Chattanooga City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
Chattanooga City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
The Chattanooga City Council met on July 7, 2026, beginning at 7:20 PM Eastern. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for recent tragedies, including fires and loss of life. Council heard a presentation on the sister city visit to Wolfsburg, Germany, and a comprehensive safety action plan. After a public hearing on a franchise ordinance, the council voted on numerous ordinances, resolutions, and purchases. Public comments focused on funding for 911 dispatcher pay raises.
Special Presentations
Sister City Visit to Wolfsburg, Germany
- Councilman Cody Harvey presented photos and a plaque from the 15-year sister city anniversary visit to Wolfsburg, Germany, home of Volkswagen world headquarters. Highlighted cultural exchanges and a meeting with Ukrainian refugee Dennis.
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
- Karen Rennick presented the plan, developed by the MPO, to adopt a Vision Zero policy aiming to reduce fatal crashes to zero by 2050. The plan identifies 93 fatal crashes in Chattanooga from 2023–2025 and includes 74 specific projects. It also positions the city for federal Safe Streets for All implementation grants.
Public Hearing
Franchise Ordinance for Pipe Properties (Item 8a)
- A public hearing was held on a proposed 40-year franchise to allow a roadway through an existing building (the former U.S. Pipe valve and hydrant building) at 2501 Chestnut Street. No members of the public spoke. The city will maintain surface elements; Pipe Properties will maintain structural elements.
Discussion Items
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance Review
- Brian Schultz presented an update on ADU trends since the ordinance was adopted in June 2022. Key data: 206 permits issued through May 2026, 89% detached, average valuation ~$98,000, average size 625 sq ft. 65% of ADUs are within the urban overlay. Council raised concerns about ADUs being built in front yards, size loopholes (e.g., primary residence at 801 sq ft with ADU at 800 sq ft), and design issues resembling duplexes. Council directed staff to review and propose amendments to strengthen the ordinance.
Bloomberg Grant and Interlocal Agreement Clarity
- Councilwoman Hill asked about housing of two grant-funded staff for the Love Your Block program; answered that they will be in Neighborhood Services under the Mayor's Office. Discussion on an interlocal agreement with Hamilton County for planning services; council requested removal of gendered language. The resolution passed with that clerical change.
Public Comments
Hamilton County 911 Dispatcher Pay
- Cheyenne Bedell (Hamilton County 911) stated that Chattanooga was notified of needed funding for telecommunicator raises in December 2024, but the city delayed until police and fire raises were implemented. She noted Chattanooga now has the lowest starting pay in the area after Bradley County passed them. The total cost to Chattanooga over four years is under $2 million, spread over four years with the district covering a declining share.
- Krista Gillalian (dispatcher for 9.5 years) described the critical role of dispatchers and invited council members to visit the center. She expressed disappointment about misconceptions at the previous meeting.
- Executive Director Jeff Carney provided additional context: Chattanooga pays 59% of total dispatcher funding but accounts for 66% of call volume. He noted that a telecommunicator left that day for an $8,000 raise in Walker County, Georgia. The 911 fee increase was vetoed by the governor. Council Vice Chair Elliott acknowledged the issue but suggested the right venue for advocacy is with the mayor's office and the 911 board, not the council at this point. Council Chair noted that the executive director is scheduled to attend a strategic planning meeting in September.
Key Outcomes
Votes on Ordinances and Resolutions
- Ordinance on final reading (amending Parks and Playgrounds code): Passed unanimously.
- Franchise ordinance first reading (Pipe Properties): Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance amending technology and credit card fee (first reading): Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance closing sanitary sewer main on Middle Valley Road (first reading): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for Habitat for Humanity ($40,000 for affordable home ownership): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for Bloomberg grant (Love Your Block: $70,000 mini-grants + $200,000 for fellows): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for interlocal agreement with Hamilton County (planning services): Passed unanimously with a clerical change to remove gendered language.
- Resolution for new liquor store special exceptions permit (3208 Amnicola Hwy, Suite B): Passed with one no vote.
- Resolution for Riverside Drive soil slope repair contract ($171,127): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for community service program agreement ($60,000): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution to renew consent decree program contract (Jacobs Engineering): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for wastewater pump station pre-construction services ($300,000): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution for JAG grant ($169,999 for police and sheriff equipment/training): Passed unanimously.
Purchases Approved
- Elevator/lift maintenance (4-year, $350,000/year): Approved.
- Turf maintenance chemicals (4-year, $150,000/year): Approved.
- Rescind and re-award grounds maintenance contract to James Works: Approved.
- Increase for DTS engineering services ($70,000 increase to $406,750): Approved.
Litigation Settlement
- City Attorney announced settlement of Snell v. City (Case 24C104) for $175,000, resolved the previous week.
Certificate of Compliance
- A certificate was issued for Snapdragon Ventures LLC (UNC’s) at 3208 Amnicola Hwy, Suite B, for liquor store operations, meeting state requirements.
ADU Ordinance Next Steps
- Staff will review comments and propose amendments to address front yard placement, size limits, and design concerns to prevent unintended duplex-like structures.
Meeting Transcript
Please stand. Under God. Indivisible. Um we've had a lot of tragedy uh in and around our communities last few days. Around a time that is supposed to be something special where we are celebrating our country's two hundred and fifty anniversary. Whether that is the loss of life of young people, people now displaced from their homes from tragic fires. And I hope all of our thoughts and prayers are with the families are affected across our city and across the rest of the country who are heard of right now. So if you please could join me in a brief moment of silence and take whatever time you may need. And we do have several topics to discuss with our city attorney this evening. And so our recess might be a bit longer than normal. And when we come back, then we'll vote on all of the items that are on our agenda to be voted on tonight. All the ordinances and resolutions that are before us. So with that being said, I'd like to turn to Councilman Harvey for our first special presentation. He is newly returned from Germany and has, I believe, um uh a plaque or some sort of a presentation as well to share with us on behalf of our sister city of Wolfsburg as I trip over that word. So I'll turn it over to you, Councilman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, I'd like to invite the rest of our delegation to stand with me if they will. Um I think we've got everyone except is Andrew Hudson. I might have missed him come in. Um he was also with us. But if they would come forward as we uh go through some of these um photos. Uh like uh Mr. Chairman said, uh, we've just returned uh from a sister city visit in Wolfsburg, Germany, or otherwise Wolfsburg. Am I saying that right, Karen? Yes, okay, there you go. That's how you pronounce it in in Germany. Um, you know, I I never would have dreamed of something like this when I ran for office um last year. Uh you know, if you'd told uh Cody Harvey who was pulling 12 hour ships at Erlanger 10 years ago uh that I'd get to represent my city in a foreign country, I'd have thought you were crazy. Um but um uh I was able to do that, and what an honor it was uh being born and raised here in Chattanooga to be able to represent um the city that I love so much uh in another country. It was truly an honor. So thank you all for giving me that honor. Uh Mayor Kelly was scheduled to uh join us on this trip, but he was pulled to Washington, DC uh to meet with our federal delegation on some important work. And so uh they named me the head of the delegation. I don't know if that's good or bad, but um anyway, it was a wonderful time. So we wanted to show you some uh photos from our trip, and then also uh the city of Wolfsburg uh gave us a plaque that we will present at the end of the presentation. Um so uh, you know, as I walked through uh Germany, I thought, you know, it's really not a whole lot different than uh than here. Uh even the people uh, you know, we're all human beings, and that that's what it gets down to. But I thought this was uh a beautiful area here uh next to what they call the Autostadt, uh, which I'll be sharing more about here in just a minute. But this is their version of the river walk. Um so just a beautiful little area there that they they can enjoy um around the Autostadt. Rick. There we go. Okay. Um one of the highlights of the trip was uh Wolfsburg is the uh world headquarters of Volkswagen. And why is that significant? Well, we have a Volkswagen plant right here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Um so this was super neat. Um photos were limited. Uh they didn't want a whole lot getting uh getting out, so uh we took just uh a few photos, but there you can see us um in that little trolley there, which was pulled by a live-size Volkswagen vehicle.
openpublica.com