Good afternoon, everyone.

I call to order the city council of Chattanooga for Tuesday, September 30th, 2025.

Like to invite Vice Chairwoman Noel to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and indication.

And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Help us to work as a unified team in combining ideas for a great outcome.

Help us to work as a whole rather than as individuals trying to promote their own agendas.

May we have a spirit of camaraderie in this room and work together on our shared mission.

As I close out this prayer, Lord, I ask that you bless and continue to bless our mayor Tim Kelly and our administration.

So that change has been made for your version.

And they will also provide single copies of traffic reports and background checks free of charge that I've added to the list based upon their request.

And that those are the only other changes to that one item.

Do you have any questions about either of those?

Seeing none moving into resolutions.

Um do we have any notes about resolutions?

If so, please hit your light.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, uh thank you, madam chair.

I do want to um thank Phil and our uh finance team for helping us figure out uh the proper language for our senior tax-freeze uh resolution that's on the table today.

Um I think this is a very important step for us really kind of figuring out how we can better protect our seniors so they can age in place.

Uh so I know it's been a bit complicated, but I do want to thank you, Phil, and Weston and the rest of your team, wherever you are oh there you go.

Uh for all you help on her.

Thank you.

And Councilman Elliott, while we've got you on the mic, um council office item B.

Is it still your intent to uh pull that item today?

That is correct.

Uh the Chattanooga Central Area Labor Council, this is their resolution, and they're looking for this to be pulled today.

Okay, thank you very much.

All right, council.

Do we have any other questions about any items under resolutions?

We are having a parks and outdoors uh parks and public works, excuse me, meeting today, as well as a um economic development committee meeting today.

So we will have folks available to answer questions at the podium during that time.

Okay, seeing none, let's take a look at our purchases, please, for today.

We do not have any renewals, RFP format recommendations or emergency purchases today.

Do we have any questions from council?

Okay, I do have one question for myself.

Um, the sole source purchase item we discussed this morning that um that was a little unclear as to whether that is in fact a sole source purchase.

Can we get a little bit more information about that, please?

Good afternoon, Chairwoman Hill.

Um, the sole source purchase for the um Head Start Department through early learning is due to the fact that we've had back to security services over the last eight years.

The services they provide to us are fire and alarm alarm monitoring as well as the equipment, their sole force because the equipment is their equipment, they're the only ones that can monitor it and or service it.

And it would be very costly for us to remove all of that from every location and start over.

Got it.

Okay, thank you very much for that information.

Any other questions, council?

Seeing none, let's take a look at next week's agenda, please.

The October 7th agenda, um a note for everyone.

Vice Chairwoman Noel will be chairing this meeting.

We will have a couple of proclamations.

If you have any questions about next week, please hit your light.

All right, seeing none, let's take a look at future considerations, please.

For future considerations, we do have some economic development items, which uh we'll be discussing some of those during our meeting today.

As well as information about the compost and glass recycling pilot.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, I have some uh question about under public works item four, if we could um it's in regards to our uh paving pilot.

Jay, would you mind giving me just a little bit more information on this one?

Yes, sir.

Council members, good afternoon.

So this this pilot is a new product that is only it only has one vendor that's created it.

It's a compound that gets injected into the roadway, expands up over the roadway, and conceals the road completely.

So it's it's almost like repaving the entire road, but it's more structurally sound, and it only takes 30 minutes to set while doing that.

The road is then protected for an additional 10 to 15 years.

So the product itself is about 50% cheaper than what it costs to pave right now, and the availability is why we're trying to push this right now, trying to get it done because the only time they had it available was October 6th.

Um what is the uh lifetime of this product?

How much can we expect this to extend the lifetime of some of our roads?

10 to 15 years, sir.

10 or 15 years.

And has it seen any type of um negative effects, especially with the bed of the road?

No, sir.

Um there other cities currently using it?

There are there are several cities in the southeast region.

Uh we went to a demonstration in North Carolina last month.

That's where we actually saw eyes on it and talked with the vendor and like got a full a complete know-how of what it works and what it doesn't do.

Okay, that's gonna allow us to pave a lot cheaper, right?

Absolutely.

You can have the call.

We can start in district nine.

Can I shake on that?

Yeah, all right.

That's all I'm chair.

Okay, vice chairwoman no I wasn't going nowhere.

Yeah, okay, thank you.

So is this the same um material we were talking about for district eight?

They do not have a lot of people.

It's the same company, yes, ma'am.

Same company.

Okay.

They came out and did a survey and looked around to see where they could consolidate their efforts on a quick basis and and give us the biggest bang for our buck at the time.

So that's why they they selected this place based on where they could stage everything and have constant back and forth to it.

So I'm trying to get it so in the future we're looking at across the city on all the roads that they would be able to do it on.

If I can get that incorporated into the budget for half the cost, then I think everybody'd be a lot better off.

Okay.

So, but you know I take preference over councilman.

Yes, ma'am.

You would have first one I understand.

Yes, thank you.

Absolutely.

Anybody else?

Yeah, councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, uh, Chairwoman Hill, and actually I take precedence over councilwoman Noelle and Elliot.

Quick question, uh Mr.

Woods, about the uh the new Terra Compost LLC in Wildwood Georgia, and the Hill City Ventures LLC.

One of those is responsible for the compost for food residuals, and the other one is a pilot, they're both pilot programs, one for food residuals and one for collecting glass.

Yes.

But I thought initially in the pilot when this was rolled out, which is I asked for exemption from this program for my district because of some of those guardrails that were not in place because it was a voluntary um that didn't include a fiscal note, and so now there's a fiscal note on it.

Uh, but when it was marketed and rolled out, it was a voluntary program that was a pilot program that they were doing just to see if it worked.

But now for the residual part, there's 200,000 worth.

But what's the I guess could you explain what was the transition from them initially doing it voluntarily and to why there's a fiscal note on it uh for both of those programs?

The fiscal note is only for the city, it's not for the individuals that are volunteering for it.

There is a separate opportunity for personnel outside of the areas that we're looking at that would cost them money for the during this pilot program.

The actual note itself comes because it came through with the grant that we got from TDEC.

Uh the grant was for 105 dollars matched, so 210,000 total, that's where that cost is coming in play.

So what is it for?

It's for their services for for the new terrace services and the collection of the bottles and during the volume, but in the pilot, right?

Yes.

Okay, but there's not a breakdown, like if that's if the grant the TDEC grant is going towards materials or staff, or do you have to do that?

Yeah, the TDEC grants going towards the entire thing.

Okay.

I like a breakdown of what the entire thing is, like what if it's staffing, because I know in a in a state grant, you know it you're required to give that breakdown, but I'm just curious to know because it comes through us for approval.

So I like to understand that a little bit better.

And then the 45,000 for the curbside glass recycling program.

That is to Hill City Ventures.

Could you also give me the same breakdown of what that's being used for?

Because that is not through a grant, that's through us.

That's also that's in lieu with that grant as well.

So it would all fall under that grant.

Okay, it's it's separate in the items though for approval.

Yes, it's separate in the item because we didn't want to lump them together for lack of confusion.

So that's the same grant.

It's the same grant, yes, sir.

Hmm.

Then maybe it should be lumped if it's the same grant.

Because it looks like it's two uh item three reads that it's not a part of the TDEC grant.

Perhaps we could address that caption before it gets onto our agenda.

I'll get the breakdown and get it rectified.

Okay.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Uh any other questions or comments, council.

Stay with us, Jim.

Okay.

Um, I think that uh part of why we've got them separated is because we've got funding going to two different uh entities, probably.

But I think if we get that caption uh clarified, that would be useful.

Um another thing I would uh appreciate a little bit of clarity on is that um I believe in the the planned rollout of the pilot, um that was going to be in district uh nine and six, but this lists several districts.

But I see in the in the um explanation that we're looking at kiosks as well, signage and education.

So can you just speak to um speak to that why we've got all these districts listed?

The districts uh one, two, four, six, and eight are the locations of the actual recycle centers.

Okay.

That's where the kiosks are going to be.

Uh whenever it came to the actual pilot program, there were three districts that were selected, uh, two districts that we're moving forward with, and the additional, let me see.

And district three, five, and seven are not in there because they're not included in any of that, so they don't have kiosk locations, and they're not included in the pilot.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

That's all my questions.

Looks like that's all the questions we have.

Okay, so council, we are uh we've we've covered everything that we need to cover for agenda for today.

So I would like to hand the chair over to Councilman Davis for our Parks, Public Works, and Wastewater Committee.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

I'll call to order this meeting of the parks and public works committee.

Um council, could I get a motion to approve the minutes from our previous meeting?

Thank you.

Those minutes will stand as previously published.

Uh, for our agenda today, we have a presentation uh from David Johnson, I believe, um, from the trust for public lands about the work that they have done and and will continue to do on behalf of the city to protect our outdoor spaces.

So I will turn it over to them at the podium.

Perfect.

This is April 1st.

I am the administrator for Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors.

Um and we have Noel Drant and David Johnson from TPL here who would like to share their accomplishments from the past year and discuss items that are advancing through the contract scope.

That's making sure they were here.

Thank you so much, April, and thank you so much for this opportunity, council.

Uh, for many of you, uh, you have seen Trust for Public Land up here before for individual projects and for our our contract.

Uh and for those that you haven't uh seen us, uh, this is a chance to have an overview of what Trust for Public Land does, our national focus, and how we bring our national capacity to support our partnership with the city of Chattanooga.

Uh, I'm Noel Durant, Associate Vice President and Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land, and excited to kick off and then I'll tag team with David who really does the work.

I just talk for a living.

So next slide, please.

Oh, I guess I can invite advance uh rookie mistake here.

Um so we know that communities are place a high value on access to nature and outdoor access.

They're healthier, they're more resilient, and they're more just and we know that as a country, we don't think about parks as deeply as we need to.

As an organization, we see that our work connecting everyone to the outdoors has profound impacts on uh communities' mental and physical health.

Also, uh, how we can make communities more equitable as it relates to historic underinvestment.

Um, how we can also address very important challenges associated with a change in climate and severe weather.

And when we do our work and we put community at the center, we can create um a net positive in terms of how people relate with one another and how a community can come together around a shared value of the outdoors.

That is a sum greater than its parts.

We advance four key initiatives for trust for public land across the country.

We protect land, we plan, design, and construct trails.

We help communities think strategically around park access, and that could look like everything from a signature park in San Francisco or Atlanta to a neighborhood park where you know strategic access can benefit more people who have lacked access in the past.

And then community schoolyards, where we partner with park agencies and school districts to create close to home park access on school campuses that's designed by the students informed by the community and open after hours and on weekends and when school is not in session for recreation access.

And we know that great parks aren't created equal, and that there are a hundred million people today who lack access to a park within a 10 minute walk, and that includes 28 million kids.

Trust for Public Land has a long storied partnership with the City of Chattanooga going back to 1994.

That's when we started our Tennessee office.

Our initial focus was on implementing a Greenways master plan to complement the Tennessee River Park vision.

And since then, we have not only helped secure strategic access for the Tennessee River Park, helped protect and create the 100 acre Stringers Ridge Urban Wilderness and Park, completed the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway.

We have also been advancing new and innovative techniques and connecting communities to the outdoors through our work in South Chattanooga, specifically focusing on how we can link underinvested neighborhoods to one another in the riverwalk.

And part of this focus, when we talk about community at the center, we cannot do this work alone.

We are not a landowner.

We are not an entity that holds on to these parks forever.

We need to have both partners, amazing public partners like the city of Chattanooga, as well as community-based organization partners.

We have been supporting community-based organizations in South Chattanooga for over eight years.

This number is actually quite a bit higher now, 250,000 we have re-granted to community-based organization partners to support their aligned missions around connecting everyone to the outdoors.

A few project highlights for you related to Trust for Public Land.

It only took us nearly 30 years and a couple dozen landowner negotiations, numerous state and federal grants, appropriations from Congress, private philanthropy.

But in 2022, we completed the 12 mile South Chickamauga Creek Greenway from its northern terminus at the confluence of the South Chickamauga Creek with the Tennessee River to Camp Jordan and East Ridge.

This trail creates close-to-home access for 35,000 residents within the city of Chattanooga, many of whom lacked close-to-home access to a park, and created alternate ways for people to train to move across the city, specifically parts of the city that were historically isolated by heavy infrastructure and barriers with natural barriers with the creek.

This is a testament to what's possible through long-term partnership.

We worked with six mayoral administrations to complete this project, and with each of those transitions, we were able to bring the consistency, why this project is important and continue to build momentum to its successful completion in 2022.

Another highlight project for us is the completion of Stringer's Ridge.

We started this project in reaction to the headline news that Stringer's Ridge was going to be sold.

The top 40 feet were going to be chopped off, and there were going to be 500 condominiums placed on top there.

Thanks to our close and responsive partnership with the City of Chattanooga as well as resources as a national organization.

That was opened five years later in 2013, which has now become one of our most beloved natural assets just a mile from the Tennessee River.

And we've been able to continue to evolve our approach and how we stitch together communities across the city of Chattanooga.

The White Oak Connector was a really an early vision and goal of the trails plan for Stringers Ridge, how we could connect Red Bank and Chattanooga to Stringers Ridge.

We were able to leverage a significant amount of private philanthropy, and this project helped establish within the City of Red Bank a flagship trail project that both the Red Bank City Commission and residents could rally behind and create make sure that parks were a driving priority for the future of Red Bank.

And as we talk about our work in South Chattanooga, I think this project in particular is one that our partnership with the City of Chattanooga is the envy of many of our 30 other field offices across the country.

Very few other cities have the same integral relationship as we do with the City of Chattanooga across multiple departments.

This project within 48 hours, we were able to submit 40 million dollars of federal funding requests because of our responsive partnership with the City of Chattanooga.

We were also in partnership able to work alongside Congressman Fleischman to secure a HUD earmark for the Alton Park Connector.

That would not be possible without a strong partnership with City Council, the mayor's office, and various departments to showcase why this project should be elevated to the level of a congressional earmark.

This project also creates a new opportunity for how we think about greenways.

Many greenways early in the Greenways Master Plan were focused on recreation access.

Creek walks that were designed to create amazing access to the outdoors, but weren't really stitching together the city.

Our work in South Chattanooga is a new approach where we can think about how we're not only connecting people to nature, but we're connecting neighborhoods that have been historically isolated, as well as creating more opportunities for safe walking and biking access, especially where there is a real lack of that across the city.

So it's an evolution of our approach, and we are so grateful to be in partnership with the city of Chattanooga as we advance this work.

One of the other elements that I wanted to highlight before I hand it over to David is when we think about Trust for Public Land, the community's story is the starting point.

And our work in South Chattanooga, specifically learning through the insights, the lifelong insights of Maria Knoll and some of our work alongside local artists like Tucson, we were able to understand where the Greenway fits in terms of the Alton Parks, their history, how they viewed this connection to the rest of the city, how they thought of what was their evolution and story from a thriving middle class community with ample uh manufacturing jobs, lots of local jobs in their community.

For them, when they learned of the Alton Park Connector, they said this is a way for us to think about how we can create that economic opportunity for the next generation of our residents, how we can be stitched into the story of Chattanooga's Renaissance.

And this power of narrative really was the uh pivotal foundation for our federal grant opportunities that we were pursuing.

Again, being a community-centered organization, having been in Chattanooga for over 30 years, the relationship that Trust for Public Land alongside the City of Chattanooga can bring will create significant positive outcomes for not only the current generation of Chattanoogans, but for uh Chattanoogaans for generation to come.

And with that, I'm gonna hand it over to David to actually talk more about the work that we do and not just talk about the work.

Thanks, appreciate it.

Hello, council.

Thank you for having us here today.

We um so thankful for the opportunity to reintroduce who TPL is to you.

Many of you are newer and aren't quite sure all the things that we can bring to our partnership with the city.

Um of those things was a very strategic investment at Southside Community Park several years ago.

Um we had started engagement around the Alton Park Connector and started having discussions with people about South Side Park, and it was expressed that the lack of a play space was a major issue and a reason why more people weren't using it.

So, using that we were able to connect with a local youth organization to host some very fun activations at the park, engage youth in that community and have them be the designers and the deciders for how their community could change.

With those stories and the direction from youth, we were able to secure a $50,000 gift from LL Bean and implement uh this uh play space in a park to increase usage that will eventually be a determinist for the Alton Park Connector.

So this is a way we can show up in communities very strategically and address immediate concerns with through a lot of different federal, local, and state sources.

This is a list of things that we have accomplished alongside our partnership.

And I'll say that we we don't do this alone.

We work so closely with several staff in multiple departments.

We see ourselves as a good collaborator.

We are always open to doing better.

Please let us know how we can.

But some of those things we've accomplished alongside our partners at Parks and Outdoors this year is the Ridgedale Park conversion.

It's a long-standing federal issue of a property that was sold that had federal funding tied to it.

We received the notice this past March that our plan for what's called a conversion had been approved.

And so now the city is back into compliance with LWCF.

We awarded two grants to two separate departments around our 10 minute walk campaign.

We held a celebration at Cruthers Park where students from Clifton Hills came over and had a sort of a party at the park to uh celebrate uh National Walk to a Park Day, which is October 10th.

We helped facilitate purchase of a property on South Chickamauga Creek for paddle access that had been a longstanding uh desire and priority for the paddling community there to make that more of a make that blue way more accessible, more usable.

We have secured an option agreement for a property in District 4 for a future community park, and uh are working with our city partners to bring in state funding to pay a significant portion of that.

We've completed title research on an urban rail property with private funding for potential acquisition.

Uh earlier this year, we donated five properties that we had held for about 20 years to Parks and Outdoors to be part of their new preserve system.

Sorry, I it just keeps going.

Uh we supported a HUD award that Noel mentioned for the Alton Park Connector and are continuing to work with our partners to help manage that project to make sure that we can show progress on that and are getting support from multiple staff at the city for that.

We started construction at Eastside Community School Yard that was funded with uh capital funding from City Council.

We appreciate that, and that's in progress, and we hope to have the ribbon uh cutting early next year.

We received uh an early investment of $50,000 from USDA Forest Service for our next school yard at Hardy Elementary School.

We donated two sets of soccer goals to city parks again in South Chattanooga to support existing uses, and then we also awarded some what we call flow funding to re-establish the community garden program in South Chattanooga through uh three different nonprofit organizations that work together collaboratively to uh restart that program.

Okay.

And here are the things that we have developed.

Here's our kind of our priorities for this year.

Again, we do this annually with our parks and outdoors partners to figure out where we can be of best value, where we bring the most to them.

We would love to continue our South Chattanooga Trail work, um, helping to manage EPA and HUD funding.

Um those programs are very technical.

Um, and we do have federal staff that are able to complete this kind of technical paperwork, the process.

We will have to do that in partnership with uh city departments.

We'll lead the Province Street Park Project as the city's project representative, taking on a less active role.

We'll pursue acquisitions to extend uh our South Chattanooga Trail work.

That's what the Crabtree Connector is across Chattanooga Creek to Crabtree Farms.

That's a very specific strategic acquisition.

We will agree to we agree to explore another Greenway corridor in the city.

Um I apologize, we can't be as open in this forum as we'd like to be, but a lot of our work is with uh private property owners, and we have to do that very carefully so we can only share a certain amount of information with you.

We will continue to pursue the acquisition for a property for a community park.

We will also work with park staff and have done this regularly since the parks and outdoors plan was adopted to identify those opportunities where we can advance park projects that align with that master plan.

We'll continue to do community school yards at Hardy and Clifton Hills Elementary Schools that will complete our pilot project for community school yards.

And then we do a bunch of other very kind of generic thing, they're catch-alls.

We get called by many people, get asked to be involved in a lot of different situations and bring advice, guidance, technical support.

We're glad to do that.

And so we look forward to this uh ongoing partnership with you as we continue to advance the National Park City uh effort and really deliver that to Chattanoogans and help them understand what that means to them uh on our day-to-day basis.

This is a map of our South Chattanooga trail work.

Um, and again, we uh were awarded a EPA community change grant um as well as the uh federal appropriation from uh representative Fleischmann Um we are advancing a subrecipient agreement right now to help manage that project on the city's behalf and these are some of our potential land acquisition opportunities again.

We we used uh general language.

Um this is as much as we feel comfortable that we can share.

Um but these are three very strategic opportunities to implement the parks and outdoors plan, which is a very big vision.

As many of you who were involved in that or have seen it, there's a lot of things in there.

We um are glad to work closely with our parks and outdoors partners to figure out where we can advance that uh plan for you.

And some of those things are the community schoolyard at Eastside Elementary, um, which is again nearing completion with your support.

We'll invite you all to that.

Um we've actually hosted several of you there to explain how we work so closely with students, how the students in the school community are the ones that help guide those investments.

Here's a photo.

This is actually a little bit old.

This um has already been advanced, but here are the elements that we're adding at that community school yard.

And we had some great volunteers from Rotary Club that planted 30 trees, and then our partner Chattanooga Tree Project will plant 14 more in December to really again lean into National Park City uh and provide shade to communities that need it.

This is just an example of uh the work we do with U.S.

Forest Service to reclaim logs, turn them into beautiful uh benches at the school, and we're gonna follow that up with an outdoor classroom and additional tree planting and Hamilton County Commission uh committed 250,000 for our bigger Hardy community schoolyard efforts.

That's all I have for you today.

I'm sorry, that was so much.

Um but we we really do appreciate the opportunity to come and share this information with you.

Um we are glad to be uh in partnership with you and and think it's mutually beneficial.

Thank you.

I think we may have a few questions based on the presentation.

Um councilman Elliott.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh no, David, thank y'all so much.

And uh for those wondering, David is a great resident of district uh nine.

Clark Neighborhood Association presidents, so thank you for being here.

But I I really want to thank y'all for your work you do.

Um when I first started hearing about the importance of parks and outdoors, I don't think I really realize the value of breaks to this community, right?

Um obviously I'm not hiking every weekend.

Gone on a couple.

But you know, it the outdoors is truly a largest asset in this community.

And you guys have really picked up the mantle to really uh be um a champion of that, and thank you guys.

You know, I don't want us, and this is for the larger communities as a whole.

We we've hit milestones.

We will become our first national park city in this country, but I don't want us to lose that momentum as to how do we expand access.

Uh, I think one of the things that shocked me the most is how many folks in my community are asking for more access to outdoors, especially in the brainer community.

And so you guys are doing some great work in District 9 already.

I'm looking, hopefully, we can expand that to the rest of our community to help close those gaps.

So thank y'all so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council.

Councilwoman Dotley.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Uh, as always, I've worked with you all for years at this point uh in South Chattanooga.

I just want to say thank you for your work, and that of course I'm always in support of what you're doing.

Um, and uh just trust public land is always a great investment.

I think the way you all preserve land for people and put people at the center of all your work, all your research is key to making all these things work.

Um so I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations to you.

Oh, and I also uh thank you for fighting for that community change grant from the EPA.

I know it's a tough part.

Well, you know, I know it's a tough process.

Um, but I just appreciate you standing off of South Chattanooga and continuing to try to try to get these this funding back to our community.

So just thank you so much.

So that's it, Ms.

J.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Up next, we have Chairwoman Hill.

Thank you very much.

Um I wanted to come back to the the Alton Park connector.

Um, and Councilwoman Dotley alluded to it.

Um, the 20 million dollar community change grant that you say is in the dispute process.

So help us understand like what's the likelihood of that of being made whole on that commitment from the federal government for 20 million dollars.

It's a great question.

Um, and thankfully we have a uh a talented team of federal grant attorneys and uh federal affairs staff in DC who are helping us navigate this.

Um currently there are um there are a variety of avenues that TPL is uh pursuing that keeps our dispute in play.

Um there is a um there's a class action lawsuit that is working its way through various courts currently and TPL is a member of that class.

Uh we're not the named uh plaintiff in that, but we are uh actively um aware and coordinating the latest information around that court proceeding.

Um so that is uh that's one of the primary ways that TPL is continuing this dispute process.

We have not closed out our grant, um, and we continue to uh both be responsive as we are receiving communications through uh the administrative dispute process with EPA and Region 4, as well as on the larger um lot larger class action lawsuit.

We anticipate that it will be sometime in uh spring 2026 before there is more definitive resolution over uh over the lawsuit that is currently pending.

Have have any groups been successful?

Do are we establishing case law where people who have disputed these grant recensions have been made whole?

It's really a um it's a bit of a mixed bag, depending on which case you're looking at and and um and also specifically which community you're looking at.

So uh this the blanket termination of the environmental justice and community change grant program uh was done uh for every grantee, but we do know that there are some communities who through very strong um very strong communications partnerships are seeing momentum.

Um I would put the EPA community change grant in our community in a very similar category in terms of where we have such strong partnership with our our city partner, where we have uh where we have support and alignment in DC for priority projects with Congressman Fleischmann's appropriation.

I do see opportunity for us to continue to advocate um for this project as a as a core goal of EPA's um EPA's current pillars, strategic pillars.

This project clearly aligns.

Um so there's there is opportunity for more action.

Um it will require a lot more time and in partnership with the City of Chattanooga's leadership as well as our our other um elected officials to continue to explore it.

Okay, thank you very much, Noel.

This is just such an important project, and that was a big win for everyone.

Um appreciate y'all's tenacity.

We need it.

Um when I think about the fact that that South Chattanooga Greenway, it was it's 30 years of consistent effort on the part of a lot of people.

Um these projects are good projects and they sometimes take a long time, but it sure would take less time if the government would do what it said it was gonna do.

Okay, thank you.

That's all, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Next up, we have Councilman Clark.

Thank you, uh Mr.

Chair.

Uh again, thank you for the work, y'all.

I actually did not know the scope of what you do.

And the more I meet with Jared and the rest of your team, which I stood you up for a meeting, and I'm just we're rescheduling.

Uh, but I follow more and more in love with your work um through what you do through public parks, uh parks and outdoors, which is becoming one of my favorite departments, even though I need to be using outdoors more often.

Um I'm seeing the benefit to the fabric of what we are as a community as it relates to our national park cities.

But to piggyback what Chairwoman Hill mentioned is the intentionality of connecting these parks to urban areas where they've been divested.

Uh the South uh Chickamauga Greenway, 98% of it runs through my district.

Um I actually live at the Young Towns Road area where you can access the greenway.

And what I didn't know, that it starts all the way from the river walk, goes through my district, all of it, and then goes to East Ridge.

I was like, that's wonderfully fascinating.

So thank you so much for those investments in um, you know, my neighboring districts, Councilwoman Noel and Council Councilman Elliot, you know, I know that we all could use that and and benefit from it if we access it if they can keep up.

But to be on it from my district all the way to the East Ridge, I think it's just a great health benefit.

Um I want to thank you for that.

Um my other question uh my other question is the the financial uh maintenance of the greenways, and this is probably due to my ignorance and just how this is uh finance.

Who maintains in partnership is it a partnership with the department uh parks and outdoors?

Who maintains the South Chickamauga Greenway?

The uh the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway is maintained maintained by the Department of Parks and Outdoors.

So it is a it's a city park asset, and so when we we worked alongside the city for both planning acquisition and construction, we we designed the greenway in partnership with uh engineering and public works, and at that time park staff um in economic and community development.

And then when we completed the greenway, there was a transition where we signed off on you know final punch list items, the city took ownership, took the warranty, and so the city is is managing and maintaining those greenways.

And I will say one thing that we also do is we we learn through the process of how do we how can we improve upon the design and construction of those greenways to minimize operations and maintenance needs.

So as we look to, for example, similar boardwalk sections in South Chattanooga, we may choose a different material type to ensure that we aren't seeing as uh as much maintenance uh as we've seen with the sort of the legacy timber boardwalk structure.

Thank you.

Okay.

Councilman Harvey.

Uh I too want to just say thank you.

Uh it's something I've talked about since uh beginning of of taking office is you know, uh I think we often take for granted that we are the scenic city and we are scenic for a reason, and it's this it's what you all do to preserve the beauty that we have in our community, otherwise we wouldn't be the scenic city, we would be something totally different.

So thank you uh for preserving our beauty and uh allowing people to come here and see why we are the scenic city.

Um it means a lot.

And so I would encourage any developers who may be watching or here today to uh to to work with you all, work with us as the city of Chattanooga.

Uh, you know, it I I think you can marry uh enterprise and and uh in uh conservation.

Uh I think one good uh well great example of that is Volkswagen.

Uh they were able to uh do enterprise but yet conserve a lot of land that is open to the community.

Um I know my wife and I go out there a lot and it's a beautiful area, so um th those are the types of things I'm I'm looking at, and I'm sure you all are as well.

One question I did have is I saw my district on there.

So I I don't know if you can divulge any information here uh this evening, but uh is there any movement on uh uh another park out there or uh can you can you tell me anything about that?

Because we would love to have uh a park in in my district.

So uh the work to acquire that uh that park location continues to move forward.

We have very good positive momentum.

I will say we have a very strong relationship with the landowner, uh working closely with the city and and the state of Tennessee on the funding on the funding agreements, and so that's where we are right now, is just awaiting the final uh authorization and funding agreement before we can move forward with final due diligence and and closing.

So things are things are moving forward really well.

Uh I wish I could share more particulars of the project, but uh we look forward to uh to sharing the good news on on that acquisition as soon as we can.

Great.

Well, thank you.

I I should say another park.

We love Heritage Park out there.

We have yeah, a great park.

But we would love another one.

So um thank you for every everything you're doing for that.

Yeah, absolutely.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Last but not least, Vice Chairwoman Noel.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So, you know, I'm going to have to address uh Councilman Clark.

And I mean, you talk the pot caught in the cow black.

Let's not do that.

Because I the way I look at it, I don't know if I get any fine in China, be able to handle me.

Oh, I'm just saying.

I can use the gavel if I need to rather not.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

You're welcome.

And council, we also have on our agenda tonight um a resolution regarding the city's contract with TPL.

Are there any questions about that resolution?

Okay.

Well, thank you all again so much for the presentation and the work that you're doing.

Um that will conclude this portion of our of our committee meeting.

Um I believe there might be some questions, even though there's not a public works presentation.

Um, I think some council members might have questions regarding public works items.

Um, and I see councilman Elliott, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh Jay, this one's for you.

I'm coming.

You come on, take it take your time, brother.

So, Jay, I appreciate you uh coming up and uh Mr.

Chairman, I appreciate you for uh loving ask some of these questions.

I've gotten quite a few questions about this from my district, and I wanted to kind of use this opportunity to see if you can give us some updates or perspectives on some things in the public setting.

I'm gonna start off with this first one.

Chris, you may have thoughts on this one too.

This is something that I've heard, and I know has been a looming issue for years now.

Permiting.

Uh, how do we streamline our uh permitting process within the city to make sure that doing business with the city is uh as easy as possible, right?

We don't want to be the uh the roadblock to what that looks like.

So where are we at with that some of that permitting reform or kind of clearing some of that up?

So this is Bill Gore.

He's my director of LDO, he's my permitting specialist, and he will gladly answer your question.

Thanks.

Smart man.

All right, so fair question.

Uh we've actually been working diligently in our program systems and correcting our permit flow so that it's going to the right permit reviewers quicker.

Um our current metrics are showing that we've improved probably about 30% over what we saw last year.

Uh so we're constantly improving, and we're always willing to take uh anyone's suggestions and ideas that that may have some uh that can uh help us do that further.

How have we been able to get over some of the uh roadblocks for some of the subjective interpretations that folks have experienced in the past?

Are we implementing any standard operating procedures or policies that are really making this concrete so it's not being subject to the interpretation from one individual to the next so that's um that's a larger uh ask uh because it's such a broad spectrum?

Uh but what we've implemented is actually citing the code more directly.

So when uh people are coming forward and meeting with us in our pre-submittal process, uh we're providing the uh information within the the city codes, our municode, and and uh clear direction and guidelines on how they can streamline their permitting process.

Yeah.

Um and this is for you as well, Mr.

Chairman.

I don't want to uh put you out, but I love to have a conversation with you and Jay and Bill offline about what it could look like to um present some of these changes over time so we can kind of see how we progressing.

Um next question.

Um this is something I get often, and I'll be really quick with this brush pickup.

I know you sent uh something about some 311 uh requests, and we have seen a change of how we do brush pickup and whatnot over the years.

We've gone back from we've gone to call it in to we're doing zones.

Uh I think we're back calling it in.

My biggest question now are the procedures we have in place the most efficient, but are they also resulting into the best service for our neighborhoods?

I have too many of my parts of my district that you will drive around brush that will sit there forever.

That you see trucks drive by it.

Understand not all of them are brush trucks, and that's why I tell my residents as well.

There's a difference what each truck can pick up.

But you'll have one brush pickup that picks up a 311 request, and they'll drive around and pass three or four other brush piles on the way to their next uh ticket and they sit empty.

How do we fix that?

And it's it's a pressing issue really for my district.

I'm sure others probably experience it as well.

So it's a citywide issue right now, and any time that we're looking at the efficiency of how we're doing the bulk pickup, the brush pickup, it's always been a battle back and forth of is the SR the right way, is the area pickup the right way.

I'll be honest with you, I think a combination of the two is the best way to do it.

Um we are looking at a lot of different options on how that looks.

I was actually just sending an email a while ago about ideas with 311 and having uh SR pickup times as a calendar in 311 if that's an option.

I have the team out right now.

We are doing both area pickup and SR pickup.

We have not pushed out what areas because we are so far behind right now, and we are trying to maximize continuously.

So once we get all of that picked up, we're gonna do a sit-down and go through the entire thing and say, hey, why are we why are we not able to accomplish what we're trying to do?

I did a sector map sketch and broke it down in distance by time.

And according to that map in a perfect world, it should only take 10 days for one driver to go across the entire city and do pickups.

We know that it's not a perfect world.

We know that there's obstacles every step of the way.

So I have my team analyzing that to see what the realistic look like or what the realistics look like whenever it comes to that determination.

This was based on a model of right now, our drivers are performing 75 to 80 miles a day on the model that I put up, it was 30 miles a day accomplished.

If we do 30 miles a day accomplished, then we can grab more piles in that local area.

The reason that we don't grab all of the piles whenever they're right there is because our SR tickets are based on weight.

Those trucks can only carry so much weight, and we have a planned route for those trucks to go around and pick up specific piles that have been requested in order.

We aren't able, if we stopped at every stop and picked up every pile that we saw, we would never get through that route.

So if you were at the end of that route, then you're always gonna be at the end of that route, and it's never gonna happen.

That's why we do it the way we're doing it now.

Where are we at with implementing this system?

I just have started the new.

Yes.

I like I'm looking forward to it.

And I'll say this, and I'll say this to my colleagues as well.

Um, I think many of us appreciate you and your staff.

Um you all work incredibly hard, and you guys on the front lines just as much as any firefighter or police officer like.

Yes, sir.

Um, and we as we bring these issues to you.

I know you're very responsive when any of the nine of us send anything, right?

But I want to see how we create that same level of urgency for a citizen that does not hold office.

Absolutely.

And so if that looks like figuring out how do we push more resources your way, that's something I will support.

Um that that is really where some of these budget conversations go in or why they're important to say where we falling short, how we can best support you and your team to make sure it gets done.

And we um we did have separate assets in the past where made things a lot easier, where we had laborers that were in the bulk pickup trucks and they were able to gather the all the sticks and and pieces of wood and all that stuff into one location while the other person was grabbing it.

Those positions got taken away a while back, so I'm looking at bringing Timps in to do that just so we can get on top of everything.

Let's figure out how we fix this problem together.

Because we can't just keep letting our neighborhoods determinate.

Absolutely.

Not just neighborhoods, but downtown is just as important.

We ask people to come visit, they should come to a place that is pristine and looks beautiful.

Last question, and Mr.

Chairman, I'm done.

Um, 311.

I think you understand it's tough.

Absolutely.

This is probably the biggest complaint I get out of for my district.

I can't speak to anybody else.

So many folks asked, say I see them 311 requests, I don't get a response.

Um Darren, I know you've been working on this as well.

Where are we at with finally untangling this process?

I don't own 311, so I don't have that answer.

Good afternoon, council and uh councilman.

Great question.

We are uh actively meeting almost weekly on 311.

Matter of fact, I spent about four hours on Friday with 311.

Uh as we go through the system, not only mechanically but digitally, we are uh rewriting a lot of how we're coding certain uh uh entries into the system so that when it is entered into the system, and then as it's getting to the end users of public works code enforcement, we're able to be on this so the same page.

Okay.

So that's something that we're working with.

Matter of fact, uh Mayor Kelly just recently did a video on 311.

We're also preparing a presentation to council on 311, which I've uh alluded to in past uh conversations with most of you, kind of outlining where we're at and what 311 how it's constructed so we can have a better understanding of where we're at and the challenges that we're that we're facing.

So I think this is helpful for the public as a whole to hear that it's not just something following on deaf ears.

Absolutely not, councilman.

And so I'm glad to hear that we're working towards finding a solution to make sure all parties can get on the same page and our folks can be better served.

So I do appreciate that.

I'm looking forward to hearing what that uh presentation looks like.

Thank you.

Is it top priority for us and also a top priority to Mary Kelly, who has uh even challenged us even further to get this done.

So we appreciate it very much.

Perfect.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Jay, I appreciate you.

Councilman, I have one more thing for you.

Yes, sir.

Uh, one thing that we left out in the permitting process is we've started doing a quarterly sit-down with contractors so that we can have those hard conversations back and forth.

We can understand their frustrations, they can see it from our perspective.

And so far, we've had a what was the last turnout?

About 60 people, 50?

Yeah.

So we've had about 60 of the contractors within the city and the surrounding areas that actually came in and we're we're building that rapport back and forth with them.

We're actually having the harder conversations that come to us instead of go flying to everybody else and then come down to us, and we're able to tackle these things on a much more quick basis.

So we're making progress.

I know it looks slow and it seems slow.

Overall, we're trying to change the culture and get people to where it's a customer service that we are happy to have.

And I think it's important for just people to hear.

Absolutely.

We are making strides to try and improve.

Mr.

Chairman, that's all.

Okay.

Councilman Clerk.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Jake, a couple questions of some follow-up to um Councilman Elliott's questions.

Um, one, you know, you guys will probably I I do believe you all public works are probably the heartbeat of our service delivery system.

Most of all of my constituent support requests are all public works related as it relates to 311 requests either not being resolved or still backlogged.

And so, my first question to you is what are we doing to unclog?

I know the administration is working on this, but what is happening today in real time to unclog the backlog with 311 requests?

If you could explain to the public about that, uh two things that we're doing.

So, like I like I said earlier, I'm sorry.

We have we have combined the the SR routes and the area routes so that we can jump on everything in one collective area.

We have brought in uh injured personnel that can run the 311 system so that supervisors can be out driving the streets and seeing where those additional piles are that we may have missed in those areas while we're in there.

Um, one of the biggest things for us is having the older trucks as we're transitioning into the CNGs.

The CNGs are more reliable.

So we have a lot of trucks that end up breaking down, can't make their routes, and then we have to pull somebody else or not having enough drivers that are in the trucks, like the a full complement of drivers for every truck that we have.

So we're constantly pulling and borrowing and and trying to fill everything.

If we take from a bulk item pickup, because we don't have in trash because trash is the priority, then we lose that route on that bulk item pickup.

So we are constantly trying to pull people from citywide services.

Whenever citywide services personnel come over, then that eliminates their ability to do the pickups for that section, which leaves more things on the ground as they're going through.

If they have construction sites or anything like that that we're working on, then that's gonna look nasty as well.

So if we pull them, then we just don't have everything that we need.

That's been the biggest hiccup with this entire thing.

I think for the right now, I've been pulling overtime every Saturday to where maximizing as many trucks and personnel as I can.

I have the area and the SR pickups going on cohesively at the same time.

So every truck, every driver, every possible ability that I have to pick something up is on the streets every day except for Sunday.

Gotcha.

As it relates to uh information regarding when neighbors were notified about calling through at first, we were doing the route system and then we switched to the 311 request system.

Did the department launch any public awareness campaigns or is it in the works to start notifying the public that you need to call before you put things out now so you're not violated by code enforcements for putting debris in bulk out.

Like, is there anything in the works for a public and when would that be uh launch?

Uh, right now, so I just sat down two weeks ago with a uh radio station.

We're looking at having the opportunity to build a contract with them so that they can push immediate releases on changes and things so that the word gets to a different population than what it is through the uh press releases that we have right now.

We did release information whenever we made that change.

Obviously, it wasn't effective.

Um I will say that I am constantly pushing my PIO to get more out there.

Uh, we're working PSAs right now for both code enforcement and 311, and we're doing it in English and Spanish.

So we're working a lot continuously trying to get the word out.

I have also stepped up to where I don't think my communication to council has been enough.

So if there's things that are going on for y'all, then I want to bring more attention to it for you independently.

So overall, the communication effort has to pick up.

I can't dictate what goes in the news or what doesn't go in the news or anything like that.

I can only ask the questions, and that's what we've been doing.

So, you know, we've had a uh huge battle back and forth with news saying, hey, news is chasing all the bad stories, or I'm sure everybody saw the tree under the bridge and all that kind of stuff.

I'm trying to get them to publish the good stories.

I'm trying to get them to put out the word to help us communicate so that we can be more reactive to what the customer needs.

I don't want to be the obstacle for any of it, so I have to remove those obstacles.

At the end of the day, communication is an obstacle in every direction of government, and I'm attacking that systematically.

Gotcha.

You know, one of my frustrations with your department is that I think you guys are really good responsive time, like communicating with us, telling us what is being worked on, but not resolved.

Yes.

And that is my biggest frustration that I've expressed to our chief operating officer, because my district, you know, and I think Kim Strong can attest to this, we have a lot of unresolved constituent support requests that's causing tension because it looks like either council's not doing it or the administration's not doing it, which is your responsibility.

And so what I would like to have more definitive information, I hear that the projects are we're studying and we're researching.

There needs to be some project timelines with dates.

Because to for me in my district, it feels like the can's been kicked down the road.

There's a I have a lot of unresolved issues, and I hear you talk about the best way.

When would the best way be implemented?

Um as far as a project timeline, and I would like more definitive information on those requests because they're mounting in my district.

Um, you know, I requested information about making sure brushing cleanup got picked up, and we violated people who had 311 requests.

So there's a lot of process improvement issues that I know that Mandy and you all are working on.

What I would like to challenge you all to do is to close those loops.

It's one thing to come and tell us what you're working on, but for us, if we have a request in May and in September, and we don't get updates from you, it looks like it's not being handled.

So I like to challenge you to be more, yes, be more responsive, but to also be more resolution oriented.

And my last question is ditch cleanups.

I sent in four requests for ditches in my district, and I'm not certain as of to date, I've had any response on those.

And I'm sure as we're going through this flood mitigation issues, we saw an increase from residents after August 12th saying, hey, my ditch hasn't been maintained either on public or private property.

Where are we with the ditch cleanups in areas like Mimosa Circle or in my district where we have a lot of flood issues?

So that's a concern of ours.

And again, I'd like more definitive dates on when these will be completed and not the working we're working or we're studying or we're researching, which there is time for that, but I'd like to know more about a project timeline for resolution and completion.

Okay.

If you could speak to the ditches, that would be my last question, Mr.

Chair.

So uh one of your ditches was in Woodvale.

Uh, we went out and cleaned all of those ditches last or the week before last.

That information was forwarded, I believe, to you and maybe Kim, or maybe just Kim to push to you, I'm not sure.

Uh so that one should be complete with uh with pictures and everything in there.

Um I saw the request this year.

And Woodbill was not a ditch request, that was a flooding issue on Woodville that I've asked for you all to do some more diagnosis.

You guys cleaned the ditch, which is great, but that wasn't the four that I sent in where Woodvell was not on that list.

It was the last one on that list when I was looking at it this morning.

I'll have to double check, but I'm on I I wrote them, and Woodvell was on the list for flooding.

But what I'm referencing is ditch cleanup.

There was Inwood, there was Mimosa Circle, there was Trisher Drive, and I think the fourth one was related to the one um on how I can kind of recall, but where are we with those ditches, but particularly Mimosa Circle?

Uh all of those ditches have been pushed to citywide services for work orders.

I'm not sure if they've gotten to them or not.

I can get a definite date.

Could you let me know when those ditches will be now that they've been pushed to citywide services when they will start completion on those?

Absolutely.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Councilman Harvey.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Uh, just a couple questions, Jay.

Um, where is brush taken?

Brush is taken to the wood recycle.

Okay.

Do citizens have access to that, like can they just put something back of their truck and get dump it?

No.

They can if they want to.

Okay, all right, cool.

Um, I I came in a little bit late, so I apologize and heard you're briefly talking about kiosks at the recycle centers.

Yes, sir.

Can you briefly run that back over with me?

Uh part of the composting program, the pilot program that we're putting in place is gonna have kiosks at the recycling centers so that people can actually turn in food scraps.

Okay, and those food scraps would be available to the public so they can put it in the yards and things of that sort, so that you have more nutrients.

Sorry, just to clarify people would have to sign up through in order to be able to drop off because there's and I believe the compost is available to those who are part of the program, not to the public under the pilot.

Yes.

Okay.

So everything is currently in that pilot program.

That pilot program is open to the persons that request to be in there.

Okay, all right.

Very good.

That's all.

Thank you.

Okay.

And councilman Clark, one more time.

Thank you.

Mr.

Woods, I recalled that email about the ditch cleanup.

And Woodvell was not on there, but the addresses are on Opal Drive, Mimosa Circle, and Aspen Lane, and in Wood Lane.

And this was an email that you responded to on the 29th.

Again, Woodvill Avenue is the flood investigation that I've requested on a list of nine things that are not that are unresolved in my district.

Okay.

So I just wanted to be clear that we know what what I'm referencing when I mention ditch cleanup.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

I'd like an update on that, hopefully, soon to make sure we're clear.

I will have you an update for you tomorrow.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Absolutely.

Councilwoman Dotley.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Um, I just want to say thank you.

Um, I'm not sure what's going on, but you always respond to my email, and I heard you mention earlier that you just don't communicate enough.

I feel like you communicate a lot with me.

So feel free to take me off.

Any mass communications you see in.

And uh, I just appreciate the the work that you do.

Um, as you well know, I come in on Tuesdays and I send you everything that I have, uh, along with anybody else in the city.

Um, so I just appreciate your work and everything, and I just wanted to note that communication piece.

Uh thank you very much.

Hey, thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

All right.

Any other questions, comments, heartfelt concerns.

That will conclude this meeting of our parks and public works committee.

I love you.

We'll turn it over to the economic development.

Or yield the chair to Councilman Elliott for Economic Development, sir.

Oh, right.

All right, we'll now clean the economic development committee uh meeting.

Can I have a motion on the minutes?

Thank you.

All right, but probably moved and seconded.

Uh we have a couple presentations today from our economic development team about uh some new TIFFs, uh TIFF, and and an amendment to an existing TIFF.

And we have Winston here that's gonna help us kick us off with our North River uh conversation.

This is uh an amended TIFF.

Yes, thank you.

And good afternoon, Council.

Hello, my name Winston Brooks, Director of Economic Development, and it's uh a pleasure and a privilege to be here today to talk about a few projects we've been working on.

And we'll continue the conversation about parks.

It's just a variety of industrial parks today.

Um the uh the North River Commerce Center resolution is an administrative change to an impact plan finalized back in 2022.

Because it is an amended economic impact plan, the change must come before the city council.

And you will vote on this item later this month.

As many of you are aware, at the site now there is 9.4 million dollars in public infrastructure.

You know, that includes 400,000 square feet of Class A industrial space, new infrastructure at the site that includes stormwater, water, and wastewater.

The soccer road has been aligned with the traffic signal uh as well as traffic signal improvements, uh, and the developer has provided an easement for the river walk.

So again, back to that park aspect that makes our city so great.

And there's also been 220 jobs there exceeding the required 170.

Since 2023, market conditions have changed, and the original economic impact plan was written with a very narrow scope.

Uh this request could amend the economic this request would amend the economic impact plan so that the project will continue to be successful.

And the changes include extending the construction period deadline to December 31st, 2031, which is five years from December 31st, 2026 to allow for completion of phase two.

Um so this is the um the plan site and the plan area.

As you can see, the 100 and 200 billions are up there, covered some of the information there on the left hand side, and and the status.

And um, so that that this the uh um the changes of extending the deadline include a hundred million dollar minimum investment as an alternative means to satisfy the current 800,000 square foot construction requirements, so it'll have two um performance metrics, and we're gonna broaden the permitted, well, they're asking to broaden the the permitted uses from distribution only to an additional commercial uses with restrictions.

So let's take a closer look.

Uh as I mentioned, um, this is the plan area most folks are familiar with.

The logistics sector, um, which was this uh project was built for uh distribution, the logistics sector has experienced a downturn, and the market demand for an additional 400,000 square feet of space has softened.

And so you can actually Google this term the Great Freight Recession that started in 2022.

And so the solution is to amend the TIFF economic impact plan to broaden the scope of the project to include additional commercial uses while extending the deadline to complete the full build out by five years and add performance requirements, and these changes would also uh support restructuring of the debt.

So, what is an economic impact plan?

Uh the economic impact plan is a legal document that um is the main guiding document of tax increment financing, and it identifies the boundaries as we just saw in that area.

It also identifies the parcels, um, what the benefits are to the municipality and other benefits of the plan.

Um it also is a requires a public hearing from the IDB, so it's authorized under the uh statute for uh state industrial boards, and then but it has to be um voted on by the city and the county, and it's the final step for TIFF approval and um by state statute that can be amended.

So as a reminder, uh tax increment financing is a very popular um discretionary uh means of financing um projects.

It does several things, it stabilizes your uh your base where you you may have uh a parcel that's losing property tax.

This freezes that property tax and protects the tax as the project goes on, and the project allows uh future tax dollars to fund current development.

It also is an agreement that allows the um developer to uh lend with from the banks or um investment banks and bonds, and um finally uh keep in mind that the developer pays property tax the entire time.

The agreement is that those property tax then go back to reimbursing them for the construction of of public infrastructure.

And uh we'll add that it's very important that this project aligns with the strategic planning that's taken place uh across the community, including the one Chattanooga plan and the Chattanooga Clients Hire Plan.

And this is kind of what the timeline looks like before I um Tuesday, September 30th.

Here we are, Monday the 6th, they're gonna have an ID B public hearing at the next industrial board meeting, and then there will be a presentation to the county, come back to the city uh for a vote on the 28th, and then a county vote on the 29th, and then the IDB will finish up with the development agreement.

Um we have the developer here with us today, and so I'll bring them up unless anyone has any questions for me.

I'll introduce our rise partners uh developers.

Matt.

Thank you.

Very well, thanks.

Thanks.

Uh yeah, we need to switch to this.

So I've got a presentation as well as this on here.

Okay.

Hey guys, I'm I'm Matt Phillips from the uh managing partner of Rise Partners.

Uh I want to start by thanking the council for your support, your time, your consideration, really your support.

Uh I know many of you are new, but your support dates back to 2022.

Uh many of you were at the groundbreaking uh in 2022.

And we really believe that NRCC for short is a model for public-private partnership.

Um but for the support of the city, county, and the IDB, we're still, as we drive down Access Road, we're still looking at a blighted uh underutilized brownfield site.

And what we have today on Access Road is uh the beginnings of a hub for industry, uh jobs, and just business in general.

Um so what have we done since the groundbreaking in 2022?

We have invested over 50 million dollars in new class A industrial space.

One of the buildings uh that we've developed is on the screen.

Um the uh we've invested as Winston mentioned 9.4 million dollars in new public infrastructure.

Um we realigned uh a city-owned road so that people can get in and out of the soccer complex safer.

Um we improved public utilities along Access Road.

Um as you can imagine, the infrastructure at this facility was was very dated.

It was put in place post-World War II, so much of it was not usable.

Um the underground infrastructure.

Um and then, as mentioned uh Councilman Harvey, I promise uh we we didn't collude on this beforehand.

We dedicated a 50-foot-wide easement, uh, 20 uh 2,100 linear feet long uh along the river uh Tennessee River for a future uh riverwalk.

So uh did a lot in the terms of of public infrastructure.

Uh we we constructed uh 415,000 square feet of of new industrial space, and thus far, as mentioned, we are surpassing the job uh the job estimate from the economic impact plan back in 2022.

So uh just just taking you back in time.

Uh let's see if I can figure this out.

There we go.

Taking you back in time to uh the groundbreaking for those of you are there, that's what it used to look like.

It was a it was a big empty parking field.

Uh some of the parking field needed to be had to need to be mowed because grass was knee-high.

We had two softball fields that were overgrown with kudzu graffiti all over the place, uh, and uh acre after acre after acre of good M1 rail served land that was literally behind barbed wire.

Um, and so the again, but for the public-private partnership that we established with you all.

Um, the the property still looks like this.

So um the beginnings of the after, not not the not the end of the story of the after, but the beginnings of the after look like what's on the screen.

Um we're very proud of the that we can announce that the first building that delivered in uh late 2023, early 2024 is now fully occupied, and it's made up of a of a group of businesses that meet the profile of what we expected when we when we brought this ideal idea before this um council years ago.

Um it's it's a group of businesses that are either retained in the city of Chattanooga because of our project, they're new to the city of Chattanooga because of our project, or in one example in Prelco, they're new to the United States.

This is a a company that um uh put their first flag in the ground in the United States here on Access Road manufacturing wind windshields for the boat industry.

So, again, very proud of what we've accomplished in in the three years that we've been working on this project.

Um again, thank you for your support.

Thank you for your consideration of of what's been put before you.

I know there's not a vote today, but I'm definitely here to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks, sir.

We have a couple uh lights on uh councilmember dollars.

Uh yes, thank you so much, uh Mr.

Chair.

Thank you so much, Matt, for the presentation.

Um I just wanted to um if you could kind of repeat the requested amendments to this plan.

So they are.

I just want to make sure I'm sure the amendment to the TIE is to broaden the scope of the plan to include additional commercial uses.

Um extending the deadline to 2031 to complete the full build out and then add performance requirements.

Could you get a little bit more detail about I understand the build-out piece and maybe I missed it, but include a little bit more information about the additional commercial uses as well as those performance requirements.

Yeah, great, great question.

And I'm I'm happy to take this if you if okay.

Um so the original documents were limited in scope.

Um in hindsight, that was a mistake.

It was industrial distribution was the term.

Um so this will allow for other uses like manufacturing, which I think is really important, especially on the south side of Access Road.

Um, but it also does not allow for certain uses like retail um uh or hospitality.

So we specifically carved that out because that was never the intent of so we're not opening up to the entire world.

So uh again, take the the the flaw of the original documents was industrial distribution, and now changing this allows for things like manufacturing or lab space or office, those sorts of things which we think are important for uh in an a commerce park.

Okay, all right, and then uh the performance requirements.

Uh the performance requirement.

The original document today reads is the there is a clawback uh to the on a pro rata basis if you uh don't hit 800,000 square feet of industrial distribution again, that term's there.

Um there was also inside the economic impact um uh study uh uh uh a commitment to spend 100 million dollars.

Well, inside the definition of the project, we we neglected to include that hundred million dollars as a opportunity to define the project.

So what we did in this amendment is to allow for either 800,000 square feet of new industrial space or 100 million dollars of total investment.

It's consistent really with the spirit of where we were three years ago.

Okay, I can just pretty much come in to kind of clean up the language.

Yes, ma'am.

What I'm exactly kind of gathering here.

Okay.

Um I think the commercial use is interesting.

I I like a more commercial park idea, and I guess maybe in the original, I kind of thought that's what it was going to be, but it was the language did not have to do that.

It was the intent.

We were all moving very fast in 2022.

So yeah, absolutely.

And and with you know the we call it parcel C the South Side of Access Road being rail served.

It's really important that we allow for things like manufacturing.

Yeah, it is.

All right.

Well, thank you so much, Matt.

I appreciate it.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, ma'am.

Uh McHill.

Um so this uh this revision council, um, we started discussing it back in January.

So just um for the public to know that these things take a long time and a lot of thought.

Our economic development team and RISE partners have been working closely together to identify the challenges and find a solution that that is appropriate for the level of um economic development incentive that the city is providing in this deal.

Um I think a key a key issue, uh, Winston alluded to um the the slowdown in logistics, you know, these were built originally specifically for class A warehousing space, period.

So to councilwoman Dotley's point to create this warehouse um warehousing environment that just what we've seen nationally is that it changed very rapidly, like so many things have in the last um several years.

Um I'm pleased that we are looking at this either 100 million or 800,000 square feet.

Um there's been a significant amount of investment at this location already.

Um, and key for me was the fact that you all have already hit the jobs number that's required because um I don't know about you all, but when I'm looking at an economic incentive package, I want to know that we've got the jobs, and um that is actually a big part of why um we've carved out the uh some of the uses that we didn't want to do retail, we didn't want to do um hospitality, um because this is intended to be a manufacturing area, ideally with high-paying jobs, um, but also like you said, laboratory jobs, that that kind of thing, um, so that it's uh this land is put to its highest and best use.

We have a lot of other retail in the area that can serve this area, but this particular um parcel of this of this TIFF overlay um we we want to be very intentional about it because we as a city have made a significant investment in it.

Um so I just want to say I I won't be here when we vote on this, but I am in full support of this change, and I appreciate that RISE partners brought this challenge to us as early as they did because it's taken a lot longer to get to getting in front of the council than certainly I anticipated it's my first uh TIFF revision.

It's my first uh TIFF revision.

So thank you very much, Sharita, for all that you've done in your leadership of this.

Um I appreciate it and glad to have Winston on the team.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's all, sir.

Okay.

That's no chair.

Uh Councilman Henderson.

Thank you, sir.

But does this extend this would in essence extend the life of the TIFF as well, correct?

It's uh extending the uh construction deadline five years.

Um it coincides.

We we have already triggered seven of the parcels inside the TIFF district uh to capture the increment.

So there's still um two or three parcels that have yet to be triggered, so those will the date that's required to be triggered will extend out the five years as well, so that we give us time to complete the project.

Okay, and remind me again, I I don't remember what the total of the TIFF is, but I believe that y'all made an investment above and beyond the TIFF yes, sir.

We uh the 8.75 million was the reimbursement.

We've invested in public, that's public infrastructure reimbursement.

We've invested 9.4.

The city was great.

Um Sam Barry, who's here with me, worked very closely with the city to um go through that certification process.

Uh we meet on site, look at the public infrastructure that would be put in place, make sure it was in the ground, certify it.

So that's where that 9.4 million dollar figure comes from.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Councilman Burns, I saw your light.

Did you have any other questions?

My question was answered.

Okay, perfect.

All right, perfect.

Well, we really appreciate y'all for coming and thank you all for taking the time to be here with us.

Thank you so much.

Yes, sir.

We have our next presentation.

So uh council and all watching, this is our Northgate uh mall Hickson Infrastructure TIFF.

Good good afternoon, Council Cherid Allen, Senior Advisor for Economic and Workforce Development.

Um we're bringing forward today a proposed uh TIFF for the Northgate Mall area.

And so I'll get to I'll start out by saying the city has a vested interest in this project, and it's looking at if you look at this particular map, in the very center is a Northgate Mall property.

The orange that you see, that is the public stormwater that connects into the private sewer system and and wastewater system that Northgate has.

There are also additional private owned properties that tie into this publicly owned system.

And so we're looking at it from a preservation of public health standpoint, accessing private capital.

Again, when we're looking at outside developers coming in, bringing new dollars to the table, that increases our tax base.

We're looking at accelerating proper uh project timelines.

For instance, if the private sewer system were to fail and we have public assets that tie into that, all of a sudden we're in a position where we have to figure out how to address our public systems that are now connected to a failed system.

Um sharing risk, obviously.

The developer, we're looking at a developer-backed TIFF.

So the developer came to us, they said, we're willing to finance a project up front.

Is there a way we could entertain having a TIFF with a tax increment reimbursing us over time for this project?

So they're taking risks because they're funding it up front.

We're taking a risk because as we look at the incremental property taxes, we recognize their opportunity costs for other things we could be funding.

Economic development, obviously, redevelopment of a of a dying and decaying mall is a paramount importance for it.

So we'd like to see that happen.

There's also job creation that happens along with that, and then enhancing um future revenue streams.

Obviously, we're looking at additional property tax if the mall gets redevelopment to redevelop, redeveloped, and we're looking at additional sales tax.

So for the what I call the new Chattanoogans that are not familiar with the historic Northgate Mall, which was a favorite when I was in eighth grade.

Um it was once a thriving urban center, as was ESCAP.

I used to go to the library at Eastgate when I was in first grade.

Um so Northgate Mall was once a thriving urban center.

And again, it was built in 1968 with a private sewer system.

It was annexed in um the Hickson was annexed in 1973, recognizing the mall was never on a public suit on a public system.

So the current status, we're looking at uh a failing sewer system and other infrastructure that prevents additional development.

And so what that looks like is there's currently smaller retail development, so standalone satellite development that's happening.

But if we ever wanted to do, for instance, um a town center format, or you wanted to recruit a hotel, or you were looking to bring in a multifamily project, those would not be able to happen with this current infrastructure.

It simply does not support it because it is outdated.

And so again, the opportunity costs here are in order to get additional future development at this urban center, you would need to replace the sewer infrastructure.

So we're looking at just a few figures for you.

The um 27 appraised value of the Northgate Mall property was 50 million.

In 2024, it was down to 28 million.

And so what that says to us is we have a loss in property taxes because this is a failing and declining mall.

We'd like to reverse that trend.

And so we're looking at there's a figure there that shows you the property taxes, what they were in 2017, you know, from one million one hundred and ten thousand, and we're down to 575,000 in 2024.

And then the other piece of this is because the Northgate Mall is a catalyst, it becomes an employment center.

So we have roughly 2300 people that are employed in and around the mall.

That's not all in the mall stores.

That's the other stores that congregate outside of the mall because the mall is an anchor for the area.

So again, just talking a little bit to reiterate the benefits of the revitalizing the mall, replacing the upgrading infrastructure, achieving a vision for a town center, and then the newer the new water and sewer and stormwater infrastructure, actually, the sewer and stormwater would be dedicated to the city after the project, which means it would be built to city standards.

There's also a water utility component that is currently owned by Hicks and Water Utility, Hicks and Utility District.

That piece would also be built to Hickson Utility District standards and then dedicated to the utility district.

TIFF project.

So Winston went a little bit over the TIFF project.

What I've highlighted is the word discretionary.

So if you look at that orange triangle where it says a TIFF increment, that's discretionary.

That's the piece that we're proposing would be used to fund infrastructure development.

The green piece, that baseline, that stays in place.

And so what that means is if you're talking about putting a TIFF in place, that green baseline, those taxes are currently being paid and will continue to be paid over the life of the TIFF.

So that's never given away.

So I just want to be clear what with about that with this particular Senate incentive.

There are other incentives where that might come to play.

This does not in this particular case.

The property tax on a TIFF, the baseline is frozen, it's preserved, and then the incremental piece, that's a discretionary piece that is under consideration by both the city, the county, and the industrial development board for allocation to a particular infrastructure project.

And so at the core of these TIFF projects, and and Matt Phillips did mention this in this previous previous overview, you know, these are P3s, these are public-private partnerships.

And they only happen when both this both the municipalities and the developer are looking at how to make a project work.

And so that that's that give and take.

So that for instance, if you had a bald stadium, there's a there's a there's a project tied to it.

If we were looking at East Chattanooga Rising, again, there was a large-scale industrial project tied to it.

There's not a large project tied to it because this project is based on the infrastructure to encourage a large project to happen.

That's why this is a little different, and that's why we're asking for waivers on some of these policies.

So again, looking at the maximum percentage of project cost, historically, for instance, if we were looking at a 100 million dollar project, we would look at that project and say only 15% of that increment.

That's a max that you would be able to use for your infrastructure.

Well, there's no 100 million dollar project at the table for this to be able to do that calculation.

So we're asking for that waiver on that one.

And then the limit or allocation of gross incremental revenues.

Again, if you had a larger project, you would have more revenues, and so in this particular instance, we're asking for a longer period with that with that sort of increment allowed to be able to fund reimbursement of this project, recognizing the developers taking the risk, the developers financing it.

If the developer doesn't make the future development happen, the developer doesn't get reimbursed.

But that waiver needs to be there to allow for a longer period to make that that reimbursement happen.

And then the last piece is the independent third party review.

So one of the amendments in 2023 to the TIFF policies was there was a requirement put in place that said that for any development, there needed to be an independent third party reviewer.

Staff has reached out and asked for that third party review.

What we encountered was it was difficult finding a reviewer because they are historically reviewing a vertical project.

They're reviewing a 100 million dollar vertical project to determine do they really need the this 15% to make their project work.

Well, this case is a little different because it is simply an infrastructure only project.

So we are currently working with our outside TIFF legal team to pull together recommendations and an opinion on the third party review piece.

But we are we are asking for a waiver of that at this time, and that's the vote later today, because this is a different type of project, but we are seeking that piece.

So those are the three, you know, what I call anomalies to this project that are asking us for to make waivers.

And then the other piece is because our TIFF policies are so conservative, we have to come before these boards to ask for, and I say these.

We have to go before city council because there's city policies, IDB, IDB is a party to those.

We do not have to go to the county commission to ask for those waivers, but we have to go out front so that when it gets to the county commission, they recognize we've had some waivers to these policies.

And so again, that's part of why we're coming to this board for this item today to say, hey, there's an applicant, they're asking for something, there's some anomalies to it, we recognize what they are those are, we understand them completely, and we're asking this body to consider waiving those policies so that we can start the application process.

The the vote that would happen later today is not approval of a TIFF at all.

There are probably 11 more steps before we even get there.

But in the meantime, this starts the process.

And then let's go back to public-private partnerships.

I think we've been successful with some of our previous TIFFs, some public private partnerships.

And for instance, if you look at the MLK Blue Goose Hollow TIFF, that was a TIFF where a developer came to the table.

There was no plan for there to be public access to the River Walk at that particular site.

And so when this went to the LDO office, fortunately, someone in that office said, hey, there's always been this thought that we would allow public access for the general public to the River Walk.

Would you guys work with us on making that happen?

So again, a P3 was born, public private partnership, it was a TIFF, it was limited, it was for infrastructure, and all of that infrastructure has been developed.

So if you've if you've not been to Blue Goose Hollow, take a look, and when you walk around, go, hey, this was this was approved through a TIFF.

I think there were some folks here that that voted on that that particular TIFF and it's been very successful.

And then again, Matt alluded, uh, RISE partners alluded earlier to the access road tip.

So again, public infrastructure that the city never would have built on their own, but there was an opportunity where there was a developer at a table building a project, and we said, would you consider making these other improvements if we provide increment to get those paid?

So again, it's not on the city books, the city's not funding the project, it's not in the capital plan.

That's a requirement, it cannot be in the capital plan, but these are future revenues that are reimbursing developers for present-day projects that they're creating on the behalf of the city.

Again, that public-private partnership.

And again, what I've highlighted in yellow is just that that that definition of public-private partnership that just goes back to, you know, their risk and rewards on both sides, like developers taking risk and the city's taking risk, and we both recognize that.

The key is how do we structure agreements in such a way that it minimizes those risks for both of us, and that we can all move forward and deliver these public private public projects.

Project alignment.

So the the notion of redeveloping Northgate Mall has appeared in all of our sort of regional RPA plans, you know, the plan Chattanyoga draft that's 2024, you know, improving local infrastructure as part of the one Chattanooga framework.

So again, we have these city approved and council adopted plans, and then we have a draft plan that may or I'm not sure when that plan will come before you, but it's it calls out facilitate redevelopment of Northgate Mall and surrounding commercial areas into a walkable town center.

Well, the only way to make that happen is to address the infrastructure issue.

Because you you're not able, we're not able to have that without the infrastructure, and so that's where this comes into play.

And then uh in closing, I've got one or two more slides.

Let's see.

Um, other other Tennessee shopping centers that are that are have approved TIFF projects.

So the first one, Rivergate Mall.

This is a big project.

So theirs is a 40 million dollar TIFF or 25 years.

It's either a or for for them.

And in particular, this is an abandoned mall, and most of this is for demolition, there's a lot of site work, there's a little infrastructure, again, a very different type of project, but again, a mall project.

You've got Oak Ridge Mall, $13 million TIF, there's infrastructure on there, rebuilding roads, um, some sewer, some landscaping, all of those kind of things.

Bellevue, 10 million dollar TIF, again, very successful one if you ever out to Bellevue Mall, and then Eastone Commons in Kingport.

So again, communities are using TIFF as a tool to redevelop their outdated and dilapidated malls, and and we're we're bringing this project forward in the same vein.

And then lastly, let's just look at the timeline and the process.

And so today we have an item that's on the agenda that's for the resolution that recognizes there are waivers.

We recognize those, we're willing to waive those, and we want to move forward with this item.

And then on Monday, the application will be submitted to the industrial development board, keeping in mind it's only able to be submitted with waivers because it's it's not compliant currently because it has waivers in it.

And then on the 14th, um, it will come back to council again, it'll go to county commission, then there's an application review uh committee.

So what happens is there's a seven-member application review committee that is called by the IDB.

So when the item goes back to the IDB the second time, the IDB will call an advertised open to the public application review committee.

That committee will review the application and all the subsequent attachments.

There are two members appointed by the mayor, two members appointed by council, two members from the IDB, and one member from the chamber of commerce.

They scrub through every single question, the applicant is present, they get all the questions answered, they draw up a report, there's a court reporter present who takes notes.

All of that gets incorporated into the next step, which is the economic impact plan that will then come back to city council.

That's where you'll start to see the nuts and bolts, the numbers, the projections, what type of um infrastructure, all of those different pieces.

And so that again, once that's put into place, there's a public hearing that has to be advertised.

That's Monday, November 3rd, and then Tuesday, November, uh, Tuesday, December 2nd is where the economic impact plan will come to the council for vote.

Then it will go to county commission, and at that point, the TIFF is in place.

And then the next step would be January, February or so.

There's a development agreement that basically goes to the IDB that says this is a project, this is what it looks like, these are the allowable uses for the TIFF, this is our plan for getting this this project developed, and then we move forward.

And so I will stop there.

The developers here.

Oh, the um Winston had a great point here.

And so the developers here, and we'll bring him up to talk a little bit about the infrastructure.

And Winston wanted to point out to me there's uh on one of the slides we talked about the increment.

So there's roughly five million dollars in property tax increment that's available for this project.

So we're looking at 10 million.

Um there's a $15 million project, $5 million is from property tax.

There's another 10 million that comes from local option sales tax.

Again, that's sales tax that current that is currently not being collected.

It is future revenue to be collected, and we're asking for consideration of that sales tax, local option sales tax piece to go into the infrastructure project for redevelopment of this mall.

And then I'll invite Winston up.

Do you have any other points you'd like to make before we bring up the developer?

That's just a great project.

He said no, it's just a great important project.

Okay, and if we'll ask the developer to come up and and answer, provide an overview of the infrastructure piece, and then we'll take questions.

Thank you, Sharita.

Good afternoon.

My name is John Michelle, CBL properties.

Pleased to be before you all today.

Thank you so much.

Excited to talk about Northgate, Northgate Mall, which is a great redevelopment opportunity, and that that's why we're here today.

As Sharita stated, we are seeking a developer-back TIFF.

We're proposing to finance the work with a reimbursement funded by real estate tax and sales tax.

The proposed sales tax contribution would be capped and limited to new retailers that will open on the former Sears land.

We understand that this application has raised some questions, and we do not take those concerns lightly.

CBL was founded here in Chattanooga, and for nearly 50 years, we've continued to build our business here.

Our properties generate significant tax revenue, and we understand the importance of being good stewards of these funds.

With our comments today, we intend to provide additional color to Sharita's presentation and to address some of the questions that have come up.

The private water and sewer systems were constructed with the original mall and came online in the early 1970s.

Both are well now over 50 years old and in various states of disrepair.

As a critical infrastructure system that serves not only the mall property, but 13 adjacent properties, properties not owned by the mall entities.

They're owned by different different entities.

A failure of the system would create a significant disruption for all of the businesses served by the system.

This includes retailers such as TJ Maxx, Aubrey's, Kava, Miller's, and there are a number of others.

Recent investigations have revealed multiple line segments with water intrusion and structural failures.

The existing water mains frequently break, causing emergency repairs and water outages for tenants and property owners.

Overall, the sewer and water system are in poor condition.

Extensive repairs and system upgrades will be necessary to restore full functionality.

Our civil engineer Miller McCoy has advised us that a comprehensive remediation plan for the infrastructure at Northgate should be designed and implemented as soon as possible to address deficiencies and ensure long-term serviceability.

Sharita showed you a graphic of the existing storm system.

This not only serves the mall, but also the 13 adjacent parcels.

It also services the public right-of-way of Hicks and Pike and Highway 153.

Stormwater improvements benefit the public and multiple property owners.

Over the past 15 years, there have been multiple instances where parking lot or a private ring road has experienced sinkholes due to stormline failures.

These instances cause traffic interruptions and present an inherent danger due to traveling public and the unforeseen erosion underneath the travelways.

Switching gears, CBL, since we acquired Northgate in 2011, has invested nearly 40 million dollars into the campus.

This includes significant investments into the mall, redeveloping the mall frontage, where Ulta Salsa Rita's are today.

We added Burling to the mall or Burlington to the mall.

We acquired the former JCPenney and the Sears parcels around the mall.

As the city stated, real estate taxes related to the campus have declined from a peak of 1.1 million in 2017 to around 575,000 in 2024, near representing nearly a 50% decline.

Anchor stores such as JCPenney, Sears, Burlington have closed at the mall.

Shop tenants, such as Children's Place, Victoria's Secret, K Jewelers, GNC, Justice, Christopher, and Banks have also closed.

The mall in its current format is not sustainable.

And that that's where we're at today.

The mall is a failing mall.

It does not work as an enclosed mall.

We are mall owners, mall developers.

We own Hamilton Place, which is an incredibly successful mall that we continue to invest into.

Malls similar in size and market position to Northgate across the country have had to evolve.

The combination of the deterioration of the existing format in this location, coupled with the costs associated with the failing private infrastructure, make meaningful redevelopment unrealistic without public-private partnership that Sharita was talking about.

The proposed infrastructure project is a critical first step to activating a larger scale redevelop at Northgate.

We see a modern mixed-use town center campus here in the future.

The right revitalization of Northgate hinges on this infrastructure work.

Without it, the mall will continue to deteriorate, and the city's property tax base will continue to erode at this location.

CBL is invested in this project and the future viability of this project.

A future that will only be possible with this critical infrastructure work.

As I mentioned at the beginning, we are seeking a developer back TIF.

As Sharita stated, we are taking the risk on financing the TIFF, and we we are appreciative of the opportunity to discuss being reimbursed by the city.

With that, I'll close and thank you all for uh for your time.

All right, council.

We have some questions.

Councilman Bowler.

Yes, thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Um so excited to see something going uh for Northgate.

I was just out there at Seven Dale Spa.

Uh so I really like the like the space.

Um have a couple have a couple of questions.

I know on Sharita's slide, I wanted to go back to those waivers that she mentioned.

Uh I think it was in the other presentation.

And so as we get back to those waivers, just for clarity, on our agenda today, we are asking for the application or requests for them to submit the application with these waivers.

Is that is that a correct statement?

That when they submit the application, they'll submit it.

That is correct.

So these voting on tonight is to allow them to submit the application with these waivers.

Okay.

And so, and just this is just me recapping generally what you all just said, just so I can be clear because I've never seen one quite like this.

Uh always interested in learning new things.

So uh this is an infrastructure only TIFF.

And so uh it makes me think about when I look at uh North Northgate, it makes me wonder the same way with Eastgate, how East Gay has Eastgate loop that is owned by Eastgate.

Oh, I'm sure it's on my infrastructure underneath.

So is that the same case here with Northgate where you all own all of the property and our infrastructure is on is is under there underneath it.

We own some of the property, okay, and we own all of the main infrastructure.

Okay.

And the does that answer your question?

Yeah, yes, yes.

Oh, I have plenty by the time y'all come back.

Uh, this is just me kind of getting started.

Um, and because this is not tied to a project, uh, and I and I can't wait till we get that economic impact plan in.

You know, how are you gauging what the economic impact will be since we it's not tied to anything?

Well, we there is an active redevelopment going on at the Sears parcel.

Um, so we are tapping into that redevelopment to fund these improvements, and we will continue to redevelop the project once these improvements are in place.

Okay, so because I see uh it just so happened I would up there Friday.

Uh, but I see there's development like in the different parking lots in the park a lot and things like that.

And I mean, I think it's important to understand we've been working around the periphery of the property for years, redeveloping the out parcels, um, Kava's, uh, millers, um, there's a number of others, and then what you see the redevelopment on the Sears parcel are all kind of accessible to short utility runs, they don't require the mains to be redone.

The remaining section of the mall, which is 11 to 12 acres, requires for a redevelopment, will require the entire infrastructure project to be done, beneficial for the redevelopment of the property, also beneficial to all of the neighboring property owners who are using the private system.

Okay.

Um, and I think that's all I have for now.

Um, I at the current moment I'm in support of the application with the waivers, understanding that may not go through in the end, but uh just would like to see how this looks because this is something new that we haven't done, and I am excited about seeing development at Northgate at Northgate Mall.

So uh that those are all my statements.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Councilman Davis.

Thank you.

And I'm also very excited about seeing development and redevelopment at Northgate Mall, um, as this is in District 3.

Um, I do need to note at the outset here because of the fact that Hickson Utility District will receive the water infrastructure once the project is complete.

Um the utility district is not a party to this TIFF proposal, uh, but because it is a third-party beneficiary, in addition to serving on this body, I also serve on the Board of Commissioners for Hicks and Utility District.

Uh, we will not be taking any action with regard to the TIFF, and as I noted, we're not a party to it.

Um, I do not stand to gain any personal financial or any other benefit from either city council or the utility district from this project, but uh both the city and the utility district um certainly stand to gain uh valuable infrastructure, and so there's no conflict of interest that I have and I have discussed this with our city attorney, but I wanted in the interest of transparency and clarity to put that out on the table at the outset here.

Um with regard to those adjacent properties, um, I believe one of those is the new 7-11 along 153.

Is that correct?

No, that's not one of those that ties into the infrastructure.

No, okay.

That's good.

I know we saw some flooding there earlier this year.

Okay.

Um, and there's a number of small businesses in and around the mall.

Is that right that would stand to benefit from the redevelopment?

Like I like I said, there are 13 individual properties.

Um, I apologize for not bringing the slide that shows all 13 of them.

Um, small businesses and national businesses, but they're all rust, you know, the restaurants that you see, the Panera, the barbecue, um, Kava, and you know, everything that's outside of the ring road is parceled up and owned by a different entity.

Okay, okay.

Um, and I have a couple more questions here.

I think they they might be geared towards uh Shreder or Winston.

Um see.

So with regard to the property tax segment, um so any taxes that are designated for our school district, those will not be affected by this TIFF project.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Okay, retain those taxes.

Okay, good.

Um let's see.

Uh if you'd give me bear with me here.

Um with regard to the third-party review policy waiver, um, although there won't be, I guess, a formal third-party review of the public works department and Higgs and Utility District would be on site to monitor and make sure the work is done up to their standards.

Is that right?

But that's a great point.

So the the infrastructure would be built will be built to city standards and they will be on site to inspect before the dedication.

Okay, and all of the meetings that are listed on the back page of the presentation, those are all public meetings that'll be well advertised, right?

And according to law, right, right.

And so the public will have many opportunities along the way here to give input and and feedback on the project.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Thank you.

I think those are the questions I have at this time.

Um, I'm happy to support this project and look forward to our vote tonight and seeing how the project progresses through throughout the timeline here.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

And I'm sure our city attorney was smiling when she gave your disclaimer from a true lawyer.

All right, we have next council Henderson.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh Winston.

I noticed on here that the county commission was voting on this resolution of intent on Wednesday, October the 15th.

I've had some concerns by a couple of uh county commissioners that their CFO was not even aware of the numbers of this TIFF until after it hit our agenda.

Have has there been conversations with the county?

And if so, what have those conversations been?

I mean, this obviously is a TIFF that's going to be uh a TIFF voted on by the city and the county.

It seemed like it sort of took them by surprise.

Yes, sir, and um Srida has had some conversations that she may want to share with you, but I've also uh been in contact with the county, and uh they have just a little different process, but we've been sharing the documents with them uh in hopes that they would uh continue to update the the county commission.

The county commission doesn't have to act as fast as as we needed to act today, so that may have been while they were a little uh off guard because they don't have to do anything until um later in October.

So when did we start having discussions with the county, at least with the administration?

Um sometime uh in late August, early September.

Okay.

Count Councilman, I'd like to add to that.

And so when we started this process, the previous TIF, which was for you had the stadium TIFF and the Ben St.

And there was also a joint city-county commit uh meeting to hear those items.

And then when this came forward, there was no protocol for is the city briefing both city and the county, or is the city briefing city and the county's briefing county?

And so there was a miscommunication as to okay.

Met with county economic development staff recognizing one of their staffers has been out on FMLA, and then someone else filling in that seat.

We put together a schedule, but that schedule never got communicated up.

And so that was a miscommunication on my part, not knowing that I needed to be briefing administration at the county and not just staff at the county.

So moving forward, I have had a meeting with the deputy mayor of the county for us to put together protocols for how we handle briefing for all projects moving forward, so that we are very clear when we're setting out a schedule, even though we're communicating with county staff to put the schedule together, someone still needs to be reaching out and talking to county administration regarding the project.

And that simply didn't happen.

It was an oversight.

And it reminds me of the oversight that we had with the previous Southern Champion Trade pilot where it went to county commission and the city council found out about it when we dialed into that 9 30 Wednesday meeting, and everyone was like, What do you mean they're doing a pilot without us?

Because we had not been briefed.

And again, there was a misstep, and the city wasn't briefed, so we weren't even aware that it was on their agenda.

The same thing happened here.

It was just internal miscommunication.

There was no malice.

Well, talking to someone is very different from briefing them.

So moving forward, we have created internal briefing sheets and external briefing sheets.

And we're very aware now when someone says, no, no, no, I had a conversation with so and so, I talked to them about the project, and they're good.

That does not mean that someone briefed them at a high level.

And so we're working to fix that moving forward.

And that's both our internal processes, but also the county has said they're going to put systems together as well.

As an aside, um, economic development is currently um doing the research in partnership with the Department of Technical Services, Technology Services on Economic Development Software.

And so we are currently looking at a software platform that will allow us to do application intake for incentives all the way to tracking and monitoring to calendar to then pulling reports.

Because we discovered during the budget process that we were not able to pull some of the reports that council was asking us to pull.

So we started looking into software programs, programs that could do that.

So for instance, if we're looking at a TIF that's in its eighth year, what's a performance like at year eight versus what was the performance at year four?

This software will won't be able to do that.

That's a future item that will come on your agenda.

We're probably three or four months away from doing that, but we're hoping that will help fix sort of this this miscommunication that happened that was not intentional that everybody thought everybody knew, and it turns out nobody was properly briefed.

Okay.

That's how we got to it.

And I'll I don't want to dwell too long here, but I know it's critical for the city and the county both to be on board with this.

So as far as you know, the the county is good with this timeline of October the 15th.

Based on my last conversation this week, yes, they're good with this timeline.

Conversation with who?

Uh Corey Guerrin, Deputy Mayor.

Okay.

All right.

Yep.

Okay.

All right.

Um did you want to add something on this?

I don't know if I I do have a couple more questions.

Go ahead, council.

I didn't know this is going to take so long this little uh section.

Well, I can figure it out.

So if there's no vertical infrastructure going in, where are we collecting the five million in property tax in the increment?

The as I as I stated, the redevelopment of the former Shears parcel is underway.

Um two retailers are slated to open up in the next few months, and that would create the real estate tax increment, and also that's where we're proposing to um utilize the uh city sales tax piece.

So the two developments that are already out of the ground, that's correct.

We're gonna go back and capture the revenue for that.

And I guess to me that leads to more questions of when we uh West and I mean uh Weston when we when we project our revenue for the 2526 budget, you know, we we always I I know it's a projection.

We're not ever uh we're not ever basing it off of what we know we've collected as future uh revenue.

Does that not eat into our projections for what we thought the revenue was going to be?

I guess I guess what I'm asking is is that not gonna impact what we thought our future revenues were going to be if we're now looking back and capturing the revenue off of basically two projects that are just about to go online, I believe, aren't they?

According to the what I see look like one was December and then another one, it just said fall of 2025.

And I guess Sharita, my other question is does that sort of set a precedence then going forward of developers having projects out of the ground and saying, hey, I want to capture revenue off of these projects coming out of the ground.

But for which a couple of uh issues to address your question.

Um the uh the the TIFF law um allows uh for the uh tax increment to be captured at um the the year that the the TIFF is put into place of 2024.

So going forward, then it would capture all the um assessment of 2024 to capture at that say that again.

But right, but if we could if the TIFF is completed by 2025, it captures the 2024 assessment.

So all of our TIFFs go back a year?

That's the state law, yes.

Okay.

I wasn't aware of that.

So that almost captures taxes that are already on the books.

But one way to look at this project is this is the first phase of the project, and so it's a very conservative estimate.

Um they're not bringing um large scale development because it's they can't do that.

So getting this infrastructure in place is the first step to um having a successful um redevelopment of the the North Gate area as well as the other stormwater uh projects.

So keep that in mind that uh you know that once this moves forward, I'm sure that there'll be further redevelopment on it.

Um I understand that, but also understand we just passed the largest tax increase in Chattanooga history, and because we felt like we needed that additional revenue, and now we're it seems like we're going back and taking some of that revenue back out in order to do this project with and reimbursing a private developer for it.

Sure, and so keep in mind that uh on on the the model uh on the slide of the TIFF increment that baseline, you know, um the tax increment financing was developed to stabilize the tax base, and as we see at Northgate, that tax base is is going the wrong way.

So it's a way to stabilize it and move it back the other way, and there's some risk on both sides.

Okay.

Let me let me move on.

Will this application um include an agreement that CBL will hold this property until at least the infrastructure is completed?

Well, the um infrastructure has to be uh completed uh per the agreement now um we can that's not what I'm asking timelines on it.

That that's a good question.

I mean, we're at the very beginning that could be negotiated.

Um it benefits them to to complete it.

Um and then also the way uh the the financing works is if nothing happens, nothing happens, no money goes out.

So they do they my point is this this property becomes more valuable as soon as this TIFF is passed, and they could they could I guess gain some profit from just this TIFF passing.

So my question is would there be an agreement or or included in the agreement that they would hold this property at least until the infrastructure is complete?

Otherwise, they could actually benefit off of this TIFF agreement.

That's not reasonable, and that would be negotiated in the development agreement, so I think that's possible.

Well, I think that needs to be included in the language in this requirement.

Typically in our development agreements, that is there is a provision that that precludes them from disposing of the property or disposition of the property without notification of the IDB, the city, the county.

That's that's in the agreements.

I'm happy to provide a sample agreement of a previous TIF where that that language is in there.

So no, they cannot dispose if they dispose of it, they're still the TIF, the TIFF is tied to the project and the entity that receives the increment.

The cancer.

So they can't, it's non-transferable.

So if they start the project, they improve the infrastructure.

So once we put the TIFF district in place, it's tied to the property owner, not the project, not the property.

It's tied to the LLC that's receiving that's receiving the increment.

It's the it's the I it's the applicant.

I will have to follow up and get you that language.

I'm a little bit more.

If you would, I I mean, I to me the property becomes more valuable as soon as this TIFF is passed without lifting a finger.

Correct.

Correct.

I think we've never been in a situation where we've had a project receive a TIFF with the intent of then immediately selling the proc the property.

But if the well if a TIFF is approved, uh proposed TIFF is approved on the project in three months, and then the property owner finds a buyer, the anticipated construction date is January 1 of 2027.

If the property is sold before then, the TIFF goes away because the TIFF is with the applicant, the entity applying for the anchorment.

So what happens if it's sold after what did you say January?

Well come back before the board.

They would, I mean, if if the if the purchaser wanted to have the increment go towards putting in the infrastructure, they would have to come before this board for there to be a transfer of that particular of the TIFF.

I think we have an existing project.

They're doing they're will they're handling the infrastructure.

Someone wants to acquire them, there's a TIFF that's part of that project.

That TIFF is not transferable without coming back back before your legislative bodies.

Councilman, go ahead.

Could I ask a clarifying question?

Sure.

Sharita, with this is the developer not putting up the money up front to fix this, and is this TIFF just not reimbursing them on the back end?

Correct.

So essentially, all of the risk is on the developer.

Once once the infrastructure is in place, but my point is once once we approve.

I'm just asking.

Once we approve the TIFF, could they then sell it and another buyer come in and use that same money for answers for the infrastructure?

That's all I'm asking.

And if if I'm clear on this, and this attorney will please clarify otherwise, if they do something like that, they would have to come back before this body, the county, and IDB.

Well, that's what I correct.

That's what I want to clarify for permission.

That's what I want to clarify.

If they wanted to request a new TIF.

Keep in mind that uh the vote tonight is um not approving TIFF.

I think it's a valid concern.

I don't know what the vote's about tonight, but I need to understand what the application is gonna say before I can say, yeah, let's go ahead with it.

Right, and that's what the allowing the uh staff to accept the application and that type of negotiation can be put into the final arrangements, the final agreement.

Okay, Mr.

Chair Council.

In the meantime, I'm happy to reach out to our TIFF council to ask them that question and get an answer for you before the vote tonight.

Oh okay.

Is that yes?

Yeah.

You good, councilman?

I'm good, thank you.

Okay.

Next up, councilman Burst.

Thank you, Chairman.

Um I'm not sure who this question goes to, but I'll ask it out.

Uh well, I've got a comment first.

To councilwoman Henderson's point, I would imagine that the success of this project is dependent on both the city and the county's financial commitment, correct?

Okay.

So while we may approve something tonight, if the county doesn't, we don't get held to holding the bag for our piece only.

Or our financial commitment only.

This the county has to also commit.

That's uh that's a function of whether the numbers work for the deal if the county chooses not to participate in it.

Okay.

And is there a way for us to see the application before we vote tonight?

See what the application says?

Is it ready to go?

The application actually is public, so yes.

Okay.

Um, and then the other comment, the comment that I have is I would be in favor of not waiving the third party review policy because I think if it's waived, it sets a precedent for the next project down the road, and I don't think we should get in the habit of waiv a third party review, regardless of the situation.

Hopefully, there might be other projects that come.

Our infrastructure needs help.

And if there's a private entity that's willing to get out there, thank you very much and be part of that, then I think we have to have a solid review process regardless.

Thank you, Sharita.

Thank you, sir.

I have a question really quick before I go on to that.

For what I'm understanding the third party review, so this is for my understanding.

It is dedicated for vertical uh reviews only.

Is that correct?

It was a ri it was originally when, and keep in mind that amendment to the policies predates me.

My understanding is it was put in place to evaluate developers who were building multifamily, heavy industrial, and asking for infrastructure tips.

It was put in place to do the evaluation to determine whether they actually needed whether their numbers for their project, whether there was a delta where they needed to have these infrastructure dollars to make sense.

Okay.

So it it it doesn't forum doesn't even apply to this project because it is so unique.

Correct.

And so when we reached out to third party reviewer, they asked, well, what's what's the vertical, what's the big project?

And we said it's a straight infrastructure project.

And so what what they're doing is trying this third party reviewer is working with our TIFF council to come up with some version of a review, keeping in mind it's not their standard review.

So we are going to have a third party review, they're just not going to be reviewing through the vertical criteria.

We have asked for that, yes.

Okay, perfect.

So that right here.

Our goal is to provide that, yes.

Okay, perfect.

Um next up, we have Chairwoman Hill.

Thank you.

Um so first, I I want to say um to um to you, John.

I appreciate very much your your ending statement when you said to the council that you appreciate the opportunity to discuss being reimbursed by the city.

I appreciate that that is uh you all come here uh with an open thought process ready to negotiate.

You are shrewd negotiators and the city should be as well.

And um this council um has not together really looked at a TIFF, this this body, but our previous body with our existing um members are very we're very detail-oriented, and I expect the same from our new members that you're you can expect a lot of questions and and thoughtfulness about this um so that we get the get the right project.

Um so a couple of clarifying questions.

Um can we go back to that waiver slide, please?

Okay.

So the independent third party review.

I think councilwoman burrs is on the right track.

When we looked at the TIFF processes overall, a key element was to add transparency and to open up opportunity for public input on economic development and central pages.

And so the independent third party review is important, um, and I agree should not be should not be waived.

I'm looking at the um at the actual language in what we're being asked to vote for in this resolution tonight, and acknowledgement of potential waivers.

So we're we're not tied to the fact that we might that we will waive this.

To your point, you're you're seeking a waiver specific to this or a uh a reviewer specific to this type of project.

Correct.

So that word potential waiver is important to me as I consider my vote on this.

So what happens is the way our TIP policies are written, the applicant is asking for these things in the application, which means without waivers, it would not go forward to the IDB.

Okay.

That's and so the way that we're discussing this now, um, is part I see as part of that transparency.

We're having this conversation about we have put certain requirements in place as a council and as a city, and so we're starting a public discussion about hey, here's somebody that's got an idea that doesn't fit what we wanted to do.

So tonight the vote is I I really appreciate the language in section one that we would be resolved, uh section one authorization.

The city hereby authorizes the appropriate city staff to continue discussions.

So we're not at a point where we're looking for a done deal that we love all of the I's and Ts crossed and dotted.

We are saying, you know what, this is interesting, let's keep talking.

Is that is that accurate?

That is accurate.

Okay.

Yes.

Um, because I gotta say, I got a lot of questions.

Oh, sure.

And this is uh I'm with councilwoman Dotley in that this is a different kind of deal, and I don't have my arms around where we might land yet.

Um I have vision about where we could, I think it could be great.

And to uh councilman Davis's point, like it would be tremendous for this area to be uh redeveloped.

So I want to keep an open mind on that.

Um, but I would like to shine the I would like to a little clarity on one thing, and then I want to point one other thing out.

Um in the document about the tax received.

Um we've got that 50% loss of appraised value from 2017 to 2024.

Um, but because sales tax are in this conversation, it would be helpful, perhaps not tonight, but absolutely to understand what have the sales taxes done from this area.

I would expect that we've seen reduction in the collected sales tax.

Um but to confirm with you that the ta in the slide that says taxes have declined from their peak of 1.1 million, they've declined to 575.

Is that specifically proper annual property tax?

Correct, yes.

Okay, good to know.

Um and then we do have the younger associates economic analysis that is part of the application process.

That spells out the decrease in sales taxes as well.

Okay, okay.

Um I um I have a little bit of a saltiness or a little skepticism that I bring to this parcel, this this whole larger parcel, because when I was on school board, we uh we had a public meeting like this about what is now going to be the BJ's site, and the night the next day, two developers bought that piece of property.

And then they reached out to the school board and they said, you know what, we will sell it back to you for a million dollars more than we just bought it for yesterday.

So councilman Henderson's questions about the shrewdness of financial folks and developers is spot on.

Like we we don't do what you do every day, and we want to all come to this in good faith, right?

Absolutely.

And so um be as uh as gentle as lambs and as shrewd as Fox.

I'm getting it all mixed around.

Is that right?

Shrewd as five.

It's right today, says my colleague.

Thank you.

Um, so we do need to be shrewd with this and and be very thoughtful about what we choose to waive or not waive.

The last thing I'd like to point out that I'm gonna be looking for as we continue to negotiate this deal, is that plan Hamilton is saying that the draft of 2024 says there is a vision to facilitate redevelopment of Northgate Mall and surrounding commercial area into a compact walkable center.

So when I look at the CBL slides, um, the current redevelopment of the BJ's wholesale and the culver and everything around it is neither compact nor walkable, right?

So when I think about this unknown project and that we're really just talking about the the guts under the ground, I can't just think about the guts under the ground.

I want to think about what's coming next.

And so I'm not sure what kind of mechanisms we have to to protect the vision of the community, but that's gonna be something I'm gonna be looking for as we get into um into the actual uh details of the agreement.

Um and may I confirm please as this moves through the process.

Should I be looking at no the month of November for council education on where you've landed on the on what the proposal is, looking at the schedule?

Like when are we really gonna be chewing on this thing?

Is it after the public hearing by the IDB?

Correct.

So it will be November 3rd.

So that's the public hearing, and then we have a month before we're looking at the impact plan.

But we aren't gonna just oh it's it's December January.

December January.

December January is when we're gonna really be digging in on this and have our elbows.

Okay.

So the public hearing for the impact plan will be November 3rd.

That's typically held at the IDB, court reporter.

People will will ask questions, all of that will get incorporated.

And then we will bring an updated EIP to council for consideration.

Okay.

Um so now is the it is appropriate now and to continue to use my colleague Carol Burr's phrase to ask a lot of righteous questions about this project, right?

And get it to where we want it to be for the future.

Um so it becomes a jewel in district three.

Thank you very much.

That's okay, Chairman.

And Chair, if I may, I do want to follow up with Councilman Anderson.

So under the approved uh city council approved TIF policies, if you look at section 4.9, it talks about the transfer of tax increment incentive.

It says no rights to a tax increment incentive may be sold, assigned, or leased, including by transfer of ownership interest in the applicant, uh unless approved by the board or otherwise specified in the development agreement, provided, however, that the board will consent to the collateral assignment of tax increment revenues to secure increment financing.

And so our outside TIFF council says within the development agreement, that's where the council is able to provide sort of guardrails around transfer of property.

Yeah, genuine.

Well let me finish these last folks and we have another question, we can come back to you.

Councilman Dolly.

All right, thank you so much.

Uh Mr.

Chair.

Uh just I had a quick question I forgot to ask in my first round.

Um, but it's always uh we want to know does this pass the butt for test?

But for if we do this tax incentive, will this project go forward?

And I think in listening earlier, it was like, well, some things are already developed, but we need this to develop the additional 11 to 12 acres, and sometimes that can cause confusion because then we're looking at kind of two separate things in a sense.

So that is my question.

Before we pass this tax incentive, will this project go forward?

If the project tax incentive is not passed, there will be no meaningful redevelopment of the main mall parcel at Northgate Mall.

That mall is locked, it's smaller than the entire campus, and it supports all of the private utilities that serve the public properties.

I got I I mean, there's a lot of different things that are being discussed.

There's a lot that's going on here, but really at the core, we're talking about a private line owned by the mall by by the company that owns the mall by my company that services 13 other properties, uh, both the water and the wastewater, and the cost to redevelop that in order to redevelop them all is a humongous burden on the middle of them all.

Okay.

So the answer is no for the mall, and then the adjacent 13 properties as well.

Well, many of them have already been redeveloped.

Um so you know, we're we're here in transparency.

We want to have a discussion that everybody understands.

So some of them have been redeveloped, and they're in certain locations that don't require the entire loop to re be redone, although they will benefit from the loop being redone.

We certainly have visions of a greater project, a community project, a walkable project where you have viewed um visions of housing.

None of that can occur with the current infrastructure in place.

So, but for this investment, none of that will happen.

Okay, and and I mean there's there's like the lowest common denominator solutions that could start to be applied.

I mean, and I'm not threatening, but it doesn't mean that we couldn't you know have a self-storage company occupy the whole building and and just walk away from it because there's not enough money to redevelop it without the infrastructure in place.

Okay, but does that make sense?

It makes sense, but now our uh circle bank is I think we can prepare some graphics to help um articulate it in a more meaningful way on our next presentation.

That works okay, thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, Councilman Elliott.

Uh a couple questions because my for some of those newbies, this is different from what we've studied about this in preparation for this.

And so I'll be brief because I do want to yield time to uh one of our you know senior council members who probably has not that way, like on the council uh because I think that insight is valuable to us.

My question is is in regards to the guardrails when the property is transferred, and I know there's language in there about notification, but it can still be terminated, and there's a graph that shows that when we implement the tax increment, the value goes up of the property, which can still be terminated even with the approval of the board.

And there's a graph that shows that when we implement the tax increment, the value goes up of the property, which can still be terminated even with the approval of the board.

Is that correct?

I think so.

Is that correct?

So the TIF.

The termination of the TIFF.

Um I am not able to answer that.

I will ask our TIFF counsel for that.

Okay.

I think from what was read is that once we implement the tax increment, and there's a graph that shows the value after termination, and this is in reference to the guardrails of transfer property, because what's what's why this is of public interest to us because that money is not going into the tax base to improve infrastructure.

And I'm and I'm particularly interested in economic development in this area.

District three is a sister district to district five.

It is the closest commercial area for shopping for people in my district, how in 58 who drives across the dam.

But I am very curious about some of the guardrails and what we lose as taxpayers if there are no guardrails that protect you from terminate.

And I say this because we all know that shopping, we see the data of what's happening with shopping malls.

They're de decreasing.

Um, which is why I'm curious to see what how the redevelopment will spur economic development when we know that those brick and mortar shopping malls are decreasing, but you're asking us to invest in something that is shrinking without any proper guardrails on if the TIFF is terminated.

What is the cloudback?

What do we get back if we invest the public interest in the public dollars in that?

And I guess for me, that's what I'm interested in, kind of wrapping my head around.

Because we we want economic development, but in a responsible way that's not on the backs of the taxpayers.

Sure.

So and so um is this the chart to which you were referring?

So when you look at the termination, that's the end of the TIFF period.

So once that TIFF period ends, all of those incremental taxes come back to they come to the city, the city gets them all.

Keeping in mind there's that base that's that's never abated, it's it's it's always preserved.

If they're paying 100,000 a year in property tax right now, they will continue to pay that for the term of the TIF.

That incremental increase is what's going to fund to reimburse the infrastructure.

Once that infrastructure gets reimbursed, if it's reimbursed in 10 years, then in 10 years you get all of the taxes, both the the base that you've been getting, but then the additional on top of it.

So in this particular graph, when it says termination, that's a termination of the TIF period, and then all extra property taxes that have been generated from all that new growth, all of that just then comes into the city coffers.

Gotcha.

And my my last question, you made a comment that the tax base is going in the wrong way.

I think that may have been, I'm not really certain who that is.

I think we all did.

And I agree, but when we're talking about private development, you know, it's private.

And I know there's private public partnerships where you come and say, hey, we want to use this as an economic development tool, but you know, I just I don't want it to be implied that the tax base is going in the wrong way if we do or do not do this, because ultimately you're the developer and you're responsible for what is developed.

And we know that mall expansions are not growing, and it's not as a result because we didn't give you an increment.

It's because that's I believe it is the industry.

And I think you all know that.

And so I think the questions that I'm hearing coming from Councilman Henderson is that what if you all wake up one day or as councilwoman Hill mentioned if the shrewdness goes, oh, we got you know, this is in place, we did the infrastructure, and boom, we sell it because the value's up.

I just wish there was some type of guardrails, just with the familiarity with this industry of a lack of development.

So uh the tax base is going in the wrong way, not because of what we're not doing, but because of the industry of not being able to develop large-scale developments, which we're not in the business of, that's what you do.

But I am interested in in learning how this mall revitalization helps economic development in councilman um out of brain for it.

Davis's district.

So more to learn.

I'm not very comfortable tonight voting on this.

Maybe there can be some educational sessions on our recess, but probably tonight I would either abstain or own the application because I just I can't wrap my head around what the consequence would be for something we've not done before on a project that um talks about large scale development as if we don't, you won't.

Uh and I'm not comfortable with that.

So I'll yield my time back to the chair.

Thank you, Councilman.

And I want to stress this is just so we can start the application process so they can continue those conversations.

So that's this is just the beginning.

So there's still we haven't got to the point where we can even capture a lot of the concerns that have been expressed.

This allows us to get to those concerns, and our current rules for TIFS do not allow that for this particular property because it is so unique.

That's why we're having to have this conversation regarding waivers.

And so it's a correct thank you, Chair, because it's a it's it's a retail, it's a commercial retail project, and we've not done one of these before.

So that for instance, had this been Blue Goose Hollow, which was a housing complex, and we wanted the infrastructure adjacent, we've done that before.

Had it been industrial, like North River Commerce Center or the Nippon, like we've done we've done those TIFFs before.

This is a different TIFF.

Listen, I'm open to doing something we've never done before.

This is called innovation, but I'm gonna do it responsibly.

Sure.

Absolutely.

And I think the uh responsible thing to do is to be properly educated.

I cannot make a decision on behalf of my people not understanding it fully, because to me that's irresponsible on my part.

So until we until I can fill that gap, maybe before we vote, I'd be more than happy to be more open-minded to doing something we haven't done before.

Okay, and I think that's fair.

I got two more questions, two more folks, and then we'll go from there.

Councilman Henderson, thank you.

Um look, the only reason I have so many questions is once that rock starts rolling downhill, it's hard to stop.

Um the baseline for our taxes, will it be what was due what March of this year?

Is that going to be the baseline?

Is it March when the deadline is or February?

I don't know.

I never wait that long, but I'm I know that like your 20, I guess you're it's your 2024 taxes are due by March.

Correct.

So it's 2024 by baseline.

So it's the 2024 baseline, and then you're paying in 2025, so it's 2024.

And that would include, I guess, the sales tax portion as well.

Um the only time that I can remember us doing a sales tax TIF was at the stadium, and that was a brownfield that the state allowed sales tax on Brownfield.

Correct.

I I'm not familiar enough with the state law that how do we capture what in state law allows us to capture the sales tax on a mall.

It it does, but it's separate from it is a separate agreement from the TIFF.

It's not included in the TIFF agreement.

I I there's specific language in the state law that allows us to capture sales tax on a mall.

There's specific language in the state law that allows capture sales tax for urban centers.

And the definition of urban centers includes clusters of businesses that provide retail office or commercial and I'm on I'm gonna go back to the um transfer or the sale of this property before the end of the construction.

It is permissible through approval of the IDB and this board.

So it's not like they couldn't do it.

All I'm saying is, should there not be language that would say you're gonna see this through, even though we have that vehicle of approval to be able to transfer, is all I'm saying.

Look, don't please don't misunderstand.

I I think this is what TIFFs are designed for, is to improve infrastructure that brings development.

I I get it.

That's really what a TIFF is designed for.

But we're also talking about taxpayer dollars.

And we just went through one heck of a cycle talking about taxpayer dollars.

I want to make sure we get it right.

Thank you, sir.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

Uh we have okay, two more.

Wrap it up.

Councilman Burris.

Uh I will yield to the next person because uh lost my train of thought.

I'm sorry.

I apologize.

Chairman Hill.

Thank thank you.

Um so a TIFF tax property tax is backdated one year, which is interesting in state law, because here we are.

We've for when I think about our constituents, that we can't backdate our senior tax freeze a year.

Um I'm starting to get I've gotten two emails today.

One person that had taxes go up a thousand dollars a year, another person who just emailed and has had their taxes go up $865 a year and now is paying more to the city than they paid to the city and the county together in previous years in a home built in 1958.

Um so we are absolutely on the right track to be thinking very carefully about this.

Um looks like we're gonna be negotiating this in January.

So does then our 2025 tax rate go in, does it count?

Or is it oh you got your application in NO5?

So voting once a TIFF district is approved in that December, that sets a 2024 as the baseline.

And then the 2025, that's increment.

That the increment will then start in the 2025 year.

So whatever's being whatever was paid in 2024, that's the baseline.

But if we don't approve it until 2026, does it not go backward to 2025 becomes the baseline?

The the development agreement is separate from the EIP.

The economic impact plan, that's a legal document that's set that outlines all of those different pieces.

And that's in December, that's a second and the third city and the county.

And then after that sets everything in place, and then the development agreement is a separate document.

So if if we slow walk it, and we don't approve either of those until January, are we set at 2025?

Uh yes.

Okay, good to know.

Okay, thank you.

That's all, Mr.

Chair.

Councilman Burris, you okay.

Councilman Burris.

Um first of all, thank you all for your patience in all of our questions.

I I think that at least for me, I wish we had had this conversation a week ago so it gave us time to digest everything versus I'm feeling a little anxiety of gotta make a decision today.

I think in the long run it will be the right decision moving forward, but I think I want to make sure we get it right that the first time, because once we, at least from my feeling, once we approve um you all moving forward with the accepting the application to councilman Henderson's point, we're starting to roll that that boulder down the hill, and I'd much rather get it right the first time versus you know, have to backtrack.

Not that we can't, but yeah, and I'm sure you would too.

I'm sure you would too.

So I apologize.

I had to walk out right after I made my comment about the third party review.

Uh would uh I would like to propose uh uh an amendment to the resolution that we do require that we do not waive the third party review.

So um I'm gonna propose that.

I'm not sure how everybody else would feel about that.

I know that you expressed a concern of being able to find that third-party review, but surely between now and when it's needed that that could be worked out.

We have requested that.

We we felt like that would be the will of the board of the council, and so we did request that.

So is that one of the two ways?

Is there two waivers?

There are two three waivers.

So refresh my memory on the three waivers.

There's the the review, somebody, yeah.

Is it okay?

And so keep in again the reason we asked for the waiver on that third party was finding a third party okay who was willing to entertain a project that wasn't bringing vertical with it for them to do calculations.

All right, so the maximum percentage of project costs.

Well, she's reading.

Can I ask the question?

Sure.

Have we not been able to find a third-party reviewer willing to do this infrastructure project?

We have found we have someone willing.

Okay.

Yes.

We asked our TIFF council to find a third-party reviewer, yes.

Okay.

Okay.

So um, and then going back to just reiterating if if the counties, the county's contribution, financial contribution to this has to be part of the the project in order for this to move forward.

I think the county has always participated in TIFFs, but there have been conversations around other projects where the county has been very clear they don't want to participate.

So, how does this impact the project moving forward if we say yes and the county says no?

It impacts the amount of increment that's available, keeping in mind the county's increment increment is always less than the city's increment because they have the school taxes piece that they're holding harmless, but it would impact the the phasing of the project.

So it would take longer.

I think so.

Yeah.

I mean, we haven't actually contemplated what you're asking, but the way Shareita answered it, and in my mind, you know, we could certainly leave sections of it out, non-strategic sections of it out, and complete that when future increment became available.

That would be a way to do that if that happened.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

All right.

Tonight is just revealing the application and the waivers that go through the hand of this unique type of tip.

But this is just to begin that process so we can highlight the rest of those uh conversations.

Uh CBL, thank you guys so much for being here.

Uh, and Srita, I can't think you enough.

Uh you are a guy's in the chat, and you bring so much to the table.

So thank you, and the rest of your team.

Um, and we have a one of our uh soon to be partners, uh, now Vice Chancellor Brent Goldberg, who is no stranger to Chattanooga, who will be hopefully Rod and I appointed to serve on IDB board.

So Brent, don't mess up.

You brought representative district nine.

Um really know how to be getting people excited about you.

Uh conclude our economic development uh meeting today.

Oh, we are recessed till six fifty.

City Council is back in session.

Madam Clerk, will you please read our ordinances on final reading planning?

Item A.

An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as three zone properties located at 7417 and 7423 mentime drive from RN 16 residential neighborhood zone to R A one three residential neighborhood zone sub to certain conditions.

Councilman Harvey.

Thank you, Council.

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

This is a final reading.

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Ordinances on first reading.

Uh Madam Clerk, let's take item A, please.

And ordinance closing and abandoning a portion of the unopened right away in the 7200 block on the re-roll as detailed on the attached maps sub to certain conditions.

Councilman.

Move to approve, please.

Council, we've got 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.

Item B.

In ordinance amending chattering to see the code, part two, chapter 16, section sixteen fifty-seven relative to charges for fingerprints and record checks.

Councilman Henderson.

I know you read uh some clarification earlier.

And we have one amendment to add HTTPS colon backslash backslash to the location where it can be found on the state website.

But Mr.

Attorney, those are not amendments.

They're already in the document that we have linked.

That's what I was I guess I was.

We don't need an amendment.

No, it's already on the list.

Move to approve.

All right.

Thank you.

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

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Resolutions.

Item A, please.

Councilman Elliott.

Move to approve.

Council, we've got a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item B.

Oh and Mr.

Goldberg was here.

Thanks again, Brent.

He left.

He spent enough time in this chamber.

He decided.

Okay.

Item B, please, Madam Clerk.

And resolution in support of workers at Volkswagen and the bargaining committee of United Auto Workers Local 42, Chattanooga.

Councilman Elliott.

At the request at the request, excuse me, on the central area liberal council, I would like to remove this item.

To withdraw it?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Council, you have a motion on the floor to withdraw.

Can I get a second?

Second.

All right.

We've got a motion on the floor to withdraw with the proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments?

If so, please hit your light.

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion to withdraw passes.

Item C, please.

A resolution of the city council of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, authorizing the appropriate staff of the city to accept an application for a tax increment incentive relating to public infrastructure improvements to support the revitalization of the Northgate Mall area, which application is expected to include requests for waivers under the city's policies and procedures relating to tax increment incentives.

Move to approve.

Thank you.

Council got a motion on the floor to approve.

Can I get a proper second?

Thank you.

We have a motion and a proper second.

Councilmembers.

I would like to make a motion to amend the resolution, please.

Okay.

What is your what is your amendment?

Um I would like to remove the waiver.

Uh with the stipulation that the third party that third party review policy waived.

So on the resolution, may I suggest that we strike the language and 4.11 application applicant affidavit and third-party review of the policies?

In section two.

In section two.

Okay.

Does that work for you?

Yes, it does.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um, so council, that is in the form of a motion.

And we have a proper second on that.

Um, let's see here.

Okay, so we have a motion to amend with a proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments about that motion to amend?

All in favor of the amendment.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion to amend passes.

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

So moved.

Thank you, council.

We have a motion to approve is amended along with the proper second.

Do we have any further questions or comments on that?

All in favor to approve as amended.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes as amended.

Thank you very much.

Item D, please.

Resolution revising resolution number 32598 and authorizing the Department of Finance to all utilize the adjustable senior tax freeze amounts of tax year 2026 set forth in Tennessee annotated code section 675705 F3A3 by the 113th General Assembly with their local option income limit using census data, which adjusts the limit in all subsequent years by the annual cost of living adjustment cola for social security recipients on all applications for the senior tax freeze program established at City Code Section 2111 for each year going forward.

Councilman Elliott.

Move to approve.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Parks and outdoors, item E, please.

A resolution authorizing the mayor and his design to enter into a conservation services agreement for 2025-2026 with the trust for public land and substantially the form attached for a term of one year from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 to be paid in four quarterly installments of $37,500 for an amount not to exceed 150,000.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item F, please.

A resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Public Works to renew on call blanket contract number D 22201.

Demolition Services for the Land Development Office Code Enforcement Division for Year 404 to Tower Construction Company LLC of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and restricted for use only by public works land development code enforcement division for the annual amount of $650,000.

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?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item G, please.

And resolution authorizing the administrative for the wastewater department to award contract number W2205-201.

Big reach pump station number 14 settlement repair project to J.

Brennan Construction Inc.

of Dalton, Georgia for Pump Station Settlement Repairs at Big Reach Pump Station number 14 in the amount of 295,350 with a continuous contingency in the amount of 29,535 for a total amount not to exceed 324,885.

Thank you.

Council, we've got a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second.

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item H, please.

A resolution authorizing appointment of Ariana School as a special commission officer honored for McCamey Animal Services to perform duties expressly limited to the performance of her duties in the position of investigator.

Let's go ahead and also do item I, please as a package.

A resolution authorizing appointment of Trevor Fam as a special commission officer on arm for McCainy Animal Services to perform duties is restfully limited to the performance of his duties in the position of I need to switch my document.

Did you say invest?

Did you say the last word of that?

Investigator in the position for the I didn't see.

Council, can I get a motion?

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

We've got a motion on the floor with a proper second to approve items H and I.

Do I have any questions or comments?

All in favor.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Moving on to purchases.

Thanks for staying.

You're very welcome.

So super excited about staying.

Um purchases tonight for your approval.

The first one is for public works.

This is a one-time purchase of a trailer used by Public Works.

This purchase from Chattanooga trailer and rental will be in the amount of $71,679.

This purchase is utilizing the source well contract.

Number two is for public works.

This is a one-time purchase of office furniture for the Kelly building.

The award will go to NOI Chattanooga in the amount of $68,994.31 cents as the best bid for the city of Chattanooga.

Number three is for wastewater.

This is year three renewal.

Matheson Tri-Gas is requested a 10% increase due to the rising cost of manufacturing gases.

The new estimated annual spend will be $385,000.

Wastewater approved the increase.

Number four is for wastewater.

This is a one-time purchase of 19 cubicle systems in the amount of $52,044 and seven cents for wastewater.

This purchase is utilizing the Tennessee State contract.

Number five is for technology services.

Thank you very much.

Council one second.

Thank you very much.

We've got a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Okay, I have one sole source to report.

This is for early uh head star early learning.

New blanket agreement for the purchase of security and fire safety systems.

This will be a four-year agreement with an estimated annual spend of thirty thousand dollars.

This so source agreement will be awarded to Vector Security.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, we're gonna take some time for committee reports.

Councilman Henderson.

No councilman Davis.

Several hours ago now.

Informative meeting of the Parks and Public Works Committee.

I think I remember that.

This is why we write it down so we remember.

Councilman Harvey.

No report.

Councilman Clark.

No report.

Uh we've got economic or uh community development coming up, though.

Oh, that's right.

Uh next Tuesday.

Next Tuesday.

Uh, we have thank you, Chairwoman Hill.

We do have a uh community development committee meeting coming up next Tuesday.

Uh we'll have an agenda out soon, hopefully.

Oh you know what?

I'm looking at the agenda, and maybe we don't.

Maybe I'm looking ahead.

I'm sorry.

I was I trust you though.

You should you should, and yeah.

That's why I was like I think I've been looking so far ahead.

Wait, no, we don't have one.

We don't have one.

Do we not have one more?

Don't have one.

Just planning and zoning.

I apologize.

Okay.

So I'm not going to be able to do that.

Councilman Clark is on the record as being correct about knowing where this committee is.

Thank you, sir.

Councilman Elliott.

Well, we've had an uh an eventful and exciting colorful, all the adjectives and I would develop a committee meeting today.

Um I appreciate all my colleagues for their thoughtful uh perspectives as we go into those conversations.

Sharita, thank you for you and your team for your uh your service at CBL and Rice.

Thank you both for being here.

Um so uh I'll make sure I do my due diligence to keep uh my colleagues informed about the next steps and how things unfold from here.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Dotley.

No report.

Councilwoman Burrs.

We have a planning and zoning committee meeting next week.

There we go.

Yeah.

Um that's then that's all I have to report.

Okay.

Vice Chairwoman Noel.

No report.

Okay.

Um I think the reason that I'm so confused about this is because I've been planning so much of the month because I'm gonna be out so much.

So um I will miss you all.

And uh Vice Chair Noel has everybody in great hands.

All right, we now have reached the portion of our meeting where we are ready to recognize persons who are here and would like to address the council.

If you are here and would like to address the council, please line up.

Glad y'all are here.

Please sign up behind the podium and listen while our attorney reads the rules.

Yes, ma'am.

At the end of each business meeting of the council, the chair will recognize members of the public who wish to address them.

Here's your rules.

Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized at the microphone up front for that purpose, can't have more than three minutes to speak, and you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quasi judicial authority and not on uh matters which are not under their authority or regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Do not engage in 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.

And 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, a physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering.

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

Thank you.

Anna Galladay, District 8.

Um, the LGBTQIA plus community has a long history in Chattanooga, and it has been both celebrated and historically marginalized.

But I wanted to remind all of you that this week is Chattanooga Pride Week, and we are celebrating this week um the accomplishment accomplishments of the many business owners, citizens, public servants that have made this city what it is both in its past um and present.

Um there are so many activities going on this week, but I wanted to call your attention specifically to two of them.

The first is on Saturday, we will gather at the downtown library for a conversation around pride and politics.

Um we have invited Olivia Hill, who is uh councilwoman for the Metro Nashville City Council to town.

Um she will join our uh very esteemed senior advisor Chris Anderson in this conversation, as well as some other folks from the city.

Um that conversation is from 10 to 11 Saturday morning.

Um I would encourage you to attend.

There are so many things happening at the state level that um are detrimental to the lives of queer folks in this state, and our hope is that that conversation has some um breadth to it and allows us to understand what's going on at the state level as well as what's going on locally.

Um then on Sunday, um the uh week will culminate with the festival.

The parade begins at 1 p.m.

If you're a part of the parade, you line up in the unum parking lot at 12:30.

Um, I would encourage all of you to come out, watch the parade, participate in the parade, um, but then join everyone down at Ross's Landing for the festival.

The festival will take place from 2 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

And we'll have a ton of vendors, music, drag show, food, drink, um, activities for the kids.

Um, it really is the perfect celebration for um the work that queer folks do in this city.

And I personally just ask all of you to make an appearance, come and join us and be a part of this amazing week in LGBTQIA history in Chattanooga.

Thank you.

John John, District 9.

Thursday, a friend emailed me or texted me a picture that I emailed all of you, except for you, Councilman Davis.

I don't have your email, so you can get it from your colleagues.

The picture was of an e-bike that was crushed, a pair of shoes, and blood splatter and caution tape at Holtclaw and Bailey Avenue.

I decided when I saw this that I was going to go film a video to educate about this intersection because I also have some police body cam footage in which an officer was trying to convince a cyclist who had just been hit that they had been riding on the sidewalk, not in the bike lane when they had gotten hit at that intersection.

When I arrived at the intersection to film a video, I arrived at another cyclist getting hit at that intersection, 25 hours after the first one got hit.

The details emerged is that the first rider the day before had been a 19-year-old, and the rider that day had been an 18-year-old going from their job to their work, and they were students at UTC.

They were doing everything right for students that we teach them to do to make their way in the world.

They probably weren't riding a bike as their first choice.

A lot of times when you see people come and speak at City Council, we look like people who might do this for fun, but I assure you, if you go to that intersection and watch, the people who are riding their bikes on the sidewalks because they don't feel safe, the people who are getting cut off in the intersection, 90% of them do not have a choice.

When you look at the young, the disabled, and the old, those are people who historically don't have access to a car the same way other people do.

People of lesser means are similarly cut off from those forms of transportation.

When we make our streets safer for those people, the young, the old, the marginalized, we make them safer for everyone.

It's what is sometimes referred to as universal design.

We can do things and make these changes.

Other cities have done it.

Less than a day after that event, another teenager was evolved in an accident, but this time they were the driver behind the wheel when someone on Market Street was killed.

A pedestrian.

Cities across the United States and Knoxville National and Chattan in Tennessee have adopted what is known as a vision zero plan.

It's a plan towards zero traffic deaths within a city that can be accomplished with thoughtful and straightforward design.

Other cities have adopted this.

We've even received general funds towards the sin, but we failed to make that commitment.

And I want to urge you as a city council, reach out to me.

I sent you an email.

I'm willing to work.

Let's get something on the table towards Vision Zero.

It'll be better for our culture.

It'll be better for our economy, but more most importantly, it is the right thing, and it'll be better at protecting citizens' lives here in Chattanooga.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm John LaRosa.

I live in District 2.

I'm here today to talk about the Market Street Bridge.

As John John just mentioned, this weekend a pedestrian was killed on the bridge.

James Cagle, father of three, was accidentally killed by a 19-year-old driver.

So I'm sure that most of us have driven or walked over the Market Street Bridge.

You've experienced how narrow the lanes are.

You've noticed how dangerously close the sidewalk is to the roadway.

And how close is that?

Well, the bollards at the edge of that sidewalk are constantly knocked down.

I have photos that show stretches of five to 10 consecutive bollards, all of which have been knocked over.

And those those bollards could have been a child.

You might have also experienced someone speeding on the bridge.

CPD stated that in this summer alone there were 369 traffic violations on the bridge.

And that's just the violations that CPD issued.

Never mind the countless others that went undetected.

Why is speed a problem?

I'm sure I'm telling you something that you already know.

The higher the speed, the more likely an accident will be fatal.

A pedestrian hit by a vehicle going 40 miles an hour is five times more likely to be killed than a vehicle going 20 miles an hour.

That's five times more likely between 20 and 40 miles an hour.

So we have a four-lane roadway with lanes that are dangerously narrow, a sidewalk that is horrifically close to the road, and where there's a speeding problem.

So what do we do?

We change the roads design to make it safer for everyone.

We reduce the number of lanes on the bridge.

We put guardrails on the edge of the sidewalk, and we add a buffer space to help separate the sidewalk from the roadway.

We've done this before in Chattanooga.

We can do it again.

The bridge's traffic volume can be accommodated on a reduced roadway.

The cost of these changes is minimal, and T Dot is open to these changes.

It's as it's a state route.

And T Dot has indicated this when similar changes have been suggested, suggested for the Market Street Bridge as recently as just this last year.

What will it take for changes like this to be implemented?

Another fatality, another 19-year-old driver who who now has to live with the fact that she's killed someone.

James Cagle might not have died this weekend if the road was safer.

Please help make this bridge safer for all of us.

Thank you.

Hi, my name's Hopenci.

I'm in District 7.

Thank you for what you do.

I love living here.

Um I'm a single mom of five kids, and all of them ride bikes.

So whenever we go out to ice cream or to the park, um, we're a cute little group ride.

And um and I I want to piggyback on my friends and just beg for um for measures to be taken for the safety of kids like mine who are enjoying the agency and physical exercise and camaraderie of riding bikes.

Um my 13-year-old likes to bike on his own.

He used to love to go to the public's via the riverwalk because he didn't have to cross any streets and he could get there safely.

He could go to Clumpy's, and um, for a kid going through a hard time being able to breathe and be by yourself and experience nature and get somewhere without needing someone is huge.

Um, but since the closure, he's had to change his route and go on Veterans and Market Street to do things to visit Coolidge Park or whatever, and um, and he hasn't had any issues, but of course I'm terrified.

Um, but I don't want to say, like, sorry, you're stuck, like, unless unless I drive you somewhere, you can't go somewhere by yourself.

So I I just beg.

Um, Market Street's a mess, it's not enjoyable to to drive on either.

I think drivers need to stop um getting the priority over safety of the humans in this beautiful city.

So thank you.

Hello.

I'm very honored with to be in your presence today.

I don't know if I'm gonna do this correctly or appropriately, but I'm gonna do my best.

And I really appreciate every one of y'all.

And I look down my street, and my goodness, the weight every one of you individuals carry is overwhelming.

I cannot imagine y'all's position.

Can you tell us your name in your description?

My name is Pam like the cooking spray.

No, I do not get any rules, but my cookies don't stick, I don't complain.

They took my last name too.

It's Durham, like Durham, North Carolina, just strong like that mountain.

Thank you for asking.

And I live in off of Birmingham Drive, I think maybe District 2.

District 2, yes.

Okay.

Correct.

And I have papers right here where I have a petition from Ben Harmon and from the church, where four people have been hit on our street, and the police officer's cat was killed.

And we have been begging.

I went to a neighborhood association meeting, and it was basically an ambush, and they basically told me I was too poor to live here, and I needed to move on.

That I was a clown.

And I said, I beg your pardon, I will take this to City Council.

I have level head intact.

I go to the comedy catch, and I open for LMA, and I did open for James Gregory.

So I love to make people laugh because I like Jesus points, not people points.

And one more thing I'd like to mention, if I can, please.

The Wilcox Boulevard that we paid 24 million dollars to get fixed.

Jesus be with me.

Please, I need you now.

And thank you for the prayer at the beginning, ma'am.

Now I need him with me right here.

Jesus, please.

Please listen to my woes.

I know that when birds bib birds nest and the storms come along and they knock them down, you do not see a bird going, woe is me, woe is me.

They go right back to work and get right on the job, right?

This time we got through a curveball.

I was going across to Wilcox Boulevard, sitting at the red light.

The truck in front of me had gutted a house.

I have insurance, I have liability only.

That's all my I gotta stay in the lane, that's all I can afford.

My my son is coming home for eight years and being in the Ukraine.

We promised him when he got here, he would kiss the ground.

He said he's gonna kiss the ground when he gets off the plane, and he's gonna kiss that the house we grew up in, and then we were supposed to take him to Pigeon Forge, and $3,800 got took from us to fix my car.

So I would really appreciate some attention to the matter of Wilcox Boulevard immediately.

It has robbed my family.

We are suffering.

And on that note, do any of y'all have enough money for me and my husband, a Vietnam vet to go to the crystal and get a crystal kid mill?

Please don't think I'm joking on that note.

This is absolutely devastated my family because of Wilcox Boulevard.

I don't know what else to say, but thank you for your valuable question.

Thank you, Miss Durham, and thank you for sharing the petition with us.

We passed it along, but I want to make sure you get it back because it was.

I have a copy that I'm taking to Ben Harmon.

Okay, it looks like we have the original.

I want to make sure you I would like to get that back.

Okay, yeah.

I've got a good one.

And my husband's in the street.

So let's yeah, let's make sure they get that.

Thank you very much for being here tonight.

Thank you.

Would you please get the speed bombs?

Well, that's what that's for, for you to turn that in.

No, you turn it into Ben Harmon.

Or actually, you know what?

Wait, wait for a minute and give it to this man in the red tie up here who's about to stand up.

His name is Darren Ledford.

He's the deputy chief of staff.

Go ahead, ma'am.

Good evening.

Thank you.

I appreciate the time.

My name is Wanda Henry.

I was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I have been a citizen of Hamilton County all of my life.

I was employed by CTI engineers in Chattanooga for over 21 years, and I'm currently retired.

I'm dealing with a problem regarding my citizenship credentials, and I've made uh numerous requests for open records.

Um to resolve the issue.

The requests have been made to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, the City Attorney's Office, and the Chattanooga police department.

I have not been able to obtain the records that will potentially resolve the issue.

I was advised by a church member and a city employee that the city council might be able to help me to obtain the uh open records that I need that will probably um resolve the issue.

I um basically I prepared a synopsis of the problem this um with more details and the um I've um the city attorney I basically I would like for him to have a copy in my district um member um hopefully somebody you know will be able to review my the issue and and you know help me to get the open records that I need to resolve the issue that I'm dealing with.

In what district are you in, ma'am?

In District 5.

District 5?

Okay.

Um looks like we I don't have anybody on the board.

Um, I think it would also be excellent for you to speak with uh Darren Ladford, he's back there.

Um he can get your information and get you connected with the city attorney, but also discuss with you the open records uh process.

Okay, so he's waiting right back there with a red tie.

Thank you for being here very much.

I appreciate Hello.

Uh my name is Joshua David Capellish, I'm an advocate for unsheltered veterans in Chattanooga.

Also want to say thank you for the pay raises uh for well-deserved pay raises for our police and fire department.

Real leadership is about inspiring others to achieve the best that is in them for the greatest overall good of oneself and for society.

Our first responders are real leaders and heroes.

At the center of every passion, there's an individual that still cares deeply about something vital to the core of their being, and that is humanity.

Shared among all of us in this journey we call life.

Your thoughts matter, your ideas matter, your identity matters, your passion matters, your income matters, your safety matters, your children matter, and our elders matter.

You matter.

We matter in this seemingly ever matter society, but we persist because we must.

Backing down to evil is not an option.

We must agree to disagree because that is democracy.

My mustache you do you think a safer city is a better city?

When we pursue peace, it is far more profitable.

No one wants to pay more in taxes, but when they do, you can guarantee security of everyone.

Police and firefighter pay is not a cost, but it's an investment with exponential returns beyond the calculations the world's best mathematicians can calculate.

This is not a uh mustache, it's a protest stash.

Right?

Um, I've been growing it since y'all have been debating uh the police pay.

I'm ready to shave it off.

I was late to um the two previous meetings, and this one is extra long, so anyway.

If you ask AI what is the value of a human life, what would it say?

How much is your life worth?

What is our net worth in totality to God?

It is priceless.

I was trying to figure out how to express exponential factoring in real world terms.

But we have the opportunity to redirect investments into local American communities for people who grew up in Chattanooga or who deserve the American dream because of their efforts or their American ancestors, hope for their own children.

Hiring more local officers in our own communities will also serve as positive role models.

We must uphold American va values for all communities, especially our black communities.

Theft of the American dream happens when a job is taken and investments leave the community.

Making investments into local Chattanoogan families will ensure a safer and more prosperous future for every American in Chattanooga.

And as a veteran, I deeply care for my fellow homeless veterans in Chattanooga, and I hope you can open an office to help more American veterans.

But I think you know it's just important for me personally to see our veterans taken care of, and I think that's important to everybody, but God bless y'all.

It's been a long night.

God bless Chattanooga.

All right, is there anyone else here who would like to address the council?

Council, I see no other folks.

What is thank you?

I have a motion on the floor to adjourn with the proper second.

Do you have any further questions or comments tonight?

All in favor of adjourning?

We are adjourned.

Hi.