The Chattanooga City Council held its regular meeting on May 26, 2026, beginning with an invocation and pledge. The meeting included agenda review, votes on multiple ordinances and resolutions, committee reports, and public comments. Key actions included first-reading approval of the Raccoon Mountain water service project and creation of a legislative affairs position.
Good afternoon, everyone. I call to order the May twenty-sixth meeting of the Chattanooga City Council and recognize Councilman Harvey for Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. Um this afternoon I have the unique privilege of introducing my mother, who will be bringing us uh our invocation this afternoon. Uh mom is not the only title that she holds. She currently serves as the Hamilton County team leader for the Tennessee governmental prayer lines. She is the former prayer committee chair for Governor Bill Lee's faith-based and community initiatives. Perhaps this is where I get uh a little bit of my love for public service and love for our community as well. Um she's both the creator and producer of the local television show Chattanooga Stronger Together, which is featured on our uh local PBS station, WTCI. Uh, this is a show that features our local nonprofits that are often in dire need of funding. Her show has helped hundreds of nonprofits survive and thrive. She is what I think of when I think the hands and feet of Jesus. She's not your typical volunteer. She's ministered to prostitutes, fed the hungry, and volunteered to teach Muslim immigrants English in their own homes right here in downtown Chattanooga. Thank you, Mom, for making a difference in the lives of others. I hope I didn't make you emotional. Right before do our prayer. If you don't mind provide us with prayer this afternoon. May this chamber be filled with respect and a sincere desire to serve the greater good of this city that we love. Father, we're reminded in the book of Proverbs, where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. Well, we ask you to bless our city's mayor, Tim Kelly, our elected officials, our leaders, first responders, our businesses, schools, and every family and district represented here. May your peace, protection, and your divine favority. We recognize Chattanooga as a very special and unique city, rich in history and spirit, and in many ways, she's the heart of Tennessee. Father, I ask you to pour a blessing upon us, as you have spoken in Deuteronomy. Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out. May all decisions made here tonight be filled with integrity and humility and a spirit of unity. Give these leaders wisdom to serve their districts that will make our Chattanooga a stronger and better place to live. In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you. And welcome everyone to our meeting this afternoon. Welcome, sir. Thank you for being here. And also at the beginning of our meeting each week, we like to give a kind of a rundown of how the meeting operates. You'll know what to expect. Our meeting is broken up into two parts. And the first part of our meeting here will look at our agenda for the night, the things that we'll be voting on tonight. And there'll be a time for council to ask questions or make any comments about those items. We'll then do the same thing with our agenda for next week. And also for items that are coming before us in three weeks or later. We like to work ahead and be well prepared and look at things ahead of time. So after we do that, we'll also look at the purchases that are before us tonight for approval to see if any council members have questions or concerns about those. Um that we sometimes do. And so after we look at all of our agenda items, uh present and future, uh, we'll take a recess where we will need a brief attorney client meeting with our city attorney during that recess. When we come back from our recess, we will then vote on all the items on our agenda for tonight. And once we're done voting, um, there will be a time for public comment where anyone who is here who wishes to address the council uh will be recognized to do that at the podium down front, and we'll explain the rules for that when the time comes at the end of our meeting. Um, council, um, if I could get a motion on the minutes from our previous meeting. So a motion and a proper second, and the minutes will stand as published. Um council, look with me if you would at this week's agenda and hit your lights if you have any questions. We do have a couple of items on final read. Uh Vice Chairman Elliott, you're recognized.