Chattanooga City Council Strategic Planning Meeting — September 15, 2026

This strategic planning session of the Chattanooga City Council included a report from the city's appointee to the Fire and Police Pension Board and a presentation on a proposal to designate several properties and cemeteries as local historic landmarks. The meeting also addressed future agenda items, committee assignments, and ongoing ordinances.

Pension Fund Report (Chris Hopkins, Council Appointee)

• Chris Hopkins, the City Council appointee to the Chattanooga Police and Fire Pension Board, presented the fund's performance and status. He noted that the fund has made substantial progress since 2008, when it lost 31% in one year, and since its low point in 2018 when it was 46% funded.
• Investment Performance: For the second quarter ending June 30, 2026, the fund returned 10.8% (net of fees), placing it in the top 6% of all public pension funds. Over the fiscal year, it ranked in the top 10%. The fund's three-year return placed it in the top quartile (22nd percentile). Over ten years, it remains in the top third even including bad years (2018, 2022).
• Fund Size: The fund grew from $397 million at the start of the quarter to $437 million as of June 30, 2026, an all-time high. Unofficially, as of August it reached $445 million.
• Cost Reduction: Total administrative fees have been reduced to 0.4% (40 basis points), down from higher levels, saving millions over time. The fund eliminated hedge fund exposure, which carried higher fees and illiquidity, and now about half of assets are indexed to low-cost benchmarks.
• Funded Status: As of the most recent annual valuation (end of 2025), the market value funded ratio was 63.6%. The actuarial value (smoothed over five years) was about 65%. The unfunded accrued liability is approximately $248 million (total liability $629 million minus actuarial assets $381 million).
• Targets: The 70% funded threshold (would allow partial restoration of cost-of-living adjustments, COLA) is projected for 2030, three years earlier than previously estimated. Full COLA (CPI up to 3%) is achievable at 80% funded, currently projected within 11 years.
• City Contributions: The "normal cost" to maintain the plan if fully funded is about $11 million annually, with additional payments needed to close the gap. The city contributed $18 million last year to push the funded ratio above 60%. Councilman Henderson and Councilwoman Dodd requested forward-looking estimates of required contributions for budget planning.
• Discussion: Hopkins addressed questions about life expectancy increases, PTSD claims, and retirement patterns. He noted that the actuarial assumption changes (mortality, retirement rates) affect liabilities. The assumed rate of return is 6.75%, down from 9% historically.

Historic Landmark Designations Presentation (Councilman Clark, Cassie Klein, Linda Moss Mines)

• Councilman Clark introduced two resolutions: one to authorize the application for designating City Hall as a local historic landmark, and a second to direct staff to research and prepare applications for a list of other sites including cemeteries, R.H. Hunt buildings, and cultural landmarks.
• Process Explanation (Cassie Klein, Land Development Office): A local historic landmark designation protects a property from inappropriate alterations or demolition. The application triggers an immediate moratorium on permits. After a public meeting and review by the Historic Zoning Commission, a recommendation goes to City Council, which makes the final decision. The city has one existing local landmark (Frank Lloyd Wright House on Missionary Ridge).
• Historic Sites Presented (Linda Moss Mines, City Historian): The list includes:
  • Cemeteries: Beck Knob Cemetery (largest U.S. Colored Troops burial site, est. 1863), Pleasant Garden Cemetery (privately owned, ~14,000 graves including Scottsboro Boys and Ed Johnson), Citizen Cemetery, Confederate Cemetery, Mitzvah Congregation Cemetery, Brainerd Mission Cemetery (1818-1838, first integrated school in North America), Forest Hill Cemetery, Silverdale Confederate Cemetery.
  • R.H. Hunt Buildings: City Hall, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, and Tivoli Theatre (all by architect R.H. Hunt, a nationally significant architect).
  • Other Landmarks: Walden Hospital (African American hospital with nursing school), Lincoln Park (Negro League baseball, WWI welcome home celebration), First Baptist Church (East 8th Street), Chattanooga Downtown Library (bicentennial architecture, 1976), Brainerd Municipal Golf Course (100 years old), and four additional buildings in the MLK Historic District.
• Discussion on Private Property Rights (Councilwoman Dotley): Dotley questioned the process for private property owners, asking for proof of consent and explaining the impact on future alterations. Councilman Clark clarified that the resolution only authorizes starting the application; property owners will have opportunities to opt out during public hearings and before the Historic Zoning Commission. The designation applies to exterior guidelines only, not interiors. Staff (Cassie Klein) noted that the application fee is waived for city council-initiated applications, but owners may face additional permit costs (certificate of appropriateness) in the future. Tax credits for rehabilitation are available.
• Councilwoman Burrs requested documentation of outreach contacts and noted that some property owners in her district may not have been contacted yet. Councilman Clark acknowledged ongoing outreach and offered to help connect.
• Councilman Harvey expressed support for preservation but cautioned against overly strict guidelines that could hinder redevelopment (e.g., the Waymark project). Klein assured that guidelines align with Secretary of Interior Standards and do not affect interior work.

Key Outcomes

• The pension fund report was received; no formal action taken. Council members requested more detailed projections of future city contributions from Chris Hopkins.
• The two historic landmark resolutions were presented and discussed but not voted upon. The meeting adjourned with a motion to adjourn (seconded). Next steps include continued outreach to property owners, further work on design guidelines, and future strategic planning sessions (October 6 and 20, 2026) where workforce development, Carta transit roadmap, and smart grant updates will be covered.
• Committee assignments: The vacant properties ordinance introduced by Councilwoman Burrs was assigned to Councilman Clark's Parks, Public Works, and Infrastructure Committee. The vape ordinance from Councilman Harvey and Councilwoman Hill was assigned to the Planning and Zoning Committee.