Good afternoon, everybody.

It is Tuesday, December 9th, and I'd like to call to order the Chattanooga City Council for December 9th, 2025.

Um like to welcome Councilman Elliott to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation.

And to the Republic for which it stands one night undergoing this liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

We are going to be holding a public hearing for a de-annexation applicant, the Versailles Land Development and Tenant Chick-fil-A restaurant for this public hearing.

We will allow anyone who is here and would like to speak on that matter to speak for two minutes.

And we will allow comment for up to an hour.

If we need more comments than that, then we will reassess as a council, and we can certainly add time if we have a lot of conversation about that.

Um so if anyone is here and would like to speak to this DX de annexation application, please come ahead to the podium and in so doing our uh attorney will read the rules if we've got anybody that lines up.

So we'll give everybody a little bit of time, don't ever rush.

That public hearing is closed.

Thank you all for all of your comments.

We appreciate it.

We will not need to extend time, Council.

That's right.

Um can I please get a motion on the minutes from our last meeting?

So move.

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

I'm gonna let those stand, barring any objection from the council.

All right, let's jump into today's agenda.

As we move through this, hit your light if you have any questions or comments.

Um we do have a couple of items under final reading.

For first reading, we have the items from the Office of Internal Audit and Stan did provide red lines to the council on these items.

We have several planning items up for consideration today on first reading.

Please hit your light if you have any comments about those.

Yes, madam chair.

Um item J, I will have conditions.

I'll be listing for this item tonight.

Okay.

Um would you like them now?

Would you like for me?

Well, let's go ahead and talk about so we know if we need to provide them in writing for uh further so uh the following conditions for uh we're gonna have a 30-foot height limit, uh eight foot set back on the west side of the property, the existing structure on the property shall remain, and there will be no front driveways uh coming out on Chamberlain Avenue.

Okay, Mr.

Attorney that you got you can get on that?

Okay, terrific.

Thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Watching for that then.

Um councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, madam chair.

Um, this is a reference to item G.

Uh is Karen or there we go.

How are you, Karen?

Oh, is Alan here?

Hey, oh there you are, just so I can see where you are.

Uh we there have been some changes um from what I understand and the conditions regarding the frontal part of Shalifer Road.

Um, do you want to reiterate those and just sort of clear on them?

Yes.

Um, the applicant is requesting.

This is one that had two properties that were part of the same request.

The applicant is requesting dropping the rezoning for the property at 4115 Shallowford Road.

So this would be a rezoning from RN16 zone to the IL Light Industrial Light Zone for 4100 and the 4200 blocks of Shallowford Road with the conditions, office warehouse and lay down yard uses only, maximum building height of 45 feet.

The six foot tall side obscuring fence shall be installed around the perimeter of the aisle zone portion of the tax map number 147 CE001 unless determined through permitting that fence would impede flood pain function, and really all of that is just removing the one property on Shalifer and just reordering both the address and the rezoning.

And you all are your recommendations for approval with those conditions.

Um that is in line with the staff recommendation, and it did provide um the revised language to the city attorney's office, should council choose to act.

I think I just recently got an email feel.

Was that sent like maybe 30 or 40 minutes before this meeting or something like that?

Yes.

Okay, perfect.

I just want to be on the record that my request to the applicant were the concerns regarding what our intended purpose of planning for that quarter was was to create more commercial opportunities with retail.

And I'm really happy to announce that uh they have agreed to that, which is why they drop the request to change the frontal part of that to light industrial, and the community and I will be working with Alan and the applicant to begin what that looks like.

Uh, we currently don't have any commercial retail in the area in the vacant lot adjacent to Walmart.

Um so thank you, um Alan and your uh developer for doing that and for listening to the community on that.

We want to maintain as much property and dirt as we can for our intended use in that area.

Okay.

So I will approve that tonight, madam chair, with those conditions.

And is that planning version two just to confirm that the version is?

That is planning version two with the conditions.

Is that correct, Karen?

It is not.

The city attorney's office has the language to create the new ordinance though, if there needs to be an alternate created before the meeting or if as amended.

Which we got at 213, yes.

Yes, so we'll get an alternate version and we will read the alternate version during our voting meeting.

That was Phil's way of saying give me time.

Yeah.

And I agree with you, Mr.

City Attorney.

But thank you, Karen, for your work on that.

And Karen, while you're up here, Madam Chair, I do have another item.

Um is it a planning item?

It is a planning item, madam chair.

Uh, this is the planning item uh H in reference to groundscapes concepts.

Yes.

Uh, have you were you able to have a conversation from our meeting last Tuesday?

The request was regarding what the nature and the scope of his work was as it relates to heavy industrial.

Were you able to get any information regarding so we have the additional condition which does um does provide that, and then um the applicant um did a recording of sound from the site with equipment that is on that is proposed to be used on the site being operated.

Um I can um that was forwarded to you.

I don't know you're able to hear it or access the file, um, but I can um if you didn't get it, I can't.

A sound recording was was sent to me.

That yes, to just so uh there was a concern I know about uh my note showed there was concern about noise from the um for the construction equipment on the site.

So the applicant um had a recording that just says when the if you're here on Chickamauga, I believe is that that eastern side street um from the second house recording from that second house, I believe that just what the noise would be um from that side.

And and I and I get that, and I guess what my request for this would be is to why did they not apply for light industrial?

Yes, my fear is I want to be on the record with this is that that property backs up against a Chickamauga Creek, uh, which is a which I've been on record in saying how I feel about uh preservation in that area, and what I don't want to approve is heavy industrial, they sell it, and then they start, and there could be the propensity of dumping anything in that creek.

Yes, sir.

That has been concerns that have come out of Hillcrest Heights and the Battery Heights community.

And so my fear with that, all you know, considering the noise uh video that I guess the recording that was sent to me.

Uh, why is it not light industrial?

And again, what is the scope of their work in a landscaping company that would request heavy industrial?

I still don't I'm still unclear with that.

I can provide one answer, and if that's not enough, we might have to defer to our per a permitting partners.

Um the applicant's original proposed uses included general industrial use.

So everything that was proposed by the applicant originally was the industrial light zone.

That one use kicked it into the industrial heavy zone, and that's what staff flagged as the uh you know the original concern, and then um a planning commission was discussed more exactly what was gonna happen on the site.

Um, and that's why the additional condition um was requested be added by the applicant to further um narrow the scope of that use because the the really that one particular use in the IH zone.

So the condition of that outdoor storage yard, which is limited to landscaping and construction materials, is intended to further remove pretty much all the other uses in the IH zone.

And so I do know there might be some additional concerns, but that's why we have that request for the updated conditions.

Otherwise, it would be a wide open IOH and it's intended to limit limit limit those uses that might be nuisances.

So this is where I am with this.

I I don't feel an I don't feel informed enough.

Um, and I I have not had an opportunity to really get into the depths of what this with the applicant.

I don't want to kick the can down the road on this.

Um again, it's in line with my we we want commercial mixed use development.

I don't want district five to be a dumping ground for any heavier light industrial in the middle of a residential community, and including mine, which is right behind it, by the way.

We're already suffering with quiet enjoyment with the trains.

Um so I want to be very cautious in understanding of this.

So, madam chair, I'm gonna request that we defer um just a little longer until I can have a sit down more in depth conversation with you, Karen and the applicant uh to satisfy my comfortability in allowing um some of those conditions as it relates to the uh industrial use of that property.

Okay, and I can on uh my end now that the conditions have been further refined to make sure that still aligns with the IH zone and not kicked it into the IL zone, and I will follow up with you in the next day or two regarding that.

You want to know how long?

Yeah, how long would you like to do that?

Uh Karen, how much time uh we only have about two more council meetings.

I think I we won't be here the week of the 22nd.

So we could defer it to the 16th, or we could defer it to the 6th of January.

Those would be the next two times that we would meet.

What what's your recommendation?

Um, I'll be able to at least provide information of my end in the next few days, so I would defer to council.

Okay, I'll do uh I will choose the 16th.

Okay, is that what you say?

Okay, so Karen, we will defer this until the 16th, and I would appreciate a conversation with the applicant.

Okay, thank you.

Madam Chair, that's all my questions for zoning for tonight.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Burrs.

Thank you, madam chair.

I'm going to um on item K.

There are three items under that ordinance for the city could park uh for zoning ordinances.

Um, and I'm going to um make an amendment per our conversation during the planning and zoning committee last week.

We talked about the parking regulation regulations for multi-unit living, and um I'm gonna request uh an amendment that we pull that piece out of that ordinance.

Okay, thank you for doing that.

Well, I wish I could take credit.

Uh credit is due to Karen Rennick and her staff, which I think was a great recommendation.

I'll just help me to see it through.

Give us more time for consideration.

Yeah, more time and and uh with the understanding that they'd like to bring it back to the council at a later date once kind of they've had time to investigate it a little bit further.

Correct.

As I understood your motion will be to just amend to take the language out regarding parking regulations to remove the parking relate regulation.

Yes, we have a draft of that.

Yes.

Oh, so we we have a draft in that way, so we could go ahead and get an alternative version.

Yes, an alternate version, excuse me, put on.

So you won't have to amend, we'll have an alternate version.

That's fine.

So I'll make a motion to I'll make a motion to approve the alternate version back to the perfect that would be that's even better.

Yes, that is even better.

Okay, thank you, Phil.

All right.

Okay.

Anything else, Councilwoman?

Any good?

Oh, yes, thank you, madam chair.

Councilman Elliott.

Yes, ma'am chair, I'm sorry.

Back on item J, I forgot one condition.

Okay.

Um, I would like for the site plan to be attached to the ordinance.

And that is all.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um, Council, there are um two items that are on the agenda for uh district two that I'd just like to share my thoughts on so that hopefully someone can make a motion to that end.

Um item D is uh recommended for approval following certain conditions, and I am comfortable with those, so I'd appreciate if someone could make a recommendation to approve that item, and the applicant is aware of those conditions and comfortable with them.

And then item E.

I would like to defer until March 10th, 2026, please.

We are hoping to get there, but we are not there yet.

You said March March 10th, 2026.

Please, so that'll be a 90-day give or take deferral.

I'll make the motion for that.

Thank you.

Okay, council.

So moving into resolutions.

Um, we have some items for economic development.

We have the remaining internal art audit item.

Yes, Councilman Clark.

Sorry, uh, and this could be to my ignorance, but I have we been sent the amended language for the policy.

If I just missed it, yes.

Okay.

Yes, any red lines?

In the red lines, okay.

Um the red lines were in the packet last week.

Um Melissa can provide those to you again if you if you need them.

Thank you.

Um council, I just would like to point out that the items under office of the city attorney, these are specifically hearing officers, so they are um attorneys that our attorney's office will be using as needed to look at beer board cases.

All right, parks and public works items JK.

Any questions?

All right, seeing none, council, let's take a look at purchases for this evening, please.

Many fewer than last week.

We have two purchases for this evening.

We do not have uh any renewals.

We do not have any RFP format requests nor emergency purchases.

However, we do have one sole source purchase.

And I'll take a point of privilege to point out that that is for the purchase of an underwater drone, which I think is quantifiably rad.

And it was pointed out to me also by um deputy chief of staff Darren Ladford.

It also will not will allow us to not put lives at risk for underwater diving in some circumstances.

So that is also great, in addition to the cool factor of this drone, in my opinion.

All right, seeing no questions, council.

Let's take a look at next week's agenda, please.

Um, we will um we are planning to have the legislative committee next week.

Vice Chairwoman Noel was not able to be here today, so that's why we canceled it, and so we will be hearing about um the carriage horse act next week with Councilman Henderson.

Please hit your light if you have any questions on any of the first read items for next week.

Phil, could you go ahead and fill us in on item 8A and the status of the de-annexation ordinance conversation?

Uh yes, ma'am.

And if Sam Elliott is here, we welcome him, but I don't know if he's I don't think Sam is here yet at this point in time.

We have had uh discussions with the uh attorneys for the city of Collegedale here, Mr.

Sam Elliott, regarding this property because my concern about the de-annexation request was that it would essentially leave a an area in the county that was not in any municipality if it would be annexed in that regard.

Uh the city of Collegedale has uh, I guess their sign right on the edge of this property as it sits there at this point, and so I've been in discussion with the attorney for the city of Collegedale if we could have some sort of adjustment of the property boundaries, which is exactly the reason that the Chick-fil-A is in the location that it's in right now, uh, because that was an adjustment of boundaries in 2017 with the city of Collegedale at that time, and um I have been sent documentation from uh Mr.

Elliott that I'll um bring up to the council to let them review this to see if this is something that the city council would agree to uh before this matter comes on.

If it be the the case, then there would be no reason for a de-annexation ordinance, it would be simply a resolution adjusting the uh by interlocal agreement between Collegedale and the city of uh Chattanooga, how this property would be handled, and we will uh prepare that and have it available for discussion for the council.

So Phil, um a key element of the 2017 agreement was a a multi-year sales tax agreement.

Yes.

Um looking at this draft, I am not seeing any of that language in in this.

Is that something you're still exploring?

Yes.

And uh, I guess one of the issues right now it's like a property, you don't know exactly what's going to happen, but if it comes into some sort of sales tax, then I think we should get that.

Okay, first for an agreed upon amount of time.

Okay, council, do we have any questions about that at this time?

Councilman Elliott.

I just want to highlight there's no relations to me, Sam Elliott.

No, done.

Don't know them at all.

He should be so lucky.

Okay.

Sam Elliott should be lucky.

It may be pretty cool.

Uh yeah, Sam Elliott should be so lucky.

That's exactly what I mean.

Uh all right, planning.

We have two items that have been deferred that will be on first reading next week.

Um, do we have any notes about those councilman burst?

Uh yes, yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

Karen, can I ask you a question about item B that's the property that I think will probably go before Bozo before it comes back here?

I believe if if Miss Evans, I'm I'm not sure where she is in the process, but I think do I need to I think I think I need to defer that again.

I think um, yeah, so um she'll be able to apply for a special permit through BOSA.

Um, first timeline for that to happen.

I believe that her should be at the February hearing.

I can double check, but I will um look at the I think we've played out the whole schedule and I will look at that and I will I'll look at it as well, maybe at the break.

Yes, but I think that this would if an eye at BOZA for a special permit that would keep her zoning case active, and then she could still proceed if she would like to with her zoning case.

Okay.

I think it's I think it's in February, but I need to double check that.

Okay, all right, and I'll go back and look at the timeline that we kind of came up with to map it out.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, madam chair.

Okay.

Council, do we have any questions or comments on the resolutions on the agenda for next week?

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

Actually, pretty slam tickings.

Uh, do we do have an item for the family justice center to apply for a continuation of funds and if awarded accept amount an amount from the county?

Looks like we are quiet on the board.

So, council, that is everything we need to discuss right now.

Um, is there anything uh that you have on your to-do list that you want to bring before the council while we are still in agenda session?

If so, please hit your line.

Man, we haven't had one short in a while.

Okay, um we will take a uh 30-minute recess, please.

That would be until 420.

Thank you.

Okay.

Ho ho ho everybody.

It's 420.

We are back and we're back in session here from our recess.

It does feel like a wonderful Christmas thing.

We were here so long these last couple weeks.

Let's let's do this, everybody.

All right, Madam Clerk, will you please read item A 7A?

And orn is closing and abandoning a sanitary sewer and easement in the 8,000 block of Volkswagen Drive, beginning zero feet from MH number S130031.

That's 1400 feet to MH number S 130 J 016 for a total of 1400 linear feet tax map number 130 001.

This is in district six.

Sorry.

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

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Ordinances under first reading.

Item 8A, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 2 to delete and update Article 14 regarding communications and audit process of the audit committee following prior revisions to the Chatter Nugity Charter sections 3.111 through 3.118 and the deletion of charter section 8.15 of the charter.

Thank you.

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

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item B, please.

In ordinance to amend Chat City Code Part 2, Chapter 2, Article 15, also blower protection by revising sections 2782, 2783 E and 2784 E relative to the audit committee.

Thank you.

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

Any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Planning item C, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38 zoning warnings, so it's a reasonable properties located at 4571, 4603, 4637, 4659, 4685, and 4711.

Ravenia lane from CC commercial corridor zone to CMU1 commercial mix use zone and TRN3 traditional neighborhood residential zone to RN13 residential neighborhood zone.

Thank you.

This is planning case 2025 0173.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilman Henderson, this is in your district.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item D, please.

So it's a reasonable property located at 915 Barton Avenue from R and two residential neighborhood zone to CN neighborhood commercial zone, subject to certain conditions.

Thank you.

We have a motion to approve subject to certain conditions as listed in the item.

With a proper second, do we have any questions or comments?

Oh, actually, let me go back.

Yeah.

Is the sorry I spoke with the applicant at the break.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

All right, everybody got an opportunity.

We have a motion on the floor to approve.

This is in my district, and I will say that it's it's a great project, and we're excited about it.

So all in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item E, please.

An ordinance to amend Tatanum City Call Part 2, Chap 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's the rezone property located at 1313 35 Mercer Street from RM16 residential neighborhood zone to RDM13 residential neighborhood zone.

Thank you.

This is planning case 2025 0168.

Is the applicant present?

Is there any opposition present?

Motion to defer March 10th.

Thank you very much.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to defer until March 10th, 2026.

With a proper second, do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion to defer passes.

Item F.

In ordinance to amend Chatteronga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So it's rezoned properties located at 6112 and 6118.

Hicks and Py from RA16 residential neighborhood zone to R and 3 residential neighborhood zone sub certain conditions.

Thank you.

This is planning case 2025 0164.

Is the applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilman Davis, this is in your district.

Would you like?

Okay.

We have a motion on the floor to approve.

Can I get a second?

With a proper second, do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item G, please.

In ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part two check.

I want item G, the alternate version, please.

Okay.

You will read the alternate version.

Do you have the alternate?

I do not have the alternate version.

I have the alternate version.

All right, we will can we get our attorney to read the alternate version, Madam Clerk.

Is that okay with you?

And the there are uh amended conditions.

Number one is uh for office use, warehouse, and lay down yard uses only.

Uh the second is maximum building height of 45 feet.

Uh the third one is the six-foot tall side obscuring fence around the perimeter of tax map 147 C E 001, unless it would impede floodplain uh function, and those were the conditions.

And then but also within the alternate version, we were expecting we were removing one of the properties from this item.

Correct.

And the removal of properties is let me make sure I've got that on my email.

So for our records, we are sort of reading into the record, an alternate version, Mr.

Attorney.

Yes.

Okay, I think it would be appropriate for us to read the entire caption.

Yes, the caption would be at this point in time uh 2025 0165 Stone Creek Consulting LLC RN16 residential neighborhood zone and CC commercial zone to IL industrial light zone for a reduced area to IL industrial light zone, and the ordinance would be to rezone properties located at 4115 Shallowford Road and part of unaddressed property in the 4100 block of Shallford Road from RN16 residential neighborhood zone and CC commercial zone to IL industrial zone for a reduced area to IL industrial zone subject to certain conditions, and those are the conditions we just read.

Uh and the rezoning would be uh for uh the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Shallford Road with those conditions.

Okay, this is zoning case 2025 0165.

Is the applicant present?

Thank you.

Do we have any opposition present?

Thank you.

All right, um for zoning cases like this.

We will give the applicant seven minutes to speak on the project, and then we will invite opposition up to speak for up to nine minutes.

Umpposition, if there's multiple folks, please share that time, and then we'll bring the applicant back up for a final two minutes.

Um the time is on the clock.

If you will please state your name for our record, sir, and go ahead.

Yes, hey, I'm Alan Jones with Stone Creek Consulting.

So with this project, uh my client, Yuri uh Concrete is currently building a 24-25,000 square foot building uh on the property right in front of this property that we're looking for rezoning.

Uh that's under construction now with the land disturbance permit.

Uh it been working with with Councilman Clark.

Uh we are removing the request to rezone the commercial piece that's along Shallford Road, uh, because we would like to continue to collaborate with him and that community to figure out the best way to uh you know to let that corridor on Shallford Road uh redevelop uh in the future.

Uh so the request is just for the the RN16 piece uh that's to the rear of the uh the existing building that's under construction.

Um so this this uh this area that's that's uh that's under rezone request is behind this building and also over 700 feet away from Shallford Road.

Um so as far as impacts to the you know to the community, this is just an expansion of an existing facility that's that's underway.

Okay, thank you very much.

Welcome.

Sir, at least for the record, that removes uh the parcel that is uh you know the street address of 4115 Shallowford Road from the rezoning is that's correct.

Okay, thank you.

That's correct.

Thank you.

I'd like to welcome the opposition up.

Let's put nine minutes on the count on the clock, please.

I don't think I'm gonna need nine minutes.

I wanted to know has there been a full uh traffic impact study done?

And if so, um has it been presented publicly because right now I've been a resident of that area for 46 years, and what I know for sure is the traffic there at Shallford Road in the Aguila.

There's constantly wrecks there, there's constant congestion in that area.

So I'm trying to understand if has the city have any plans on expanding that uh roadway or uh adding stoplights or something that's going to ensure us adding this facility is not going to be an additional burden on what's already a problem for Shallowford Road, especially in that area.

Thank you.

Would you state your name for the road?

Cinnamon Townsend.

Cinnamon Townsend.

What a fabulous name.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um would you like to bring the applicant up first or would you like to speak?

Oh, I'll bring the applicant back up first.

First two minutes.

Okay.

Address Mrs.

Townsend's concerns, which are valid.

We did discuss this um regarding uh the traffic impact.

I think in our first when this first came up, I mentioned the impact of that area already from Vulcan and Board Buchanan and those areas.

And just for the record, there is our current traffic light that we did install at the corner of Aguella and Shallford.

I think that eases traffic coming in onto that, but to her concern, which is valid because we've discussed this.

Uh, explain a little bit more about the usage or the traffic flow, the light industrial expansion, because it's just a it's a facility expansion to what's already being currently that's already currently under construction.

So just explain a little bit more about again about the types of vehicles that will be in and out of that property and the impact on the traffic flow in that area.

Sure.

So my client uh Yuri Concrete is a concrete finishing company, they're not a concrete producer.

Uh so this is a light industrial use.

They uh are are relocated, they've been acquiring property in this area for for quite a while.

Um so they are moving their headquarters here, so they're having their corporate headquarters office space and also the warehouse uh to support their operations.

Um, you know, from from a traffic standpoint that was all evaluated at the land disturbance permit process.

Um so the addition of this property to the rear uh really does not impact any additional traffic above and beyond what's already under permit and and construction.

So for to for Miss Townsend's quiet enjoyment, I love that word.

Should she be concerned about the amount of traffic or the impact on her neighborhood?

Not from this development, no sir.

Okay, all right, thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Is that okay?

Um councilman uh councilman Clark.

Do you want a presentation on this topic?

Uh no, ma'am.

No, okay.

Well, I am open to accept a motion.

Uh I just lost my train of thought.

Hold on, let me get back to it.

This is G.

This is G, and we have read the alternate version.

I would like to make a motion to accept the alternate versions subject to certain conditions.

Which have been read into the records, which have been read into the records.

Sounds great.

All right, wonderful.

We have a motion to approve uh with a proper second.

Council, do we have any other questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Item H, please.

In order to amend Tatanooga City Code Part two, chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So that's the rezone property located at 4272 Bonnie Oaks Drive from RN16 residential neighborhood zone and CC commercial corridor zone to IH industrial heavy zones subject to certain conditions.

Thank you.

This is zoning case 2025 0169 is the applicant present.

Thank you.

Do we have any opposition present?

Councilman uh Clark, this is in your district.

Um I had no clue the applicant was present uh when I was down on the floor, so I'm gonna uh make a motion to defer until the 16th.

And we can if you have time after council, can we have a sidebar?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Wait, are you the applicant or are you the consultant for the applicant?

Consultant.

Okay.

Okay.

Um council, we have a motion on the floor to defer until December 16th.

Thank you.

We also have a motion uh a second on that motion.

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion to defer until December 16th passes.

Item I, please.

And ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance, so as to live condition number one and amend condition number three of ordinance number one three oh four three, a previous case number, 2016 035 for part of a property located at 8595 hilltop drive subject to certain conditions.

This is zoning case 2025 0170.

Is the applicant present?

You're busy fellows back there.

Do we have uh group all your cases?

Uh do we have any opposition present?

All right.

Motion to approve with conditions.

Thank you.

Council, can I get a second?

All right, we have a motion on the floor to approve with conditions and a proper second.

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item J, please.

In order to mention Chattanooga City Code, part two, chapter 38 zoning ordinance, so it's the rezone property located at 1309 Chamberlain Avenue from RN15 residential neighborhood zone to TRN3 traditional residential neighborhood zone sub to certain conditions.

Thank you.

This is zoning case 2025 0167.

Do we have an applicant present?

Do we have any opposition present?

All right.

This is in District 9, Councilman Elliott.

Did he throw his hand up?

I'm sorry, what?

Okay, sorry.

Um Madam Chair, I would like to approve the following conditions.

Okay.

Uh for there to be a 30-foot height limit on the structures and eight-foot setback on the west side property.

The existing structure on the property shall remain.

There'll be no front driveways.

And council, uh, you should have on your desk an updated site plan.

And Madam Clark, you should have it as well.

I would like for the site plan to replace the one in the ordinance or for it to be passed.

All right.

Thank you.

Council, we have a motion.

Can I get a second?

Second.

All right.

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

Conditions have been read into the record, and the site plan has been provided for the record.

Do we have any other questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item K alternate version, please.

Do you have that version, Madam Clerk?

Do we need the attorney to not?

Mr.

Attorney, will you please read our alternate version into the record?

Yes, I will.

Uh let's see, make sure I go to your council reminder that this alternate version removes the elements related to parking.

They will be reviewed at a later date.

Yes.

And the alternate version of the ordinance has to have that removed from the caption as well.

So let me get to the caption here.

So the ordinance would now read an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance as adopted by ordinance number 14137 on July 23rd, 2024 to add a special exceptions permit for a reception facility.

Add a standalone drive-through facility use for multi-unit living in the downtown form-based code.

And that should be the caption of the ordinance, and that is removed at this point in time from the ordinance, the provisions that are uh related to the the parking spaces in the downtown zone.

So the multi-unit living in the end of that caption, does that actually apply to the reception facility and the standalone drive-through facility?

It seems like the caption would just end would be and add a standalone drive-through facility use period.

We can stand end it at the standalone drive and add a standalone drive-through facility use period.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

So that would read an ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance as adopted by ordinance 14137 on July 23rd, 2024 to add a special exceptions permit for a reception facility and add a standalone drive-through facility use period.

Yes, we'll add the end too.

Okay, terrific.

Oh, selected next, but suddenly the board cleared.

You answered my question.

Oh, fabulous.

Uh well, this this is a planning item.

Um, Madam Planning and Zoning Chair, would you like to make a motion?

I sure would.

I'll make a motion to approve.

Okay.

Second.

Thank you.

Council, we have a motion on the floor to approve this alternate version as well as a proper second.

Do I have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Moving into resolutions, Madam Clerk.

I'd like to take items A and B as a package, please.

Item A.

Resolution authorized the administrator for the Department of Economic Development to enter into a sub-lease agreement with Cassette LLC DBA Cassette Skate Shop and substantially the form attached to sub leash at least a portion of the premises at 3937 St.

Elmo Avenue, further identified as tax map number 155 OE011 for the development and operation of a temporary pop-up skate park for the benefit of public use at no cost for an initial term ending April 30, 2026, and subject to approval of all parties, an option to renew for two additional terms of six months each with rent of one dollar per term.

Item B, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Economic Development to enter into a first agreement to exercise option to renew with Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association E and substantially the form attached to lease approximately 2600 square feet of space at 36 Sheridan Avenue identified as tax met number 156 EB001.01 for an additional term of one year through December 16, 2026 for the rent of one dollar per term.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Item C, please.

A resolution adopted an amended policy for the prevention and detection of fraud, waste and abuse for the city.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Madam Clerk, please read items D and E.

We will take those as a package.

Item D, a resolution confirming Mayor Kellis reappointment of Thomas Palmer to the form-based code committee for a term beginning on September 1, 2025, and ending on August 31, 2028.

Item E, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Jack Wood to the form-based code committee for a term beginning on December 10, 2025 and ending on December 9, 2028.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Are either of our new confirmans here with us today?

I don't see them, but if you're watching online, eating popcorn and being so glad you're on the form-based code committee, we thank you so much for your service.

Office of the city attorney items F G H and I, please.

Madam Clerk, read as a package.

Item F a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Rachel Hodges as a hearing officer for the beer board for a term two-year term beginning on December 10, 2025, and ending on December 9, 2027.

Item G, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Keisha Cheeks as a hearing officer for the Beer Board for a two-year term beginning on December 10, 2025, and ending on December 9, 2027.

Item H, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Janika Everhart as a hearing officer for the beer board for a two-year term beginning on December 10, 2025, and ending on December 9, 2027.

Item I resolution confirm Mayor Kelly's appointment of Bill W.

Pim Pemberton as a hearing officer for the beer board for a two-year term beginning on December 10, 2025, and ended on December 9, 2027.

Thank you.

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

Do you have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Public works items J and Kate.

Oh, do we?

Yeah.

Since you're paid staff, I just hadn't thought to say, but thank you so much.

Um Janika Everhart is here and will be serving as a hearing officer.

Thank you very much for your service.

We appreciate it.

Oh, finally.

Well, high thoughts on high fives all the way around, you guys.

You should be proud.

All right.

Um is Rachel Hodges or Keisha Cheeks or Bill Pemberton here.

If you you're not well, you should have been.

We would have clapped.

Thanks for your service to our city.

Um, public works items J and K, please.

Item J and resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve change order number one to contract number 02201101.

Chattanooga Skate Park with Reagan Smith Associates LLC of Chattanooga, Tennessee for the valued engineering efforts.

Construction administration services and additional services that may be required during the construction of the project for an increased amount of 94,000 for a revised contract amount of 326,500.

Item K, a resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Public Works to apply for, and if awarded, accepted Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Solid Waste Grant for the purchase of an automated recycling truck in the amount of 420,500 and authorizing the city's 50% matching funds in the amount of 210,250.

Second.

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Moving to purchases.

Good evening, Council.

Hello.

I have two purchases recommended for approval this evening.

The first is for public works, a new blanket agreement for refuse and recyclables transport services.

This will be a four-year agreement not to exceed $775,000 annually.

The award will go to CWS Chadnugah Hauling as the best bid.

The second is for wastewater.

They are requesting an increase of $100,000 to agreements PA 10067 and PA 10068 for generator generator maintenance due to increased usage.

The new estimate annual spend will be 285,000 annually.

Thank you.

Council, can I get a motion?

Thank you.

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

Do we have any questions or comments about these purchases?

All in favor?

Opposed.

Motion passes.

I have one sole source to report.

Um technology services.

This is a one-time purchase of an underwater drone to be used by the police department for critical recovery operations.

This sole source purchase from Airworks will be in the amount of 24,898 dollars.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, council.

We're gonna go around the horn for committee reports, starting with uh councilman Davis.

No report.

Councilman Harvey.

No report.

Councilman Clark.

No report.

Councilman Elliott.

No report.

Councilwoman Dotley.

Councilwoman Burr.

No report.

Vice Chairwoman Noel.

No report, but a shout-out, a couple of shout outs to Councilman Clark for the main scene job he did with the main time 24 for the council family.

It was absolutely amazing.

He went above and beyond.

And then I tip my hat to uh Monica for her amazing job of holding stand up, please, because she did that.

So thank you.

We have it all together.

It ran smoothly.

And if you were not there, you you missed it.

You you really missed it.

My light-skinned council family.

Y'all need to be there next year.

Very good.

Thank you.

All right.

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

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

And 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 upon matters which are not under their authority and are regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies.

Do not engage in vulgar or same language nor use the floor to personally attack or personally denigrate others and address your comments to the council as a whole and not towards individual council members.

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

Having stated those those rules, please go ahead, ma'am, and state your name.

Good afternoon.

My name is Brianna Williams, and I'm a resident of the Brainerd area of District 9.

I'm before you today to discuss the food desert that is present in my area.

A food desert is defined as an impoverished area where residents lack access to healthy foods.

While there is not a hard mileage number that determines what is deserted, I'll show you what my journey to get food looks like.

We all have certain stores that we like to go to for certain things.

I prefer Food City for my basic grocery needs, and it is 2.6 miles away.

If I want to save some money and go to save a lot instead, it's right down the road, but three miles away.

Let's keep going down Ring Out Road because there's a food line as well, but 3.7 miles away.

When I have to get the certain yogurt and water that my grandmother prefers, I go to public's, the nearest being 7.2 miles away.

But I also discovered that I have a gluten intolerance.

And uh, so if I want to go to Whole Foods and get a variety of gluten-free options, that is 8.4 miles away.

Let's think of this in the terms of accessibility.

I could not get to Food City by bus because Carter does not service East Ridge.

To get to Publix or Whole Foods, I would have to walk and catch two buses just to get to either store.

That is not accounting for time waiting for the bus or factoring how I would get my groceries home.

While I'm blessed to be able to have a car and make these trips, not everyone is able.

Not everyone has a grandchild that they can send to the store to get their food.

People are not able to walk up and down multiple hills and battle poor infrastructure and traffic to get to separate to get to a separate municipality to purchase groceries.

The options that we have are various dollar stores with frozen and shelf stable food made with low quality ingredients.

All of the grocery stores in Brainerd and a lot of the surrounding areas have been closed and transformed into other nice yet unnecessary establishments.

We even still have the old neighborhood Walmart located in District 5 that sits as a constant reminder that the city does not feel that we have that we deserve access to fresh food.

Show Brainerd and District 9 that you care by creating a viable committee of citizens and business owners with the Chamber of Commerce involvement to locate a company that would bring a grocery to District 9.

Sections of Brainerd Road that are beyond District 9 have seen upgrades, and there's even a car wash being built in the middle of one of the most congested areas of the street.

An option could be to buy back the hair store that I occupies the old food city on Brainerd Road in Bellevore, or maybe the food line next to the church's chicken, or maybe even the strip behind the abandoned dollar general can be expanded to accommodate a full-size grocery store and still have room for parking.

Because as it stands now, there is no grocery store in District 9.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Councilman Elliott.

Ma'am, could you stay afterward?

Could you stay after the meeting?

Oh, yes.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good afternoon, Council members, and thank you for the opportunity to be here.

You have some packets at your seats.

Um, and my name is Krista Manorino.

I'm executive director for local services with signal centers.

Um, and I'm joined by my colleague Elizabeth Coteleys, the director of the Family Forward Program.

All of our 11 local and regional programs are uh important to us, but tonight we want to talk to you a little bit about Family Forward.

It's a decade-long partnership led by signal centers in partnership with the City of Chattanooga.

And we've walked alongside one another to serve families who are pregnant or parenting on their journey to self-sufficiency.

This program provides one-on-one mentoring for expectant mothers and fathers and connects them to essentials like quality prenatal care, baby supplies, child care, transportation, and other supports that keep families stable and on track.

Over the last 10 years, Family Forward has served 2,271 individuals with intensive relation-based support.

Every expectant mother in the program has received on-time postnatal care, helping protect the uh both babies and parents, and reducing costly complications for our local health system.

Among our teen parents enrolled, 94% of them who were in school have stayed in school or graduated on time, and 96% have earned a high school diploma, far exceeding the national average of uh rates of graduation for teen moms, which is only 53% nationally.

In fact, 36% of family forward teen parents have attended some post-secondary education as well.

These outcomes translate into higher lifetime earnings, reduced reliance on public assistance, and stronger, more resilient families right here in Chattanooga.

Family Forward's results are only possible because this council and the city of Chattanooga chose 10 years ago to invest in prevention, education, and family stability rather than pay the much higher cost of crises later.

Continued city funding ensures families can access mentoring, health care navigation, and basic resources before issues escalate into foster care involvement, homelessness, or long-term public assistance.

So on behalf of Signal Centers, our partners, and the 2,271 individuals whose paths we have have helped to change.

Family Forward wants to thank you and for your trust and for your investment that you have made during this time for this work.

With your ongoing support, this proven program can continue to lift up expectant parents, empower teen moms and dads to graduate, and strengthen every district in Chattanooga through healthier, more self-sufficient families.

Thank you again.

Thank you.

Good evening, City Council.

John John Musolowski, Highland Park in Chattanooga.

Um I sent all of you an email except for you, Councilman Davis.

I don't have your email address, so you might need to look at Cody Councilman Harvey's or Councilman Henderson's um computer screen.

Um I know that we are deferring the vote for the increasing of parking minimums downtown, but I wanted to move forward and give some consideration on why when that comes back up, we should squash it.

Um what I'm showing you is a map that somebody made of surface and parking garages downtown a few years ago.

It's a couple of years old, but someone once made a similar quote to Buffalo.

Congratulations.

If your goal was to destroy your downtown, if you look at this picture, you can see you're already halfway there.

When you look at parking and the amount of revenue that it brings in for the city, it pills in comparison even to small businesses.

You can look at the price per acre of a small business, like a four-story building with um uh you know a small coffee shop at the bottom, apartments above, and it brings in more tax revenue per acre than even Walmart.

Um, Councilwoman Noel, I agree with you.

The best day of the year for me is uh Maine by 24.

My kids were in the parade this year on bikes.

Uh, they even made a uh little cameo in councilman Elliott's uh video there behind him.

And what I like to point out is when tens of thousands of people descend on a neighborhood, we figure out how to get there.

That the downtown disproportionately subsidizes and funds neighborhoods in every single district, which does not pool tax revenue.

Our downtown is strong because the density is strong.

We need 10,000 more people living downtown.

And when you add parking mac minimums, you are looking at anywhere from 25,000 to $60,000 per parking spot above ground and up to 100,000 per parking spot below ground.

Parking structures kill economic viability on entire street blocks.

If I am walking out of coffee shop and the next block is just one parking garage, I'm a lot less likely to go to the small business on the other side of the parking garage.

However, if I step out of that parking spot or out of that restaurant and there's a cafe right next door or a flower shop, I'm a lot more likely to frequent that that shop.

When you look at the best places in town, it's the places with the least amount of parking.

People figure out how to get there.

Downtown is for generating revenue.

Parking spots do not generate revenue.

Another way to think about this is we're in a housing crisis, and we're asking people to subsidize free housing for vehicles when we can't at the same time figure out a way to subsidize free housing for human beings.

Parking minimums are at odds in every city across the country that is acknowledging the housing crisis is getting rid of these, not increasing them, especially in our urban and economic hub and core of downtown.

The only parking problem you can have as a city is if you have too much, because that means you killed the economic activity.

Thank you.

Mr.

Hold on, hold on, we've got John John.

I I have a question for you.

Um you please repeat will you please repeat the sentence that you said about subsidizing a parking spot versus subsidizing a home?

Well, I was saying if if we are in if we are requiring parking minimums for residences downtown, um, we're essentially putting the burden of that construction on the developer to build an extra spot.

Okay.

Okay.

Did I misunderstand something?

Well, the the ordinance actually was reducing parking minutes.

Okay.

So but the but we have to have a lot of discussion as a council about the case.

I'm still glad I came up here.

I've been supportive reducing whatever minimum.

But is this in the urban overlay?

Um yes, it is in the urban overlay.

Yes.

You had a Willy Wonka moment.

Strike that reverse it.

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

Right.

Thank you very much.

Yep.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um do we have anybody else who's here and would like to speak to council?

Right, Councilman Clark.

Uh, really quickly, I want to um ma'am.

I'm sorry, the regarding the grocery store, what was your name?

Brianna, Brianna.

I I do want to say that we, the city council created work groups.

Um, and I perhaps I think it is time.

I have since I have been an elected official um Brianna, I have I probably talk about this every week every time I'm triggered by an economic development committee or a TIFF or anything dealing with economic development, and we we are not as robust as we should be in addressing it because I think oftentimes it's looked at as a council to do, and it really is the mayor's office um who is responsible for those different economic operational things for the government, and we're working with them very closely to address this because one thing that you said, because I my parents live in Woodmore, and we have to you said something that everybody over here should be concerned about is that we in that area from district eight, seven, six, five, and four.

Wait, sorry, not you, sorry I don't know how I put you in there.

We sent tax revenue, madam chair, to another city to buy groceries.

And I have been saying this since March.

Even actually, before I was elected, I met with the chief of staff and I said, What are you gonna do?

So we've been discussing it.

I like for you to put that same amount of pressure on the mayor's office, okay.

Uh thank you for coming to council, but we probably should defer to our work group.

Um, I have met with Sharita Allen, who's our uh economic uh person, and we are looking at TIFS in the city of Memphis where they are using TIFFs um for grocery stores.

And so we're working on it, we're trying.

You're more than welcome to move to district five because I'm I've been actively working on it.

Um, and we're gonna we're very close to achieving that.

But I just wanted to say that for the record, madam chair, because I think I beat the dead horse a lot with that, and I'm I'm hoping that there would be some traction from one of our residents who's reminding us that our grandparents are going to the city of East Ridge where they have four grocery stores uh due to some incentives that they took advantage of by the state.

Um and I also have a vacant Walmart where Walmart Corporation is currently still paying for that lot.

I would actually like for us to look into uh taxing organizations or property owners who are not properly utilizing their property.

So there's a there's a lot that we could do, and uh, Madam Chair, I think it's time that we probably utilize those work groups to start having those conversations more robustly.

But I just had to say that because you you're here, and I wanted to make sure it's in the record for that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

And as it relates to work groups, I will add that um on Wednesday the uh codes enforcement and the city attorney hosted um what are they called?

The task MTAS.

We hosted MTAS here for a big presentation on slum remediation cleanup and um looking harder at what are some of the different options, and so I will be getting a operation better neighbor uh work group meeting on the calendar for January if anyone would like to participate.

Um and finally, Madam Vice Chair, if it is okay with you, we would like to have a legislative committee meeting next uh next Tuesday to go ahead and talk about the um the horse ordinance that we were gonna talk about today.

I would prefer we wait to January.

Well, we have an expert that would like to come and speak.

We're trying to get them on the schedule.

Do you prefer to wait till January?

I'll prefer to wait to January.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

I I mean, I guess at this point I would ask if there was another way that we could get this in discussion so that we could at least get it on the gym on I'd like to see it get on the agenda.

And and uh would you first presented it?

We put it off for about a month and then now we deferred it.

I I would like to see this.

Would you be comfortable with me changing?

I I didn't put anything.

What did we put off for a month?

It only came before me last week.

Is that correct?

No I would love to chair to chair okay but um no january was on the best request that this be put on the agenda and we just talk about it in agenda session what's your thought keep it on legislation January okay all right we'll do it in January thank you okay council we have completed all of our work for today do we have any any final information we need to discuss all right seeing none can I get a motion to adjourn to adjournment thank you can I get a second all in favor of adjourning we're adjourned