Chattanooga City Council Meeting - September 30, 2025

The Chattanooga City Council met on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, for a regular business meeting that included committee meetings of Parks, Public Works, and Wastewater, and Economic Development. The council heard presentations on park conservation partnerships, discussed multiple tax increment financing (TIFF) proposals, addressed constituent service issues, and passed several routine items. Public comment focused on pedestrian and cyclist safety, infrastructure concerns, and support for city workers.

Consent Calendar

• Final reading: Ordinance to rezone properties at 7417 and 7423 Mentime Drive from RN-16 to R-A1-3 (passed).
• First reading: Ordinance to close a portion of right-of-way in the 7200 block of Re-roll (passed).
• First reading: Ordinance amending Code Section 16-57 relative to charges for fingerprints and record checks (passed).
• Resolution A: (no description) – passed.
• Resolution B: Resolution in support of workers at Volkswagen and UAW Local 42 – withdrawn at request.
• Resolution C: Resolution authorizing acceptance of TIFF application for Northgate Mall area with waivers – amended and passed.
• Resolution D: Resolution revising senior tax freeze amounts for tax year 2026 using COLA adjustments (passed).
• Resolution E: Conservation services agreement with Trust for Public Land for 2025-2026, $150,000 (passed).
• Resolution F: Renewal of blanket contract for demolition services with Tower Construction Company, $650,000 (passed).
• Resolution G: Award contract for Big Reach Pump Station No. 14 settlement repairs to J. Brennan Construction, $324,885 (passed).
• Resolution H & I: Appointments of special commission officers for McCamey Animal Services (passed).
• Purchases: Public Works trailer ($71,679), office furniture for Kelly Building ($68,994.31), wastewater gas renewal ($385,000), cubicle systems ($52,044.07), technology services purchase (approved).
• Sole source purchase: New blanket agreement for security/fire safety systems with Vector Security, $30,000 annually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Anna Galladay (District 8): Announced Chattanooga Pride Week events, including a conversation with Metro Nashville Councilmember Olivia Hill and the festival on Sunday. Encouraged council attendance.
• John John (District 9): Described two cyclist accidents at Holtclaw and Bailey Avenue within 25 hours, involving teenagers. Urged council to adopt a Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic deaths, noting that other cities have done so.
• John LaRosa (District 2): Reported a pedestrian fatality on Market Street Bridge. Cited 369 traffic violations on the bridge this summer, narrow lanes, and close sidewalks. Called for reduced lanes, guardrails, and buffers to improve safety.
• Hopenci (District 7): A single mother of five who bikes with her children. Expressed fear for her 13-year-old son's safety on Veterans and Market Street after the Riverwalk closure. Pleaded for safer infrastructure.
• Pam Durham (District 2): Presented a petition from Ben Harmon and a church about four people hit on Birmingham Drive, including a police officer's cat. Noted a neighborhood association told her she was “too poor to live here.” Also complained about Wilcox Boulevard repairs costing her family $3,800 in car damage. Asked for speed bumps.
• Wanda Henry (District 5): Requested assistance obtaining open records from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, City Attorney's Office, and Chattanooga Police Department to resolve a citizenship credential issue.
• Joshua David Capellish (advocate for unsheltered veterans): Thanked council for police and fire pay raises. Spoke about the importance of investing in local communities and caring for homeless veterans.

Discussion Items

• Parks and Public Works Committee:
  • Trust for Public Land (TPL) Presentation: Noel Durant and David Johnson presented TPL's accomplishments and priorities. Highlights included completion of the 12-mile South Chickamauga Creek Greenway, Stringer's Ridge preservation, White Oak Connector, and South Chattanooga trail work. Discussed the $20 million EPA Community Change Grant for the Alton Park Connector, currently in dispute due to federal grant terminations. TPL is pursuing recourse through a class-action lawsuit and administrative process. Councilmembers expressed support and asked about maintenance and acquisition progress.
  • Public Works Q&A: Councilman Elliott raised issues about brush pickup, 311 responsiveness, and permitting efficiency. Jay Woods (Public Works) detailed efforts to combine service request and area pickups, overtime on Saturdays, and plans for a public awareness campaign. Councilman Clark pressed for definitive timelines on ditch cleanups and resolution of unresolved constituent requests. Councilman Harvey asked about brush disposal and details of the compost/glass recycling pilot.
• Economic Development Committee:
  • North River Commerce Center TIFF Amendment: Winston Brooks and Matt Phillips (Rise Partners) presented an administrative amendment to extend the construction deadline to 2031, broaden permitted uses from industrial distribution to include manufacturing, lab, and office (excluding retail/hospitality), and add a $100 million minimum investment alternative. The developer has already invested $50 million, created 220 jobs (exceeding 170), and improved public infrastructure. Councilmembers supported the change, noting it aligns with market shifts.
  • Northgate Mall Infrastructure TIFF: Sharita Allen introduced a developer-backed TIFF for $15 million in infrastructure improvements (water, sewer, stormwater) to revitalize the failing Northgate Mall property. CBL Properties (John Michelle) explained that the private sewer system is over 50 years old and failing, threatening adjacent properties. The TIFF would use property tax increment ($5M projected) and local option sales tax ($10M) to reimburse the developer. Three waivers were requested due to the unique infrastructure-only nature: maximum percentage of project cost, limit on gross incremental revenues, and independent third-party review. Extensive council discussion covered county coordination, transfer protections, sales tax capture, and risk to taxpayers. Councilman Burrs moved to amend the resolution to remove the waiver of third-party review (since a reviewer had been found). The amendment passed, and the resolution was approved as amended.

Key Outcomes

• North River Commerce Center TIFF Amendment: No vote taken at this meeting; the item will come back for a vote later in October after IDB and county hearings.
• Northgate Mall TIFF Resolution: Approved as amended (removing waiver of third-party review). This authorizes staff to accept the application and continue discussions. The TIFF still requires multiple future approvals including a public hearing, economic impact plan, and final votes by council and county.
• Senior Tax Freeze Resolution: Passed, adjusting income limits by COLA for Social Security recipients.
• Trust for Public Land Contract: Approved for one year at $150,000.
• Demolition Services and Pump Station Contracts: Approved.
• Appointments of Animal Services Officers: Approved.
• Purchases: All approved as presented.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned after public comments.