Good afternoon and welcome everybody.

I'd like to call to order the May 12th meeting of the Chattanooga City Council and recognize Councilwoman Hill to lead us in our pledge and invocation.

And Super Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God in the liberty and justice for all.

Okay, and again, welcome everyone.

Um just at the beginning here, we'd like to go over kind of how the meeting will flow to give you all an idea of how we operate.

For those anyone who may be new, um just a reminder on the front end to please silence your cell phones we don't have any uh unwanted interruptions during the meeting.

Uh we'll start out with a special presentation um today honoring child care providers, and then after that, we'll look at our minutes from last week's meeting.

Um after that, we'll look at the agenda for tonight's meeting and answer any questions and hear any comments about those items from um the council members.

Uh following that, we'll look at our agenda for next week's meeting and do the same answering questions and hearing any comments on those items from council members.

And we'll do the same thing with our future considerations list, which is items that are on our agenda in three weeks.

So we look kind of far out and make sure we're well prepared on things.

Next, we'll have a committee meeting of the budget and finance committee to consider an amendment to the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Um and that meeting will be chaired by um councilman Clark.

We'll then take a recess and we will need an attorney client meeting during our recess as we often do to meet with our city attorney.

Um and when we come back, then we will uh vote on all the items on the agenda for tonight.

At the very end of the meeting, we we always have a period uh where we welcome members of the public who would like to address the council.

And when the time comes from that, I'll invite anyone who's here for that purpose to line up at the podium down front, and we'll read some rules and then be happy to hear um and three-minute increments each.

Anyone who would like to address the council.

Uh so with that, I would like to um recognize Councilman Harvey on our child care proclamation.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

Um, before I was elected to City Council, it was uh an honor of mine to serve on the uh head start and early head start board of Miss Caritza Jones and uh saw firsthand of what they do for uh the children of our community, and it's uh it's wonderful work, it's great work.

It's the Lord's work, and so we appreciate everything that they do, and we want to take a moment today to recognize them, so I'm going to invite our administrator of early learning, Caritza Jones, up as we do a proclamation.

Thank you, Councilman Harvey.

Um good afternoon, Chairman Davis, Vice Chairman Elliott, and City Council.

We are gathered here today to shine a light on a group of individuals who serve as the backbone of our community's economy and the architects of our children's future.

Today we recognize Provider Appreciation Day, established in 1995.

This day is celebrated annually, normally on the Friday before Mother's Day.

It serves as a global thank you to the family child care and center based providers, teachers, and educators who dedicate a tireless amount of time to our youngest citizens.

It is vital that we acknowledge the essential workforce these providers represent.

Every day they offer more than just supervision, they provide care, foundational learning, and stability necessary for lifelong success.

Today, we specifically honor the work of their hands, the educators who transform their homes and centers into environments where Chattanooga's children can thrive.

Child care providers are the workforce behind the workforce, and by supporting our children, they allow our city to grow.

To lead us in officially honoring these amazing early learning professionals, I am pleased to introduce to you two champions for our city's youth and child care providers, Jalisa Brumfield, director of the Office of Early Learning, and I Kiko Bass, the Early Learning Business Navigator.

Jalisa and I Kiko, the floor is yours to recognize these outstanding individuals.

Come on, yeah.

Hi.

Hi, everyone, I am Julisa Brunfield, and I am the director of Early Learning, and I prepared a speech, and it's gonna echo a lot of what Carissa said, but um, just want to welcome everybody.

Okay, so it is my absolute honor to welcome you as we pause in this moment to recognize a group of people who are seated over there who shape the very foundation of our community, our child care providers.

Before the proclamation is proclamation is read, I want to truly reflect on who they are and what they mean to our children, our families, and to our city.

Child care providers are often the first teachers our children ever know.

They are the gentle voices that calm first day tears, they are the patient hands who guide tiny fingers to hold pencils, and they are the warm smiles that make children feel safe, seen, and loved.

Long before a child ever walks into a kindergarten classroom, these dedicated professionals who have been nurturing curiosity, these I'm sorry, it is these dedicated professionals who have been nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and planting seeds of lifelong learning.

They also make it possible for our working families to thrive.

Because of child care providers, parents can go to work each day with the peace of mind, knowing that their children are not just being watched, but they're being cared for, they're being loved, and they're being taught and protected.

Um they are the quiet partners behind nurses, um, school teachers, school bus drivers, business owners, essential workers in our community.

Without them, our workforce could not function.

Um the work that they do is not always seen, it is not always celebrated, but it is always deeply felt.

They wipe tears, tie shoes, sing songs, teach manners, and offer comfort, all while building the academic and emotional groundwork that helps children thrive for the rest of their lives.

Today, we acknowledge that their work is not just the job, as Cody said.

It is a calling.

It is a calling that requires patience, heart, resilience, and an extraordinary amount of love.

So before we hear this proclamation proclamation, let us take a moment to feel the weight of our gratitude for these remarkable individuals who pour so much of themselves into the lives of little learners and working families.

It is now my great pleasure to welcome IKika Bass, the Office of Early Learning's Business Navigator, to read the official child care provider appreciation proclamation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jaleesa.

Thank you, Councilman Harvey, and to the council and to the child care providers.

Would you please stand while I read this proclamation?

Because this is for you.