Chattanooga City Council Meeting – October 14, 2025
Chattanooga City Council Meeting – October 14, 2025
The Chattanooga City Council convened on October 14, 2025, beginning with a Community Development committee meeting followed by a regular council session. The committee discussed departmental reorganization, performance indicators, and budget planning. The council session acted on a series of ordinances (first reading) and resolutions, including zoning changes, infrastructure agreements, and appointments. Three members of the public addressed the council on mold exposure, food access, and traffic enforcement policy.
Community Development Committee Discussion
- Councilman Clark requested that the Community Development department provide key performance indicators (KPIs) by the end of the fourth quarter (December 2025) to benchmark departmental performance and inform future budget decisions.
- Cedric (department director) explained that a reorganization is underway but cannot be completed until a requested new position is approved in the next fiscal year (FY 2026-27). Councilwoman Owell clarified that the reorg will be formalized in next year's budget proposal.
- Councilman Elliott expressed support for the department, acknowledging its challenging history and promising to work toward providing necessary resources.
- Councilman Hartby requested a future discussion about establishing a community center in East Brainerd (District 4).
- Councilwoman Owell noted that the committee meeting concluded and the council recessed until 3:15 p.m.
Consent Calendar (Unanimous Approvals)
- Ordinance 8A: Closing and abandoning a portion of unopened right-of-way on Rose Circle (District 8). Approved.
- Ordinance 8B: Closing and abandoning a sanitary sewer easement on East Third Street (District 8). Approved.
- Ordinance 8C: Closing and abandoning a sanitary sewer easement on Vine Street. Approved.
- Ordinance 8D: Lifting PUD conditions for properties on Magnolia Leaf Lane (7500-7600 block). Councilman Hart confirmed conditions were removed. Approved.
- Ordinance 8E: Rezoning 5749 Laval Field Loop from IH to OS for an airport observation park. Applicant Jack McAfee presented a $1.2 million Blue Cross Healthy Places grant, plans for a WWII memorial, playgrounds, and a static aircraft display. Approved.
- Ordinance 8F: Rezoning 5813 Lee Highway from CC to CR. Deferred for 60 days at the request of Councilwoman Burris.
- Ordinance 8G: Rezoning 7406 Tiny Road from RN2 to CC, subject to conditions. Approved.
- Ordinance 8H: Rezoning 2008 East 14th Street from RN15 to CN. Motion to deny carried. Approved.
- Ordinance 8I: Amending the short-term vacation rental overlay map to include an area in District 5. Approved.
- Ordinance 8J: Amending zoning ordinance for clarity on additions, form-based code, and buffer yard planting requirements. Approved.
- Resolutions 9A-9B: Confirming Greg Taylor and Daisy Madison to the TIF Application Review Committee. Approved.
- Resolution 9C: Stating intent to consider an economic impact plan for Northgate Mall area revitalization, waiving certain TIF policies. Approved.
- Resolution 9D: Accepting EPB's quitclaim conveyance of property on East Third Street (valued at $27,200) and confirming surplus. Approved.
- Resolutions 9E-9J: Confirming appointments and reappointments to the Housing Authority Board, Tree Commission, and TIF Review Committee. Approved.
- Resolution 9K: Authorizing MOU with New Terra Compost, LLC for a pilot compost program (TDEC grant, city match, total not to exceed $210,333). Approved.
- Resolution 9L: Authorizing MOU with Overlooked Materials for a pilot curbside glass recycling program (not to exceed $45,000). Approved.
- Resolution 9M: Authorizing contract with Donaldson Construction Company for pavement restoration ($645,840.75). Approved.
- Resolution 9N: Approving a special exemption permit for a residential PUD amendment on Mercer Street (District 2). Approved.
- Resolution 9O: Abandoning a previous special exemption permit for PUD on Magnolia Leaf Lane. Approved.
- Resolution 9P: Approving a special exemption permit for a residential PUD amendment at 1813 Old Wauhatchie Pike. Approved.
- Purchases: Two wastewater purchases (emulsion polymers, not to exceed $1,530,000; boiler replacement increase to $380,000) and two sole source purchases for technology services (LATCAS software, $44,000 annually; office furniture, $46,877.14) were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alexander Mendelo (District 2): Stated he received a terminal diagnosis from mold exposure in his apartment. He alleged that leasing management refused to remediate or relocate him, and that he has been in contact with the FBI. He referenced a class action lawsuit (Suwani) and a prior $24 million settlement, urging the council to investigate mold issues in city housing.
- Hopenchi (District 7): Described walking 100,000 steps in one day and a week without a car to highlight food deserts in Chattanooga. She noted the closing of a Food City in Rossville and the difficulty of reaching affordable grocery stores like Aldi via public transit. She requested more grocery stores and improved transit access.
- David Tulas (Eagle Radio Network): Expressed concern for police officer safety during traffic stops, arguing that traffic violations should be handled administratively (under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act) rather than as criminal offenses. He stated he had given the city corporation notice of his findings and referenced his ongoing lawsuit in the Sixth Circuit.
Key Outcomes
- The Community Development department was directed to provide KPIs by December 2025.
- All consent agenda items were approved unanimously, except for Ordinance 8F (deferred) and Ordinance 8H (denied).
- The meeting adjourned after public comments.
Meeting Transcript
And how those performance indicators indicators of measure by the end of this quarter possible and of course we can discuss offline. Council Chairwoman Owell, I think is referring to the reorg, which if you could explain a little bit more about what that is and why it will start in fiscal year twenty-six twenty-seven. Is that correct? Uh councilwoman. Um I'll just yeah, I was I was confused that it would actually take that length of time to do that. So maybe we're talking about two different things. And we could have a conversation uh later on about it in reference to it. Okay. Yeah, that there will be j just to provide some insight. There there will be one position request that we feel we need inside of the department. And that can't happen until next next budget. So I won't be able to have the re-org complete until I get a yay or a nay on on that position. There'll already be some moving pieces, already have program managed to get. So the reorg is in the works now. But complete done. I I get what you're saying. Yes, ma'am. Just wanted to give a little bit of input here. So um, as you guys know, because of what we had to do with the former department of um equity and community engagement, we made some additional moves and now everything exists under the umbrella of community development. And so what Cedric is not saying is that he just he just exists until next fiscal year, right? What he's what he's gonna do and what we're already working towards is figuring out how to how to best organize and optimize these new auxiliaries to your point, Councilman Clark. Um for the remainder of this fiscal year, developing those objectives and those key performance indicators like you suggested, which I think is great. Um and then as part of next year's budget proposal, we will present to you guys kind of a formalized view of this is how we think it could work best given the raw materials that we've just been given through the previous reorder. Does that make sense? That makes sense. Okay. Sorry, Cedric, you did a roundabout way of describing that, but you know, this is your freshman week, I guess, and being at the podium. Uh that concludes uh my questions for you. Um regarding the expectation. Um of course we will continue to collaborate to coordinate uh what that looks like. I just think it's important, and this is not just for your department, but for our departments. The state does this very well, and not only how we evaluate evaluate individual performance, but also how we measure if our departments are performing well, and then to hold you to that standard. Because if people have questions and they say blanket statements like, well, I don't think they're doing well, well, what are we measuring that against? What is what are the data points? What are the evidence-based practices? And so those are some of the things I'll be looking for as we continue this discussion about what key performance indicators are, and then we can use that data to determine what your budget looks like for 2027, right? Yeah, just one uh question. Okay, thank you. Attorney Nobby, do we have an attorney clock today? Not today, man. Okay. Okay. Oh, Councilman Elliott. Thank you. Mr. Madam Chair. Um, Cedric, uh, I do want to say thank you. I know you have I say this again, I'll keep saying it. You have a uh tough job and uh a tough department that's been overlooked for a long time. And so at least from a council perspective, I am looking forward to thinking how we can support you and the rest of all of your teams as best we can going forward as you're trying to put your stamp on it.
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