PLLC, Adam Sawatska with McGuire Woods, 7 Miller and Martin P O L C A T.

Well and Associates PC.

Nine, Evans, Harrison and Heck at PLC.

10, Brian Culpett of the Title Guarantee and Trust Company of Chattanooga.

11, Logan Davis of Davis and Haas, 12, Toon and Trentkin and YPC.

13, Jones Title Insurance Agency Inc.

14, Robertson Smith and Wales 15, Bridge Public Affairs.

16, Philip M.

Myers 2nd, and 17, Trevor Ashley for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

Thank you.

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 take items H and I as a packet, please package, please.

Item H.

A resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve change order number one with skills services of Knoxville, Tennessee, relative to contract number P to 3001 201 Police Service Center Fitness Area for HVAC and electrical changes, additional concrete and free weight area, emergency lighting upgrades and changes to the floor matting for an increase of 72,042 and 93 cents for revised contract amount of 399,327.93 cents.

Item I, a resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Public Works to extend and increase the Orange Grove contract by 90 additional days through December 31, 2025 to provide staffing by Orange Grove employees at the city's three refugee centers and five recycle centers for an increased amount of 200,000 for a total FY26 amount of 400,000.

Thank you.

Councilman Clark.

Thank you, Chairwoman Hill.

I've got a question.

I must have missed the contract is for $400,000 for three months.

And if so, what happens after three months as a go out?

Is there a current bid out for this?

Councilman.

I can re lips.

Currently, there is no bid that's out.

We're building the RFP right now.

We wanted to extend that contract so that we could get all the wording appropriate.

Okay.

And analyze exactly where we're trying to go with it.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Well and the increased amount is 200,000.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Um, okay, council.

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

Does anyone else have questions?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Item J, please.

A resolution approved a new special exceptions permit for an existing liquor store located at 6804 Shallow Fort Rome.

All right, Council.

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

Any questions?

Comments?

All in favor.

Aye.

Opposed?

No.

One no.

Thank you.

What was that room for?

He always votes no.

I'm sorry.

What item of reality?

Oh, um, that is for item J.

Great.

The liquor store.

Our colleague does not vote in favor of liquor stores.

Uh, item K.

A resolution authorizing the chief of police and the director of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Family Justice Center to apply for and if awarded, except the office for victims of crime, OVC FY25 Services for Victims of Crimes grant from the U.S.

Department of Justice Office of Justice programs to be used for the full-time physician therapy services for victims and victims emergency assistance for a three-year award period beginning on October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028 for an amount for an award amount up to 500,000.

Thank you, Council.

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

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Let's move on to purchases, please.

Good evening, council.

Hello.

I have seven purchases recommended for approval this evening.

The first one is for purchasing.

We are requesting an increase of $15,000 to agreements PA100608 and PA100609 liners through November 2025.

The new estimated annual spend will be $64,900.

The second one is for technology services.

KCI Technologies is requesting a 3.5 increase due to the increase in labor rates.

Additionally, technology services requested an agreement increase of $200,000 for future projects.

The new estimated annual spend will be $280,100.

Technology Services has approved the increase.

Number three is for fleet.

This is a one-time purchase of two meridian Archer trailers for public works.

The SOS purchase from Meridian Rapid Defense Group is in the amount of $242,580 and 54 cents.

Number four is for community health.

This is a new new four-year blanket agreement with Brewer Media Group for community outreach radio advertising.

This will be a sole source agreement with an annual estimated amount of spend not to exceed 50,000.

Number five is for technology services.

This uh they have requested an increase of $125,000 for existing and additional structured cabling projects.

The new estimated annual spend will be $625,000.

Number six is for technology services.

They have requested an increase of $4,140 for additional risk management user license.

The new estimated annual spend will be $71,190.

Number seven is for fleet.

This is a one-time purchase of two international knuckle boom trucks in the amount of five hundred twenty-one thousand five hundred fifty-eight dollars and sixty-six cents used by public works.

This purchase is utilizing the source well contract.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

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

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Okay.

I have two sole source purchases to report.

The first one is for wastewater.

Um, this purchase is for four hydromatic grinder pumps for $24,260 from water and waste equipment as an executive authorized distributor in Tennessee for the hydromatic grinder pumps.

Number two is for technology services renewal services with leads on as a sole source authorized source of integrated ballistic identification system for ass tracks at a cost of $25,545.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Excuse me.

Okay.

Committee reports.

Councilman Elliott.

Councilwoman Dotley.

All right.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Chair's got a couple of couple of things.

First, thank you so much.

Uh Council.

Got the second uh vote done with the budget.

Uh so we're officially done with that.

Uh so thank you all for that.

And I do want to uh thank uh the finance team.

You all have done an amazing job, and I appreciate uh your service and getting us all the information we needed.

Um there will be next week's opinion.

Uh we'll have our public hearing regarding uh the unfortunate uh DEI decision that this come up of to discuss that budget amendment, which is net is it's a neutral budget amendment.

We just have to discuss it per uh per our law is that right, Phil?

Yes, yes, ma'am.

Okay, so we have to discuss this.

It'll be a public hearing regarding that.

Also have an affordable housing committee to discuss a new housing pallet um utilizing our new pilot policy.

So we are excited about that and uh looking forward to hearing it.

So those are my reports.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, madam chair.

Councilwoman Burrs, no report.

But you did set through, I believe, a three-hour planning of planning and zoning committee meeting, did you not?

Planning commission?

Yeah, thank you for your service to our council.

We appreciate you.

It was five hours.

It was three hours of three hours.

Yes, one case.

Five hours.

Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, your time is valuable.

We appreciate it.

Councilman Henderson.

No report.

Councilman Davis.

No report.

Councilman Harvey, how do baby?

Councilman Clark.

Uh, yes, madam chair.

Today the community development committee met.

We uh looked at a presentation from our income administrator regarding deferred maintenance and ongoing projects.

I think it was pleasing to the council.

Again, thank you to Senator Kinson for your work in leading the department in the insurance capacity.

Thank you.

Vice Chairwoman Noel.

No report, ma'am.

Okay.

Um, we do have some announcements from our city attorney.

Uh, yes, ma'am.

There are two certificates of compliance uh this evening, uh, which have been reviewed.

The city has reviewed these applications for KVAT food stores, Inc.

DBA Food City at 706 number 706 at 4510 Highway 58 Chattanooga, and that particular applicant complies with all of the location requirements for a uh wine and grocery uh store location uh for the food stores, and uh it has been submitted for approval today.

Uh, likewise the certificate of compliance that you uh saw for a wine and spirits uh liquor store location at 6804 Shallowford Road Zia Inc.

in District 6 complies with all the requirements of the city code here, and there are no applicants that are in violation in the location is in proper for those two locations.

Thank you very much, Councilman Clark.

Thank you, madam chair.

I just want to comment on the opening of food cities to let the council know that they are on track of opening early, that that is a major development project in our district five that I'm really excited about that I think will be an anchor project for more development to come on the highway 58 area.

So thank you to the administration who was able to work with the food city real estate management team and fast tracking permits to keep that project on um schedule.

So just want to say I support that in full and look forward to seeing you all at the grand opening.

So thank you.

And uh Mr.

Attorney, and I have one other announcement uh that we have uh settled a case involving in the United States District Court involving Tiana Perry et al.

versus Officer Batterson in the city.

It's civil action number 124 CV 00269, and that case has been resolved following mediation for 180,000.

Thank you very much.

We have now reached the point in our meeting where we are happy to recognize persons who are here that would like to address the council.

If you are here and would like to speak, please go ahead and line up behind the podium and listen while our attorney reads the rules.

Yes.

So 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.

Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized at the microphone provided 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 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 or obscene language nor use the floor to personally attack or personally denigrate others and address your comments to the council as a whole and not towards individual council members.

Lastly, do not engage in disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting which 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, please go ahead, sir.

My name is Michael Whitfield.

I live in District 4.

Uh I'm here today to talk about when I want to first thank the city for increasing the tax freeze.

It's now increased to $60,000, of which I do qualify for that.

The forms are being mailed on TN1.

I talked with uh I believe it was Justin.

And of course, uh the city sets the amount on this of on uh how much it is.

But my request today from council to is to support the tax freeze to be retro my taxes, uh all the taxes, everybody that qualifies to 200 what I paid for taxes in 2024.

Otherwise, our taxes are going to go up for fixed income people by at least probably 32 percent.

And uh I'm asking the council uh that they support this tax freeze, and also the people out there that qualify for this tax freeze that they contact their councilman every day if necessary to uh ask them to support this this amount for two retro to 2024, make your voices known uh to council and also the uh also for the uh media.

I know the media monitors this and I uh would ask that they uh broadcast in their news reports daily until this passes.

And here again, make your voices known, and that uh uh until until the count each council person says that they approve of this, then then you it's no longer necessary for the majority of them do that.

But I would certainly appreciate those uh and and again echo that all this the tax freeze be based on 2024 uh taxes paid.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Councilman Elliott, sir.

Everyone, sir, sir, excuse me, thank you so much for uh coming to speak.

I know we have media here, so I want to make this very clear.

Um when we brought up this increase to increase it to $60,000.

Part of the conversation was to try to make it retroactive.

Okay.

The state preempts us from doing that.

I wish we could have done more to fix it, but I don't want there to be any misunderstandings that we have not tried to go down that path to protect people, or that there was any other loopholes that we can travel, okay.

Uh I wish we could have done more, but the state preempts us from allowing us to respond to that state.

Let's talk afterward, okay.

Okay.

If you can wait afterward, I'll be happy to speak with you, okay?

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You hear me?

Great.

Uh my name is Patrick Kate.

I live in District 7.

Uh, I'm here on behalf of the Chattanooga Area Labor Council.

Um, I have two points I wanted to make while I'm up here.

One is it came to our attention that during the budget negotiation uh uh several weeks ago in the discussions that an individual may have come up and given uh commentary um against the budget that was somehow construed or maybe perceived as being a represent representative of the labor council.

Just want to make it clear we did not and do not have a position on the budget, and so we did not endorse anybody coming up either um expressly or unexpressely giving any kind of comment about the public uh discussion of the budget.

Um, second is I don't think it's a secret why I'm up here.

Um we were hoping to uh discuss the resolution that was um at one point going to be discussed today regarding the resolution support of the auto workers.

Um, and I understand why we've postponed that.

Um, and I think what we're gonna do in the next couple weeks, um, which is we're gonna start tonight is hearing more directly from the auto workers themselves who are here behind me.

We're gonna make some commentary um about their working conditions and the contract negotiation process, and I think it's really important we listen to them.

Um so thank you so much for for listening to me.

I also have just a brief uh written statement that the labor council wanted to share regarding the resolution, um, and we will be back in a few weeks.

Um but uh yeah, the Chattanooga Area Labor Council represents more than 10,000 union members across our community, and we want to share these three simple truths.

For more than a decade, Chattanooga workers have helped build one of the most successful enterprises in the world.

They have given their skill, dedication, and pride.

It is only the right, only right that they now receive their fair share, fair wages, fair benefits, and the respect they deserve.

Second, the UAW bargaining committee's proposals are not radical.

They are reasonable, industry standard, and in line with what Union Auto workers already have in Spring Hill, Tennessee, a community that has thrived under such agreements.

And third, when auto workers win, all of Chattanooga wins.

Higher wages and stronger benefits ripple outward, supporting families, boosting local businesses, and raising the bar for what we all should expect from jobs in our city.

A rising tide truly lifts all votes.

Um, the resolution is a chance for the city of Chattanooga to stand on the side of fairness, dignity, and a stronger future for all of us, and I urge you to support it.

Um, so thank you again.

I know we're not discussing it tonight.

We're just wanted to start the the deeper process of listening directly to Volkswagen workers.

So thank you for letting me have the opportunity to come and share the good evening.

My name is Kale Mihalski, and I'm an elected representative of the uh workers of Volkswagen for UAW Local 42.

It has come to my attention that many of you are unaware that we workers of Volkswagen have a high risk of injury.

I have too many stories to share during this time, but I will share a few.

Team member of mine, uh, Matt has been here for four and a half years.

Ever since he started, his experience has been described as quote, going through hell.

When he first started on a Zero Tech, he tore his rotator cuff.

He filed a case and was going through physical therapy, and soon received his conversion papers to hire on as a Volkswagen employee doing the exact same work.

AeroTech wouldn't pay for his surgery since he was about to be converted, and Volkswagen should be the one to cover the procedure.

But once he got converted over, Volkswagen told him that his injury was pre-existing and that they would not cover the surgery.

Because of our insurance program, he cannot afford the deductible for surgery or the time off to get his shoulder fixed.

He has been living and working every day on the line with a torn rotator cuff for four years now.

I have another worker from assembly logistics named Nate, who sliced his leg open while delivering parts to the assembly line.

The floor was covered in blood, which stopped logistics traffic and eventually stopped the assembly line.

When this happened, the line side supervisor approached him, not with concern or to see if medical was on the way, but instead yelled at him, asking him why the F he stopped his line.

I have been hurt from the job multiple times.

I am an entry-level technician or known as an equipment operator for automated guided vehicles.

The robots that transport parts from the loading docks to the assembly line.

All of us on the AGV team have gotten hurt.

Most of us have gotten back injuries from torn muscles to bulging discs.

Two of my guys tore their rotator cuffs in the very first year.

All these injuries were completely preventable.

According to Volkswagen Zone's policy, anything above 40 pounds requires a manipulator.

We sling 200 pound batteries all day, every day.

We, as well as moving machines that weigh anywhere from 600 to 1,200 pounds by hand.

We went through the process the company told us to use.

We filed the discomfort, we started a medical case, we talked to our supervisors, our assistant managers, our manager, our director, HR, literally everyone.

Even the plant manager.

Some supervisors told us that we could quit if we didn't like it.

These are not uncommon.

These stories are a dime a dozen.

It's common knowledge on the floor that in general, workers at Volkswagen will require at least one major surgery every five years.

However, Volkswagen is great at checking the box.

I personally have been part of an ocean investigation there.

The company knows how to answer the questions.

And have more to say.

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Michael Bromley.

I'm a bargaining committee representative at Volkswagen Chattanooga.

I lead the miscellaneous subcommittee and also serve on the skilled trade subcommittee.

Like thousands of others of the plant, I'm proud to call Chattanooga home.

We are proud to build world-class vehicles here, but no job should ever come at the cost of our health and safety.

That's why I'm here tonight to ask for your support for a safe and fair unionized workplace.

This year alone, we've seen too many of our brothers and sisters injured on the job.

Earlier this year, a skilled tradesman lost three fingers while performing preventative maintenance.

Instead of real care, the company pushed him to return before he was ready.

When he did come back, he wasn't there three hours on the job before he was suspended.

The so-called investigation that followed felt more like an interrogation designed to shift liability.

In the end, he was put back to work, but on a final written warning as losing his fingers was his fault.

On June 10th, one of our members was struck by a tuggard and suffered a concussion and other injuries.

She now walks with a cane.

When she requested ADA accommodations for closer parking on August 12th, she finally got it September 4th, and her space is 0.22 miles away from her break area, slightly better than the point two mock 0.29 miles she had been walking.

But meanwhile, the closest parking remains reserved for directors and executives, where she's not allowed to park.

It's hard not to conclude they just don't want to see her struggle.

And just recently in the body shop, a worker was pressured by a supervisor to speed things up.

He rushed to keep pace with the line, tripped and gashed his leg wide open.

That was the cost of production being put ahead of safety.

And beyond these incidents, these are injuries that don't make headlines, repetitive motion injuries that are consistent throughout the plant instead of rotating workers out of red zones, jobs to reduce strain, people are left in the same positions because of so-called business needs.

At the end of the day, it's the workers who are left holding the bag with aching backs, damaged shoulders, and hurt hands.

These are not isolated cases.

They show a pattern when workers are hurt.

Tennessee law is designed not to protect us, but to protect companies from liability.

Tennessee ranks 47th in worker protections, according to Oxfam.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 164 fatal work injuries in Tennessee in 2023.

Nationwide, the fatal injury rate is 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers.

And just one year prior, Tennessee's fatality rate was 5.7 per 100,000, compared to 3.7 nationally.

All told, Tennessee workers face a far greater risk of death on the job than the average across America.

That's the reality we face every day when we go to work, and that's why we're asking for your solidarity.

Because safety should never be optional, and dignity shouldn't should never be negotiable.

When one of us gets hurt, it's not just a worker.

It's a Chattanooga family that suffers.

On behalf of the workers at Volkswagen Chattanooga, I ask you to vote yes on this resolution.

A yes is not just a gesture, it's Chattanooga standing with its people, not corporate priorities.

Thank you.

Hi y'all, Corey Evitt, District 5.

Uh, I don't have anything prepared.

I came just to wear the red and sit in solidarity, but after hearing some of this stuff tonight, I just wanted to speak up and issue maybe two soft challenges to you all.

Um I know how frustrating it is when the state intervenes and gets in the way.

This dismantling of DEI is pathetic, in my opinion.

Um, and I'm thankful for the rebuke of that and the desire to continue to be inclusive and have a diverse input in what you all do.

Uh, but I have to say, after having wrangled child care and reorganizing my schedule to be here tonight, the start time and the uncertainty of the recess, this meeting is not accessible.

Um, you are missing out on a diversity of opinion due to the start time and the recess and everything else.

Um, I would urge it's it's 2025.

I would urge you to consider not only potentially moving the start time or at least making it set so that people can interact with this.

Um, reinstating some form of digital communication, whether it is remote in, whether it is prerecorded comment that folks can share and play here.

Because it's not, it's not only important that people be heard by you all, it's important too that people be heard by each other.

Um, so I would encourage you to open up that audience to people to share their concerns, not only with you all, but with their peers.

Uh, the second soft challenge in terms of budgeting, I thank you all for the prolonged process of going through all that.

Um, I know it was very difficult, and a lot of the talk was about expenses.

Um prioritizing, cutting back all those expenses.

I would encourage you though to consider going forward additional revenue.

I think it was only a few weeks back you had somebody come up here and talk about how they were a property owner, property owner with vacant land and their tax rate was so low, and they were asking you to increase their taxes.

I would encourage this body to explore other avenues for revenue.

Um, it should not be profitable to squat on land in Chattanooga.

It should not be profitable to sit with a vacant commercial or residential property.

So I really appreciate if going forward we can consider ways to capture some of that revenue and invest it back in the community.

Thank you.

Uh Marty Bell, the homeless journalist, the great hero Fox, the man with the trillion dollar voice.

Um as you all witnessed last time, even after 43 years of being in broadcasting, I can't control the equipment.

But I can control what the media says about me.

I think many of you fail to understand.

Marty Bell is Chattanooga media.

I don't know if you all understand that at all.

But Marty Bell is Chattanooga media.

Marty Bell before Usher was Chattanooga music.

Uh, you all seem to want to overlook things like that.

Uh but tonight I got a special request.

I want to get to this bulk of attorneys in your what is it?

30 325 44.

Uh, you got a case in your circuit court.

Docket number 25 C919, where Marty Bell has made history once again.

No one in your American history has forced the recusal and disqualification of an entire.

I did that on July the 21st.

All of your judges recused on the 22nd.

Your mail department is trying to confuse things by saying that there's a bundle of problem there.

You're gonna have to come to court.

You got about 25 or 30 attorneys here.

97 of them I've defeated.

I want my money.

I got a request from your police chief.

Uh he wasn't here when Marty Bell did the song Old to Tim Kelly, uh, the Black Parish Stonebreaker.

And uh I like taking requests.

And so I put together a little jingle outside here.

It's called Take Off That Black Dress and put on your white robe and hoodie.

And uh it goes a little something like this, TG, right with the time remaining.

Might be a little loud because I couldn't test the volumes.

Let's see what we can do.

JP, take off that black dress and put on your white robe and I said, take off that black dress and put on your white robe and good.

Take off that black dress field.

Put on your white robe and good.

Take off that black gesture and put on your white robe and take off the body.

I need you to stop if you're gonna name people.

This is my three minutes, madam chair.

Okay, let's get to this.

Okay, let's get to this.

I got 27 seconds here.

No, you will not name names and start your time as spent.

There's three levels of the city.

Mr.

Bell, your time is up.

Thank you.

You will not speak of people and break our rules.

Chief Chambers, can you please help me?

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Council, would you like to adjourn?

We are adjourned.

We are adjourned.

You're not going to be able to do that.

Um Evelyn Nicoty, District 8, currently.

Um firstly, I'd like to encourage you strongly to vote in front of in for the resolution supporting the UAW workers.

I would like to mention as someone with a public policy degree specializing in labor policy that they bought up a lot of the problems, but I think that it's very clear that having labor union representation has been shown categorically to solve these things.

It's not only help the workers at the Volkswagen to raise wages, supporting the bargaining committee and getting a good union contract wages wages for most other all other workers in the community.

It has been shown to increase worker safety.

And I would also like to mention that this is not a neutral issue for this the city.

The city cannot stay neutrally.

They are many the we when the election was happening, all governor was openly opposing the right of the city council to uh of the Volkswagen Volkswagen workers to unionize.

So that I would be very concerned if the city council decides to stay neutral on this issue.

Um I think Canvas should be a union town, and I think we can I think we need it how city council that represents the workers at a thing, not a the large company who is disregarding their rights.

Secondly, I would like to quickly mention my concern about the the plan by the Kelly administration to eliminate the Office of New Americans.

He mentions that there would be Latino support things, for instance, for like language translation, but there is not I've he has not said that there would be other other pro-immigrant work.

And I would say right now, now is the time to stand and fight for our immigrant community.

In North Georgia right now, across the border, ICE is kidnapping people.

Here in Chenuga, our sheriff's department is cooperating with ICE, destroying families.

To eliminate this department now, we'll send a clear message to our immigrant community that they are that they are persona non-grata and that the city is not willing to stand with them.

I understand legal compliance is an issue, and I and I'd uh um but there are values great in that.

Stay in Solity now, or I think that it will be looked very badly on the future that you were complicit in this.

Um I ask you to vote no on any plan that would eliminate our immigrant solidarity programs, and particularly I would ask you to delay the vote on that because you have that this was not widely known in the community, and you have not heard from any any immigrants about this plan to eliminate the department working with them.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.