Chattanooga City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026
Chattanooga City Council Meeting - February 24, 2026
The Chattanooga City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, Black History Month remarks, and approval of minutes. The council addressed street closures, appointments, an interlocal agreement, multiple purchases, and heard public comments on accessibility, housing, and neighborhood concerns.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of the previous meeting were approved without objection.
- Two final reading ordinances (7A and 7B) closing unopened rights-of-way (4200 block of Bonnie Oaks Drive and 400 block of Maplewood Avenue) were approved as a package.
- Two resolutions (A and B) confirming Mayor Kelly's appointments (Richard Sledge to the Passenger Vehicle for Hire Board; Donna Shepherd to the Tree Commission) were approved as a package.
- Resolution C authorizing an interlocal agreement with Collegedale regarding boundary adjustment and de-annexation of property at 8883 Old Lee Highway was approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Unidentified speaker: Reported a severe traffic accident at an intersection lacking warning lights, which injured his handicapped wife. He urged the council to install warning lights.
- Melanie Norwood (owner of Amma Safe Haven): Requested assistance housing her 42 residents; she had turned away over 40 people in two weeks due to lack of funds. She was referred to Chief of Staff Kevin Roig.
- Josh Branham (Governmental Affairs Director, Greater Chattanooga Realtors): Announced a community scholarship fund for graduating seniors in Hamilton, Sequatchie, Catoosa, Walker, and Dade counties. Applications are due March 1, 2026. Since 2022, the program has awarded nearly $53,000, and this year five recipients can receive up to $4,000 each for college or trade school.
- Olivia Batson (District 8): Advocated for better sidewalk accessibility and curb cuts, particularly near UTC campus and East MLK Boulevard, noting difficulties for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. Councilman Harvey invited her to collaborate on accessibility policy.
- Shirley Moon (District 9, Ridgedale): Introduced herself as an 82-year-old homeowner and voter, and stated she would submit a letter about issues in her neighborhood.
Discussion Items
- Black History Month Remarks: Councilman Elliott thanked members who wore black history attire and honored black women pioneers (e.g., Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Kamala Harris) for their resilience and sacrifice.
- Pond Program Presentation: Maria Price (Assistant City Engineer) presented the Single Family Residential Pond Program. Approximately 200 of the city’s 1,600 stormwater ponds are on single-family parcels, placing an unfair burden on homeowners. Repairs can cost $10,000–$50,000. The program will bring ponds into functional compliance through city-funded work, after which homeowners handle general maintenance (mowing, inspections). Councilman Elliott asked about liability; Price noted that homeowners sign a temporary construction permission form and an inspection and maintenance agreement.
- Purchases: Four purchases were approved:
- Wastewater: new blanket agreement for video inspection services (4 years, up to $750,000 annually; vendors: Amtec Surveying, Dukes Root Control, Performance Contracting, Red Zone Robotics).
- Technology Services: extension to agreement with KCI Technologies through November 2, 2026 (no additional funds).
- Traffic Operations: new blanket agreement for traffic signal parts installation and maintenance (4 years, up to $400,000 annually).
- Parks and Outdoors: increase of $48,132 for power to lot fixtures at Champions Club tennis courts (new total $1,141,842).
- Future Legislation: Councilman Elliott announced a resolution to be introduced March 10, 2026, requesting Public Works create a strategic plan to address citywide litter, potentially using stormwater funds or dedicated staff. Councilman Clark noted current litter cleanup by Public Works but acknowledged the need for more resources.
- Certificate of Compliance: The City Attorney presented a revised certificate for retail food store wine license for Speedway #42185 (4886 Bonnie Oaks Drive), previously rejected by TABC due to form issues. The council approved the revised certificate.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes and all consent items (street closures, appointments, interlocal agreement) approved unanimously.
- Four purchases approved as recommended.
- Certificate of compliance for Speedway wine license approved.
- Council recessed for attorney-client meeting at approximately 3:45 PM and reconvened at 4:15 PM.
- Next council meeting scheduled for March 10, 2026 (first reading items expected); Homeless Working Group meeting on March 2, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Chattanooga City Council meeting for Tuesday, February twenty fourth. Like to invite Councilman Elliot to lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance and the invitation. Nope. Is it nope? Do you have those name? I don't think nobody's okay. Look at that. VC Noel says not lighten up. Is it won't even click this Q is currently just if I put this here we'll that'll work. I can talk loud enough. I think everyone can hear me correctly. Yes. Okay. All right. Um thank you, Madam Chair. Uh Council family and those are here to change it today. I just wanted to say thank you. Uh last week I sent out uh email inviting those that wanted to participate to wear something that would be um reflective of black history so that we could show unity here in our community in our city as a whole, and thank you to all of those that uh participated. We really really do appreciate it. Um my mother told me well behaved women seldom make history, and I never understood that when I was growing up, but that has held true. If you well behave, you're probably not gonna make history. So during this Black History Month, the last Tuesday of the month, um, I give thanks to the black women that paved the way. Uh their resilience created opportunity, their sacrifice created access, and we are because they were. So I say thank you to Harriet Tubman, Sir Jarna Truth, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisel, Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelo, Angela Davis, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Katherine Johnson, and Stacey April. That is just to name a few. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, council. Can I get a motion on the minutes, please? So move. Thank you. Minutes will stand without objection. Council, let's take a look at this week's agenda, please. Please hit your light. I think we might be up and running. Hit your uh hit your light if you've got any questions. Um we do have two items um under final reading for public works in district five. My intent is to take this as a package, councilman Clark, unless you object. Um there are two items under final reading for today's agenda, and my intent is to take them as a package. They're in your district. Fabulous. We don't have any items on first reading, council, uh, but we do have some resolutions. I'll be taking the mayor's office items as a package as well. Not seeing any questions. Let's take a look at the purchases for tonight, please. Oh councilman Clark. Uh, this is other business. Okay.
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