Chattanooga City Council Meeting - January 6, 2026
Chattanooga City Council Meeting - January 6, 2026
The city council met on January 6, 2026, at 2:00 PM (strategic planning) followed by the regular meeting. The agenda included final reading of ordinances, first reading items, resolutions, purchases, and committee reports. Notable highlights included a presentation of the fire department's 2026-2028 strategic plan, discussions on several zoning cases, and public comment on homelessness displacement.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from previous meeting.
- Final reading of an ordinance regarding horse-drawn carriages (7A) and a rezoning at 4272 Bonnie Oaks Drive (7B) – both passed unanimously.
- An ordinance closing and abandoning unopened alleyways on Georgetown Road (8A) passed.
- An ordinance amending speed on Third Street (8C) passed.
- Multiple resolutions were approved as a package: confirmation of David Hudson to the Industrial Development Board (9A); resolution urging IDB to include provisions in the CBL development agreement for Northgate mall redevelopment (9B alternate version); donation agreement for James A. Henry building (9C); audit services contract with Henderson Hutcherson and McCullough (9E); library technology grant acceptance (9F); and appointments to various boards (9G through 9N).
- Resolutions under public works (9O, 9P, 9Q) and wastewater (9R, 9S) were approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Anna Galladay (District 8) spoke regarding the displacement of at least 40 humans and 20 dogs from an encampment on Hooker Road (District 7). She stated that the city had provided notice and some transitional options, but transitional housing is full. She criticized the lack of adequate shelter options and referenced the failed plan for a low-barrier 24-hour shelter at 710 East 12th Street, noting $2.8 million in ARP funds were set aside but the plan was stopped by neighborhood opposition.
Discussion Items
- Fire Department Strategic Plan (2026-2028): Chief Knowles presented a three-year strategic plan, the first of its kind. He summarized 2025 statistics: over 22,000 calls, 1,016 fires (down ~15% from 2024), 10,018 rescue/EMS calls (increase of about 2,000), 1,102 motor vehicle accidents (down ~700), and 1,578 assisted citizen calls. The plan focuses on four themes: operational excellence, community trust and engagement, wellness, and organizational resilience. Goals include expanding the connect program, modernizing systems, investing in officer development, and planning for new fire stations. The plan was developed with input from all firefighters across all shifts.
- Planning and Zoning Committee (chaired by Councilwoman Burrs): Several rezoning and ordinance amendment cases were discussed:
- Dodds Avenue rezoning (Item B under first reading): Rezone from heavy industrial to commercial corridor for a grocery store/restaurant. Staff recommended approval; opposition from a neighbor about traffic. Planning commission recommended approval.
- East 12th Street rezoning (RN2 to RN3) for an additional housing unit: Staff recommended approval with conditions (max 3 units, height 2.5 stories). Opposition regarding alley access and sight lines. Councilman Elliott asked for contact info for the opponent and applicant.
- North Chattanooga rezoning (RN15 to TRN1): Applicant proposed single-unit dwelling only; planning commission recommended approval with that condition. Opposition about multi-unit potential and property values.
- Chamberlain Avenue rezoning (RN15 to RN13) for two homes: Staff recommended approval; opposition wanting single-unit maintenance. Councilman Elliott noted applicant had not contacted him.
- Lifting conditions for Erlanger East hospital expansion (three ordinances): Staff recommended lifting old growth-control conditions because landscape ordinance now applies. Opposition from two nearby residents but planning commission recommended approval.
- Ordinance amendment on vested rights (text amendment): Addresses state law changes (Public Chapter 465) where vested rights trigger upon submission of complete applications, not just approval. Discussion on whether a developer without property ownership can trigger vesting; council requested more analysis.
- Ordinance amendment adding graphics for lot measurements and building height: To clarify measurement of setbacks and average grade. No questions.
- Special Exception Permit for liquor store at 4850 Highway 58: Councilman Clark expressed concerns about proximity to CSLA school (100 feet over the 200-foot minimum, but questioned measurement from the nearest property line). He noted lack of timely notification and requested deferral. The item was deferred to January 13, 2026.
- Purchases: Approved three purchases: wastewater centrifugal fans ($79,900), playground equipment at Heritage Park ($81,200), records management software ($218,177.89), Bobcat skid steer ($58,697.04), emergency lighting packages ($157,462.93), and renewal of pool chemicals contract with 9% increase ($87,200). Councilman Clark questioned the rationale for increases and whether rebidding might yield lower costs.
Key Outcomes
- Fire Department Strategic Plan: Presented and discussed; no vote required, but the plan was received as information.
- Liquor store special exception: Deferred to January 13, 2026.
- Curtis Street rezoning (8B): Deferred to January 13, 2026.
- All other items on consent and resolutions were approved unanimously.
- Next steps: Planning Commission meeting on January 12; Community Development Committee meeting on January 13; Education and Innovation Committee meeting on January 27.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and happy new year. Welcome to our January the sixth City Council meeting. This afternoon as duly chosen by our by the majority of this council at our two PM strategic planning meeting. All right, we have no special presentations this afternoon. Could I get a motion on the minutes? All right. We have a motion on the minutes with a proper second with no objections. The minutes will stand as recorded. All right, this afternoon we will be discussing our agenda purchasing questions and looking at future considerations in the way of committees. We do have a public safety committee this afternoon. I'll be presented by uh Chief Knowles. Thank you for being here. You're a prestigious fire command. A good looking group. Uh we'll also have a planning and zoning committee uh chaired by uh Chairwoman Burrs. Uh so at this time, if you would look at this week's uh agenda under final reading, we do have the horse drawn uh carriage ordinance and council. If uh if you would um uh since I'm in the chair position, I will not be able to make a motion for that. I would appreciate uh your assistance with that. We do have one other planning item on um on the agenda for final reading, and um councilman Clark, any questions or comments concerning that? Uh not at this moment. I think thank you, uh Chairman Henderson. I think we've uh exhausted some of the concerns. There was a nearby neighborhood called Waterhaven that was not in my district uh that was concerned about notification of this process, and I think we addressed it in the fact that the people who live in the surrounding areas, including myself, uh were involved in a really good community engagement process where I think is it Mike Price who's the person on this who's consulting on us. I can't remember who it is. I mean with so many uh okay. Um we did the community engagement process by going door to door, um, and I'm excited about this in the district. Um, and tonight I plan to approve it on final reading. So if there's no objection from the council, I will be taking uh 7A and B together uh as a package then if there's no objection. All right, under ordinances first reading, and like I say, we do have uh a planning committee uh schedule for today. So the planning item that's on here. If you have a question, we'll just wait till uh we have a committee, and then we have um uh an abandon abandonment. We can uh take that at that time. Uh and then under police. Any questions on the and I think this was in district two. Is that correct? District two? Yes, sir. Uh, and as far as did we make contact with councilwoman heel or chairwoman heel, she's good with with this item. To my knowledge. Okay. All right, moving into resolutions. I'm sorry. I'm gonna sure. I'm sorry, Councilwoman Burr. Yeah, I just uh had a quick question about the two that you wanted to read as a package. Do we have anybody that's here that plan to speak on on either of these matters? Well, typically we have our uh public hearing during first reading. Okay, so if somebody was here to speak, that we typically they missed their opportunity. Yes, okay, all right. That occurs during first reading.
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