The Chatterer City Council is called to order for Tuesday, November fourth, twenty twenty five.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Okay.

Council, can I get a motion on the minutes, please?

Thank you.

Minutes will stand without objection.

Council, let's take a look at tonight's proposed agenda items.

We do not have any ordinances on final reading or on first reading.

So we just have resolutions tonight.

I do intend to take several of these as a package.

I will let you know my intent as we go.

So please, if we have any that we need to pull, do hit your light.

For council office, we have a resolution related to naming naming Canon Avenue after Lehman Pierce in the honor of the late Lehman Pierce, a great leader in our community.

We have four items under economic development.

Three of them relate to Head Start leases across the county.

We also have a conveyance of quick claim deeds for properties that have been sold already through the delinquent tax sale.

Does anyone have any questions or any objection to taking those four items as a package?

Seeing none.

Moving on to information technology, we have two items under IT.

If you have a question, hit your light.

I do intend to take those as a package.

Thank you, Council.

We have an item H for the mayor's office.

It's an appointment of Robin Derryberry to the Carter Street Corporation Board.

We do have a city attorney item related to a de-annexation request.

Okay, under parks and public works, we have uh parks and outdoors.

Excuse me, we have three items I intend to take as a package.

Two are approvals to apply for and if awarded accept grants.

The third is for a waiver of park rental fees, and there is a deposit required as is our standard order of business.

Any questions or concerns about taking those as a package?

Hit your light.

Seeing none, moving into public works.

We have, I believe, six items under public works.

If you have any questions or comments about those, please hit your light.

All right.

Wastewater, we have one.

I will be taking those as a package.

Wastewater is a separate item.

Let's see.

Councilwoman Burrs.

Yes, thank you, Chairwoman Hill.

I do want to backtrack to the parks and outdoors.

I do have a question about uh item L.

Okay.

I don't know who's here.

I don't have L in front of me.

And so this is the one uh waiving the fee for uh the Chattanooga Green for the 5K.

Uh I know when other events um used either Ross's landing or the green, the deposit is there in case there's any damage.

So, how does that take care of any damage?

If is there something in the language that says we'll waive the deposit, but if there's any damage, you will be responsible for it.

I don't know that I'd have to check to see.

Because I don't think so.

I think that if we don't take the deposit, we don't compensate it.

This does not waive the deposit, it only waives the park rental fee.

Right, it does require a deposit in the amount of.

I'm sorry, I misread it.

I misread it with a deposit in amount of a thousand dollars.

And it's a refundable deposit.

Okay, I misread it.

My apologies.

Okay, so we still we still do get the deposit.

We're just waiving the rental fee.

Correct.

Okay.

My apologies.

Thank you.

Well, good.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

So, council, we have uh taken a look at public works.

We have taken a look at wastewater.

We amazingly do not have any purchases tonight.

I think that's happened maybe four times in my tenure here.

Um, so let us and the taxpayers of China go take a deep breath and say thank you.

Okay.

All right, so um, let's take a look at uh not our um purchases, but instead, oh, we would look at our two-week agenda, but we are going to be um observing Veterans Day next week, so we don't have a two-week agenda for next week.

The council will not meet, uh, and we do um appreciate all of our veterans and the work that they've done on behalf of protecting our our safety and our freedom here in America.

Um let's take a look at future considerations, please, council.

Weston, would you please join us up here to speak briefly about the two items under finance related to the general obligation bonds?

Sure.

Good afternoon.

Uh Weston Porter, CFO C.

Uh, these two resolutions are a part of our kind of standard process every two years.

We we go out and we issue bonds.

The first resolution, the initial resolution, uh is to satisfy a legal requirement where we have to publicly notice for 20 days that the city is intending to sell bonds to allow time for public input.

The second uh resolution is authorizing resolution, which will be more detail giving more information around the parameters of the bonds that are going to be sold.

The 40 million dollars is to cover projects that were approved in our last two budgets, so FY25 and FY26.

These this money is for projects approved in the capital budgets during that year for those years.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Elliott.

What's it what is our bond to income ratio?

How healthy are we in that aspect?

So we're debt to income ratio rather.

I'd have to go back and double check it.

It's around five to six percent, probably in the general fund.

Okay, and what is the con what does the controller want us?

They don't set uh uh a ratio that they require best practice is probably in the anywhere from eight to fifteen percent.

Okay, and I know a few years ago we had uh a bond rating agency knock us down a little bit for one of those.

Are we still at that double A or have we regained back triple A status?

So um Fitch did downgrade the city's bond rating in 2024 to a double A plus, which is still a wonderful rating.

Uh the downgrade was based on some changes to their criteria.

It wasn't really anything we did, it was just the way that they look at the city.

They they changed some of the things they looked at.

They they look focused more strongly on kind of the economic impact, some things going on in the city, medium household income, things like that.

They place more of an emphasis on some of those things, uh, which just changed changed our rating.

Um they did say that our financial resilience boosted, you know, prompt that up a little bit.

Um, but still it was a double A plus, and it would still be that I imagine, but we'll go through that process in December where we meet with the rating agencies.

Um P was still triple A.

Um, so again, we'll go through the rating agency discussion in December with both of them.

We go kind of through this back and forth.

Um, but that their criteria hasn't changed, and okay, that's I would imagine it'd be right.

Thank you, sir.

I appreciate you.

Thank you.

Council, do we have any other questions about the bond issue?

All right, seeing none.

Any other questions on future considerations, council?

I do uh okay, councilman Clark.

Um sorry.

It's a question about our interlocal agreement with uh city of Red Bank.

Are you familiar?

So that would be the parks department.

Yeah, uh what so would you join us up here, please?

Hold on, how do I gotta get to the where it is?

This is parks 10A2.

A resolution to enter into an interlocal agreement with the city of Red Bank to define shared responsibilities, cooperative efforts related to stewardship of there's no financial going back between us and red bank.

It's just that this I believe it borders it's city of Chadanoo again, the border of Red Bank, and that we both will maintain our sides of Stringer's Rosen.

Oh, okay.

So it's not like we're maintaining a park in the city of Red Bank because it said interlocal, so I mean I'm assuming that there was a fiduciary note on it that would recall this to be a resolution or there's there's trails that go back and forth between Red Bank and the City of Chattanooga going up Springer's Ridge, it's just a mutual responsibility.

Thanks, Jim.

Yes, sir.

That was that was it.

Okay, thank you, madam chair.

All right, great.

Council, do we have any other questions on future considerations?

Okay, seeing none.

We have a couple of committees today.

We've got lots to talk about, so we'll up councilman Elliott.

Uh these are on uh before we switch to committees.

I do want to highlight this.

Uh council, I will be introducing two resolutions at next council meeting.

Uh the first is going to be instructing the uh administration to pause all water shutoffs due to stormwater fees until SNAP benefits are um funded once more by the federal government, or the federal government opens again or at a date in the future.

This is a measure try to try to put as least amount of burden on our citizens as possible to give them some breathing room during this difficult time.

The second resolution is gonna be uh encouraging EPB while we do not uh directly oversee the operations, they are still extension of the city, encouraging EPB to explore all options possible to try to protect our communities through whatever programs and means they may have with their disposable, um, including but not a um not necessarily excluding the possibility of pausing shutoffs as well.

And so that's just a simple encouragement for them to try to see if they can do their part to help our residents until these staff benefits are left in.

Thank you, Councilman.

Um if you'll send that uh language to the clerk, she'll get it on the agenda.

Yes, ma'am.

And we'll have language to review in advance of the meeting on 1118.

All right, thank you, Mail.

Thank you.

Okay, council.

Um, this afternoon we have two committees.

We have an economic development committee and a planning and zoning committee.

So to begin, I will hand the chair over to Chairperson Elliott.

Can I get a motion of a minutes?

Someone all right.

We have our uh economic development committee hearing today.

We're gonna be discussing uh with the great Srida Allen discussing some updates on the uh North Gate Mall TIFF, as well as a presentation on our neighborhood corridors plan that the administration has been working on, and then finally uh we're gonna have a presentation from River City.

Before we start, I wanna highlight because this has been everybody's favorite topic uh lately.

The TIFF is just simply this TIFF conversation today is simply an update as to what has happened at the previous public hearing meeting.

We're gonna have a um another committee hearing on the 18th, where we're gonna be discussing uh the sales tax initiative that goes into it that at that time will give us more time for a robust conversation and deliberation around this TIFF but today, Sharita's is gonna be giving us an update as to what happened at the previous meeting.

So, Srida, would you like to begin?

Good afternoon, council.

Thank you.

Sharita Allen, uh senior advisor for economic and workforce development.

Um I just want to follow up on an email that I sent to council late yesterday afternoon.

That was a follow-up to the industrial development board's public hearing that's required as part of our policies in approving a TIFF.

And so the IDB unanimously approved the resolution of the IDB, approving the economic impact plan and the Northgate Mall Infrastructure Project and authorizing submission of the plan to the city council.

It is proposed to come to the city council December 2nd.

I have asked the head of the economic development committee if he's willing to host a an economic development committee meeting, not a hearing, a meeting on November 18th to allow us to revisit both the economic impact plan and the proposed sales tax agreement, considering it will have been roughly eight, six six weeks between when the council first heard the item through the application review committee and the IDB, and then it coming back to the council for final vote.

So if if that's the pleasure of the board, we'd like to request to have that November 18th public.

It's just a committee hearing.

It's already scheduled.

Yeah, excuse me.

I get hearing and committee confused.

Correct.

So it's it's a committee meeting and not a public hearing.

And so prior to the vote yesterday with the industrial development board, the IDB, there was a public hearing.

I did send along with the email a link to all of the dates the timestamps within the public hearing, uh, so that you'll be able to go back and see where attorney Mark Mamentoff explains the butt for analysis.

There's also a timestamp for when the developer CBL makes an updated presentation, and then there are also timestamps for the citizen comments, both at the beginning of the meeting and then at the end of the public hearing, and then the public hearing closed.

And so on the butt for analysis, I do want to highlight that it was completed as we promised the board that would be done before the public hearing.

The report confirmed what staff believes, which is that the project needs an incentive to be successful.

That is part of the butt for analysis that was also attached and sent to this board.

Uh the amount of the incentive used in the report provides a baseline amount along with an up to range.

It's worth noting that the IDB did not deliberate the range of the incentive.

They simply reviewed all of the information, uh, deliberated, ask questions, and then move the item forward.

They left the double deliberation piece to the council.

That's what will happen on December 2nd.

Um, because this type of butt form modeling is designed for vertical project and not purely public infrastructure.

The report's more speculative than is typical for a butt for analysis.

And so staff still stands behind the original request for a waiver.

So as you're looking at the numbers, they're a little difficult to read because they are speculative, they're not based on vertical construction, which provides this this ratio against which you then calculate do you need the infrastructure?

This is an infrastructure only TIFF, and so that's why the modeling that was used is a little different because it's infrastructure only TIP, but the modeling was for vertical construction paying for infrastructure.

And then the next items coming up are the council considering the economic impact plan on Tuesday, December 2nd, along with the sales agreement.

The sales agreement has not been drafted.

It is being drafted now.

So once a public hearing was approved and IDB made the determination to move it forward, the attorneys started working on that yesterday.

And so that will come forward to this council.

We would like to have that before the committee hearing on November 18th, so there's time to review it.

And so there will be discussion on the 18th and then vote on December 2nd.

And that would be both for the economic impact plan and the associated sales agreement, that sales tax agreement that would go with that.

So that's just high-level update on the Northgate TIF.

I'm happy to take a couple of quick questions and then I'll move into our next short presentation.

Council, are there any questions about the public hearing involving the TIFF?

All right, Sarah and Shrita, the floor is yours.

We're going to start with our uh retail corridor update.

Terrific.

So during the budgeting process, council approved roughly 1.3 million dollars for a business development program.

In addition, there was 585,000 that C and E return to the city for small business development.

Those funds will tie directly into an HRNA study that was commissioned by the city, the Chamber of Commerce, River City, and Chat Tourism that was related towards the types of incentives that Chattanooga should be using moving forward.

And so keep in mind those monies have been set aside.

They are for small business development.

We have not developed those programs, and this will be one of those programs that we would come back to this council to develop legislation around how those funds will be spent.

And so if you look at this particular, the second one on the bottom, that is the HRNA report.

It talks about economic development incentives that should be should that the city should be using, but currently is not.

The first one talks about unlocking currently vacant and underutilized downtown sites.

River City will speak directly to that in the next presentation, and that is part of their appropriation that they're seeking.

And then the third one is activating commercial corridors to support local entrepreneurs and build local wealth.

That is the retail corridor strategy program on which I'm presenting presenting today.

And so they the report highlights what other cities have done successfully.

You've got an example from Memphis and an example from Detroit.

It talks about the importance of building out a toolkit of programs, best practices, data, and policies to drive investment in commercial corridors.

And then if you look at the very bottom, it talks about the roles of the different players and how to make this happen.

And so in this particular study, it talks about the city in partnership with the chamber and community organizations, and it talks about providing technical support, technical assistance and support, and what that might look like in a Chattanooga setting would be helping companies secure business licenses, registering to do business with the city, or setting up an improvement, business improvement district.

When it talks about possibly contributing public funding to support leasing storefronts, that public funding could look like increasing existing funding for grant programs or sunsetting some of the existing programs and starting new programs up.

It could be providing additional funding for the existing loan programs as well, or it could be the creation of new incentives like a grocery tour TIFF, which is currently being used in Memphis.

So again, it's looking at contributing public funding, but figuring out what that funding looks like for Chattanooga as it relates to neighborhood business corridors.

And the last piece is publicizing the program to help attract a customer base.

So this is a marketing piece.

So at the end of it, there's a marketing program that markets these identified corridors citywide to draw to to help direct vehicle traffic, foot traffic, to get more customers shopping at those local retail neighborhood strip centers.

And it's not strip centers, it's sort of the neighborhood retail corridors.

And so again, that's looking at that helping attract customers' peace.

And so where we are now, short presentation, six slides.

We're at the assess phase.

So the first we want to do is assess all the quarters.

We've met with several of the council members, and we've identified their corridors of focus.

And so what that looks like is working with our fantastic GIS team, they've given us lots of data, and looking at what's going on in each of the different corridors, and then figuring out what does success look like for each quarter.

And so, for instance, here's an here's an example of the Highway 58, a piece of the quarter on Highway 58, and the kind of data that we're we're able to pull.

And so that data ranges from occupancy, vacancy, vehicle traffic, it's sales data, it's ownership, it's vacuum, it's city owned parcels, it's looking at all of those different pieces on the corridors.

And then what we're looking to do is create a dashboard to track what are the metrics that we're looking at in a in on an individual corridor, and then how do we start to benchmark and measure against that?

I'll give you an example.

If we're looking at Glass Street, sales revenues might not be a big target for a Glass Street, but but vacant storefronts might be.

So that if you've got seven empty storefronts, then the focus of the plan for that corridor is how to fill those storefronts.

If there are two city owned properties that are on Glass Street, part of that strategy is disposition of those properties that are on Glass Street.

You have a different corridor that might have lots of storefront local flavor retail.

How do you preserve that foundation of storefront?

You might have a different corridor where you've got it's full, but you've got antiquated buildings, the buildings need rehab, they need facade improvements, those things.

So that's one of the first things we're doing.

Grabbing all of that data and then putting together the plan of what should be the metrics to track moving forward.

And then next to the last slide, we're getting close.

Um so we're still in the assess phase where we're assessing it.

Um we're meeting with local stakeholders, and I think we're fortunate in that some of the corridors are more advanced uh and ahead than others, so that for instance, if you're looking at Rothwell Boulevard, they already have some activity, they have players on the ground that are already doing some things.

So while we're doing our assessment, we're also already meeting with those stakeholders.

And then the next piece we'll be getting with our internal departments to figure out is there a piece of the plan that could be implemented by our internal departments recognizing the funds that were approved, could also be used not just for programming for the businesses, but also programming for internal departments to deliver services to some of these corridors where those services are not currently in their budget.

So it might be a corridor that needs sidewalks improved, or it might need extra tree trees trimmed, or outside furnishing.

That's currently not in the budget for any of these corridors, but these funds could be directed to those departments to make those improvements for these particular corridors.

And then the last piece is just sort of the next step, and that's the assist step.

This is typically we've assessed it, and then the sixth step is where we go in and we we start meeting with the economic development staff in partnership with all of our current economic development partners, is the assist staff where we start reaching out to those local entrepreneurs to figure out what do they need?

Do they need grants?

Does somebody need a range hood?

Does somebody need roll-down doors?

Um, what are the what does that assistance look like?

And then how do we start to program that using our existing programs on the ground when we already have some funding available, versus the next step, which is how do we start creating new legislation for the different corridors moving forward?

So that's kind of it, and then the final step will be marketing the corridors, but obviously we don't want to market the corridors to drive business to them if the local businesses are not ready to accept that new business.

And so that's kind of where we are on the retail corridor strategy program.

That's my last slide, and I'll take questions before we bring Sarah up, and she will speak to the downtown corridor specifically because that has been carved out from the citywide program.

So council uh I see council clerk, your lights on.

Go ahead.

We're this is gonna be on this presentation on the neighborhood corridors um plan.

Council Clark.

Thank you, uh Councilman.

Uh I like for you to go back and talk to me a little bit more about the $500,000 that was transferred or given back to the city by CNE.

And I think I may have misheard you, but is it being reinvested into what entrepreneur development programs and have they already been established?

They have not been established.

Those funds are simply being held for small business programs.

As it relates to these corridors, like how it has not been determined because there's not a program.

So when the funds came back, we restructed those funds for small business efforts, and those have not been defined.

So when do we will we define it?

I we're waiting for at one point the council, when the council first came on board, the council was going to create work groups, and there was one around small businesses.

If that's no longer the case, then we're free to create a program and bring that program to you outside of whatever.

Is that the case of the can someone give me?

Yeah, we talked about this in forms of economic development.

Let's say let's do this.

Um because this is the first that I've heard that we were supposed to be deciding where these funds go.

And that's fine.

I can do we can decide where funds go.

Um let's have offline conversation and bring back some options before this council regarding the perimeter's funds if that works.

And it's gonna be an option to tap into the um the working groups, uh, which is have not been, we hadn't exercised this one yet in particular.

Um as long as we can legally do it.

I see Phil is in a public meeting, yes, you guys.

Yes, I see Phil stand hole in the back of my head.

Um as we can legally do it in a public hearing, we'll do that.

Um Alan?

Are you asking me in as a whole?

Uh yeah, so the once the money has been defined and allocated, we did have a discussion about this when it first was brought to our attention when we voted to redirect that funding.

And I know some people misunderstood how that money, what it was used for, so that's why I'm interested in this, and making sure that it is invested in some of the most underserved corridors where there's a need for economic development because every every corridor has some development issues, but if you recall when we voted to transfer the money, it was for entrepreneur development in areas that might have been distressed in some of those corridors.

So I guess I'm trying to figure out what is the link between because you mentioned it.

Is there a link to the development of these corridors to that to that funding?

Or do we not know yet because it's not defined?

There is a link.

It is to be determined based on the small working group.

So that for instance, the small working groups were never defined.

The small business working group was never defined.

What is the goal of the small business working group?

Is it to create legislation?

Is it to direct funding?

But what I'm saying, the work we're we are a working group, and we voted to reallocate those funds, and this group, I would like for us to maybe to have a presentation or recommendation because we discussed this.

We did discuss that.

And I know and we've been waiting for council to provide guidance on small business development through the working group, which is not okay.

My understanding is that it's not working, right?

Like councilman, I yield.

Okay.

Councilwoman Burris.

Um, yes, thank you.

I was trying to digest uh what what we were just talking about.

So um Sharita, the second step, um could you go back to the slide?

Sure.

Uh where you listed the steps.

Um meeting with local state court holders.

Tell me um tell me a little bit more about that, and that's the next step, correct?

That's the next step.

Okay, what that looks like is for instance, staff is able to work with GIS and pull all the associated data.

We're able to analyze the data.

But when it comes to developing a plan for implementation, the community needs to play a role in that.

So that for instance, we could decide what we wanted to happen on Rothschild Boulevard, but there are already active participants in an active association that's doing the work.

And so cities should should partner with that existing organization and or organizations to determine what are their priorities, what are the next steps, what does that look like, and then how do we start to implement through the lens of this particular program?

Okay, because there are funds available for it.

Okay.

So are you looking for uh who initiates that process?

Uh currently staff is initiating that process.

So initiates the process to to have these meetings correct through the elected officials.

Okay, so for example, um, staff might meet with Midtown Connect, which is an already established organization addressing these kinds of needs.

Correct.

Okay, and when what's the timeline for that?

Uh it is currently ongoing.

So we're in the process of of having those meetings now.

And it would also include neighborhood associations.

So community development is an internal department, and they will be part of this process moving forward as well.

Okay, well, I would love to to be as part of the conversation because we've got at least in district six, or not in district six, but midtown connect serves districts five, six, and nine because we look at the Brainerd Road Corridor, Lee Highway area, and we also have another group of neighbors that are have gotten together twice now to talk about the Brainerd Road Corridor.

So it would be great to bring all of that together, and I'm just trying to figure out when when do we start doing that?

Because I think there's lots of people that are really excited about getting some attention to the Brainerd Road Corridor.

So we're already in those conversations and from the neighbor side, educating, getting educated.

We had a great meeting last night, we had one a month ago.

Um I know Carta's a big part of that too, as far as the Brainerd Drug Corridor.

So I'm I'm ready to help initiate that that next meeting or get together.

Perfect.

I will reach the district.

Thank you.

You good, Councilwoman?

Yes, I am.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Chairwoman Burr.

Um so to um I pulled up the document that we had created about uh working groups.

I think this council's been very busy with budget for much longer than is typical, and so I think working groups, I mean I know the budget working group has met um in October, but other working groups I think are getting their feet underneath them.

We do have one that we created economic revitalization and neglected community corridor corridors.

Um and councilwoman Burrs had volunteered to lead that, and councilman persons Clark and Elliot had um said they definitely wanted to participate.

The two uh primary goals for that were to identify priority corridors and support asset-based revitalization and to probably find solutions to recruit and support the success of grocery stores and neighborhood food deserts.

Those are the two primary things.

Um so I think as work groups, uh you will always find me say that I think thoughtful, well considered solutions are are often the best, and I think that's what Sharita is looking for.

Uh the opportunity to plug in with council working group and have those conversations to then bring to the council as a whole, as opposed to let's just we've got money, let's just say we're gonna write a check to fill in the blank, right?

Correct.

Um so you're doing work, the council will be doing work, and so those will come forward.

The other related to economic development specifically was an infrastructure funding uh working group that um councilman Elliott has volunteered to lead, and that's one that I'm keen to participate in, and it had some different different goals.

Um, but these work groups were all things that we know require complex longer term work and solutions, and so that's why we wanted to have something that um was outside of our standard uh committee of just ongoing reports about work that's happening.

So that's that's where that stands.

Um and Rikita or um Rakita's gotten hers going.

Yes, and um, I'm sure some of the rest of us will.

I know I've code enforcement was one that I said I would be bringing us together about, and so I will do that.

And Sharita is ready and ready to go.

As soon as we are looking forward to it.

Yes, yeah, thank you.

You go, Chairwoman.

I sure am.

Thank you.

Councilman Clark.

Uh thank you.

Uh a couple follow-up questions.

Um, does retail in this retail study right, which is what we're talking about as far as corridor revitalization.

Does retail that term does that include grocery?

It does.

Okay.

And so are there components of this that specifically research with retail as it relates to grocery is incorporated in corridor redevitalization, but the policy piece of it.

I guess would that be work or recommendations done in a work group or from your team?

Like what are the how is that incorporated into how is grocery incorporated into this retail or how will it be incorporated into this?

It's currently incorporated to the extent that you've asked for grocery in your along your corridor.

And so that has been a part of it to the extent that others have identified grocery as part of their focus, we would include that as well.

And we do have one other one other district that that's a very important thing.

Oh, would that mention district eight?

Absolutely.

Right, because we need grocery stores over there.

Okay, oh my last follow-up question.

Will can we add a corridor to this?

Absolutely.

Okay.

I'd like to add a corridor.

I'd like to add the Shalifer Road uh more road.

And industrial area where the Walmart is, where there's also acres of unused land across the street from the gas station.

I like to identify that as a light industrial corridor.

I don't know what the zoning is on it, but I know there's some zoning requests on that.

Correct.

But I know there's we have been having discussions about the Brainerd Road development, which is wonderful, but we have some inner opportunities in that intersection uh to continue the development that Walmart uh did not that abandoned that uh area.

Um so I like to have that reconsidered as an area or corridor.

It's kind of like a to be added to the study for that.

We we we heard you the the first time you mentioned that, so we do have that in.

It's not as typical corridors.

We see it on a map, so that's why no, in the essence of time, we did not and we did not include the 12 corridors that have been identified.

Okay, and that's why I brought it up because I didn't see it.

We can do that in a in a future meeting when we have a little more time.

Just don't forget about us because I'm gonna remind you every week if I have to.

We have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh uh, Councilman Elliott.

You're good, Councilman.

No, but I mean I'll yield back to the chair.

Thank you, Sharia.

Uh well, there were no more questions.

We'll move on to River City and Sarah Mass's presentation on a storefront initiative.

Hi, good afternoon, council.

Thank you for allowing me to present.

I'm Sarah Madsen with River City Company, and today I'm gonna give you a high-level overview of River City Company and our new retail recruitment program.

River City Company is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1980 1986 to reinvest in, revitalize, and redevelop downtown Chattanooga.

Our mission is to serve a specific footprint of downtown.

Downtown serves as the economic engine of the city as a whole and the region as a whole.

Although downtown only makes up 4% of the City of Chattanooga geographically, it accounts for 13% of tax revenue.

We are governed by a board of directors, including the city and county mayors and the chairs of city council and county commission.

And an important note is that River City Company is fully self-funded for our operations.

So any grant monies that we get do not go towards operations or payroll.

However, we do work with our private, public, and philanthropic philanthropic partners for specific projects and programs like the retail recruitment program.

We're really excited to say that in the last year we've had over 28 new businesses open in downtown.

There have been some business closings, but we've had a net gain of businesses.

So we think this is fantastic, and we really want to encourage everyone to continue to support our local entrepreneurs.

We've had some really fantastic businesses open, and that's a lot to be excited about.

However, we don't we do know we have some challenges with vacant and underutilized storefronts.

Some of the common reasons for this is tenant improvements and build-out is costly.

It's very and it's getting more expensive every day.

Out data spaces are harder for landlords to rent, and it's harder for tenants to lease spaces when they're not turnkey and there's a lot of development that has to be done to make it a nice storefront.

Also, current design misses the market, meaning uh storefront might be currently designed as an office, but would be better utilized as a food and beverage or coffee shop, so it would have to be completely redeveloped for that reuse.

Also, access to capital is and has always been a very difficult barrier for a lot of small businesses to open.

It's very difficult for a new business to access funds to uh get loans or grants to be able to put into revitalizing or building out a storefront.

And lastly, the lack of tools and resources to support renovation.

So entrepreneurs and property owners need help navigating the zoning and permitting regulations as well as small business support and access to funding.

So what are other cities doing?

Facade and storefront improvement programs are a very common tool that other uh cities and economic development agencies are using across the country.

River City spent many months researching, uh visiting peer cities.

We reached out to organizations like National League of Cities and Lisc and International Downtown Association and really identified a lot of best practices, and we really found that most urban cores have some sort of improvement or facade improvement uh storefront improvement program.

So we really were able to we did city visits to kind of learn what other cities are doing well and what's not working to build out a framework that would work for Chattanooga.

And with that, we're excited to launch our new scenic storefronts building improvement program, and again, based on best practices.

This program will provide a one-to-one matching reimbursable grant to property owners or business owners in the downtown core.

It'll be for permanent interior and exterior improvements, which could include flooring, ADA accessible bathrooms, facades, windows, doors, uh grease traps.

And importantly, River City Company will provide technical assistance to help property owners and business owners navigate the regulatory side of things as well as providing professional design guidance to make sure that we're getting beautiful storefronts downtown.

River City Company will manage the entire back end administrative process of the program.

Business owners or property owners can apply on our website online.

River City Company staff in our review committee will then provide technical assistance and go back to forth back and forth with the applicant to uh agree on a well-designed project.

And once that's agreed on and we've been able to connect them with the right providers, architects, designers, contractors, then uh we will approve their application.

And then once the work is completed, River City Company will distribute uh reimbursements for their project.

In addition to this CNX storefront program, we are also going to um execute our retail strategy.

So first we are going to do a market analysis where we will pull data to really understand customer demographics, uh retail leakage, market gaps, really figure out who's coming downtown and where they're spending their money.

We'll also do a retail assessment where we will catalog and analyze all vacant storefronts and also underutilized properties that could be storefronts.

Using that data, we'll develop a retail strategy, and this will really be like a matchmaking process where we will identify specific retailers or genres of retail that we want on specific corridors or even on specific blocks, and then we will execute our business attraction strategy.

We will work with a professional retail strategist consultant who already has relationships with regional and national retailers, they will reach out directly in their network to help us recruit retailers into these spaces, and at the same time, River City Company staff will work with our local network and organizations like Urban League and Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga to recruit local businesses to open storefronts downtown with the idea that we end up with a beautiful, healthy, and diverse mix of businesses in downtown.

And that's all I have.

Happy to take questions.

All right, council, do we have any questions?

Councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, uh Councilman Elliott.

Quick question about the matching grants uh funding.

Is that used with city the city funding that we currently have allocated in the budget for River City?

Correct.

That's what those funds will be used for.

But the matching funds will be used for facade improvements for the property owner of that building.

They'll match it, but then we turn around and reimbursement.

Could you go back to that slide where it shows the process?

Thank you.

So you match it, the work is complete.

But then it's reimbursed.

Could you help clarify?

I'm I'm not sure.

No, it's a little confusing.

So um typically with these types of grants, the bus if it's a 40,000 dollar project, then the business owner or property owner will contribute 20,000 and we will re reimburse 20,000.

Um so they're putting in 20,000 and we're putting it in 20,000, but we don't reimburse it until the work is complete.

So they do have to front the 40,000 dollars, and when the work's complete, we reimburse them 20,000.

Okay.

So it's not a matching grant if there's a reimbursement component to it because we're giving it back to them.

We're matching the dollar amount.

So if they put in 5,000, we'll give them 5,000.

If they put in 10,000, we give in 10,000.

Up to a certain to be determined maximum.

I'm just trying to make sure the math is math then because what I'm thinking about a matching grant, they're skin in the game from what they contribute, and we match it.

But if we're giving it back, and maybe some of my council colleagues could help me on this.

Yeah, they're fronting the money, and we're paying back half of it to them.

Okay.

But what I'm hearing matching, and so it's putting the entire amount in, correct?

To start.

And then they're getting it back.

They're getting half of it reimbursed.

Okay.

Yes, but they have to meet that 50% requirement to get the reimbursement.

Gotcha.

Yeah.

That's what I need a clarity on.

They're getting half of the back.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

And the reimbursement, it just wasn't very clear in the process of that.

So my other question that I have relates to something that we did in the affordable housing pilot where we recognize that people who may vacate different um buildings is because of the rate of the lease amount because of inflation and whatnot.

We're matching people to make improvements to downtown facilities, but is that necessarily helping people lease the building?

So well, so we're helping them do the facade, right?

So what is the matching component to actually help people stay in the space that we just paid to give them a facelift?

Are there any pilot programs that helps tenants like an affordable housing pilot, but maybe an affordable leasing pilot that River City could pair with this?

Because I feel like the only people that's benefiting from this would be property owners.

Yeah.

Yeah, I understand your question.

We don't currently have any kind of rent subsidy programs, and in our research, we found that a lot of cities that have tried to do that usually it ends up getting make made up for in the lease agreement.

So the property owners catch on to it and they start making up for that and charging more.

And so it is something we could look at in the future.

But the idea is that if you have a beautiful, well-designed storefront, it's gonna help you with your marketing and get more foot track at traffic and have better business.

Um that's generally what the best practice and the research shows.

So that's what this program will provide.

Down the road, we'd love to explore some rent subsidy options potentially, but we don't have that planned at the moment.

One last question, follow-up.

I would love to see that because for minority entrepreneurs who struggle leasing and putting their buildings.

I don't I don't represent the downtown district, but I'm not against the downtown district.

But I may have entrepreneurs who live in my district who maybe could have access to this money for entrepreneur development, they where they could Chattanoogans, right, who live outside of downtown with a business can actually afford to lease the building downtown.

Yeah.

And so I think it would be worthwhile for River City to explore that.

I'd be interested, and I know we like to look at what other cities are doing, that's great.

Uh, but our city is special in the fact that we need equity as far as people having access to the downtown space and being able to expand their businesses down there.

Yeah.

And so I am interested in that, and I would be curious to see if you could work with uh our economists and the economic development department to provide that data because I am very serious about all access to downtown for everyone.

Yeah, as I'm as to have the ability to lease rent, do whatever they need to do downtown, that that opportunity is there and that there are no barriers.

Yeah.

And I can see you guys out of my peripheral.

So I'd be curious to have that data if you don't have to.

I agree.

And I see it as two separate pro two equally difficult but separate problems.

Like it's difficult to do to start the business, and it's difficult to cash flow the business throughout.

So this is solving one piece of the problem, and we do look forward to coming help working with your team and come up with solutions.

Yeah, those are my only input as far as to this process to make sure there's some skin in the game for people to have opportunity to come in downtown and you know utilize those tech dollars to be there because you know the taxpayers are paying for this facade uplift.

I think we need to make sure there's no uh barriers to access for that.

Yeah, of course.

We're trying to reduce the barriers.

That's what I love to hear.

Uh, thank you.

Are you back last time?

Yeah.

Thank you, Councilman Clark.

Anybody else?

Okay, I have uh a couple questions.

Um Sarah, I'm love the idea of us supporting our retail space downtown, a downtown strong downtown supports the whole city.

Um, but what are some of the means for us to support them in in their endeavors?

You know, pre-COVID, we had a ton of folks working in office spaces downtown where they own lunches or before they went home, they would invest in these shops in these centers.

We've seen a stark decline in that.

But also, if you look at some of your most successful corridors or most successful commercial areas, oftentimes they are supported by buffering residential communities that can support them.

Look at Main Street.

Uh, the councilman Dotles part of Main Street in particular, where you have very successful corridor, but it is draped by uh areas that have disposable incomes that could invest in these areas or walkable, they can invest their monies.

We don't have a lot of housing downtown.

So, what is the plan to also support these retail spaces once we stand them up?

And we don't see this investment have the long-term impact we're hoping it for to truly have.

So what are some other complimentary aspects do we have to support this?

Yeah, so River City works every day to create programs and events that try to draw people from other districts to downtown and to help those businesses.

Longer term, we do have an economic development strategy that we are working on to help incentivize and attract developers to continue to develop downtown so that we get more housing.

And we do have quite a lot of housing already on the pipeline for downtown.

So it's really kind of a chicken and egg.

We need both at the same time.

We need the retailers to get the residents, and we need the residents to support the retailers.

So as long as we're tackling it all kind of from every angle at the same time.

And also for everyone, shop local, support your local entrepreneurs.

If you could I would love for you guys to follow up with that, if you guys could either send that out or maybe this is another opportunity for you to educate the public as a whole as to what are some of those things coming down the pipeline, and also you know, what are some things that the city can do to help this, right?

Because we like I said, we this is a gap we need to fill.

Councilman Burse.

Thank you, uh Chairman.

Sarah, I do have one follow-up question.

In the um in the process, works completed, they get the reimbursement.

Then what's the time frame for follow-up?

I mean, it's kind of along the same lines.

You know, we have other programs where they have to um they have to meet certain requirements long term in order to get the value out of the investment.

So, what's that next piece?

How do how does River City follow that business through to make sure that you know kind of along the same lines of successful, but we've we've reimbursed them half of their investment?

So, how do you measure that it was successful?

Yeah, I'm a big believer in measuring the success.

So we will do a business census semi-annually or annually to track certain metrics to see what before and after and to see uh the health of their business throughout.

Um, have you all done something?

Forgive my ignorance, but have you all done something similar to this in the past?

Yes, we um River City Company did uh grant a facade grant program on MLK and on uh Main Street.

And then do you have any statistics?

What have what are your statistics, you know, of how the how those businesses did with those grants?

It might be a good comparison for us to say, well, you know, what the investment that for lack of a better term, the city made yeah, for these uh for these businesses, they're still in business 10 years down the road.

Yeah, or they're you know, what have been their successes?

I'm sure we had that.

I'll have to get that for you.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

All right, council.

Any more questions?

All right, Sarah, thank you so much for taking the time and I look forward to some of those follow-ups to see uh how things are going in the future.

And with that, that will be all for our economic development committee meeting, and I'll turn it over to Chairwoman Burns for planning do a little musical.

All right, thank you, council.

I'd like to bring to order the planning and zoning committee for today.

May I get an approval of the minutes from our last meeting?

Okay, I see that we have a we have a motion to approve and a set proper second, so the minutes pass.

Um, if you all had a chance to look at the staff notes for this week, we have a very short agenda for our meeting, and uh it just involves district eight and district nine.

So I'll ask the council representatives um and also Karen if she'd like to come forward.

What presentations you would like to hear today.

Great district.

District nine, yes.

Yes, you do want your presentation.

Yes, okay.

Okay, I mean that's the presentation for the um the one on Curtis Street.

Um for the um just make sure I'm on the right one.

So this is a um this case um is unusual in the sense that the applicant requested the TRN3 zone.

Uh staff recommended the TRN2 zone, planning commission recommended the T RN2 zone, but at Planning Commission, the applicant confirmed that he still wanted the TRN3 zone.

So I'm going through that because I would expect that the applicant perhaps at council at November 18th meeting would again request a different zone.

So since 2802 Curtis Street, um the rezoning is to construct an additional duplex on a lot to have four total units.

There is an existing duplex, and we'll see a picture of that.

There is some zoning history in the area.

There's two rezonings, um, one to the northeast, one immediately south of the site to the RN13 zone.

That allowed those larger um urban lots to be split into two smaller um lots as long as they had a minimum lot size of 3,000 square feet.

And then one of those has conditions.

It's generally single unit residential, vacant properties surrounding this.

Brown's alley is just um behind.

Um it runs um to the back of the lot, which is um on the right hand side, and Brown's alley looks like a street, but it is an alley.

It's just a um looks a little bit unusual, and that's one of the it's a little bit wider, that's one factor in the staff recommendation.

So the site's legally non-conforming because it's a two-unit dwelling in a RN15 zone.

That's the um an R1 zone with that 5,000 square foot minimum lot size designation, and the applicant wants to build an additional duplex behind this, um, behind this existing duplex.

So again, the the the kind of the looking at the TRN two and the TRN3 zone, the TRN3 zone, the applicant is requesting because the two zones are very similar.

The TRN2 zone um has um stops at six units.

So the whole idea was is that we're kind of building these zones.

The TRN2 zone allows two, three, four, five, and six units.

The TRN three jumps jumps to full multi-unit dwelling, so you can have seven plus units.

Another item that's into play here in particular in this gentleman's circumstance is that if you have a single unit, two unit three or four unit dwelling, that's a principal building on a lot.

You can only have one of those.

Um, and that is really part of that um kind of that missing middle spectrum and compatibility, and we are looking at this.

But another um requirement is there can only be one principal building on a lot.

So in this gentleman's case, um he's proposing the item on the right, which is I have a duplex.

He wants to build another duplex.

Those are gonna be two principal um units on the site, so that's kicking in this TRN three um zone.

So it's a little um complex, and we spent a lot of time talking about it as staff.

Um it is trying to reinforce compatible missing middle housing, but this is one we're doing a little bit more work on because um in this case we're fine.

The zone is not compatible, but we understand the reasoning for his um recommendation, or excuse me, his request.

And so um staff's recommendation was um concerns that the TRN three zone permits high density multi-unit residential housing at um 50 feet.

Um the proposed zone's not compatible with the plan recommendation.

So staff thought the TRN two, which still would allow four units on the site, wants to do four units, then with idea there is could add on to the existing duplex.

Um the TRN two zone would allow that.

There was an opposition at Planning Commission.

Planning Commission had a similar discussion and found the TRN two zone is more appropriate this location.

Um, but again, um so it comes with a planning commission recommendation to prove the TRN2 zone.

Um and we haven't had additional discussion with the applicant, but that might be a discussion next on the 18th.

Yeah, um councilwoman last journal.

Yeah, okay.

Um thank you, madam chair.

So is is the applicant here today?

They're not okay.

So this I would um definitely have to have definitely some more conversation on.

Okay.

Um two duplexes and another behind there.

No, I can tell you that right off the top.

Okay, I'll have that's that's not gonna happen.

I'll have the applicant um contact you and we have some um that was one of the discussions about just among staff if there was if Brown's Alley instead was a road, that might make some sense, but it is it looks like a road, but it is an alley.

Yeah, yeah.

But I will um I will have the applicant um call you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Karen, will you go back to his diagram?

Because we had a lot of discussion about if there was some confusion I remember at Planning Commission.

He is so the the diagram on the left is what exists now, and the the piece on the right is what he wants to do, correct?

That's right.

Okay.

And from the conversation I remembered, the planning commission, the TRN two would allow him to do another building, but it would have to be attached to the correct building.

It couldn't be a separate structure.

That's right.

And that would allow the four units under the TRN.

And he wasn't, he wasn't interested in doing that because it would disrupt the existing, well, one of the reasons, the existing tenants.

That's correct.

Okay.

All right.

Uh any further discussion.

Okay.

Thank you, Karen.

Case um 152 did have opposition, and I'm um, this is for a multi-um-story, multi-unit apartment complex or housing complex on Wilcox.

Um the applic or the opposition was more concerned about the demolition process and possible asbestos um exposure during that process.

So um believe that um planning commission chair is trying to kind of pull out some additional concerns related to the development.

But that was the seemed to be the primary concern.

So planning commission did spend a little time talking about permitting and how some of that would be addressed through permitting.

Um so this does come with a recommendation.

Um since the old church site um from Wilcox and then from Rowan Oak.

It is already a non-residential um property, already has um larger buildings on the site.

Staff and planning commission both recommended a condition of four stories or 50 feet, and that is what the applicant is proposing.

But just because there's a lot of um one and two-story buildings immediately adjacent to it.

This was a recommended condition.

Yeah, um you know, uh this particular site, um, until I can see in front of me and in writing and in a bag as to them having the ability to be able to uh pull this off.

Um I'm not going to be on board with this either.

Okay.

I'm sick of the back and forth with them and meeting with them, and they come up with one thing, and then they said they're gonna do this, and then they're gonna do that, and then they never follow through with it.

Um I'm like done with that.

So unless they can show me, show me um I will never go along with this either.

In fact, thank you, Madam Chair.

Any further discussion on this particular case?

Okay, and then we have one matter in District 9.

Councilman, you would like to hear presentation.

Okay, thank you.

So this is the Southern Spear site at 1305 Anderson Avenue.

This is kind of the back side of the site.

Holt's claw is running um north-south to the west.

We've had several zoning cases.

We've also had several mandatory referrals through here, but the night uh 2019 rezoning put in place two conditions, which were residential townhomes only and height limited to no more than 35 feet for structures within 85 feet of the South Greenwood right-of-way.

So a larger portion than the site shown has the conditions of residential townhouse use only.

Um the sites under construction, as you know, there's townhomes immediately along South Greenwood between the site and this.

Um staff found the request is compatible with adjacent land uses and development forms.

Um the site's being converted from industrial to mixed use, so it felt it's more compatible with the area than that former industrial zone in use.

And the 2019 townhouse condition will remain in effect for um properties um the front on South Greenwood Avenue.

So staff felt that lifting the condition acts as a buffer and allow additional development of the site.

There was no opposition, and um planning commission had similar findings, but just to note that the height condition will stay will remain in effect for the site.

Councilman Elliott.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It's uh um is a person here.

Okay, if you're listening, listen listen listen well.

This site, this happened well before I got in the council.

And this has been lingering for some time.

And it has been a thorn in the side of Highland Park.

It is an eyesore, and we're looking for something to be done with it.

I am glad that you are now looking to move forward with it.

But A, I need you to come talk to me so we can actually see what is going on, because this doesn't tell me much.

And we also need some assurances that you're actually going to develop this property instead of it just sitting there.

We're not gonna keep going back and forth, rezoning stuff, lifting conditions, and nothing ever happens.

Um honestly, and I I've said this earlier in strategic planning.

We've talked about this with code enforcement.

Um there are several eyesores throughout my district that I am hoping in the next coming months that we can hopefully give some motif to code enforcement to pursue.

And so I think this is one that I hope we can find a way to develop well, and I mean to make sense for this landowner, but also the neighborhood.

Otherwise, there may be other things that come down the pipe.

So Karen, if you have this applicant, please reach out to me.

I will.

Um, we won't be going forward until we have a conversation, and we have a conversation with the community.

And I'll send them the link to the live stream too.

Thank you.

Yes, um, thank you, Madam Chair.

You're welcome.

Any other comments about this particular matter?

Okay, I see no other lights.

Uh, Karen, you had a couple of uh zoning or zoning code issues.

We have um two text amendments, and then um we've kind of separated these from the flood tax amendments.

Um and so the two text amendments again, these are cleanup items.

Um, the first one is more um we have not had an experience where this is a problem, just um in talking about when a right-of-way is abandoned.

Um, it doesn't say specifically in the new ordinance that the zoning is following that center line of the former right-of-way.

So it was just we've not run into this being an issue, but just to avoid it ever being an issue, wanted to be really clear that when a right-of-way is abandoned, there is zoning in place on that property and being clear what how what that zoning is.

Um, the second item, um, we had a zoning case um in a you know, because we're using our zones more.

We had a zoning case for a commercial neighborhood um zone, and we were looking at the CN and the CNT, and these allow live work.

Um, so I could um one of the permitted uses I can live on the bottom, I have a business on the bottom floor, I can live at the top, but it doesn't allow that to be horizontal.

So I could not have my business in the front of a building and then have my residence in the back or vice versa, which I think defeated the purpose of this.

So this is intending just to confirm that single unit attached and detached residential units can be part of that neighborhood commercial mix.

I think it was a little bit of an oversight, or maybe the way the definition was done.

So this is just confirming um that that is a permitted use and would make up that neighborhood cut kind of commercial feel.

And um, this is probably also already something that's in place, and so this is just reaffirming that that's part of that um that mix in that zone.

Okay, I see no lights.

Are there any questions for Karen about these two changes?

Seeing none.

Any other questions for Karen while we have her up here?

Otherwise, I won't be labeled for labor recess.

Yes.

Uh we do have the flood to cover real quickly and sorry, we did have the flood regulation.

My apologies.

Go ahead.

Did you have uh one more one minute, Karen?

Did you have a lot of time?

I actually officially congratulated you on your appointment.

So congratulations.

Thank you.

There's several steps to go through, but I appreciate it.

Yes, I'm able to do it.

So congratulations.

I'm glad you got the job.

And I'll turn it over.

Um, this is the LDO took the lead on this.

We're just assisting since it's in zonings.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Karen.

Um, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Darian Gilgenson.

I'm the assistant director of land use development services in the LDO, um, which is just a fancy thing for all things signs and zoning related within the LDO.

Um, so with that being said, uh part of my team is Ken Martin, who is our floodplain coordinator.

Um, so he did, he and I have done a massive amount of work.

FEMA, uh, he's gonna go into this, but FEMA is requiring us to update our regulations with the new maps.

Again, he's gonna go into it and tell you a little bit more about that.

But I also wanted to introduce um Jinx Parker.

He is on Jeremy Swelley's team.

He is our floodplain manager, and so these two together are have just been an excellent team and done really great work um for our floodplain and are gonna continue to do that.

Um so I'll turn it over to Ken to talk about the uh updates that were made.

Is this quicker?

Yes.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Hello.

Can you hear me well?

Yeah, I can.

Okay, thank you.

Um, I want to start by thanking City Councilman Ron Elliot and Dennis Clark, City Councilman Dennis Clark for attending the open house we had yesterday.

It was uh I feel a huge success.

We had a pretty good turnout over a hundred um residents came out with questions and got answers to their questions uh regarding the floodplain changes.

So um, without further ado, I'm gonna get into a little bit of the changes um with you guys today.

So the recommendation for approval by um planning commission for flood regulation changes.

Um on November the 28th, we'll be receiving new floodplain maps, um, new firm panels.

We currently have about 62 firm panels that are um effective.

All 62 of those are being updated, and uh with the addition of one firm panel, um, giving us a total of 63.

These firm panels are received um by FEMA, and with that, they also issued a or sent us a uh floodplain ordinance update that is going to include some of the current language changes and some additional definitions to be adopted into our new or um proposed floodplain ordinance us failing to adopt a new ordinance will result in us having a non-compliance status with the NFIP program and national flood insurance program, and the result of that would be uh a loss of subsidized federal backed insurance flood insurance for residences as well for residents as well as uh as well as us not being afforded federal federal as well as us not being afforded federal funding in case of a disaster.

So if we were to incur a disaster like what happened on August the 12th, we wouldn't get assistance from FEMA if we weren't able to adopt the new floodplain ordinance that is in compliance with what FEMA has issued.

Um we have an additional 35 definitions that are going to be updated.

These are some of the major update changes that are required by FEMA.

Um like I said, like I mentioned earlier, the flood the firm panels, the national the uh national firm panels are also being updated.

Government is out, and we're going to make a couple of updates to how we describe the flood zones.

So currently, right now, it's a little bit hard to interpolate or understand.

So we're making some changes to some of the language to make it more comprehensible for residents when they're reading the code to understand okay what flood with flood zone in my end, how is that designated, things of that nature.

And everything else is just minor updates and changes to rephrasing.

And just to be clear, these are this was required by FEMA.

So when he's saying that we made these updates, this was us just taking the words from FEMA and putting it into our ordinance the way that we have it set up now.

So none of these changes that he has just talked about to the updated definitions, you know, kind of fleshing out the flood zones a little bit more, were done by us directly.

This is something that was brought down from FEMA.

Sorry if I didn't articulate that.

I don't thought I did.

We have thank you.

Um additional staff updates, these are the updates that aren't required by FEMA but are more so recommendations for staff to make like I said uh earlier, we want to make the ordinance a little bit more comprehensible and digestible so people understand and there isn't there's a it's a little more clarity.

So right now, our flood, our floodway use definition or some of the changes for the floodway use is we're going to allow, we're wanting to allow for limited residential, I mean limited recreational activity such as river walks and bank stabilization, critical infrastructure, things of that nature happening within the floodplain within the floodway.

Um right now, it's not required by FEMA, but we want to align with our Chattanooga status as uh National Park City.

So we want to remain in alliance with that.

We want our floodway to incorporate recreational use and people being able to come out and use utilize those open spaces.

Why are we updating the floodplain ordinance?

Um we updating our flood plan ordinance.

We want to maintain consistency, um uh stability, we want to reduce risk, and we also want to make sure we're taking into the forefront the community's well-being and welfare.

Um we want to do this by regulation, and we still want to actively promote innovative growth.

We aren't trying to impede progress and by no means the current language doesn't allow for anything to be built within the floodway, which is an alliance with uh current practices, so we want all of this to be inclusive and comprehensible, and our ordinance to reflect what was currently being done.

Floodway uses as I mentioned a little bit earlier.

We want to allow things like recreational use, um, airport landing strips, uh critical infrastructure and public open spaces, roads, driveways, railroads, bridges, and culverts, all of those things will still be inclusive uh as activities or uses to be able to be conducted within the floodway, public uh infrastructure like uh utility facilities, um water-oriented industries and adjacent water courses, those things are still gonna be included.

Uh grading, filling, and land alteration, those things will be limited to shoreline and bank stabilization projects only.

So with that, if you have any questions, okay.

I have councilman Clark followed by Chairwoman Hill, followed by Councilman Elliott.

All right, Councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, uh Councilwoman Burrs.

Um can't first of all thank you for the amazing presentation last night.

I was an honor for Councilman Elliott and I would be participated there to be educated about it.

So thank you.

And it's also refreshing to see different faces at council uh making presentations on behalf of our department.

So thank you, Bill and your team for doing that.

I know it's intimidating to come up here.

I know some of us think we bite Mark.

Councilman Marvine does bite, so but uh I know that the nerves can be uh settling, but I just want to compliment you and say thank you for your presentation.

That's how live kids thought.

Yeah, but I have the floor.

Oh quick question about the levy that runs in district five.

Uh, were any of the FEMA uh recommended regulations?

I know this is a recommendation for new floodplains, okay?

But were there any recommendations from FEMA that mention any upgrades are existing floodplain regulatory things such as the levy in my district that we need to make some improvements to?

And forgive me if this has already been sent out an email.

I have not read a full report, and maybe it was or was it?

I don't know.

No, I uh and I was gonna ask Darien to make sure that we got the updates, the you know the 35 definitions and the full updates at some point when you're ready to publish that, it'd be great for us to be able to review that.

Absolutely, yeah.

So to answer your question, councilman, the updates that were issued by FEMA were specifically just to address the current flood maps and the firm panels.

Um I'm sorry to hear the current what?

The the updated firm maps, firm panels.

That's what those uh these updates were for.

So the update to the floodplain ordinance is to reflect those new firm panels that we're adopting.

And this may be a really incredibly stupid question.

And I'm so sorry because I tried to I leaned over to the seat attorney, I just want to confirm.

I know when we had the historic flood on August the 12th, we were directing people to TEMA for disaster relief because FEMA does not do disaster relief anymore.

Can someone give me clarity about FEMA's role in disaster relief?

Because if we don't pass this, or which I don't see any reason why we wouldn't, but you mentioned that if we did not enact some of the regulatory stuff from FEMA, that we would not receive the disaster relief from FEMA, but I thought TEMA was now the new fiduciary agent for our state in doing that.

Can someone give clarity to that?

I could be wrong.

So are you referring to the August 12th and why there wasn't financial there wasn't financial uh disaster relief funds from FEMA because they sent the fundings to the state?

And so I guess my question again is is that when there is disaster relief and compliance with what you're asking us to do, the funding won't come from the federal government anyway, it'll be come from TEMA.

Is that so?

Let me be clear.

Earlier when I spoke to not being um having our status removed as active to being in the non compliant, uh that was in relation to the NFIP program, which we are a part of.

That's the national flood insurance program.

So in order to receive funding, federal funding in in case of a disaster, in the event of a disaster, we would have to have an active status in the national flood insurance program.

And to do that, we have to have an active floodplain ordinance that is reflective of the minimum standard guidelines.

In the event that federal funding was available, this would need to be in place.

Answer my question.

Absolutely.

All right, thank you, Ken.

I yield back uh council members.

Okay.

Uh let's see.

Chairwoman Hill.

Thank you.

Um Thanks for this information.

I appreciate it.

Um the language as it is recommended, I feel like is a little unclear.

Um specifically, I would just ask you to consider reformatting this and perhaps working uh with legal to reformat this.

Um, Phil, you might want to I'll wait.

I'm sorry, uh chairwoman's good.

So, Phil, I'm looking at this language, the staff recommended language here.

Yes, and it does not it it's confusing.

The following uses and activities may be allowed.

Number one, no structures are allowed versus bringing that outside of that and saying permitted uses, no structures are allowed.

The following may be allowed recreational roads, public grading.

You know what I'm saying?

It I feel like it needs some clarity.

Chair Robin Hill, just to kind of give you let you know why we did it that way, because we actually had it at the bottom, and we changed it around a little bit, but um we put that at the front so that we can be really clear that when we're talking about all of these things, because recreational uses, we want it.

This is everything that's in the floodway.

So this is a very flooded area.

Um we don't want any structures in the floodway.

So when we're talking about recreational uses, if we don't put that in the front up here, then recreational uses can get expanded to different structures.

So we just want to be really clear that and some of these other things.

We're not allowing any structures, but we want river walks, we want boat launches, we want things that bring people to the water.

Um, and you know, roads, bridges, all of those types of um uses and development.

However, structures are really dangerous in this area.

So we want to just be very clear at the beginning and being able to put that up at the top, it just really helps people understand that no structures, but yes, you can do this.

So we're just trying to be very clear and transformation.

Yeah, I understand that you're trying to be clear.

I don't think it is clear.

Okay.

I mean, I follow that I I think the sentence structure could be changed so that this portion is clear.

Yeah, could also not be in the permitted uses in floodway, or I think sometimes in legal language we have things in all caps and bold that potentially could be at the very beginning or right after the sentence, but I think it's something that our legal team can work with you on.

Also, I think that planning and zoning has had a lot of work.

Like when I read this, uh, recreational uses perhaps that's a callback to other things in our zoning code, it needs to be if it's not, because I don't immediately think river walks, etc.

are things that I can build there.

I I think I can canoe in the floodway.

So you're probably tying it all together.

This language is confusing.

Okay, thank you.

We'll work on it.

Thank you.

Is that all chairwoman?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, councilman Elliott.

Uh I just want to highlight this.

Um I want to ask this question.

People who are now in these new floodplains, they're gonna be required to get flood insurance.

Is that correct?

I don't think it's a requirement.

I think it's wise for them to get flood insurance.

Is that a better way of putting it?

So it's in my opinion, it's always wise to protect yourself.

Um flooding can happen in areas that aren't flood-prone, that aren't in uh known flood areas, and flooding can happen in the most flood prone areas.

I um, in my opinion, I think it's beneficial to get that flood insurance, especially if you're not in a flood prone area because you're gonna get a reduced, you should get a reduced um premium.

However, these maps, the changes within these maps don't won't reflect uh that everyone is in the floodplain or everybody that is so if I may backtrack just a little bit, we have delineated three different districts for clarity on what embodies our floodplain.

The floodway, the flood fringe, and the general floodplain.

So within the flood fringe, you have the floodway, which is the 100 year or the 1% annual chance.

Those that flood zone is regulated by the city of Chattanooga is regulated by FEMA, uh TEMA.

There are guidelines that are in that are in place that gives higher standards or regulations to help reduce risk in of flooding within that 500 year or two percent annual chance of uh flood zone.

There aren't any the city doesn't impose any any regulations.

We don't enforce regulations within the the hundred year uh 500 year flip flood zone.

So with that for insurance purposes, I can't really articulate whether or not uh insurance company is gonna say, hey insurance is is um needed or required for this property because it sits within the 500 year as opposed to the 100 year.

Are these maps gonna be made available?

They already are made available.

We uh and um you can send us the link for the the maps that would be helpful.

Um I see w at least one press outlet and uh anybody else watching, hope this gets out and I'll do my do those push this.

I encourage everybody to connect with your insurance providers to see if you're gonna need to get flood insurance.

I would hate for another national disaster to happen like we had a couple of months ago and you find yourself not being covered.

Legally, I we can't tell you what to do or feel with probably just jump across his diets and cut my mic.

Uh legally we can't tell you what to do, but I do implore everybody to do their due diligence if you're a homeowner to make sure you have the proper coverage, especially with these maps changing.

Um I don't know what it means.

Uh I do appreciate you all for presenting.

I will probably have more questions at some other point.

I just didn't think flood plans will be as as complex as it is, but I will need to kind of sit with this and I'll probably have some questions, but uh thank you all absolutely uh for taking the time to go speak with us.

And I'd h I like to highlight that the city being uh active member of the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program allows residents to to qualify for federally backed insurance print uh uh policies.

So those policies are offered at a lower rate or a lower uh discounted rate than private insurance companies.

So the importance is uh of us maintaining our status as active is highly beneficial and highly crucial for residences.

I see no other lights are.

I'm very mad at uh Darien Ken Jinks, thanks you thank you for all of your work on this.

Um Deering, if you will send uh the information to Nicole so she can distribute it to all of us and then we're is the planning commission, are we approving this on Monday, next Monday?

No, so it's already been moved through planning commission.

Okay.

And so it will come to you guys on November 18th.

Correct.

And so what we will do, we will work on this language beforehand um to address Councilwoman Health's um suggestion and to it'll be the same policy, but just slightly up language.

Yeah, okay.

So council, it sounds like we'll have time to review it before the November 18th meeting.

So as soon as Darien gets that to Nicole, then it's out to you, then you know be free or to ask your questions on the 18th.

Additionally, um just really quickly, uh, we have some handouts that we sent uh or that we were giving out yesterday.

We're going to also attach that to our email to get forwarded on to you.

Um please, you know, share those with your um constituents.

Just we want to get the word out there as much as possible.

Thank you so much.

Um I see no other lights.

Any other questions, council?

Right.

Uh Chairwoman Hill, I understand we have an do we have an attorney client meeting?

Okay.

You would like to recess until 540?

Okay.

We will recess until 540.

Okay.

We are back in session.

I would like to make a quick announcement that the holidays are coming up, as you all know.

And we have disgusted amongst council leadership.

And the council will not be meeting on November 25th.

We will also not be meeting on December 23rd or December 30th.

As well as next week.

Yes.

Okay.

Madam Clerk, will you please read resolution A.

A resolution to erect a commemorative name sign renaming Canon Avenue to Lehman Pierce Avenue in honor of the late Lehman Pierce.

Council, we have we have an item.

Can I get a motion?

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, all in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, I would like to take our economic development items.

B, C, D, and E as a package, please.

Item B.

The resolution authorizing the administrative water department of economic development to enter into a second agreement to exercise option to renew with Hamilton County, Tennessee, Board of Education, and substantially the form attached for the use of tax parcel numbers 136 LM002, 136 LM005, and 136 LM006 for the continued operation of the Avenue Head Start Early Head Start Program at 2302, a coe street for an additional term of one year through December 31, 2026 for the amount of one dollar.

Item C a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Economic Development to enter into a second agreement to exercise option to renew with the Hamilton County, Tennessee Board of Education is substantially the form attached for the use of a portion of tax parcel number one six eight IC032 for the continued operation of the Cedar Hill Head Start Early Head Start Program at 4701 Divine Avenue for an additional term of one year through December 31, 2026 for the amount of one dollar.

Item D, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Economic Development to a second agreement to exercise option to renew with Hamilton County, Tennessee, Board of Education and substantially the former tax for the use of a part portion of tax parcel number 066 MD014 for the continued operation of the Daisy Head Start Early Head Start Program at 9517 West Ridge Trail Road in Saudi Daisy, Tennessee for an additional term of one year through December 31, 2026 for the amount of one dollar.

Item E, a resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Economic Development to execute quick claim deeds for the conveyance of 16 certain or certain combinations of parcels and substantially the form attached to the approved highest bidders on properties of the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County as acquired through previous delinquent tax sales.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Do I have any questions or comments?

If so, please hit your life.

Seeing none, all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

We're gonna take information technology resolutions F and G as a package, please, Madam Clerk.

Item F, a resolution authorizing the chief information officer to enter into a three-year blanket contract via sole source with Thompson Rorders West for Clear Law Enforcement Plus and Clear ProFlex LPR software applications to be used by the Chattanooga Police Department Police Department for Interface Access to be used by the I'm sorry.

Let me let me start that over again.

A resolution authorizing chief information officer to enter into a three-year blanket contract via sole source with Thompson Worders West for clear law enforcement plus and clear pro flex LPR software application to be used by the Chattanooga Police Department for interface access to proprietary proprietary proprietary, yes.

Secure web-based investigated public records for an amount not to exceed 75,000 per year with a three-year term in the amount of 225,000.

Item G, a resolution authorizing chief information officer to renew Victor Solutions, formally target solutions learning LLC blanket agreement 556370 for a five-year term with an annual spend limit not to exceed $80,000, 400,000 for the complete term, which annual renewal provides support maintenance and premier subscription fees for an educational training product use by the Chattanooga Fire Department and the Mogasin Bend Environmental Center.

Second.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Item H.

And resolution commander Mayor Kelly's appointment of Robin Derry Berry to the Carter Street Corporation Board for a term beginning on November 5, 2025 and ending on November 4th, 2029.

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?

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes, and I believe that I see Robin out there.

Robin, thank you very much for your um.

Item I, please.

A resolution authorizing and directing the clerk of the council to advertise for public hearing on December 9, 2025 for the deannexation of certain property owned by Versailles Land and Development Company LLC for the tenant Chick-fil-A restaurant located at 8883 Ole Highway within the city of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee, which is currently referenced as tax map number 131082.18, more fully described in the attached map.

Thank you.

Council, this is specifically to advertise for a public hearing.

Can I get a motion?

Thank you.

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.

Let's take items J, K, and L as a package, please.

Item J, your resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Parks and Outdoors to apply for and if awarded, accept a healthy and sustainable communities grant from the U.S.

Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Association to expand the every kid outdoor program in the amount of $200,000.

Item K, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Parks and Outdoors to apply for and if awarded, accept a youth sports access NRPA MUSCO Lighting Grant for the in-kind donation installation of a mini pitch system with lighting at East Lake Community Center Park valued at $100,000 and to provide $20,000 for the activation of the infrastructure.

Item L, a resolution authorizing the waiver for park rental fees for the Zach Mercivey Foundation in support of the Not My Child 5K run walk for November 15, 2025 for the total amount of $1,000, which includes a $500 rental fee for the Chattanooga Green and a $500 one rental fee for Ross's landing with a deposit in the amount of $1,000.

Responsibility of the applicant for the duration of the event to include setup and breakdown.

Second.

Thank you, Council.

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

If you like if you've got any questions or comments, seeing none, all in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Public works.

Let's do items M through R as a package, please.

Item M A resolution authorizing Administrative for the Department of Public Works to execute a memorandum of agreement between the City of Chattanooga, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Chattanooga MF Joint Venture LLC, and Chattanooga 706 Land Company LLC regarding the closure of two private at grade crossings, 73467W and 736945H, and the installation of two public at grade crossings, 946998L and 94702G for the construction of two residential and mixed use communities at 702, 706, and 17 Manufacturers Road, in order to provide full public access to such communities to and from the manufacturers road and paper mirror road public rights of way.

Item N, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Public Works to execute an agreement agreement between the City of Chattanooga, Chattanooga MF Joint Venture LC and Chattanooga 706 Land Company LLC, detailing costs and responsibility obligations of the parties for the closure of two private at grade crossings 73467W and 736945H and the installation of two public at grade crossings 946998L and 94702G for the construction of two residential and mixed use communities at 702, 706, and 710 Manufacturers Road in order to provide full public access to such communities to and from the manufacturer's road and paper mill road public rights waste subject to the approval of the agreement language by the city attorney.

Item O, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Public Works to approve change order order number one to contract number 02201, Chattanooga Skate Park with Robert Roberts LLC of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the construction of the original bid scope of work and restoring scope eliminated during value engineering for an increased amount of 1,272,642.82 cents for a revised contract amount of 2,272,477 and 80 cents with a new contingency in the amount of 107,000 for a revived revised total amount of 2,379,477 and 80 cents.

Item P a resolution authorizing the appointment of Tom Dawsett as a special police officer unarmed for the City of Chattanooga Department of Public Works LDO Code Division to perform duties expressly limited to the performance of duties in his position as demolition abatement specialist.

Item Q a resolution authorizing the appointment of Mark Johnson as a special police officer unarmed for the city of Chattanooga Department of Public Works, Audio Code Division to perform duties especially limited to the performance of duties in his position as code enforcement inspector.

Item R, a resolution authorizing the appointment of Aaron Levy as a special police officer unarmed for the city of Chattanooga Department of Public Works LDO Code Division to perform duties expressly limited to the performance of duties in his position as code enforcement inspector one.

You are a pro, Madam Clerk.

Thank you very much.

Sometime Councilman Henderson.

Move approval of items 9M through R.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

Seeing none, all in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Item S, please.

A resolution authorizing the administrator for the wastewater department to award contract number W20020201 23rd Street Pump Station Improvements Project to Dugan and Myers Industrial LLC of Cincinnati, Ohio for pump station improvements at 23rd Street Pump Station in the amount of 11,584,000 with the contingency in the amount of 1,158,400 for a total amount of 12 million 742,400 dollars.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

We do not have any purchases to review tonight, Council.

And I do see that we have past Councilman Manny Rico in the audience with us tonight.

Thank you for joining us, sir.

Glad to have you here.

You you know just what it is, so thank you very much.

All right, we're gonna move into committee reports.

Councilman Elliott.

Um we had an economic development committee hearing uh meeting today, uh, where we discussed updates or long uh regarding TEF public hearing at IDB meeting.

Sharita was able to present a update regarding the neighborhood corridors initiatives.

And we heard from River City uh regarding their retail corridor and facade improvements and their initiatives for retail storefronts in the downtown area.

We will have another economic development committee meeting on November 18th, where we'll be able to discuss the sales tax initiative that um pertains to Northgate TIFF.

So that'll be an opportunity for folks who have questions more to lean in there.

Outside of that, no more.

Oh, um, one other report.

I also introduced uh two resolutions that will be visiting on the 18th regarding uh protecting folks uh from water shutoffs that pertain to sewer fees, not stormwater fees, but sewer fees uh from the city, but also uh a resolution encouraging EPB to see what they can do to protect um Chad Douglas as well until SNAP benefits are funded or the government uh federal government opens back up.

Thank you very much.

Councilwoman Dotley, middle report, councilwoman burst.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We had a planning and zoning committee meeting today, and uh thank you, Karen Rennick, as always, for presenting the cases to us, which will be heard on November 18th.

We also heard from our floodplain team, Darien Gilkerson and her team who've been working on updating the the floodplain guidelines to make sure that they're in compliance.

Um council members uh Darien didn't provide some brushers and a couple flyers for your mailboxes, and then if you haven't already received received an email with the information, you should be getting it uh shortly so you can share that information with your district.

And that's all.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Henderson, no more, councilman Davis.

No committee report, but I am looking forward um at our next meeting on the 18th to giving a presentation for you all about our city delegation's recent trip to China.

Um so excited to to share what we learned and experienced over there.

Um and then also on November 19th, um, related to the TIFF project, uh, the Friends of Hicks and Community Group will be having um a meeting to discuss that project.

I know we heard some some good positive feedback from the public about the project at the IDB meeting yesterday.

Um, and I expect there'll be more positive feedback at that meeting, so I would just encourage you all to attend.

And what time is that meeting?

Um, it's from 8 till 9 on November 19th.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Clark.

Uh Madam Chair, I don't have a committee report, but I'd like to give a kudos.

Put your life.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I will be able to hear your kudos.

Uh thank you so much, uh, Chairwoman Hill.

I don't have a committee report for community development, but I would like to give a kudos to a an administrator who is doing some amazing community development work in my uh district, and that is April 1st 1th, who is our parks and outdoors administrator.

Um, I remember when you arrived, there were so many questions about your arrival, and I just want to say uh the work that you have done with the deferred maintenance list and what was allocated for the mayor's office and how you are expediting that you're building pavilions in my district and Lake Hills and Murray Hills, and I just really appreciate the work that you're doing to develop our communities uh through parks and outdoors.

And I just I I appreciate your work ethic and how you've hit the ground running and how you are uh becoming a member of the Chattanooga Way community.

So thank you, April, for your amazing work in community development through Parks and Outdoors.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh-huh.

Vice Chairwoman.

I don't have a report, but I do want to say thank you.

I want to say thank you to a group of the great district eight ladies that purchased me a purse.

And it actually works pretty often.

So I want to say thank you so much.

Yes.

Appreciate the love.

Fantastic.

Well, um, I will just add one more round of thank yous.

Um, thank you so much, Vice Chairwoman, for um keeping the ship headed in the right direction.

Everything uh went so great while you were gone, and I I appreciate you.

Um what can I say this?

Oh, sure, yeah.

Okay, you're still on.

So, and and thank you to Madam Chair.

This is um my uh gift that she brought me back, and uh I've got five dollars as manyone can tell me what what you think the symbol means.

Who would think anybody okay?

Happiness.

Yeah, uh, thank you, madam chair.

Well, uh Jeff and I didn't have a worry in the world about this council while we were on, so we really appreciate it.

I especially appreciate it.

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

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

Yes.

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

Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized at the microphone up front for that purpose, can't have more than three minutes to speak, and you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quasi judicial authority and not on matters which are not under their authority or regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Do not engage in any vulgar or obscene language or use the floor to personally detect or personally denigrate others and address the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members.

And lastly, do not engage in disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting, which is prohibited by Tennessee law, and someone commits that offense if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with a meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering.

Having stated those rules, please go ahead, sir, and give your name.

Thank you.

Uh Hadrian Turner.

Um good evening, counselors.

Um I wanted to introduce myself today.

My name's Hadrian Turner.

I live right outside the city, but I'm one of the co-founders of Save Enterprise South Nature Park, along with my partner Melissa Ray and two others.

We know the discussion about the land swap at Enterprise South is basically new to everyone, but we know how important it is to start these conversations early and have them often.

We hope to serve as a resource to all of you as the issue evolves.

We are a budding local community organization that started the petition that you've no doubt already seen.

We now have nine thousand over 9,000 signatures in under a month.

Clearly, overwhelmingly, Enterprise South Nature Park is a beloved recreational and community resource and wildlife refuge that should be preserved in its current state for future generations.

Personally, I'm a conservation professional with the Oconee River Land Trust, and our family bikes, hikes, and walks at Enterprise South several times a week.

At only 10 minutes away, it's been such a gift for a family with two young children who already love nature.

Enterprise South Nature Park is the county's largest park, and a big reason that the park fuels the way that it does is thanks to its size and its ecology.

The tract that has been identified as unused and underutilized is in fact home to countless species of flora and fauna, as well as the celebrated Atlas Trail.

I recently had the pleasure of talking with a mountain biker who drove all the way from Knoxville to ride the Atlas Trail, and he referred to it as the premier park in Chattanooga.

While the county's plan is allegedly still in its infancy, any maps that have been shared publicly all include the Atlas Trail and Children Focused Sunshine Trail in the affected zone.

That tract of land also acts as an important buffer to the rest of the park from sound, light, and other types of pollution along I-75.

Citizens are understandably against lifting a forever deed restriction at Enterprise South Nature Park and losing their public parkland to private industry and road construction.

It's exactly the kind of response one would hope to see from residents of North America's first national park city.

We applaud Mayor Wamp's administration in recognizing that the community also cares about McDonald Farm and for their intention to protect it.

But it does not have to come at the cost of our county's largest and only nature park, nor should it.

I'm very familiar with legal mechanisms for protecting land, and there is no actual requirement for a restricted deed swap to protect McDonald Farm.

There are other avenues to conserving McDonald Farm if the county is committed to doing so.

While we are glad to see the county is collecting public comment, there have been no further updates to the community since the initial press conference, including maps, acreages, and otherwise.

Our organization doesn't represent just one perspective.

We are not strictly impacted homeowners.

We are not simply bleeding heart environmentalists, nor are we anti-development or anti-growth.

We are here to represent the park.

We represent the arguments for keeping this already protected land protected in perpetuity for our community and for the generations that will follow us.

Thank you for your time.

We would love the opportunity to speak with you more.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council.

Anna Galladay, District 8.

Um, first, thank you, Councilman Elliott, for the two resolutions you're proposing on the 18th.

Um, your um continued support of those on the edges doesn't go unnoticed.

Um, continuing in that vein, um, as of January in 2020 January 2025, the 11 County Southeast Tennessee region saw a 12% increase in homelessness.

And our current shelter capacity uh is at 22% of the current need.

Because homelessness is considered a lagging indicator of economic dis distress, the full impact of recent economic shifts, such as high inflation, rising rent prices, and the government shutdown will continue to manifest this problem far into 2026.

For lack of a more simplistic clarion call, this will get significantly worse before it gets better.

Here's my curiosity.

At what point do we, as a collective government, legislative and executive begin to seriously work together to improve these conditions?

Some of you might not know or have visibility to the homeless challenges in your neighborhoods and what they are facing.

But I agree wholeheartedly with Dr.

Mai Angelou.

You do the best you can until you know better, and then when you know better, you do better.

What is the city's plan for supportive housing?

What does emergency and temporary shelter look like for those who are on our streets?

Right now, it looks like a capacity of 22% of the current need.

While transitional and permanent housing is also needed as the next step, currently affordable and available houses exist for only one of four low-income renter houses households.

And I recognize that the city and some of you on this dais are working to identify how this next step in the process comes to fruition.

Yes, it is vital that there is somewhere for folks to go post shelter life.

But our problem as a city is that we don't have a solution in between the streets and that transitional housing.

There is no supportive housing option.

And simply overlooking this glaring and necessary gap in the process is not only heartbreaking, but as winter comes, it will be death inducing.

Thank you.

And also the fight for a higher wages and higher standard of living for workers in Chattanooga.

With the cost of living skyrocketing for everything, including food and people finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet.

I'm asking City Council to contact anyone they know in the state legislature to tell them Chattanoogans want the state to abolish the grocery tax.

Regarding wages and a higher standard of standard of living in 2021, the city passed a budget funding of $15 per hour minimum wage.

I uh want to thank Mayor Kelly and the current uh members of city council who were there to pass that budget.

However, that was several years ago when the city was a it was years behind many cities throughout the country.

The current minimum wage at the city is $16 and some change per hour and is still not a living wage.

Last week, Mayor Kelly was asked about the strike authorization of UAW workers at Volkswagen.

His comment was we just worked really, really hard just to get a raise for our police and firefighters that is far below what BW has offered its workers.

Kelly said, so again, we try to stay out of those labor disputes, but obviously for the good of Chattanooga, I hope they wrap it up soon.

I disagree with Mayor Kelly that he is being neutral when making statements like that, but I do agree with the mayor that UAW should not be asking for so much more than city workers make.

That is why it's time to call on the city to increase its minimum wage to 25 dollars per hour, and we are calling it the drive for 25.

It's time that companies stop trying to get away with paying workers as little as possible, and that workers demand the best standard of living possible and negotiate from there.

SEIU has a slogan when we fight, we win.

I'm asking city council members and the mayor to not remain neutral and to fight for the workers so we can win the best standard of living possible.

I stand in solidarity with my work with workers at the city and my UAW brothers and sisters to continue the fight for a better life for us and our families.

We need to abolish the grocery tax, and we need the drive for 25.

When we fight, we win.

Thank you.

Anyone else here who would like to speak to the council?

Council, I'm seeing none.

Can I get a motion to uh journal?

Thank you.

Have a motion to adjourn and a proper second.

All in favor?

Thank you.

We are adjourned.

Everything passed, yes.