2026-09-15 - City Council

03:29Good afternoon everyone. I'll call to

03:31order the Tuesday, September 15th

03:33meeting of Chattanooga City Council. Uh

03:36if you'll please stand and join me in

03:37the pledge of allegiance.

03:41I

03:41>> pledge allegiance to the flag of the

03:44United States of America and to the

03:47republic for which it stands. One nation

03:50under God, indivisible, with liberty and

03:53justice for all.

03:58[clears throat]

04:00>> All right. Well, welcome again everyone.

04:02Um, we like to at the beginning of our

04:05council meetings kind of give an

04:07overview of how the meetings run. Uh,

04:10before I do that though, just a

04:11reminder, if you have a cell phone,

04:12please silence it and so that we don't

04:14or put it on vibrate or whatever you

04:17need to do. um so that hopefully we

04:18won't have any distractions during our

04:20meeting. Um the way our meetings operate

04:23is they uh they go in two parts. Our

04:26first session is what's called our

04:27agenda session where council um up here

04:31will go through the items that are

04:33before us to vote on tonight um and ask

04:37any council will ask any questions that

04:39they might have um about those items or

04:42raise any concerns. And then we'll do

04:44the same for items on our two-week

04:47agenda. So items that are coming before

04:49us next week. Council will also discuss

04:51those as needed. Um and then we'll look

04:55further ahead to items coming before us

04:57in 3 weeks or later. We like to be well

04:59prepared um before we vote. So we'll go

05:03through that process for those items as

05:05well. We'll also um look at the

05:08purchasing items that are before us for

05:10approval tonight um to see if council

05:12has any questions or concerns about

05:14those.

05:16Um [clears throat] from there um we

05:18sometimes will have committee or

05:20department reports um council committee

05:24um reports or reports from different

05:26administrative departments. And tonight,

05:29um, we do have Chief Chambers here with

05:31us from CPD, um, for a presentation

05:34about the Motorola LPR cameras that the

05:37city uses. And so, um, we will hear from

05:40him at that time. Uh, that will take us

05:43up to our recess. And normally at our

05:46recess, we'll have a meeting with our

05:48city attorney. Um, and I am advised we

05:51do need one of those this evening. And

05:54so we will recess then and uh meet with

05:57our city attorney in an attorney client

05:59meeting. Um and before we do that, I'll

06:02announce the time that we'll be coming

06:03back. And then when we come back from

06:05our recess is when we vote on all the

06:07items on our agenda this evening. And at

06:10the end of all of that after the voting

06:13um in the second half of the meeting,

06:14there will be a time for public comment

06:17for members of the public who are here

06:18and would like to wish or would like to

06:21address u the council on any topic. And

06:24so we're happy to welcome you at the

06:25podium down front at that time if you're

06:28here for that purpose at the end of the

06:29meeting. All right. Um so with that out

06:33of the way, council, could I get a

06:35motion on the minutes from our previous

06:37meeting, please?

06:38>> Second.

06:39>> Do have a motion properly seconded and

06:41the minutes from last week's meeting

06:43will stand as published. [snorts]

06:45Council, if you would look with me at

06:47the items on our agenda for this

06:49evening. We'll start. We don't have any

06:52ordinances on final reading. Uh but we

06:55do have several on first reading,

06:58including some planning items.

07:00Uh Councilman Henderson, you're

07:03recognized.

07:04>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just uh for your

07:06knowledge, with council's knowledge, uh

07:08I will be asking or making a motion for

07:11withdrawal on uh planning items C and E

07:17uh this afternoon.

07:19And I don't see Councilman Clark here,

07:22but he has an item um under G that I

07:26have spoken with him and he's indicated

07:29to me that he is good with this

07:31particular item on lifting conditions.

07:34U so

07:37unless I'm notified otherwise, I'll be

07:39making a motion to approve that.

07:42>> Okay.

07:45>> Okay. Thank you, Councilman.

07:47[clears throat] Councilwoman Hill,

07:48you're recognized.

07:49>> Thank you very much. Item A under the

07:52office of the city attorney. Um it's a

07:54very simple resolution related to the

07:57beer board. So um I'd like to understand

08:00a little better. It just says that

08:02expiration of beer permits shall be in

08:04accordance with TCA, etc., etc.

08:06>> Yes, ma'am.

08:08>> How how is this changing how we do it

08:10now?

08:10>> Are we not currently in accordance?

08:13Well, uh, the current requirements of

08:15section 548 in the city code have an

08:18annual renewal requirement here. And

08:21state law says at this point in time,

08:23unless you change ownership, you have a

08:26person to die, you move to a different

08:28location. There's about four or five

08:30different uh provisions in state law

08:32that require [clears throat] a new

08:34permit to be issued, but that permit

08:36lasts. Your payment continues here for

08:39your uh doing business. your sales tax

08:41requirements continue on the sales of

08:43alcohol at that location, but there's no

08:45requirement to have an annual renewal of

08:47a beer permit.

08:48>> Okay. Thank you for in clarity. I

08:50appreciate it.

08:51>> Yes, ma'am.

08:52>> That's all, Mr. Chair.

08:54>> Okay.

08:56Council, are there any other questions

08:58on ordinances on tonight's

09:02agenda? I will just note um item 8B

09:07there on the first page also under the

09:09office of city attorney. Um item B there

09:13that is um an ordinance to reduce a

09:16speed limit in in my district on Lake

09:18Resort Drive from 45 to 40 miles hour.

09:23Um and so I would appreciate a a motion

09:26to approve that ordinance from council

09:29when the time comes.

09:33All right, looking ahead then to

09:35resolutions that are on our agenda for

09:37this evening.

09:40>> Councilman Henderson, you're recognized.

09:42Uh

09:43>> is that Councilman Clark's button behind

09:46me?

09:47>> That's Councilwoman Hill.

09:48>> Okay. Uh Councilman Clark, I'm going to

09:50go back to um planning agenda. It was my

09:54understanding uh planning item G under

09:57uh the uh 0098 lifting conditions that

10:01you were good with that. Uh it's my

10:03understanding you won't be here during

10:05the voting.

10:06>> I would. So I am good with that. We have

10:09had the discussions. Um thank you uh Mr.

10:12Chair for the uh recognition. My green

10:14light came on. Um Karen Renick, I think

10:18we're good. I think there was confusion.

10:20I know there's two lives. There's 5312

10:24and 5314.

10:26The planning commission recommended

10:28lifting

10:29the conditions on one lot versus the

10:31second lot and then we added some. Do

10:33you just kind of want to give a quick I

10:35know someone had emailed and said they

10:37were confused by that, but I'm okay with

10:40the um with the recommendations

10:44uh for both properties and I asked

10:46council to support that in my absence

10:47cuz I have to leave here shortly. And I

10:49spoke I think um the person we

10:51communicated with via email also spoke

10:52to just before the meeting and I think

10:54we've I think it's a little add a little

10:56more clarity to

10:57>> perfect then there's no need to go into

10:59that any further. All right. Uh thank

11:00you Mr. Chair. So if you uh could assist

11:03me in uh getting that approved in my

11:06absence that would be great.

11:07>> Okay.

11:08>> All right.

11:11>> Councilwoman [snorts] Hill you're

11:12recognized.

11:13>> Thank you. Resolution D under economic

11:16development. Um, this is a resolution

11:19declaring surplus property at 1517 Old

11:22Ringold Road. Um,

11:25excuse me. I'm always want to understand

11:27why we are declaring something surplus,

11:30what we're doing with it, and why we're

11:32not keeping it. So, if somebody could

11:33help me with that, please.

11:39>> We have someone from the administration

11:41that can speak to that.

11:42>> We do.

11:44>> Sorry.

11:50>> [clears throat]

11:50[snorts]

11:58[clears throat]

12:02>> Apparently,

12:11this is an economic development item.

12:20Councilman, I do apologize. We do not

12:21have uh Richard Beum with us today. He

12:23is out sick uh from this morning and it

12:25was not addressed in this morning's

12:27meeting. So, if you'll allow us a few

12:28moments to pull that information

12:30together, we'll send it to you as soon

12:31as we can.

12:32>> Thank you.

12:32>> Thank you.

12:37>> Is that all Councilwoman?

12:38>> Yes.

12:39>> Okay. And Councilman Clark, is that a

12:41new light for you and or an old light?

12:43Okay. All right. Thank you.

12:46>> All right, council. Any other questions

12:48on resolutions on tonight's agenda?

12:53All right,

12:55seeing no lights on the board here,

12:57we'll move on then to next week's

12:59proposed agenda. Um, Councilwoman Burrs,

13:02you're recognized.

13:03>> Oh, I'm sorry. I was I thought you were

13:05going to purchases before you went to

13:08>> Okay.

13:08>> Next week's agenda, but

13:10>> we

13:11>> What was Whatever your preference is.

13:12>> Okay. Yeah. We we'll look at next week

13:14we will come to to purchases next.

13:17>> Okay. Go ahead.

13:18>> All right.

13:20Any questions, council, on um looking

13:23first at ordinances

13:27on next week's agenda.

13:38Don't see any lights. And so we will

13:40look at [clears throat] excuse me

13:41resolutions. Are there any questions or

13:45comments on any of the resolutions on

13:47next week's agenda?

13:57All right. Seeing none, we will now get

14:00to purchases. Councilwoman,

14:04>> thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I guess it is

14:06proper because it is actually something

14:08that's going to be on next week's

14:09agenda. But I'd like to make a motion to

14:13reconsider the item that we deferred to

14:16September 22nd that had to do with our

14:18security, our safety and security

14:19contract and um request that it be put

14:24on today's agenda to get approved and to

14:27get considered for approval.

14:29>> Okay. And so there is a motion um to

14:33revive that

14:34>> that security contract.

14:37>> That was okay. We do have a second.

14:39[laughter]

14:39>> Thank you.

14:40>> Um are there any questions or comments

14:43about that council before we vote on

14:45that motion?

14:46>> I I do have a question or comment.

14:48Apologies, Councilman Harvey. Saw your

14:50hand go up. Um uh Mr. city attorney.

14:55What is the proper form to get it on the

14:58schedule for us to approve purchases? Is

15:00that just Weston just needs to bring it

15:02forward or what's the

15:04>> Just asking him to bring it forward here

15:06for this evening based upon a motion to

15:08reconsider? I had to get my my handy

15:10dandy 11th version of Robert's rules out

15:13[laughter] for this purpose

15:15[clears throat]

15:15>> and I was actually looking at that and

15:17whenever a motion to reconsider is to be

15:19done, it's like restarting it again. And

15:22so that that can occur and for a motion

15:25to reconsider it has to be made at the

15:26next possible meeting that occur and we

15:28didn't have a meeting last week. So

15:30that's the reason this is your first

15:32opportunity to be able to make this

15:33motion.

15:34>> Okay. And I just want to add just for

15:36the record and for the public the reason

15:37why I'm asking for this motion is two

15:40weeks ago we made a motion to defer it

15:42to the 22nd. This is a contract for our

15:44safety for our security services uh for

15:47several parks, community centers. I know

15:50the family justice center and it it is a

15:53timely decision because the goal is to

15:55have the contract in place I think by

15:57the 1st of October at least as soon as

15:59possible. We don't want to leave those

16:00spaces vulnerable and without proper

16:03service. So um I think that all the

16:06questions it's my understanding that all

16:07the questions that anyone had two weeks

16:10ago have been addressed and as opposed

16:12to waiting for another week and and and

16:16causing this to maybe not go into place

16:18by October 1st. I thought it was

16:20appropriate to ask that we bring it

16:22forward again today.

16:23>> Sure.

16:23>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

16:24>> Okay. Councilman Harvey, you're

16:26recognized.

16:27>> Yeah. Thank you, Councilwoman Burs. I I

16:28I second that. I support that. Uh my I

16:31had the same question. Was just the

16:33procedure. Uh so would we not make an

16:37amendment to purchases or just simply

16:39make a motion to reconsider?

16:40>> Just a motion to reconsider and then

16:42consider that item on purchases for

16:44tonight. Okay. [clears throat] All

16:45right. Very good. Yeah.

16:46>> Yeah. That's all. Thank you.

16:49Okay. And so the motion will be made at

16:51that time then rather than now is what

16:54I'm

16:56well the motion to reconsider has been

16:58approved and then whenever you get up to

17:00purchases this evening and you'll

17:01consider that and approve it.

17:03>> Understood. Okay.

17:04>> Yes sir.

17:04>> Very good.

17:06>> So we need so we go ahead.

17:08>> Oh yes. Yes. So we're having discuss

17:10>> vote by the entire board.

17:11>> Yes. Okay. Yes. Is there any further

17:13discussion before we vote on the motion?

17:15It was properly seconded. All in favor?

17:17I.

17:18>> Any opposed? And so the motion to

17:20reconsider is now you're good. Now

17:23approved and we will take up that item

17:26at the proper time.

17:27>> All right. Thank you, Councilwoman.

17:29Trying to make sure I

17:30>> Councilwoman Hill, you're recognized.

17:32>> Thank you. First, I would like to say I

17:34know sometimes we have to pull out the

17:36book for Robert's Rules of Order and

17:38backtrack a little bit, but I've been in

17:39some very heated meetings recently

17:42within my community and it just makes me

17:44appreciate Robert's rules of order and

17:45an orderly meeting all the more. Um, it

17:48takes a lot to run one of these meetings

17:50well. Um, it takes a lot of practice on

17:52the part of all of us to maintain the

17:53decorum. So, high five to everybody on

17:56this DAS for that. Um, two questions

17:58about purchasing. The first is a police

18:01department item for the red dot reflex

18:04sites. How many red dot reflex sites are

18:07we going to be purchasing for $171,000?

18:12>> Along with that, we are already in the

18:14process of purchasing 400 replacement

18:16rifles. So, we'll be getting 400 sights

18:19to go on those rifles.

18:21>> These are replacement rifles.

18:22>> Okay. So, 400 sights to go on the rifles

18:24we approved before.

18:26>> Yes, ma'am.

18:26>> Great. Thank you very much, Chief.

18:29Um, and the other question I have,

18:33Weston, perhaps you could join us up

18:35here. Um, I've texted with Kevin a

18:38little bit about this, but I personally

18:41found the fleet management request for

18:43an additional $145,000 untimely.

18:47[snorts] Um,

18:52I appreciate that Fleet has approved

18:54this increase. Um, I think Fleet has

18:57lost some um privileges.

19:00>> Sure.

19:01>> Uh, in in my own personal mind, um, can

19:04you please speak to this item and why

19:06they have an increase of $145,000

19:09over their expected spend on this line

19:11item?

19:11>> Sure. I'm actually going to invite Bill

19:13Payne [snorts] to speak to it. Okay.

19:14>> I think he's prepared for that.

19:17[clears throat]

19:26Thank you, Councilwoman, for the

19:27question. Um, this the this contract is

19:30for PR, [clears throat] excuse me, um,

19:32what are called P PMBBS. So, our

19:35preventive maintenance on our vehicles

19:36are divided into two categories. One is

19:38a is PMA and one is PMBB. the PMAs are

19:41done um on a 5,000 milei sort of the

19:46very first one is a 5,000 PMBB happens

19:49then the next 5,000 um at the 10,000

19:52mile intervals and so those are uh those

19:55are a little more in-depth um we are

19:57able to contract those out and and able

20:00to have them performed at a lower cost

20:03than than having our our staff do them

20:06which also frees up our mechanics uh to

20:09actually be able to perform perform uh

20:11other repairs and things that happen.

20:12The contract does have in in its place

20:15there are several uh pieces that are

20:17there for line items, but occasionally a

20:19driver may take their vehicle uh

20:22directly to the vendor and the vendor

20:24may suggest things where such as brake

20:27pads or something that may be getting

20:28close. And so whenever those are

20:30performed uh we're those are things that

20:33we just are happening at a higher

20:36utilization than what we projected um

20:38for this cycle whenever this contract

20:40was put in place. So that's that's

20:42what's happening is that that that those

20:44projections are happening. We are

20:45working with the vendor in order to

20:47tighten up that process um because there

20:49is there is a markup and a labor rate on

20:52those which is different than what we

20:54would charge internally for doing those

20:55same services. But once they're

20:57performed by the vendor and we're we're

20:58having to pay those invoices, um that's

21:01that is what is resulting in that higher

21:03utilization is because those are

21:04services that are sort of outside the

21:07scope of the PMBB, but they happen to be

21:08occurring at the same at the same time

21:11that the vehicle is being taken in for

21:12that PMBB service. But typically, these

21:15are driver initiated um and not directly

21:18by by fleet. Um and so that's that's

21:22where we're working to help tighten up

21:23that process. So,

21:27wow, that's that's really interesting. I

21:29had not learned that earlier in the day

21:31um in my messages with the chief of

21:33staff. So, [clears throat]

21:35what I'm hearing you say is we are

21:37allowing people who drive city vehicles

21:41to take their cars in for an oil change

21:45that 10,000 milei service and then say,

21:47"Sure, yeah, go ahead and do what you've

21:50recommended." as opposed to bringing it

21:52to the city garage for things outside of

21:54the 10,000 mile service. Am I hearing

21:56you correctly? [snorts]

21:58>> The drivers drivers do take their

22:01vehicles um over there directly to

22:04fleets fleets request um is is that PMAs

22:08be taken directly. PMBB's fleet actually

22:12requests vehicles. I I know I've I've

22:14asked before about about a PMBB for a

22:17vehicle that I've driven in the past and

22:19they've said if I could drop it off with

22:20fleet, they would have the vendor

22:22provide the P&B service for the listed

22:24items. If there's anything more than

22:26that that was needed, then that would be

22:27covered. Um and Fleet would handle

22:30those. Typically, our markup is less and

22:32our labor rate that we charge internally

22:33is less. Um, and so those are um that's

22:38that's that's the way that we would

22:39prefer to do it, but there's no

22:40prohibition on a on a driver taking it

22:42for a P&B. What's happening is sort of

22:44this,

22:45>> you know, does it need it, does it not

22:47type thing that's occurring there and

22:49because the contract does have this line

22:52item in place

22:53>> um for those to happen. Those are those

22:55are things where again we're working to

22:57tighten up that procedure with the

22:58vendor

22:59>> to the point that we have a expected

23:02spend of $145,000 more than our

23:04contracted amount because of a process

23:07in which they get the call just like we

23:11all get the call and we take our private

23:12vehicles to a private shop and they say,

23:15"Miss Hill, your Subaru needs brake

23:18pads. Can we go ahead and do that?" And

23:20I say, "Okay, let's do that." only it's

23:23my car and my money, not the city's

23:26vehicle.

23:29Y'all, these fleet processes, they're a

23:32mess.

23:32>> That's the reason we're working to

23:34tighten those up. Yes, ma'am.

23:37>> Okay. Thank you.

23:40Wow. That's all, Mr. Chair. I'm just

23:42very concerned.

23:46>> Council, are there any other questions

23:48on purchases

23:50up for approval this evening? I will

23:52note we also have um an RFP format

23:55recommendation and a few soul source

23:59purchases as well. [snorts]

24:02Any questions on any of those?

24:07All right, seeing no lights, we'll turn

24:10then to our future considerations

24:12document.

24:14[cough]

24:17I will note on the front end um

24:21if you get down to

24:24find it

24:27the mayor's office number 16 there's

24:32different um board appointments again

24:35[laughter]

24:36and what I've asked our city attorney to

24:38do and he's graciously agreed to do is

24:40to wherever possible group these

24:42together um for the the benefit of our

24:47the the efficiency of our voting, I

24:49guess I'll say. Um, and

24:51>> there's a little problem with the terms

24:52on some of them being different.

24:54[clears throat] So, we we'll do that the

24:55best that we can.

24:55>> Right. Sure.

24:58>> Are there any other questions or

25:01comments, council?

25:06Okay.

25:09Going once, going twice.

25:13Very good. Then we will um at this time

25:15welcome Chief Chambers to the podium to

25:18talk with us about the Motorola LPR

25:21cameras that the city utilizes.

25:24>> Good afternoon, council. John Chambers,

25:26chief of police for the Ching Police

25:27Department. Afternoon.

25:28>> Thank you all so much for this

25:30opportunity. Obviously, there's been a

25:31lot of talk about this topic over the

25:33last several weeks and months. Uh I

25:35think it's very important that you know

25:37having this opportunity to kind of

25:39explain and educate about our policies,

25:40procedures and then actually

25:42differentiate between what you hear in

25:44the news and then what we actually

25:46utilize here in Chattanooga. Just a

25:48brief outline of what we're going to

25:49talk about and then I'll get straight

25:50into timeline. And before I get into

25:532019, I do want to specify that uh

25:56license plate reader technology has

25:58actually been around for decades,

25:59several decades. um back in the late 19

26:03like 98 99 to early 2000s we had a

26:06couple of those that were placed they

26:08were mobileish where you could mount

26:10them here and there. Um that technology

26:12has long since gone away and it's

26:15antiquated and hasn't been utilized in a

26:17number of years in between that time

26:19frame and 2019. So prior to 2019 we had

26:22those two but then again those I I

26:25couldn't even tell you when those

26:26stopped working. Probably around the

26:272010 2011 mark. Um and we didn't have

26:30anything in between. Uh in 2016 is when

26:33we started working on our real-time

26:34intelligence center. Um and the primary

26:36focus of that was partnering with our

26:39community on our public safety cameras.

26:41And this was essentially a grant that

26:43had that came about focusing on violent

26:46crime. And we wanted to with our kind of

26:49our current methodology crawl, walk,

26:51run. and we wanted to use this grant

26:53this grant um in order to purchase our

26:56first modern license plate reader

26:58technology. In doing so, we selected

27:00Motorola Solutions which had just

27:01procured Vigilant uh which was a

27:04standalone company that focused only in

27:06that area. Motorola procured them and

27:08now they actually own them and the

27:10technology that they had originally

27:11created. Um and with that in 2019 we

27:14purchased four. I mean, when we talk

27:16about the license plate reader

27:17technology that we possess, just

27:19envision for each one single camera,

27:21that is one single lane of traffic. So,

27:24when we have four, if it's on a two-lane

27:26row, then two of those four go to one

27:28location, if that makes sense. So, we

27:31had two different locations in 2019, and

27:33we tested those for a number of year to

27:34see the efficacy. Does this do and offer

27:37what we hope it would? And the manner in

27:40which we placed those was the same way

27:42at that point in time that we did with

27:44our public safety cameras where we used

27:46a combination of violent crime data,

27:49community input, officer input, and we

27:51placed those two where where those were

27:53needed and they proved to be very

27:54effective. They were a very useful tool

27:56to help us as long as we use them

27:58responsibly. They helped us with holding

28:01violent criminals accountable. And then

28:03we had another opportunity with a state

28:05funded grant in 2023 to purchase

28:07additional license plate reader cameras

28:09using the same vendor. Uh we stuck with

28:12Motorola. We haven't used any other

28:14vendor to actually purchase and deploy

28:16cameras. Um with that we purchased or we

28:19now possess a total of 41 Motorola

28:22license plate reader cameras in 26

28:24locations. Understanding there's

28:26multiple cameras in in in different

28:27locations. I'm sorry, multiple cameras

28:29in single locations. So you have a vast

28:31number of you know almost double the

28:33number of cameras as you do locations.

28:38So the access and purpose all CPD

28:41officers have direct access to

28:43essentially a dashboard where they can

28:46search the information where they can

28:47search the data that's possessed there.

28:49They must log in. It's attached to their

28:51user ID um so that we know exactly who

28:54that is that's logging in. And if they

28:56if they don't log in at least once every

28:5990 days, they're automatically

29:01u deactivated from the system. They

29:03would have to reach out to an

29:04administrator in order to be

29:05reactivated. That type of redundancy

29:06helps us to to ensure that if for some

29:08reason somebody separates um that

29:10there's a fail safe there, that they

29:12don't retain direct access to a a

29:14database that they have no business

29:15having access to. Um, additionally, um,

29:18our license plate readers are strictly

29:20for investigative purposes only and they

29:22cannot be used as the only piece of

29:25evidence by which to take law

29:27enforcement action, right? To to as like

29:29probable cause to actually make an

29:31arrest of some kind. And this can get

29:33very complicated and confusing because I

29:35know the perception is is that, okay,

29:37there's a license plate that gets hit.

29:39We're looking for a particular, you

29:41know, offender and we have a possible

29:43tag and we run the tag and all of a

29:45sudden, oh, there's the car. So this

29:46must be them and then we go make the

29:48arrest. That's that's not how that

29:51happens. Nor is that even a remote

29:53possibility. What I would like to do is

29:55take this opportunity to relate it to

29:57something we all are very familiar with

29:58and that would be DNA evidence. Right?

30:01So the presence of DNA at a given crime

30:05scene in and of itself cannot be used as

30:10a sole piece of evidence that we make an

30:12arrest off of. There has [snorts] to be

30:14other established facts and evidence in

30:18order for that to be part of it. And

30:20then you can but that single piece of

30:22evidence is just what it is. It's a

30:24clue. This license plate reader

30:26technology when we get a hit of some

30:27type, it is a clue.

30:30You cannot then just take that clue and

30:32build a case and say, "Okay, this is my

30:35only piece of substantiated evidence and

30:37now I'm going to put somebody in jail."

30:39That's that that's not a thing. That

30:40can't it's not how that happens. No. No.

30:43No longer can we even do that. Not no

30:44longer, but sorry. Never have we ever

30:46been able to do that. Even with like DNA

30:48evidence, there has to be other

30:50substantiating facts and evidence that

30:52supports that a crime occurred and this

30:54person probably did it. This one piece

30:56of evidence alone does not support that.

30:59So I hope hopefully that kind of helps a

31:01little bit with understanding how that

31:03plays a role in developing a case. It is

31:05a clue, sure, but it in and of itself is

31:09not something that we can take action on

31:11to then, you know, take somebody into

31:13full custody.

31:19Think we There we go. My batteries might

31:21be going down. Um, so while I do know a

31:24good bit about the policies and

31:25procedures, there's some in-depth things

31:27we want to take you all through. uh we

31:29want to demonstrate and show you all the

31:31actual dashboard, explain what that

31:32looks like and then what a return looks

31:34like on the back end, what our officers

31:36see. So, in order to do that uh more

31:39eloquently, I've asked Lieutenant Billy

31:40Atwell to come speak. He is one of our

31:42department subject matter experts, and

31:44he's going to walk you all through

31:46exactly what that looks like and how we

31:48use it.

31:53>> Good afternoon, Council Billy Atwell.

31:56Since May of this year, I've been

31:58assigned to CPD's violent crime

32:00division. Prior to that, I spent the

32:03previous nine years uh developing,

32:06building out, supervising, and

32:08ultimately commanding the real-time

32:10intelligence center, which uses both the

32:13public safety cameras and the license

32:14plate recognition cameras. Today, I'm

32:18going to talk about how our officers use

32:19this technology and some things they can

32:21and cannot do.

32:24Uh let's see hopefully there we go. As

32:27[clears throat] you can see on this

32:28slide uh at the top it asks you to enter

32:31a plate number uh the registration state

32:34the vehicle type make model all those

32:37things are available to help us assist

32:40in finding the right vehicle. Uh at the

32:43at the bottom I think it's important to

32:46note that there it shows the current

32:48user. Next to that is a case number.

32:50There must be something entered in that

32:52case number. Uh next to that it says

32:55authorized purpose. There's two options

32:56in that dropdown. One of them is law

32:58enforcement. The other one is training.

33:02Next to the authorized reason, the

33:04officers must enter something in the

33:06authorized reason to run the search. If

33:09they don't enter something in those

33:10three things, it's going to not allow

33:12them to move forward when they do click

33:13the search button. It's going to say,

33:14"Hey, please enter something in these

33:16three blocks." [snorts]

33:19>> [clears throat]

33:20>> So officers enter a full or partial

33:22plate. This helps narrow down uh the

33:25results by date and time, geographic

33:27location, and available vehicle and

33:30other available vehicle descriptions.

33:33This is helpful when investigating

33:34things like a stolen vehicle,

33:37uh a vehicle described in a report, or a

33:40vehicle connected to a burglary, a

33:42missing person, or other active case.

33:46The second thing I want to talk about is

33:48how officers review historical

33:49sightings. Once we have an identified

33:52vehicle, officers can then enter that

33:55plate into Motorola software and examine

33:59its prior detections to establish

34:01timelines where it appeared, how often,

34:04day of week, time of day. This is

34:07helpful to generate leads, cooperate

34:09information that's been given in a

34:11report from witnesses.

34:14Uh, and it's also helpful for follow-up

34:17investigative work.

34:20The next thing I want to talk about is

34:21hot list and getting alerts for vehicles

34:25that require attention. Authorized users

34:28are officers and analysts can add a

34:32plate to a hot list and then set up

34:34active alerts once that active plate in

34:37the hot list runs past one of the

34:39license plate readers. They can set it

34:41up to receive text messages or they can

34:43set it up to receive an email every time

34:45that hot plate hits.

34:48Uh once once an officer gets an hot list

34:52alert, they must take a couple of things

34:55into consideration. They must evaluate

34:56the hit. If we have a plate that's

34:59ABC123 Tennessee,

35:02license plate reader might recognize

35:04ABC123 Alabama, right? So they have to

35:08evaluate the hit. They then have to

35:11confirm the information and then decide

35:13on an appropriate response.

35:16Prior to using any of Motorola's

35:18technology, officers are trained to use

35:20this system. Some things that they are

35:22trained is number one, this must be used

35:24for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

35:27Uh they must access only the data needed

35:29for their case or their specific role.

35:33They must treat license plate

35:35information as a lead. Like Chief

35:37Chambers talked about, this does not

35:38give them probable cause. It's only a

35:40lead in investigation, and it requires

35:42further verification through law

35:44enforcement sources.

35:46They must follow agency rules for hot

35:48list retention, sharing, and

35:50dissemination.

35:52[clears throat] Uh officers

35:54must avoid to use the hit alone as basis

35:57for assumptions about the driver or the

35:59occupants. and they must consider

36:02officer safety, dispatch coordination,

36:04[clears throat] and legal justification

36:06before taking action.

36:10Up here, I have basically [snorts] what

36:12an officer sees when he gets one of

36:14those alerts. Uh, at the very bottom

36:17there at the bottom right, it shows the

36:19image captured, the date and time. It

36:22shows the UTC there. That image next to

36:26it is blacked out. That's where the

36:27license plate would appear. what the

36:29image that the camera actually took. Um,

36:33we showed one of our police cars running

36:34past an LPR. It also to the left of that

36:37image shows the map of where the LPR

36:41read that plate and then it shows

36:42overall map of the city. At the top you

36:45can see the plate number.

36:48This is also another image. At the

36:50bottom you can clearly see the plate on

36:52this one.

36:54In summary, uh, license plate

36:56recognition technology helps our

36:58officers

36:59um, search for vehicle sightings, map

37:02historical historical locations, and

37:05create hot list alerts. Again, this

37:08helps generate and prioritize

37:10investigative leads, but results must be

37:12verified in accordance with CPD policy,

37:14state law, and officer safety practices.

37:18Uh, [snorts] the license plate readers

37:19that we use take still images. They do

37:21not take video.

37:24Uh again we use them for plate searches,

37:27hit alerts, geo fencing. We must enter a

37:30case report number and a reason for

37:32using the license plate technology.

37:35Uh thank you for your time and give me

37:37the opportunity to explain how our

37:39officers use this technology. At this

37:40time I'll turn it back over to Chief

37:41Chambers.

37:42>> Thank you.

37:45>> Thank you, Billy.

37:48>> Transparency and and some facts. Um, one

37:51of the things that we did shortly after

37:53I was uh, appointed chief was we took

37:57all of our policies, every one of our

37:59policies, and we made them public. We

38:01have a dashboard. This is a link to our

38:03specific license plate reader policy.

38:06Um, obviously there was a lot of talk

38:07over the last several months that's

38:09caused us to review those policies and

38:11and as it stands right now, so our our

38:13images are um that are not used for

38:15investigative purposes. Those images

38:17that have been determined that they are

38:19not a clue or a lead to an active

38:22investigation are deleted after 90 days

38:24and that is in accordance with state

38:26law. Um we are currently working to

38:29marry our public safety camera policy

38:32together with our license plate reader

38:34technology. So what that would do is

38:36that would reduce that storage time from

38:3890 days to 30 days to keep it

38:40consistent. Um it's also when it comes

38:42to the placement of those uh we want to

38:44make sure that we're analyzing that on a

38:46regular basis. We do that with our

38:48public safety cameras whereas they're

38:49analyzed every single year uh to

38:51determine how effective that they have

38:53been. And if crimes trends have moved

38:55and shifted then these cameras and this

38:58resource would move along with that. We

39:00want to keep the we feel like that that

39:02policy has been a solid foundation that

39:05we have built on and incorporating the

39:08same process for the license plate

39:09reader technology just makes sense to

39:11us. Um what that entails is an extremely

39:15detailed data analysis of violent crime

39:18specific data and then we receive

39:20community feedback at our CPIC meetings

39:22and then we receive officer feedback at

39:24lineups to determine the final location

39:26of where our public safety cameras go.

39:28We'll be doing the same thing with our

39:29license plate reader technology. Um, all

39:32searches, every time an officer is

39:34logged in, like I stated earlier,

39:35they're logged in under their account

39:38and all of that is recorded for audit

39:40purposes. Uh, we just we are going to

39:43start performing those every six months.

39:45Uh, we just completed one for this

39:47current year. Um, and that will be the

39:49the path going forward. And then also

39:51all of the data that's captured is owned

39:53by CPD or the city of Chattanooga. It is

39:56owned, it is not owned by Motorola. So

39:58therefore, we can dictate what is done

40:00with that, which is gives us the

40:02latitude to to make those requirements,

40:04the retention requirements, what we

40:06choose them to be. Um, something that

40:08that we will continue to do is be

40:12transparent. We have a community police

40:14academy going on right now where there

40:17we open the door to our real-time

40:18intelligence center and show everyone

40:20what this looks like, how we utilize it.

40:22Um, we want community feedback. We want

40:25the input because we do believe that

40:27this makes a significant impact in

40:31violent crime in our city. Something

40:33that I also wanted us for us to kind of

40:35discuss a little bit. Um there is a

40:37significant difference between the

40:40technology that Motorola previously

40:42vigilant utilizes and what Flock

40:45utilizes. Now Flock has been said so

40:47many times I've lost count over the last

40:49several months. um to the point where

40:52some people think that it's essentially

40:54synonymous with a license plate reader.

40:56Like in the south sometimes we'll say

40:58Coke and Coke could mean a number of

41:00different things. Um well, please

41:03understand it is absolutely not the same

41:05thing. It is completely different and

41:08it's different by way um of not just the

41:12physical camera itself but also the

41:14artificial intelligence on the back end

41:16that does the work for it. So when it

41:18comes to Motorola, like Lieutenant

41:19Atwell explained already, um that is an

41:22actual picture taking camera. It is not

41:25a video camera. It is not a constant

41:26feed. Police officers cannot log into

41:29that and view that camera. They do not

41:31have that capability.

41:33Additionally, they can be mobile or

41:35fixed. Um and then it is a true license

41:38plate reader technology where the

41:39technology in it, it's looking for a

41:41rectangular object with a series of

41:44letters and numbers. That's what it's

41:45looking for. It's not looking for a

41:47vehicle or a person or it it's just

41:50looking for that and when it spots that

41:51it takes the picture. That is how that

41:53works. So when it comes to flock which

41:55we don't use, we've never used um

41:58despite some of the misprints uh in the

42:00media. Um they do have specific

42:02retentions that is governed by the

42:05company itself. Additionally, it is a

42:08real video camera. It is an actual video

42:11camera that is live and it's constantly

42:13recording. And officers can log into

42:15that and view what's going on at

42:16whatever that camera is pointing at. And

42:19what it does is it's taking this video

42:21and it's using AI on the back end to

42:23analyze that video to determine what's

42:26going on and what it's recording. And it

42:28allows you to search actually quite a

42:31bit more. For instance, if you have a

42:33suspect vehicle description, but you

42:36don't have attack and you have a the

42:38description is a dark sedan and it has a

42:40bumper sticker on the bottom right

42:41corner and a cracked windshield. In the

42:43flock system, you can actually search

42:45that and it will go find it for you. We

42:48don't have that capability. We're not

42:50interested in in in that granular

42:53technology. Um, and obviously with the

42:55amount of privacy concerns that are very

42:57very legitimate, we're not going to go

42:59down that road with Flock. So vast

43:02differences between the two. The reason

43:04why we went with Motorola from the very

43:06beginning is because it's Motorola. It

43:09is a reputable company who has

43:11longstanding security practices. Um

43:13they've been in the public the uh the

43:16public safety sector for many many many

43:19many years. Um, at the time, Flock was a

43:21newer company that we hadn't really

43:23heard of, and we have been burned more

43:25than once with spending dollars, um,

43:27taxpayer or grant dollars on a piece of

43:30latest and greatest that just didn't

43:31work. We didn't want to go that route.

43:34Another thing that I have yet to hear

43:36anybody talk about though, but it's it

43:38is a very present reality, and that

43:41there are a tremendous number of

43:43privately owned license plate readers

43:45all over our city, all over the country.

43:48Um when it comes to um hotels and motel,

43:52they they have them on their lots. Uh

43:54car washes have them on their lots. Um

43:57it's it's out there. It it's everywhere.

44:00In in fact, one of the selling points

44:02that Motorola uses after procuring

44:05Vigilant is that they have the largest

44:08um private sector

44:11database out of any other country. I'm

44:14sorry, any other company in the country.

44:17when it comes to privately owned um even

44:20like neighborhood associations can

44:22purchase privately owned license plate

44:24readers and then they can monetize that

44:26if they so chose by selling that

44:28information back to the company if they

44:29wanted to do that. So there's there's a

44:31lot of questions that I feel like apply

44:33across the board private sector as well

44:35as the public sector when it comes to

44:37this type of technology and how it's

44:38used and we are absolutely willing to be

44:40at the table to have those conversations

44:42to explain how we use it and how we can

44:44keep those safeguards in place.

44:48One of the things I want to also talk

44:50about is how this actually applies to

44:53the members of our community. What it

44:56gives us the ability to do that

44:58previously we would not have been able

44:59to do. And we have unfortunate incidents

45:02in our city as well as we have members

45:03of our community that need us even when

45:06they don't realize they do for various

45:08reasons. Um, unfortunately, we had a

45:11situation earlier this year, um, early

45:13summer where a 15-year-old was taking

45:16his uncle to work and he was on his way

45:17back and apparently did something and

45:20somebody got upset and this individual

45:23decided to to uh act violently and shot

45:26into the car. We had a 15-year-old boy

45:29who is now paralyzed for the rest of his

45:31life over a road rage incident on

45:33Highway 153. And we didn't have a whole

45:36lot of leads to go on at the time, but

45:38after further investigation and the use

45:40of this technology, we were able to

45:41identify the suspect in that, further

45:44the investigation and make an arrest.

45:48We had an incident actually in Lookout

45:50Valley uh that was precipitated by

45:51eyewitness. Saw someone trying to load a

45:54body up in a car, couldn't ran over it.

45:57Um, we used the cameras owned by that

46:00company or by that hotel um to try to

46:03get an idea of what that car was and

46:05then we used both public safety camera

46:07and and license plate reader technology

46:09in other parts of the city to identify

46:11who that individual was and we were able

46:13to detain them for further questioning

46:16within about 5 hours.

46:19We had another incident that honestly

46:20should happen to no one ever. Um, this

46:22is not something that I would hope would

46:25occur here, but unfortunately it did.

46:27Um, earlier this year, uh, where we had

46:29a mother dropping off her son at Briner

46:31High School and a male clutching a

46:33firearm approached her and her car and

46:35threatened to blow her son's head off.

46:37License plate reader technology was

46:39utilized to help identify that suspect

46:41vehicle and identify who that suspect

46:44was for further investigation.

46:48We had another incident where a suspect

46:50who was soliciting undercover officers

46:53posing as minors [clears throat] for

46:54sexual activity was positively

46:55identified through an investigation.

46:59Warrants were obtained and we were able

47:01to locate that individual in Kansas and

47:04they have now been arrested and

47:06transferred back to Hamilton County

47:07where they await trial.

47:09We had another situation where children

47:11in our city ought to be able to play in

47:13their front yard without wor without

47:14without parents having to worry about

47:16their safety. We had four juveniles

47:18playing outside in their front yard when

47:20a silver car drove up and asked them if

47:22they needed a ride. The male that was

47:25driving the vehicle was completely naked

47:26from the waist down and fled the area

47:28when the juveniles declined his offer.

47:30That suspect and the vehicle were

47:32identified using again a combination of

47:34our license plate reader technology as

47:36well as public safety cameras. We were

47:38able to identify the suspect for further

47:39investigation, eventually able to obtain

47:42warrants and he has been arrested.

47:46Another situation where we had an

47:4883year-old female, she had several

47:51medical issues and her family, she lives

47:53here in Chattanooga and her family

47:54called because they were terrified and

47:55did not know what to do. with the use of

47:57our technology um as well as others um

48:01specifically license plate reader

48:03technology, we were able to locate her

48:04in Crossville, Tennessee and found her

48:06safe.

48:08We had another situation that really

48:10could have been dire. Um we had a 76

48:13year old man who was missing. His family

48:15reported him missing and we were able to

48:18use our license plate reader technology

48:20that narrowed down the search to the

48:21Camp Jordan area. officers responded to

48:23the area and actually utilized drone

48:25technology as well. We found the man

48:28lying in water. He was injured and

48:30clinging to a rock. And there is little

48:33doubt that had they not found him when

48:35they did, he would not be with us today.

48:38>> And finally, we did have two suspects

48:40that stole three bronze plaques valued

48:43over at over $18,000 from Sherman

48:45Reservation. uh the vehicle description

48:47was provided by the investigating park

48:49ranger and we were able to identify the

48:51suspect vehicle to give us a lead for

48:53further investigation in that case. So

48:57it's very very useful technology um

48:59that's just over the LA this this year

49:01most all of those are from this year.

49:04Additionally, we're able to use them

49:06from a fugitive standpoint to be able to

49:08identify violent fugitives that are have

49:11either committed crimes in our city and

49:12now fleeing other places or are still

49:15operating in our city to be able to hold

49:17them accountable.

49:19Before I go into questions, I I do want

49:21to address a couple different things.

49:24Law enforcement can be a very difficult

49:26job and we all know that. Therefore, we

49:29have a lot of tools at our disposal.

49:32And sometimes those tools are not used

49:34responsibly. We have a 3,000lb vehicle

49:37that we drive on a daily basis. And we

49:40have had incidents in this city and in

49:42this country where sometimes those

49:43vehicles are not used responsibly and it

49:46adversely affects members of our

49:48community. But when that's happened, we

49:51didn't take our vehicles away and give

49:53us horses. No, we don't. That's not what

49:55we do. What we do is we ensure that our

49:58policies, our practice, our training,

50:00our laws all support the responsible use

50:03and we hold that individual accountable.

50:06And this piece of technology, if it's

50:08used responsibly with the proper

50:10governance and in conjunction with what

50:14we've already established with our

50:15public safety cameras, it only will be a

50:18force multiplier. It helps us keep our

50:21community safe, which is our mission.

50:24I do want us to take a look back for a

50:26second. Before we had the real-time

50:28intelligence center, before we had the

50:30responsible use of modern technology, in

50:332016, the city of Chattanooga

50:35experienced 30 homicides

50:39with a clearance rate of only 50%.

50:43We had 15 families that never saw

50:46justice.

50:48That is not acceptable. And now let's

50:50just look back to last year where we saw

50:53a 48% reduction in that number of

50:56homicides and we had a 90 plus%

51:00clearance rate.

51:02And as I stand here at this very moment

51:05with the 48% reduction in homicides that

51:09we had last year, as I stand here, we

51:12are 23% below that number year to date.

51:16Also, we are 24% below our criminal

51:20non-fatal shootings. And if you remember

51:23last year, we saw an all-time low since

51:27we have recorded that data, which was

51:292013, the lowest number ever recorded.

51:32And we're 24% that number as I stand

51:34here today.

51:36The implementation of our public safety

51:38cameras and the process that we used

51:41that works with the community that needs

51:44us the most is the same process we'll

51:47continue to use with license plate

51:49reader technology. It has proven its

51:51efficacy. It's proven that the members

51:54of that community want us there because

51:56they realize the value it offers.

52:00What we can't ever forget is that we

52:03didn't have this in 2016, 2015, 2013.

52:07And the things that we started to see,

52:09and it was the first time in my career

52:11and about the 2011 to 2012 mark where

52:14instead of getting a call that there's a

52:15shooting at a given location, and then

52:17we respond to the shooting, we didn't

52:19get those calls. Those stopped. We

52:22started getting calls at a local

52:24emergency room to say somebody got

52:25dropped off with a gunshot wound. And

52:28then we'd go into the communities and

52:29say, "Hey, what happened?" And out of

52:31fear, very reasonable fear and real, we

52:35wouldn't get a lot of cooperation. That

52:38makes sense because everyone knows we

52:40can't be everywhere at the same time.

52:42And jokingly, I will say we're usually

52:44never where you need us when you need

52:46us.

52:47But the truth of the matter is this

52:49technology offers us the opportunity to

52:52have an unbiased eyewitness

52:56that will always show up in court.

52:58It's a clue. It's a valuable piece of

53:00evidence that has proven to us, proven

53:03to the communities that are most affect

53:06affected by violent crime that it works.

53:08And I really hope that as we move

53:11forward in these discussions, as we move

53:13forward with technology as a whole, that

53:15anytime there is something that comes

53:17into question, that we will always sit

53:20and have the conversations and include

53:22the communities that are most effective

53:26before we make decisions.

53:28Thank you so much for this time and I

53:30I'm here to answer any questions you may

53:32have.

53:32>> I think we do have a few. Chief, thank

53:34you. Um, Councilwoman Hill, you're

53:36recognized.

53:37>> Thank you.

53:38Chief, I really appreciate

53:41this presentation and your leadership

53:45and your entire CPD team. Thank you all

53:49very much for what you do. Um, few

53:52things stood out to me um, in this

53:55presentation and I I'll say that I got

53:58my first question about flock cameras in

54:00January of this year and sent it

54:04straight to Gerald Neil in DTS and he

54:08um, gave me a terrific detailed answer

54:11about the kind of cameras that we use

54:13um, what we don't do u, and it has been

54:17immensely helpful and your the links

54:21that you've provided um direct to the

54:24policies I think are going to be really

54:26helpful to people. Um

54:29I

54:31you said that

54:33even though we're not you know the CPD

54:35isn't perfect and humans aren't perfect

54:37and sometimes you know if you have a car

54:40accident you we haven't taken away the

54:41cars and given you horses and it

54:44occurred to me you don't have horses

54:46because the CPD is not cowboys.

54:49>> [clears throat]

54:49>> Yes, ma'am.

54:50>> The CPD has proven time and again how

54:53thoughtful and professional you are with

54:56your approach to law enforcement and

54:59keeping our community safe. And the

55:02success stories that you shared with us

55:07are the life-changing events for

55:09individual families that every one of us

55:11prays every day we never experience. And

55:14yet it's so important that we hear them

55:18from you. [clears throat] Um that we

55:20hear about the young man on 153 whose

55:24life is forever changed, but you were

55:26able to find and connect him with

55:29justice in a way that 10 years ago would

55:32not have been possible.

55:33>> Yes, ma'am.

55:34>> That's important. That's really

55:35important because that driver could have

55:38just zoomed on down 153 and never

55:40thought about it again. Um,

55:43I really want to highlight the clarity

55:47of the policies and how dedicated you

55:50are to the transparency there and being

55:53willing to re-evaluate policy and always

55:56improve it is a very important cultural

55:59standard for the CPD and I'm glad that

56:02you have it. Um, and the final thing

56:04that stood out to me that I want to

56:07acknowledge my appreciation for

56:11is your thoughtful deployment of

56:13technology in the district, but also the

56:16city of Chattanooga as a whole. The

56:18thoughtful deployment of technology. You

56:20can't always get it right. It moves

56:21fast. Um, but going back to we're not

56:25cowboys and this is not about how big

56:27your truck is or how loud your engine is

56:30or how, you know,

56:33ladies, we know what we're trying to

56:34say, right? It's not about that. It's

56:37about keeping people safe. And so

56:38[clears throat] getting the appropriate

56:40technology for the job um that works

56:44within the community of who we are as

56:46Chad Nugans is important. Um I just

56:49deeply appreciate you and all CPD. Thank

56:51you very much.

56:52>> Thank you so much,

56:52>> Mr. Chair.

56:54>> Councilman Harvey, you're recognized.

56:56>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Chief, thank

56:58you for being here. you and I have had

56:59extensive conversation about this topic

57:01over the last few weeks. Um so I I want

57:04to go over just a few things uh to

57:07confirm with you and to better

57:08understand um our technology u at hand.

57:12Um you know first of all I can't imagine

57:16any law-abiding citizen u you know

57:19disagreeing with the fact that this can

57:21be used and has been used for for good.

57:23>> Um absolutely. Um so so thank you for

57:26that. Glad glad that that has become uh

57:30a thing. Uh but I you know we've we've

57:33heard a lot from the public on this

57:35issue

57:36>> and and the main issue is is mass

57:38surveillance, right?

57:39>> Mhm.

57:39>> U and so that's the main concern and I

57:42think you know for me that is the main

57:43concern is mass surveillance of of law

57:45abiding citizens. Um and and remains a

57:49concern in you know perpetuity. Um, I

57:52think it's something that we've got to

57:54take into consideration when we talk

57:56about this technology, especially as AI,

58:00I mean, we're experiencing right as we

58:02speak and the AI boom, right? That is

58:04where we had the tech boom before we're

58:06seeing that with AI and we've got to do

58:08I mean, we have a duty to protect

58:10law-abiding citizens uh from from

58:13surveillance. So, I'm I'm glad to hear

58:14that we have guard rails uh already in

58:17place on on the the current technology

58:19that we have.

58:20>> But [snorts] to confirm, we have no

58:22fault cameras. [laughter]

58:24>> Correct.

58:25>> None. We never have had we have never

58:28procured and implemented any of those.

58:30Whatever words you want to add to that

58:32to to make it clear. No, sir.

58:34>> I want to make that crystal. We have the

58:36media in the back. [laughter]

58:39>> We want to make sure you guys get that

58:40on record. zero plot cameras in the city

58:43of Chattanooga and we're proud of that

58:44by the way. U so okay well I'm glad to

58:48hear that. U so what I hear you say when

58:51you talk about these Motorola LPRs is

58:53that these have guard rails on them that

58:56Flock does not.

58:57>> Correct.

58:58>> Is that correct?

58:58>> That's correct.

59:00>> Specific to uh mass surveillance who is

59:03able to uh get in and use this

59:07technology and use this information.

59:08Correct. I don't know what flocks

59:10platform looks like from a users's

59:13perspective. So I don't know about I

59:14don't really can't speak to that. I will

59:16say that the platforms are vastly

59:18different in that flock cameras are

59:19actual video cameras. They are what you

59:21would call a surveillance camera whereas

59:23Motoras are not. Motoras take pictures

59:25like your like an old school camera.

59:27They they take pictures based on like I

59:29said there is so artificial intelligence

59:32is something also that has a vast

59:33definition.

59:34>> Sure.

59:34>> Right. We've all used Microsoft Word or

59:36Google Docs and when you misspell

59:38something there's a squiggly line under

59:39it. That is AI. Yep.

59:41>> Right. So there is a version of AI right

59:45that's it's antiquated compared to flop

59:46but that Motorola uses that it looks for

59:49rectangular objects with letters and

59:51numbers. So to say it doesn't use it

59:53would be false. It does. It just there's

59:55varying forms of it if that makes sense.

59:57>> Well let me ask you that speaking of

59:59that that U topic. So how do hits work?

1:00:03So we there was some information there

1:00:05in the slides that talk about when a hit

1:00:07comes up. What what does that mean? Is

1:00:08that is that a car that was reported by

1:00:11a citizen that you know they were you

1:00:15know whatever a robbery or something and

1:00:17they happened to snag the license plate

1:00:19number at the last. But tell me how that

1:00:21how how does a hit work?

1:00:22>> Right. So so there's two ways that a hit

1:00:24would work. The the first way is the

1:00:25primary way. The first way um applies to

1:00:27the ncasi.

1:00:29So it's it's a database that's a

1:00:31nationwide database. So if you call me

1:00:32and you say, "Hey, my car has been

1:00:34stolen." So we come out to take a

1:00:35report, then we have to call in the

1:00:37dispatch and we have the car entered

1:00:38into that national database. That way if

1:00:41any police officer in the country,

1:00:44right, runs your tag, it comes back as

1:00:46stolen and they say, "Oh, this car was

1:00:48stolen, contact, you know, officer

1:00:50Chambers of the Chattanooga Police

1:00:51Department and that it has a whole list

1:00:53of things." Also, if there's an order of

1:00:55protection against someone, if somebody

1:00:57has an Amber Alert, um there's a number

1:01:00of factors there and there's guard rails

1:01:02and and guidelines in order for

1:01:04something to be entered in that

1:01:05database. And there is a national and

1:01:08state level um certification you have to

1:01:10have to be able to enter that

1:01:12information. The other would be a hit

1:01:14list that that would be local. So that

1:01:16would be one where a police officer is

1:01:18taking a report or maybe an investigator

1:01:20is following up on a crime and okay, we

1:01:22have a shooting, we have a partial plate

1:01:24or maybe we do have a full plate, but

1:01:26regardless, either way, it works the

1:01:27same. Then they would submit to a

1:01:30supervisor that they're going to we want

1:01:32this plate put on the local I hit list.

1:01:36That way if a Chattanooga police

1:01:37officer, you know, we get an alert on

1:01:39our LPRs if a car drives past that. But

1:01:43that process is similar to what you just

1:01:45looked at to where it goes to a

1:01:46supervisor in our real-time intelligence

1:01:48center who reviews it to ensure all

1:01:50those boxes are checked. It's got a

1:01:52complaint number. There's a reason for

1:01:53it. It's logical. It's like it's it's a

1:01:56true investigation. It's not, you know,

1:01:59I want to go see what my my my spouse is

1:02:01doing, so I want to enter this on a hit

1:02:03list. No, it has to be approved by a

1:02:04supervisor. It has to be a a lawful

1:02:07investigation related to a crime that

1:02:09they're investigating, and then it's

1:02:11applied to that list. Okay. So, so when

1:02:13I drive by an LPR and I' I've not broken

1:02:15any laws or whatever, I'm not popping up

1:02:18on anything. Is that correct?

1:02:19>> That is correct. Okay.

1:02:20>> And then those those images if if if I

1:02:23don't pop up in the system, then then

1:02:25those images are gone right now in 90

1:02:28days.

1:02:29>> Correct. In the near future, it'll be

1:02:30>> in the near future, it'll be 30 days.

1:02:31Yes, sir.

1:02:32>> Okay. All right. Good.

1:02:33>> Okay. U Well, again, thank you. Uh I'm

1:02:37glad to hear that we're not using flock

1:02:38at this time. Uh I hope that can

1:02:41provides the public with some uh peace

1:02:43of mind as well and that uh we don't

1:02:45have any plans to use flock. Uh we you

1:02:49know again I I really want to double

1:02:50down and and make sure that we have

1:02:53guardrails on these things to where they

1:02:54are used appropriately and they're not

1:02:56used for mass surveillance. So again

1:02:58glad we're not using flock and don't

1:02:59have any plans to uh appreciate the

1:03:01information today. Thank you.

1:03:02>> Yes sir.

1:03:04>> Okay.

1:03:06>> Councilman Henderson you're recognized.

1:03:08Chief, I [clears throat] think you

1:03:10explained a lot of the questions that I

1:03:12had. So, this database that this

1:03:17Motorola

1:03:18captures is taking pictures of every

1:03:21vehicle that goes by

1:03:23>> if it has a a tag on it. Yes, sir.

1:03:25>> Yeah. And so it will store it will store

1:03:28and create a database for 90 days.

1:03:30>> Correct.

1:03:31>> And then if there is an investigation or

1:03:34whatever and we say uh you know we need

1:03:38We need to know, you know, we enter a we

1:03:41got we have a license tag. We enter that

1:03:43license tag and basically it'll come up

1:03:46and say, okay, it came through this

1:03:47intersection at such and such date. And

1:03:50that's that's

1:03:51>> we're using this for proximity at that

1:03:54point then. Correct. I mean

1:03:56>> proximity.

1:03:57>> I'm sorry.

1:03:58>> So proximity I I mean to establish was

1:04:02was this car in an area or in the area

1:04:05of a crime?

1:04:05>> It could be. Right. Depending on the

1:04:08information, the type of investigation

1:04:09that it it could be used. Yes, sir. To

1:04:12see if, you know, if we had a suspect

1:04:14vehicle and we Okay, here's here's the

1:04:16potential vehicle and tag number. We're

1:04:18seeing was this vehicle in that area at

1:04:21the time this crime occurred. Is that is

1:04:23that what you're asking?

1:04:24>> Yeah. Yeah. Because you're you're Well,

1:04:27you said earlier this is a clue.

1:04:29>> Yeah. And the clue is this car or this

1:04:32vehicle was in the area at at a time.

1:04:36Let me let me just say could be could

1:04:38have been in this area cuz even though

1:04:40it comes back as a hit doesn't mean for

1:04:42sure it's that car.

1:04:44>> It it has to be reviewed further. It's

1:04:46not guaranteed. It has to be followed up

1:04:48and verified by other facts and evidence

1:04:51not just the hit alone.

1:04:53>> Okay. And and so what would be the

1:04:55purpose of eliminate or going from 90

1:04:57days to 30 days then if if

1:05:03>> these if this database could be used for

1:05:06investigations why I mean why would we

1:05:08>> to be consistent with our policies

1:05:10honestly um if our public safety camera

1:05:12policies is at 30 days and that was like

1:05:15we determined that kind of based on you

1:05:17know one MTAS national trends industry

1:05:21standards then if I'm going to marry the

1:05:23two policies

1:05:24Keeping those policies consistent to me

1:05:27makes logical sense. Um, you know, it's

1:05:30it's very rare if if ever that, you

1:05:32know, we're losing evidence on a violent

1:05:35crime after, you know, that 30-day mark.

1:05:37Normally, we get notified of the violent

1:05:40crime and start the investigation within

1:05:4130 days. So, that that supports that in

1:05:44my opinion.

1:05:45>> Okay.

1:05:47All right. And then I is there um

1:05:51like what guarantee does the public have

1:05:53that these are actually being deleted or

1:05:56destroyed after the at 90 days or the

1:06:0130-day policy.

1:06:03>> That's that is part of our

1:06:04administrative role where we have

1:06:06administrators that that are are keeping

1:06:08check on that. I mean that is a

1:06:10contractual obligation by Motorola. So

1:06:13there there there would be civil

1:06:14litigation if we were ever to find out

1:06:15for some reason they were using our data

1:06:17outside of the scope of that contract.

1:06:19>> Okay.

1:06:21>> All right. Okay. Thank you, Chief.

1:06:23>> Yes, sir.

1:06:23>> Okay,

1:06:26>> council. Are there any other questions

1:06:28for Chief Chambers?

1:06:31>> Thank you again.

1:06:31>> Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you so much.

1:06:33>> Um All right, council. That takes us to

1:06:35our um agenda meeting. We do have a

1:06:39couple of things to discuss and attorney

1:06:41client. Uh, we will be in recess until

1:06:425:30. 30.

2:04:26We are back in session. Madame clerk, if

2:04:28you would please read item 8A,

2:04:33>> an ordinance amending Chattanooga City

2:04:34Code Part 2, Chapter 5, section 548,

2:04:37expiration of beer permits.

2:04:40M.

2:04:42>> We have a motion properly seconded.

2:04:44Council, are there any questions or

2:04:46comments on this item before we vote?

2:04:50[snorts]

2:04:50>> All in favor?

2:04:51>> I. Any opposed?

2:04:54And the ordinance passes on first

2:04:55reading. [snorts] Um, item 8B, please.

2:04:58>> An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City

2:05:00Code Part 2, Chapter 24, Article 14,

2:05:03Section 24502, schedule 2, speed on

2:05:07through streets.

2:05:09We have a motion properly seconded on

2:05:11this ordinance on first reading. Um, are

2:05:14there any questions or comments before

2:05:17we vote? Council,

2:05:18all in favor?

2:05:20>> I. Any opposed? And the ordinance passes

2:05:23on first reading.

2:05:26Item 8 C, please. An [clears throat]

2:05:29ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code

2:05:31Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance so

2:05:33as to reszone properties located at

2:05:356411, 6511, and 6611 Dayton Boulevard

2:05:39from RN16, residential neighborhood zone

2:05:42to RN13 residential neighborhood zone

2:05:44subject to certain conditions.

2:05:46>> And for the record, this is planning

2:05:49item 2026-0095.

2:05:53Is the applicant present?

2:05:56And is there any opposition present?

2:06:00All right, Councilman Henderson, you're

2:06:02recognized.

2:06:03>> Thank you. On the request of the

2:06:04applicant, I move to withdraw.

2:06:08>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:06:10withdraw this ordinance. Are there any

2:06:13questions or comments, council, before

2:06:15we vote?

2:06:18All in favor?

2:06:19>> I. Any opposed? And the ordinance is

2:06:22withdrawn.

2:06:24Item 8 D, please. An ordinance to amend

2:06:28Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38

2:06:30zoning ordinance so as to reszone

2:06:32property located at 5502 Dayton

2:06:34Boulevard from RN2 residential

2:06:36neighborhood zone to CNTT neighborhood

2:06:39transition commercial zone subject to

2:06:41certain conditions.

2:06:43>> And for the record again, this is

2:06:45planning item 2026-03.

2:06:49Is the applicant present and is there

2:06:52any opposition present?

2:06:56All right. Don't see any opposition. Um,

2:06:59Councilman Henderson, you're recognized.

2:07:01>> Second.

2:07:02>> Do have a motion properly seconded um to

2:07:05approve this ordinance on first reading.

2:07:07Are there any questions or comments

2:07:10before we vote?

2:07:12All in favor?

2:07:14>> I. Any opposed? And the ordinance passes

2:07:17on first reading. [snorts]

2:07:20Item 8E, please. An ordinance to amend

2:07:24Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38

2:07:26zoning ordinance so as to reszone

2:07:28property located at 1123 Mountain Creek

2:07:31Road from RN17.5

2:07:33residential zone to RN3 residential zone

2:07:36subject to certain conditions.

2:07:39>> And this is planning item 2026-01000.

2:07:44Is the applicant present?

2:07:47And is there any opposition present?

2:07:51Councilman Henderson.

2:07:52>> On request of the applicant, I move to

2:07:55withdraw. Second.

2:07:56>> All right. Council, we do have a motion

2:07:58properly seconded to withdraw this

2:08:00planning item. Are there any questions

2:08:02or comments before we vote? All in

2:08:05favor?

2:08:06>> I.

2:08:06>> Any opposed? And the ordinance is

2:08:09withdrawn.

2:08:12And item 8F, please. An ordinance to

2:08:15amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2,

2:08:17Chapter 38 zoning ordinance so as to

2:08:19reszone property located at 1307 Hixon

2:08:22Pike from INST institutional zone to CNT

2:08:26neighborhood transition commercial zone.

2:08:28[clears throat]

2:08:28>> And this is planning item 2026-000097.

2:08:33Is the applicant present tonight? Okay.

2:08:36Is there any opposition present?

2:08:39Don't see any opposition.

2:08:43Councilwoman Hill, you're recognized.

2:08:45>> I make a motion to approve.

2:08:46>> Second.

2:08:47>> Have a motion properly seconded to

2:08:48approve this uh planning ordinance on

2:08:51first reading. Council, are there any

2:08:52questions or comments before we vote?

2:08:55All in favor?

2:08:57>> I. Any opposed? And the ordinance passes

2:09:00on first reading.

2:09:048G, please. An ordinance to amend

2:09:07Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter 38

2:09:09zoning ordinance, so as to lift

2:09:11condition numbers 3, 4, and 6 from

2:09:13ordinance number 13479,

2:09:16previous case number 2021209,

2:09:19and to amend condition number five for

2:09:21the property located at 5313 Champion

2:09:23Road, Hamilton County Tax Map number

2:09:26120K A003

2:09:29only, subject to certain conditions.

2:09:35And this is planning item 2026-000098.

2:09:39Is the applicant present? Okay. Is there

2:09:42any opposition present?

2:09:44>> I have I'm trying to see which one.

2:09:50>> So this is on page three. It's item G.

2:09:54>> G.

2:09:55>> Yes, ma'am.

2:09:58>> Okay.

2:10:00It should

2:10:00>> we need to maybe we need

2:10:04>> Okay, sure. Do we have those?

2:10:06>> Yes, sir. Hold on just a second. I'll

2:10:08get them to you. [clears throat]

2:10:18>> Is it recommended for approval by

2:10:20planning commission?

2:10:21>> Yes, ma'am.

2:10:24and the the conditions on that property.

2:10:27Uh here it's it's actually lifting what

2:10:29were uh conditions 3, four, and six. And

2:10:33the conditions will now be um uh subject

2:10:37to the following conditions. no storage

2:10:39of vehicles within 50 ft of the rideway

2:10:42of Champion Road, lighting to be

2:10:44directed away from all residential areas

2:10:46of properties, and heavy retail rental

2:10:49and service with no outdoors storage

2:10:52only. And then it further says that

2:10:55those uh condition numbers 1 through six

2:10:59will remain in effect for 5312 Champion

2:11:02Road. And that is the six conditions

2:11:05that were there before, which is no

2:11:07storage of vehicles within 50 ft of the

2:11:09rideway of Champion Road. Lighting to be

2:11:11directed away from all residential areas

2:11:14or properties. One access point onto

2:11:16Champion Road. A 7 foot tall opaque

2:11:19fence shall be installed around the

2:11:21storage facility areas. Outdoor storage

2:11:24facility use only and adultoriented

2:11:28establishments, gas stations, open air

2:11:30markets, vehicular repair or service

2:11:33facilities, car washes and wholesaling

2:11:35with accessory warehousing uses shall be

2:11:38prohibited and those will remain in

2:11:40effect for the property there for 5312

2:11:43Champion.

2:11:45>> Okay. So, having heard those conditions,

2:11:48is there any opposition that would like

2:11:50to be heard?

2:11:53Okay, seeing none, Councilman Henderson,

2:11:55you're recognized.

2:11:56>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2:11:57>> Uh earlier, Councilman, this is in

2:11:59Councilman Clark's district, uh which

2:12:01he's not present at this time. He did

2:12:04state earlier that he was in favor of uh

2:12:08this recommendation. So, at this time, I

2:12:11move uh for approval.

2:12:13>> Second.

2:12:14>> All right. Do I have a motion? Properly

2:12:16seconded.

2:12:19It is the one that

2:12:22>> Yes, ma'am.

2:12:23>> the first.

2:12:24>> Yes, ma'am.

2:12:24>> Yes, ma'am.

2:12:26>> You're welcome. We do have a motion

2:12:28properly seconded, council, to approve

2:12:30this planning item on first reading. Are

2:12:32there any questions or comments before

2:12:34we vote?

2:12:36>> All in favor?

2:12:37>> I. Any opposed?

2:12:39>> And the ordinance passes on first

2:12:41reading. Um 8H, please.

2:12:45An ordinance amending Chattanooga City

2:12:47Code Part 2, Chapter 38, the Chattanooga

2:12:49Zoning Ordinance, as adopted by

2:12:50ordinance number 14137, on July 23rd,

2:12:542024, article 9 uses section 3841.1

2:13:00use matrix [clears throat] table to

2:13:01amend drive-throughs, standalone, or as

2:13:03an accessory use, as a permitted use

2:13:06when located outside the urban overlay

2:13:07zone. and to amend section 3842 and 3843

2:13:12by amending the stacking requirements

2:13:13and to add no drive-through increase

2:13:15egress can cross the Riverwalk or

2:13:17Greenway connector.

2:13:22>> Move to approve. Second.

2:13:24>> We do have a motion properly seconded.

2:13:26Council, are there any questions or

2:13:28comments before we vote? All in favor?

2:13:32>> I. Any opposed? And the ordinance passes

2:13:35on first reading. Um, item 9A, please.

2:13:40>> A resolution confirming the appointment

2:13:42of Ruth Walker to the Head Start

2:13:44Governing Board for District District 3

2:13:46for a term beginning on September 2nd,

2:13:482026 and ending on September 1st, 2028.

2:13:51Mot.

2:13:53>> Council, we do have a motion properly

2:13:54seconded um on this resolution. Are

2:13:57there any questions or comments before

2:13:59we vote?

2:14:01All in favor?

2:14:03>> Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:14:06adopted. I don't see Dr. Walker in the

2:14:09audience. Um, but she is from my

2:14:11district and if she's watching online, I

2:14:13appreciate her willingness to serve.

2:14:17>> All right. Item 9B, please.

2:14:20A resolution authorizing the

2:14:21administrator for the Department of

2:14:22Economic Development enter into a

2:14:24license agreement with 4J's Ducks LLC in

2:14:27substantially the form attached for the

2:14:29term of 2 years beginning May 1st, 2026

2:14:33and ending April 30th, 2028 with the

2:14:35option to renew for one additional term

2:14:37of two years for access to a specific

2:14:40location at Ross' Landing ramp to

2:14:42provide access to the Tennessee River at

2:14:44the monthly license fee of $300. moved

2:14:48over. Second.

2:14:50>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:14:52approve this resolution. Council, are

2:14:54there any questions or comments before

2:14:56we vote?

2:14:58>> All in favor?

2:15:00>> Any opposed? And the resolution adopted.

2:15:03Item 9 C, please.

2:15:06>> A resolution authorizing the

2:15:07administrator for the Department of

2:15:09Economic Development to enter into a

2:15:10second amendment to lease agreement with

2:15:12Friends of the Zoo, Inc. and

2:15:14substantially the form attached to

2:15:16[clears throat] expand the area of the

2:15:17leased premises on November 1st, 2026 to

2:15:20include the area identified in exhibit A

2:15:22of the second amendment to lease

2:15:24agreement

2:15:26to approve.

2:15:26>> Sec.

2:15:27>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:15:29approve this resolution. Council, are

2:15:31there any questions or comments before

2:15:33we vote?

2:15:35All in favor?

2:15:36>> I. Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:15:39adopted.

2:15:42Item 9 D, please. A

2:15:46>> resolution declaring the surplus of

2:15:48property located at 1517 Old Ringold

2:15:50Road, further identified as tax map

2:15:52number 156 FC016

2:15:56as recommended by resolution

2:15:58[clears throat] MR2026101

2:16:00in substantially the form attached on

2:16:02August 10th, 2026.

2:16:07>> Second.

2:16:08We have a motion properly seconded to

2:16:10approve this resolution. Are there any

2:16:12questions or comments before we vote?

2:16:15All in favor?

2:16:17>> Any opposed?

2:16:19>> And the resolution is adopted. Item 9E,

2:16:22please.

2:16:23>> A resolution authorizing the appointment

2:16:24of Naman Mauy as a special commissioned

2:16:27police officer unarmed for the

2:16:29Chattanooga Housing Authority

2:16:30[clears throat] to perform to perform

2:16:31duties expressly limited to the

2:16:33performance of the duties in the

2:16:35position of investigator.

2:16:37Okay,

2:16:38>> we have a motion properly seconded to

2:16:40approve this resolution. Council, are

2:16:42there any questions or comments before

2:16:44we vote?

2:16:45All in favor?

2:16:47>> I. Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:16:50adopted.

2:16:52Item 9F, please. A resolution

2:16:55authorizing the administrator for the

2:16:57Department of Public Works to award the

2:16:58continuing on call professional services

2:17:00for Birchwood and Summit landfill gas

2:17:02and groundwater sample monitor and

2:17:04reporting blanket contract number

2:17:06SWD2600021000

2:17:10with the following four consultant

2:17:12firms. One Andura Group Inc. two CTI

2:17:16Engineers Inc. three Geocintech

2:17:19Consultants Inc. and four Terracon

2:17:21Consultants Inc. based upon their

2:17:23qualifications within the identified

2:17:25service categories for a 4-year term

2:17:27with for an annual amount of $345,000

2:17:32for use by all departments.

2:17:35>> Second,

2:17:36>> we have a motion properly seconded to

2:17:37approve this resolution. Council, are

2:17:39there any questions or comments before

2:17:41we vote? [clears throat]

2:17:43>> All in favor?

2:17:44>> Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:17:46adopted.

2:17:48>> Item 9G, please. A resolution

2:17:51authorizing the administrator for the

2:17:53Department of Public Works to award the

2:17:54continuing on call professional services

2:17:56for Birchwood and Summit landfill

2:17:58deficiency recommendations and repairs

2:18:00blanket contract number SWD26001000

2:18:04[clears throat]

2:18:06with the [snorts] following four

2:18:08consultant firms. One Andura Group Inc.

2:18:11two CTI Engineers Inc. three Geocint

2:18:15Consultants Inc. and four HDR

2:18:18Engineering Inc. based upon their

2:18:19qualifications within the identified

2:18:21service categories for a four-year term

2:18:24for an annual amount of $900,000 for use

2:18:27by all departments

2:18:29[snorts] to approve. Second,

2:18:31>> I have a motion properly seconded to

2:18:33approve this resolution. Are there any

2:18:35questions or comments before we vote?

2:18:39All in favor?

2:18:40>> Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:18:43adopted. Item 9H, please. A resolution

2:18:47authorizing the administrator for the

2:18:48Department of Public Works to award

2:18:50contract number Y23009201

2:18:54East Lake Community Center satellite

2:18:56parking lot to Integrated Builds LLC in

2:18:59the amount of 55,299

2:19:04and authorizing a contingency in the

2:19:06amount of $10,000 for a total amount not

2:19:08to exceed $515,299.

2:19:15Move to approve.

2:19:16>> Second.

2:19:17>> Have a motion properly seconded to

2:19:19approve this resolution. Council, are

2:19:22there any questions or comments before

2:19:24we vote?

2:19:26>> All in favor?

2:19:27>> I. Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:19:30adopted. Item 9, I please. A resolution

2:19:35authorizing the administrator for the

2:19:37Department of Public Works to approve

2:19:38change order number one to contract

2:19:40number M230007201

2:19:43Development Resource Center interior

2:19:45improvements [clears throat] to BJB

2:19:47Construction Company, Inc. of Brentwood,

2:19:49Tennessee for interior cosmetic repairs

2:19:51to previously water damaged areas for an

2:19:55increased amount of $52,23

2:19:59for a revised contract amount of

2:20:01$227,433

2:20:04with a contingency in the amount of

2:20:06$15,000

2:20:08for a revised total amount not to exceed

2:20:12$242,433.

2:20:16>> Move to approve.

2:20:17>> Second. Have a motion properly seconded

2:20:19to um adopt this resolution. Council,

2:20:22are there any questions or comments

2:20:24before we vote?

2:20:26All in favor?

2:20:28>> Any opposed? And resolution is adopted.

2:20:31Item 9 J, please. A resolution

2:20:34authorizing the administrator for the

2:20:36Department of Public Works to accept the

2:20:37donation of 11 40 foot storage

2:20:39containers of office furniture in good

2:20:41condition from Volkswagen Group of

2:20:43America Chattanooga with an estimated

2:20:45value of $112,000 and authorizing the

2:20:48reimbursement of $4,999

2:20:51in moving expenses.

2:20:54>> Second.

2:20:55>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:20:57approve this resolution. Council, are

2:20:59there any questions or comments before

2:21:01we vote?

2:21:03All in favor?

2:21:04>> I.

2:21:04>> Any opposed? And the resolution is

2:21:07adopted. Item 9K, please.

2:21:10>> A resolution authorizing the

2:21:12appointments of Bruce Hunt, Hubert

2:21:13Paris, Josh Burgess, Tikeke Gooden, Ed

2:21:16Graham, and Samuel Manning as special

2:21:18[clears throat] police officers unarmed

2:21:20for the city of Chattanooga, Department

2:21:21of Public Works, Land Development

2:21:23Office, expressly limited to the

2:21:25performance of duties in their position

2:21:26as code enforcement officer in the land

2:21:29development office.

2:21:31>> Sorry. I have a motion properly seconded

2:21:34to approve this resolution. Council, are

2:21:36there any questions or comments before

2:21:38we vote?

2:21:40All in favor? I. Any opposed? And the

2:21:44resolution is adopted. And then finally,

2:21:479 L, please. A resolution authorizing

2:21:50the administrator for the wastewater

2:21:52department to enter into a permanent

2:21:54easement agreement for a public sanitary

2:21:56sewer line with Chattanooga Golf and

2:21:58Country Club on a portion of tax map

2:22:00number 136 GA001

2:22:03in substantially the form attached for

2:22:05the amount of $75,000.

2:22:10>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:22:12approve this resolution. Are there any

2:22:14questions or comments before we vote?

2:22:18All in favor? I. Any opposed?

2:22:22And the resolution is adopted.

2:22:25That takes us to purchases. We're happy

2:22:26to welcome Weston to the podium.

2:22:31[clears throat and cough]

2:22:34[snorts]

2:22:39>> Uh this evening we have

2:22:42Oh, before you get started, yeah, let me

2:22:44recognize Councilwoman Burrs. Thank you,

2:22:47Mr. Chair. It I have a question for the

2:22:49city attorney. In the earlier meeting, I

2:22:51made a motion to reconsider and it was

2:22:53it was uh second and probably seconded

2:22:55and approved to bring that item from se

2:22:58two weeks ago back to the agenda tonight

2:23:01for our security services

2:23:02>> and it was scheduled for the 22nd and

2:23:04instead you want to take it up this

2:23:06evening.

2:23:06>> Correct. So, um

2:23:09>> just has the proper documentation to

2:23:11read it at the end of today's purchases.

2:23:13Is that proper?

2:23:14>> Yes.

2:23:15>> Okay. Thank you very much.

2:23:16>> Based upon Robert's rules, that is

2:23:17approve. [snorts]

2:23:18>> Okay. Thank you. I apologize, Weston.

2:23:20Proceed.

2:23:21>> Thank you for the clarity.

2:23:22>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2:23:23>> Yeah.

2:23:25>> Perfect. So, tonight we have nine

2:23:26purchases recommended for approval. Uh

2:23:29the first is with Wastewater. Wastewater

2:23:32has requested a one-time increase of

2:23:33$200,000 to agreement PA1000374

2:23:38with Chattanooga Armature Works for

2:23:40furniture for future invoices and

2:23:42services through December 7, 2026. The

2:23:45new spin limit will be $400,000.

2:23:48Item [clears throat] number two was with

2:23:50technology services. They're requesting

2:23:52a one-year extension to PA to agreement

2:23:55PA1000309

2:23:57for Integrated Networking Technologies

2:23:59LLC. The annual amount limit will remain

2:24:01the same. The next item is with DTS.

2:24:05Techch services is requesting an

2:24:06increase for gov by one by $10,800

2:24:11in year three, the current year, and

2:24:14$14,400

2:24:16for year 4. The new annual spend will be

2:24:18$51,665.

2:24:22DTS is technology services is requesting

2:24:25a 2-year agreement with Tyler

2:24:27Technologies, Inc. This will be a

2:24:29utilizing the source well contract with

2:24:31a total spin limit of $275,000.

2:24:34The next item is with CPD. This is a

2:24:37one-time purchase of red dot reflex

2:24:40sites for the police department. This

2:24:42purchase from GT distributors is in the

2:24:44amount of $171,676

2:24:47utilizing the buy board contract.

2:24:51The next item is with public works. This

2:24:53is a one-time purchase of a 2026

2:24:56Freightlininer automated leaf collection

2:24:58system truck by the fleet department for

2:25:00storm water maintenance. The this

2:25:02purchase from Stringfellow is in the

2:25:04amount of $37,000 utilizing the source

2:25:07well contract. Item number eight is with

2:25:09public works.

2:25:11Uh council approval is requested for the

2:25:13name is requested for a name change from

2:25:16Highland Tire and Auto Inc. to Sun Auto

2:25:19Tire and Services Inc.

2:25:22The next item is also with public works.

2:25:24Fleet division has requested an increase

2:25:25of $145,000

2:25:27to be added to agreements PA1000934

2:25:31and PA1000935

2:25:33for preventative maintenance PMBB

2:25:35services. The new [clears throat] annual

2:25:37amount limit will be $275,000.

2:25:40Fleet has approved the increase. And

2:25:42finally, Parks and Outdoors. This has a

2:25:44new agreement for security services at

2:25:46multiple locations across the city. This

2:25:48will be a four-year agreement with an

2:25:50annual amount limit not to exceed $2

2:25:52million. The award will go to Walden

2:25:54Security and SEI Inc. as the best bits.

2:25:58>> Move to approve. Second.

2:26:01>> We have a motion properly seconded to

2:26:03approve these purchases. Council, are

2:26:05there any questions or comments before

2:26:07we vote? All in favor?

2:26:10>> I. Any opposed? And the purchases are

2:26:13approved.

2:26:14>> Wonderful. We are requesting approval uh

2:26:16to issue one RFP and not approval to

2:26:19award any contracts at this time. It is

2:26:21for early learning monthly cleaning

2:26:23services request for proposal for all

2:26:25five main [clears throat] Head Start

2:26:26buildings

2:26:30council. Could I get a motion?

2:26:33>> All right, we do have a motion properly

2:26:35seconded on this RFP format

2:26:38recommendation. Um are there any

2:26:40questions or comments before we vote?

2:26:43All in favor? I. Any opposed? And RP

2:26:47format recommendation is approved.

2:26:50And finally, we have three sole source

2:26:52purchases to report this evening. The

2:26:54first is with library for streaming

2:26:56services from Canopy Inc.

2:26:57[clears throat] for the amount of

2:26:58$25,000.

2:27:00The second is for DTS for enterprise

2:27:02content and process management platform

2:27:05from Naviant for the amount of

2:27:06$31,634.75.

2:27:10And the third is with wastewater of her

2:27:12grinder pump from Carl Eric Johnson,

2:27:14Inc. for the amount of $27,733.82.

2:27:20>> Thank you very much, Austin.

2:27:23>> All right, that takes us to committee

2:27:25reports. So, we'll go around the DIS

2:27:27here. We'll start with Councilwoman

2:27:28Null.

2:27:29>> No report, Mr. Chair.

2:27:31>> Councilwoman Dotley,

2:27:32>> no report.

2:27:33>> Councilwoman Burs,

2:27:34>> no report.

2:27:36>> Councilman Henderson.

2:27:38>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, next Tuesday,

2:27:40the 22nd, the budget and finance

2:27:42committee will meet the conference room

2:27:45at 1:00 p.m. Uh, all the council members

2:27:48should be receiving the agenda for that

2:27:51uh, committee meeting.

2:27:53>> Okay. Thank you, Councilman.

2:27:56[clears throat] Councilwoman Hill,

2:27:58>> no report.

2:28:00>> Councilman Harvey.

2:28:05There we go. Uh, no committee report,

2:28:07Mr. chairman, but I do want to make a

2:28:08point to uh celebrate um the grand

2:28:12opening of the harvesting inclusive

2:28:14playground in my district this past

2:28:15weekend. Uh thank you m chairman Davis

2:28:18for being there. There's a plethora of

2:28:21people that need to be thanked for this

2:28:22project. Um, but I do want to

2:28:25specifically u give a thanks from the

2:28:28dis uh to former Councilman Darren

2:28:30Leadford, now deputy chief of staff for

2:28:33everything you did to get it off the

2:28:34ground with Captain Skyler Phillips, one

2:28:38of our brave Chattanooga firefighters.

2:28:40Um, it was his vision and the dream

2:28:42finally came to uh to reality this

2:28:45weekend despite a pandemic, rock

2:28:48formations, leaks, uh drainage issues,

2:28:52you name it. um we ran into it, but um

2:28:54it was a beautiful thing to see uh

2:28:57children from all walks of life

2:28:59[clears throat] um whether or not they

2:29:00had a disability, it didn't matter

2:29:02because this playground allows all

2:29:05children to be able to access it and

2:29:07that that's what makes this really

2:29:08really special. Um so, uh former

2:29:11Councilman Leadford, thank you uh for

2:29:13everything you did uh to make this a

2:29:15reality. and of course Skylar Phillips,

2:29:18uh, Commissioner Lee Hilton, former

2:29:20county commissioner Sabrina Spmemedley

2:29:22who was here in the audience uh earlier,

2:29:25um, State Representative Esther Helton

2:29:27Haynes, uh, both Mayor Kelly, uh, Mayor

2:29:30Wamp. Um, of course, this the Kowanas

2:29:33clubs of uh, both East Brainard and

2:29:35Chattanooga were pivotal uh, to making

2:29:37this happen as well. So, uh, it was

2:29:39certainly a group effort and again, if

2:29:42if you were there, uh, Saturday, you saw

2:29:45how awesome it was to see, uh, hundreds

2:29:47of kids being able to play together. It

2:29:49was just, it was a beautiful site. So,

2:29:50uh, just wanted to give those shout outs

2:29:52and thank yous and celebrate that for a

2:29:54moment. So, come out and, uh, visit

2:29:56Harvesting Inclusive Playground at Jack

2:29:58Benson Heritage Park.

2:30:01>> Thanks. Thank you, Councilman.

2:30:05That takes us to our portion of the

2:30:06meeting where we're happy to recognize

2:30:08members of the public who are here to

2:30:10address council. Um, and so if you're

2:30:12here for that purpose, if you would

2:30:14please come to the podium down front

2:30:16[snorts] here and listen while our

2:30:17attorney reads the rules. And we just

2:30:19ask that everybody listens to and abides

2:30:21by the rules.

2:30:24[clears throat] And at the end of each

2:30:25council business meeting, the chair will

2:30:27recognize members of the public who wish

2:30:29to address the council. And here's your

2:30:30rules. Each speaker [clears throat]

2:30:32wishing to address the council can only

2:30:34be recognized at the microphone up front

2:30:36provided for that purpose. And you can't

2:30:38have more than three minutes to speak.

2:30:40And you can address the council only

2:30:42upon matters within their legislative

2:30:44and quai judicial authority and not on

2:30:47matters which are not under the

2:30:48authority of the council and are

2:30:49regulated by other governmental bodies

2:30:51or agencies. Do not engage in any vulgar

2:30:54or obscene language, nor use a for

2:30:56personally attack or personally

2:30:58denigrate others, and address your

2:31:00comments to the council as a whole, and

2:31:02not make comments directed towards

2:31:04individual council members. And lastly,

2:31:06do not engage in disorderly conduct or

2:31:08disrupting a public meeting, which is

2:31:10prohibited by Tennessee law, and someone

2:31:12commits that offense if a person

2:31:14substantially obstructs or interferes

2:31:16with the meeting by physical action or

2:31:18verbal utterance with the intent to

2:31:20prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or

2:31:22gathering. Having stated all those

2:31:24rules, ma'am, please give us your name

2:31:26and your district. I'm Blake Wright,

2:31:28District 9. And I said last time I was

2:31:33here that I was going to be here every

2:31:34time until Farm Park happens because the

2:31:37land is on the market. And so that's why

2:31:39I'm here. But I also do want to

2:31:41highlight something that I mean, we're

2:31:44all seeing it. You go to the store, you

2:31:46grab food that keeps getting more and

2:31:48more expensive. Is that food going to

2:31:50kill you in some terrible way that

2:31:52you'll have to relay to your family?

2:31:54Maybe. At this point, this is going to

2:31:57get worse. It's going to become more

2:32:00expensive. Oil is not have access to the

2:32:04United States. We as the as Chattanooga

2:32:08do not have enough energy that we can

2:32:11source locally here to compensate for

2:32:14that. So, food, water, energy, that is

2:32:17going to be a major concern. Now, where

2:32:20Farm Park is, it's at East Lake. It's

2:32:23right in an area where 50% of that

2:32:26community is 21 and under. 39% of that

2:32:30is 15 years and younger. Of those

2:32:32children, 77% live in poverty. I am just

2:32:38asking for the city of Chattanooga to

2:32:41help out Farm Park by putting $250,000

2:32:46to this deal. We are hustling. We're

2:32:48bustling. We're asking everyone and

2:32:50anyone for money. We've got over a

2:32:52hundred donations. We have very engaged

2:32:55community members. All of the

2:32:58neighborhood associations support Farm

2:33:00Park that we're around. We're constantly

2:33:02meeting with new neighborhood

2:33:04associations. Every neighborhood

2:33:06association is doing amazing things in

2:33:08their own community. And that's what

2:33:10we're going to need. I hear some

2:33:12concerns from the city that, oh well, if

2:33:14we give y'all money, other people might

2:33:17want to do this. And I say that is

2:33:20literally the point. Farm Park is

2:33:22creating a blueprint for green spaces

2:33:25because we need every neighborhood to be

2:33:27able to grow their own food. We are

2:33:29meeting with uh with farmers through the

2:33:32Southeast Young Farmers Coalition and

2:33:34all these farmers are telling us, I

2:33:36can't get anyone to take over this farm.

2:33:39There's not people interested in this.

2:33:42And then they're concerned. We're losing

2:33:44farmland. We're we're losing green

2:33:46space. And this is both those things.

2:33:49It's green space. It's old farmland. It

2:33:51used to be a farm and now it's trying to

2:33:54become a new farm, a new way of farming

2:33:57that will be a future for this

2:33:59community. So I just ask if you haven't

2:34:01been out to Farm Park, please do. We are

2:34:03very available. I will like my husband

2:34:06does not work a job at this point and he

2:34:09is ready to jump through anything. So

2:34:11just like connect with us. We're happy

2:34:13to share the mission. We're happy to

2:34:15show all the letters of support, one of

2:34:18which was just written by our friend

2:34:20over here, Chief John Chambers, about

2:34:22the level of security a project like

2:34:25this would bring to this community

2:34:27because maintain green spaces are safe

2:34:29spaces. Thank you.

2:34:30>> Thank you.

2:34:36>> Good evening, council. Thank you for

2:34:39letting me speak. Um, the thing I would

2:34:42prefer to talk to you about is the fact

2:34:44that

2:34:46our creator has made this a beautiful

2:34:48place and I love the people here and

2:34:51there's a lot of warmth and commitment

2:34:53among the people. Um, I'd rather talk

2:34:57about that and maybe sing Amazing Grace

2:34:59or something, but for now um I don't

2:35:02mean from me. You won't get a solo. Um,

2:35:05but I'm not here to stop development. I

2:35:07just feel like this is a place where the

2:35:10Lord has put me like he's put you here.

2:35:13We want to work for the benefit of the

2:35:15community, the shalom of the community,

2:35:17the peace, the prosperity of the

2:35:18community. So, I'm here not to stop

2:35:21development, but I'm here to say um I'd

2:35:24like to take steps to see us take steps

2:35:27to improve safety and uh address

2:35:31meaningful citizen participation. And if

2:35:33we could establish these in plan

2:35:35Chattanooga as statements um I think it

2:35:39would be very uh valuable. Uh I think we

2:35:42already recognize that you cannot avoid

2:35:45addressing safety when you talk about um

2:35:49things like um roada road works uh the

2:35:53volume of uh cars on roads. You really

2:35:56want to have exits that are in

2:35:57emergencies. Why? For safety. You want

2:36:00them to have sufficient roads. You don't

2:36:01want to be like a tall building that

2:36:03doesn't have enough stairways. Um it's

2:36:06safety is involved when you worried

2:36:08about damaging to neighborhood

2:36:11communities because of runoff or you

2:36:14know wastewater. Um you want to prevent

2:36:16runoff that would damage the roads. You

2:36:19probably know Lake Resort um road had to

2:36:22be repaired multiple times before they

2:36:23had to build the bridge. That's where we

2:36:25live. So, um, Hixon,

2:36:28um, could expand the information that's

2:36:31already in its chapter, and we've talked

2:36:33to the community about it. Um, so we're

2:36:36here to say, could we add something in

2:36:39the Hixon chapter? If you don't want in

2:36:41the citywide section with respect to

2:36:43valuing safety and valuing uh, citizen

2:36:46participation, uh, Hixon would benefit

2:36:48from that. But we'd also like to know

2:36:51that um we could since you're probably

2:36:54not going to be able to do this quickly

2:36:56that you could give us an option to

2:36:58maybe put a placeholder in to plan

2:37:00shadow and nugo so that the groups which

2:37:03have met and are communicating about

2:37:06their concerns the ones that are on uh

2:37:08the ridge and in flood planes there are

2:37:11things in your city objectives that are

2:37:13specifically needed in those areas and

2:37:16they'd like to have a voice in saying

2:37:17that. So, I've forwarded to you a

2:37:20proposal with some ideas on how Plan

2:37:23Chattanooga might address those things.

2:37:25And I would love to have some feedback

2:37:27on how we as citizens could participate

2:37:31in doing that. We're a modest community,

2:37:34a few people that are publicizing this

2:37:38or we don't have a lot of resources. So,

2:37:40we want to know what to do. We

2:37:42appreciate your help.

2:37:43>> Thank you. Can you say your name?

2:37:46>> Did you say

2:37:47>> Oh, did I not say I'm sorry I did that

2:37:49once before? Jan Perie. That's P U R D

2:37:52Y. Um, district three.

2:37:57>> Is there anyone else here who would like

2:37:59to address the council this evening?

2:38:03I don't see anyone. Council, what's your

2:38:05pleasure?

2:38:07All

2:38:07>> in favor? We'rejourned.

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