2026-09-22 - City Council

08:21Good afternoon and welcome. I'll call to

08:23order the Tuesday, September 22nd

08:25meeting of Chattanooga City Council and

08:28recognize Councilman Henderson to lead

08:30us in our pledge and invocation.

08:34[snorts]

08:35I aliance to the flag of the United

08:38States of America and [clears throat] to

08:40the republic for which it stands. One

08:43nation under God, indivisible,

08:45[clears throat]

08:46with liberty and justice for all.

08:51[clears throat]

09:00>> You've given to us. We just ask now that

09:02you guide us in this meeting. help all

09:04things be done decently and in order in

09:07your name we pray. Amen.

09:09>> Amen. [snorts]

09:10>> All right. Well, welcome everyone. Um at

09:13the beginning of our meetings, we like

09:14to give kind of a rundown of [snorts]

09:16how the meetings operate so you'll know

09:18what to expect. Uh first and foremost,

09:20if you have a cell phone, please silence

09:22it um so that we don't have any

09:25unnecessary uh disruptions to our

09:28meeting. So, our meetings are run in two

09:30parts. Um the first part is our agenda

09:32session where um council up here will go

09:36through and discuss any items on our

09:39agendas for this week, next week and

09:43then three weeks or more out so that we

09:45are well prepared for items that are uh

09:48coming before us. [snorts] Um and so we

09:51will have that discussion amongst

09:53council um [snorts] during this first

09:56part of our meeting. Uh we'll also have

09:58a special presentation as we sometimes

10:00do. Um and we'll get to that in just a

10:03minute. Um we do not have any committee

10:06or department reports uh this week. And

10:09so once we're done with the special

10:12presentation and the discussion of our

10:15agenda and our purchases, then we'll

10:17take a recess. Um sometimes during that

10:20recess, we have an attorney client

10:22meeting with our city attorney. We will

10:24not be doing that today. And so our

10:25recess should be fairly brief and we'll

10:28come back. Um then for the second half

10:31of our meeting um which will be the

10:32voting portion of our meeting, we'll be

10:34voting on all the items that are on our

10:36agenda for this evening. Um and so at

10:39the end of all of that, there is a time

10:42as we always have for members of the

10:43public who would like to address council

10:46on any topic. Uh and when that time

10:49comes at the end of our meeting, we're

10:50happy to welcome folks at the podium

10:52down front here. And at that time, our

10:55attorney will read some rules and we

10:57would we would be happy to hear from uh

10:59folks who would like to talk to us. So,

11:01[snorts]

11:02um having given that um rundown,

11:06council, could I get a motion on the

11:07minutes from our last meeting, please?

11:11>> We do have a motion properly seconded to

11:13accept the minutes and they will stand

11:16as published. [snorts]

11:18We will look now at our agenda council

11:21for tonight.

11:23and hit your lights as you have any

11:26questions or comments. I see Councilman

11:28Henderson, you're recognized.

11:30>> Uh that was old lot from

11:32>> Oh,

11:36all right. [snorts]

11:37We do have um few ordinances on final

11:41reading

11:45and one two on first reading this

11:49evening. Any questions about those any

11:52of those ordinances, council?

11:56Moving on then to resolutions that are

11:58on our agenda for this evening.

12:02Vice Chair Elliott, you're recognized.

12:05>> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I I've have

12:08a question or would like just some

12:10clarification around um resolution 9A.

12:15I've gotten quite a few um questions

12:18about this one and I know Chief Chambers

12:21did some had some discussions last week,

12:23but I think we have some of our other

12:25command here that can give some

12:27clarification.

12:32Okay, Chief, can you give us a a rundown

12:35exactly as to what this contract is or

12:38what it isn't?

12:39>> What what it is, I can tell you. I can

12:41speak on behalf of the the the police

12:44department what we requested from Axon

12:46>> and this is a renewal. It's coming. It's

12:48the 5-year renewal and the police

12:51department has asked for renewal for our

12:54body warn cameras, our tasers, our

12:58interview rooms, and our incar cameras.

13:00[clears throat]

13:01>> And that that is what's asked or we have

13:04asked from Axon.

13:06>> Okay. And chief, I've had folks [snorts]

13:09express some concerns around some type

13:12of uh Axon license plate readers. Can

13:15you provide some clarity to what that is

13:18and what that isn't? That that is a part

13:20of my understanding of the package that

13:22is included with Axon. Now, I'm not

13:24familiar with the complete package cuz

13:26that was not asked from us. So, we have

13:28not even looked at that technology that

13:30they offer.

13:31>> Okay. And from what I understand, they

13:33are trying to offer this for free. It's

13:36almost like a sales pitch pretty much.

13:38>> That is my understanding.

13:39>> Okay. And just to clarify, this is

13:41something we're not interested in at

13:43this moment because we have our own

13:44other services. Correct. I

13:46>> I believe it's it's we found value in

13:48LPRs. We haven't had an opportunity to

13:50look at these what Axon offers in this

13:53technology.

13:54>> I think we're we're willing to sit down

13:56at the table with the council uh

13:58department of technology services, the

14:00mayor's office community and and look at

14:02what that is. We we we we have not even

14:05looked or even vetted what particular

14:08they offer,

14:08>> but this particular contract does not

14:10include any additional LPRs or license

14:14plate readers. Correct.

14:16>> It it does in the package and I can't

14:18speak I would ask DTS to speak on behalf

14:20of of that, but it was not our request.

14:23>> Okay.

14:26>> Hello, [snorts] council. Gerald Ne, uh

14:28chief information officer, Department of

14:30Technology Services. We are supporting

14:32the police department and negotiating

14:33this contract. There are 36 LPRs from

14:37Axon included in the contract, not

14:40requested by CPD, not requested by DTS,

14:44offered by Axon, and included in what

14:48they call their officer protection

14:49package.

14:50>> So that's what's in the contract. It is

14:53optional for us to use those, deploy

14:56those, investigate those. We are not

14:59obligated by the contract uh to purchase

15:02them or deploy them or use them.

15:04>> Okay. Um

15:07and chief or somebody else, I think the

15:09last conversation, the last question,

15:12I've had a lot of questions around AI

15:15software being embedded in some of this.

15:17Can you all provide exactly what is

15:20included and what isn't?

15:22>> Yes. In a part of with our body warn

15:24cameras, we h we have asked for AI

15:26translate. And what that does, it gives

15:28the officer the ability to push a button

15:30on his body warn camera that we're all

15:31familiar with. You see officers wear

15:33>> to translate if they don't if they speak

15:36a particular um language. AI will pick

15:39that up and the officers are able to

15:41take reports, you know, it's

15:44um victims, suspects, whatever we're

15:46doing able to translate that

15:47conversation for us.

15:48>> Okay. and council for full transparency.

15:50I had a conversation with uh Chief of

15:52Staff Roy and our uh two police

15:56commanders here earlier and they were

15:57able to provide some clarity for me, but

15:59I think it was important for the

16:00community as a whole to hear some of

16:02that from you all too. So, I do

16:04appreciate you all taking the time to

16:05provide that clarification. And I've

16:07asked them this as well if there is any

16:10change from our LPR standards cuz I

16:13understand whatever LPRs we use now use

16:16photography. Yes, sir. If there's any

16:19change to that, please [clears throat]

16:21communicate that on the front end so we

16:24can be prepared and we're not

16:26blindsided. Okay.

16:27>> 100%. I think

16:28>> they they've agreed to that already, but

16:29I just want to make sure we're providing

16:30that bit of transparency.

16:32>> Yes. And I think that'll be a

16:33conversation that we we definitely will

16:34have you guys in work with you guys.

16:35>> Okay. Thank you all so much. That's all,

16:37Mr. Chairman.

16:38>> Okay.

16:39>> Councilwoman [clears throat]

16:40No, you're recognized. Thank you,

16:41>> Chair. Um

16:44[snorts] 9C [clears throat] under

16:46planning.

16:48If I could get Miss Randic to come up

16:51please. I received um phone calls and

16:54some emails in reference to

16:58uh input that had been given and they

17:01felt as if it was not included in there.

17:04So

17:06what do we need to do? and Attorney

17:08Knobblet, you might need Well, no, Mike,

17:10you probably need to step in on this as

17:12well. So, unless it's read into the

17:15record, so or what needs to happen.

17:18>> Yes, ma'am.

17:20>> Well, we we have received I guess a

17:23request for some additional information

17:26and Miss Renick can give you more uh uh

17:28information about that on here. Uh the

17:31the request was at least made for the

17:34Battery Heights area here specifically

17:37as to an amendment as to the planned

17:40Chattanooga uh plan for that one area.

17:44And uh I think Karen has got a couple of

17:47suggestions about how that could be

17:48accomplished. If it's going to be done

17:50uh on the reading of this particular u

17:53resolution, it would have to be made

17:55this evening here. But we'll we'll see

17:57where you go and go ahead and tell her.

17:59>> Okay. Um yes um battery we've worked

18:02with battery heights um through the

18:05length of the plan um and they did have

18:08a concern about language um in the plan

18:10that doesn't reflect maybe the um

18:13current condition of a crossing at um

18:16Campbell Street New York Avenue and so

18:19um they felt it's kind of an immediate

18:21pressing need because of safety concerns

18:23and so um we did draft plan language

18:27that could possibly be amended. So, um

18:30just in the communication with Battery

18:32Heights, we noticed that um or I had

18:34conveyed that in previous discuss

18:36discussions with council, we had noted

18:38we have a sixmonth um list of potential

18:41changes or considerations to keep Plan

18:43Chattanooga living document. Um we could

18:46include that at the six-month mark. Um

18:49we could also read it into the record,

18:52just note their concerns, have it on

18:53file, and then we can share that with

18:56our city partners. A lot of that is um

18:58regarding transportation and they're

19:00already aware of the concerns. Um but

19:04that um you know the plan Chattanooga

19:06had been deferred. It was at council. So

19:09happy to take any guidance on that. But

19:11again we had noted it could be put in at

19:13the six month um amendment. Um it could

19:16just we could read the concern into the

19:18record and share it with um our public

19:21works, transportation, other city

19:22partners just so they're aware of it or

19:25if it was up to council to mend it into

19:27the plan somehow.

19:28>> Okay.

19:30>> Yes, ma'am.

19:31>> Okay. So,

19:33um is that pretty much it as far as the

19:36legal part of it?

19:37>> Yes, ma'am. it. There is provisions for

19:40this to be completely uh considered on

19:43multiple amendments to it at one time in

19:466 months. If you want to just have that

19:48read into the record this evening, it

19:50can be done as well.

19:51>> Okay. And I do have language just to

19:53there's about three um bullet points

19:55that I'm happy to read in the record now

19:56or just whenever if you'd like.

19:58>> Okay. All right. Thank you. Appreciate

20:01it. Yes, ma'am.

20:02>> Thank you.

20:03>> Okay. Is that all, Councilwoman?

20:05>> That's it.

20:05>> Okay.

20:08Councilman Harvey, you're recognized.

20:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I do want

20:11to go back to the Axon uh contract that

20:14we are uh considering this evening. Uh,

20:17we'll probably need Gerald and uh

20:20assistant chief if you all don't mind

20:22coming [clears throat] down. Um, I I I

20:24want to read an article that the Times

20:26Free, China Times Free Press put out uh

20:28over the weekend and and give you all a

20:31chance to explain this a little bit,

20:32clarify a little bit for myself and for

20:35um our constituents. Uh so, and I quote,

20:39uh the pro the proposal notes the city

20:41currently has,00 camera streams through

20:43Axon. Uh under the contract, up to 300

20:46of those streams could be enabled with

20:48AI software. Um, according to the

20:52company website, the Axon Fus system can

20:54search for people, cars, visual

20:55descriptors, and more. Um,

21:01according to the company, the Fus system

21:03allows users to search by vehicle make,

21:05body, color, or features like bumper

21:08stickers or roof racks. That's the

21:10problem I have a problem with, a little

21:13bit concerned about. So, can you tell

21:14me, is that true? Are these things being

21:18considered? Give me a little more

21:20information on that please.

21:21>> And sir, just are are you asking is that

21:23currently how our LPRs work?

21:25>> No, I I know that's not we currently do

21:28not have that uh capability.

21:30>> That is correct.

21:30>> Uh I guess my question is will we

21:33according to this contract as as this

21:35article states

21:38>> that I believe that that is a part of

21:39the contract if we were to utilize these

21:43outpost cameras. I I do believe I have

21:45we again we have not looked into the the

21:48LPRs that Axon offers. It it was a part

21:51of the package that was offered or a

21:55package deal with the items that we did

21:57request.

21:58>> Okay. Yeah. You know, I I I support 90%

22:02of this contract. Support the the body

22:03cameras, the the tasers. Uh but this

22:06this I do uh have some concerns about.

22:08I've received uh this article was sent

22:11to me by constituents. I've had calls,

22:12emails, texts about this u that my folks

22:15are concerned about. You know, we we

22:17look at the surrounding municipalities

22:19right now and everybody's pausing u

22:22their their cameras, their flock

22:24cameras. Um but we we are kind of full

22:28steam ahead here. It it looks looks like

22:31according to this uh article. So, in my

22:33opinion, I think we need to pump the

22:34brakes a little bit on these uh and

22:36listen to folks concerns before we uh go

22:39full steam ahead with these. Um, I'm I'm

22:42comfortable with the the license plate

22:43readers we currently have. There's

22:45guardrails on those. Um, they're, you

22:47know, I think there's there's some

22:49safety. Uh, there's it's not controlled

22:52by AI. U, but this I do have uh some

22:55concerns about. So

22:58um,

22:58>> it is.

22:59>> Kevin, do you have something you want to

23:01>> No.

23:02>> Hey, thank you, Councilman. Yes. I just

23:03want to be crystal clear.

23:06We are not deploying these um license

23:09plate readers that Axon's providing. Uh

23:12we are they are merely included because

23:16it was part of the the bulk package deal

23:18that Axon put together so that we could

23:20get the pricing for the things that we

23:22do need. And so this is um we share the

23:26concerns expressed to you guys. We're

23:28hearing the same thing. And in no in no

23:30way are we going to deviate from what

23:33Chief Chambers clearly articulated last

23:35week in terms of how we use this

23:38technology today. So what we're going to

23:40do with respect to these cameras is

23:42we're going to vet the technology. We're

23:44going to we're going to spend the time

23:46to understand the answers to the

23:48questions that you're asking regarding

23:49how the software works. What are the

23:52differences? Can it be used in a way

23:53that's consistent with how we're using

23:55the Motorola ALPRS? Um, and then once

23:59[clears throat] we know the answers to

24:00those questions, we're going to come

24:01back. We're going to talk about it

24:03again, and we're not going to do

24:04anything outside of what we prescribed

24:06last week. We recognize the concern

24:08around the capabilities of these axon

24:11cameras because they do have similar

24:13capabilities to the flot cameras, which

24:15is why we're very s sensitive and why I

24:17just want to be crystal clear that we

24:19are not deploying them by you guys

24:21approving [clears throat] this contract.

24:22they are included at Axon's doing

24:26because of course they want to

24:28proliferate their technology because

24:30they're a they're a hardware and a

24:31software company and so they would love

24:33for us to use these

24:34>> and we may or may not we will not if

24:37they're like flock

24:38>> we may subject to subsequent

24:41deliberation

24:42if we can do it in a way that's

24:44consistent to our governance our our

24:46policies around controlling the data and

24:50who has access etc. Are we able to uh

24:53deny this gift as it may be um while we

24:58consider the technology and do more

25:00research on it?

25:02>> Um I think that it would be an

25:04unnecessary step because all we all we

25:07would be doing is delaying this purchase

25:10to cross something off that's on a piece

25:13of paper because we're not actually

25:15doing anything with it.

25:17>> Gotcha. Okay.

25:19Um Okay. I think that answers all my

25:21questions. Thank you. Thanks.

25:25>> Hey,

25:26>> Councilman Clark, you're recognized.

25:27>> I'm sorry. It's it's a it's a Axion

25:30follow-up question.

25:32>> Um

25:34in voting for the Axion contract today,

25:38we that means we will still have in I

25:41think it's 36 of those cameras.

25:43>> That's correct.

25:44>> It's 36. Okay. But we will still have

25:46those in our possession when we vote for

25:49this regardless if we decide to deploy

25:51them.

25:53Like if we if I vote for this, we will

25:55have those 36 cameras in the possession

25:58of the city of Chattanooga. Correct?

26:00>> No, sir. Not literally, not physically.

26:02We will not have taken possession of

26:04them. We will have the option through

26:06the contract pursuant to all the

26:08conversations we've just had here to say

26:11yes, we would like to have one or two or

26:13however many. and then they would be

26:15dispatched to us. But we would not have

26:17>> you have to you have to even though it's

26:19a part of the package that we'll be

26:21voting on tonight. Yeah.

26:22>> You still have to give you have to

26:25consent to receive them for them to be

26:27within our possession. Is that correct?

26:29>> Yes, that's correct. We have to we have

26:31to actually ask them to send them to us.

26:34>> Okay.

26:35>> So, with that being said, cuz I

26:37understand that there are some council

26:38people who have maybe some different

26:40varying feelings around flat cameras. I

26:42do not. If you guys recall,

26:45uh, chiefs, I don't know where the

26:47chiefs are, but when I was elected,

26:50there you go. You were, you're blocking

26:51my favorite chief.

26:52>> There's [laughter]

26:54there he is.

26:55>> Um, we had we currently have cameras

26:59>> in various places in different

27:01intersections where the blue the light

27:04is blinking blue. This is nothing new to

27:07us. I was told when I was elected that

27:10we did not have the capacity to order

27:12new cameras. And now we have the

27:14potential of having 36 cameras of this

27:17type that could help do some of the

27:21identification that is used in other

27:23cities where these cameras. By the way,

27:25Flock is a brand. And so when we are

27:28using it in this context, it is for

27:31those of us who support this, it's used

27:34in areas where we see high crime, where

27:36we see um illegal dumping. And I think

27:39there is a added value to these cameras

27:42and I requested them. And so would it be

27:46possible that for those of us who want

27:48them in their districts could exclude

27:51themselves from the package or the

27:54delivery of the cameras or those of my

27:57like myself who see the value in them

28:00with some guard rails and some other

28:02things that we would have to u flesh out

28:05that I could request those to be

28:07deployed in my district.

28:10>> I I I think that's a valid request.

28:12>> Okay. And the reason why I'm saying this

28:14is because when I vote for this contract

28:16tonight, and is the only way I will vote

28:18for it is that if you guys agree to

28:20accept those the 36 cameras that they've

28:22added as a gift, I guess cuz we're not

28:25paying for them. They're literally just

28:27adding them and we can accept them and

28:30then decide how they will be deployed.

28:33>> Is that correct?

28:34>> Yes, we we could accept them.

28:37>> We we haven't even looked into that,

28:38>> right? But it's a but it is a part of

28:40the package. it it is

28:42>> for free

28:42>> in in that we would work with the

28:44community, you guys, the mayor's office,

28:47um the city attorney's office to make

28:50sure that this is what we want. We have

28:52to we haven't looked into any of the

28:54technology.

28:55>> Okay. Well, I just want to be for the

28:57record that uh my district and I as we

29:00have made very clear to the department

29:04several times when we've asked for the

29:05mobile cameras to be put in hotspots. We

29:08do we do not have the capacity for that

29:10and what I'm hearing is that we have the

29:12potential capacity for that at no cost

29:15an additional cost to the Axion contract

29:18and we have been requesting it and so I

29:20want to be on the record in saying that

29:22I understand that there are these

29:23nuances and concerns that Councilman

29:26Harvey and other people have mentioned

29:27but I think there's value um in having

29:30these camera in places where we're

29:33trying to diminish crime. the uh city

29:37auditor recently just came out with the

29:40community surveys and pe people in the

29:43city of Chattanooga are still struggling

29:45with feeling safe particularly in my

29:47district and most of not going to call

29:50out the districts on the survey but my

29:53district was one of those districts that

29:56only less than half of them said they

29:57feel safe in the city of Chattanooga and

29:59they are requesting cameras. I know my

30:02um neighborhood in Hillsboro Heights

30:03requested cameras at the intersection of

30:06Dogwood and Tunnel B Well, yeah. Uh

30:09Dogwood and Tunnel Boulevard. So, I just

30:12want to be on the record. I think

30:13there's value in communities that are

30:16struggling with crime and other things

30:18and how this technology has helped

30:20reduce crime in other cities like

30:22Atlanta when it is used properly and

30:24responsibly. So, I don't want to throw

30:25this away just because people have these

30:29I'm not going to say conspiratorial

30:31ideas about how any technology can be

30:34misused. All of our technology can be

30:36misused, but I think there's value uh to

30:39districts like mine that where we're

30:41really working really hard to get our

30:43crime rate down. Um, and I think this

30:45would be something that would be helpful

30:47to us. So, I would ask the

30:49administration that upon approval of the

30:52contract tonight that you do accept and

30:55then have further conversations about

30:57how they're deployed um through further

31:00conversations with each council person.

31:02>> Okay. So, thank you.

31:04>> Okay,

31:06Councilwoman Burers, you're recognized.

31:08>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I um I I wanted to

31:11make a comment about the resolution,

31:13whether it would be worth adding some

31:15sort of amendment that that solidifies

31:21that everybody is in agreement to

31:22approving the contract with a statement

31:25that um that addresses how they're

31:29deployed, how the hardware is accepted,

31:31and how it's deployed. And and nothing

31:33will nothing will go be tested or

31:36nothing will be deployed. nothing will

31:38be accepted until it's brought back to

31:40the council for review. So, I'm not

31:42doing a great job with the wording, but

31:43I I'll rely on the city attorney to help

31:45us with that. But, if you all are in

31:47agreement, maybe it might be worth

31:49adding just that one extra piece because

31:51I think that takes care of the various

31:54concerns whether you're for the cameras

31:56or not for the cameras.

31:59>> You want to say subject to final review

32:00by the council.

32:02>> Yeah. deployment, acceptance of camera,

32:04acceptance of hardware, and deployment

32:06is subject to review.

32:09>> That sounds great.

32:10>> And you'll have to do that as an

32:12amendment here and have to get a second

32:13whenever time, I'd bring that up at the

32:16meeting.

32:16>> I would ask you please to just make

32:18clear that you're talking about the ALPR

32:21hardware.

32:22>> Yeah. Be specific. And uh the the thing

32:24that I did not say before I said this

32:26comment was my concern is it is if we

32:28vote against this resolution, then we

32:30run up against a renewal of a contract

32:33for the next 5 years that might leave us

32:35vulnerable if a contract is getting

32:37ready to end. We we dealt with that a

32:39few weeks ago with our security folks.

32:41So, I would encourage us not to to turn

32:45this contract down, but come up with

32:47some wording that make sure that we

32:49we've got that safety net for the

32:52cameras because that seems to only be

32:53the sticking point that I heard.

32:55>> It may be helpful, if I may, just to

32:57add.

32:58>> So, we internally talked about this

33:01piece of the contract [snorts]

33:02and we were deliberating whether or not

33:05we should preemptively exclude it or

33:07include it. [snorts] And and to your

33:09point, uh, Councilman Clark, and I think

33:11to yours, what what we talked about

33:14internally was we believe that there is

33:17tremendous upside to technology from a

33:19public safety perspective. We think that

33:21as technology gets better, so too does

33:24our ability to leverage it to enhance

33:27public safety.

33:28>> And so, we don't want to be lites about

33:31it and just say, "No, we're not going to

33:32look at, but we don't understand it

33:34yet." And so we chose to include it

33:37knowing that we were going to have some

33:38sort of conversation about it with you

33:39guys because we don't have to accept it.

33:42We don't have to deploy it, but we want

33:45to learn more because we might end up

33:47wanting to so long as we can all get

33:49comfortable about how it's how it's

33:51leveraged. And so my ask on behalf of

33:53the administration of you guys is to do

33:55just what you suggested as it pertains

33:56to these AOPRs, [clears throat]

33:58but but to not let this distract from

34:02what we're really trying to do here is

34:04get the technology that we know we need

34:05that we're already using so that we can

34:07continue the the good work that CPD is

34:09doing. And then we will come back and

34:11we'll continue this conversation once we

34:13get a little bit smarter about the

34:14technology.

34:14>> I think that's fair. And I mean, I could

34:16see bringing in a c a camera to to test

34:19and maybe it's tested in one of those

34:21hot spots in your district,

34:22>> but I think that like like you said,

34:24there's still a lot to learn that that

34:27may hopefully makes everybody feel a

34:28little more comfortable going forward

34:30with approving the contract.

34:33>> And thank you.

34:34>> I I can provide you with language at the

34:37end. We can discuss it here at the break

34:39as we're going along, but I'll give you

34:41stuff if y'all wish to make an amendment

34:42to that at the time.

34:46Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

34:48>> Okay,

34:51council clerk, you're recognized.

34:52>> Thank you, Chairman Davis. Uh, council

34:54member BS I think that's an amazing

34:56amendment and I would be happy to second

34:58that but I in the language feel I do

35:01want to be specific that

35:03what and you can help me we can go back

35:06and forth um in dialogue is that in the

35:10amendment what we're saying is that we

35:11will approve we will accept the contract

35:13in its entirety and that piece that

35:16Kevin mentioned but when it comes to

35:18deployment

35:20[snorts] of the 36 cameras that they're

35:22giving us that we need to have a

35:25prior

35:26>> I think he mentioned the review there

35:28would be

35:28>> I just want to make sure the language is

35:29right because I don't want us to approve

35:31it and then we can accept it

35:33>> and then for districts like mine when

35:35I'm ready to deploy it I don't have that

35:37option. So what what I've added at this

35:41point in time is uh at the end of the um

35:44resolution subject to final review of

35:47ALPR deployment and acceptance by the

35:50city before installation of such

35:52technology shall occur

35:56>> because to me that says regardless if

35:58they're just going to do it in district

36:00five re they have to come and review

36:02that with us before that.

36:04>> Perfect. Thank you.

36:06>> Thank you Mr. Chair. Okay,

36:09>> Vice Chair Elliot, you're recognized.

36:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um Kevin and

36:13staff,

36:13>> it's a task or audge.

36:15>> I'm a little conf I understand the the

36:17tent of the um amendment. I just want to

36:20be clear,

36:22please. If we accept them, that's that's

36:24whatever. But do not put any of these

36:26cameras in my district without letting

36:28me know first. [snorts]

36:30>> Please. And I think that's what y'all

36:32are thinking.

36:33>> But I just want to be clear. Uh, I can't

36:36speak to anybody else, but don't put

36:38them over there in District 9 until we

36:40talk about it and my my folks can have a

36:42conversation first. Okay.

36:43>> This the city will not deploy a single

36:45one of these cameras in any way

36:47anywhere.

36:48>> Okay.

36:49>> Without us coming back all talking about

36:51it and having crystal clarity about it.

36:53>> Make sure. Okay. I'm I'm good for that.

36:55Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

36:56>> Okay.

36:58[snorts]

36:59>> Council, are there any other questions

37:01on any items on tonight's agenda?

37:06All right, let's look then at next

37:08week's agenda

37:12[clears throat]

37:14and hit your lights if you have any

37:16questions about ordinances. Councilwoman

37:18Hill, you're recognized.

37:20>> Thank you very much. Uh, Mr. Attorney,

37:22item 8B is an ordinance that will make

37:25some changes to our general pension

37:27plan. Yes, ma'am.

37:28>> Can you please talk us through what

37:29those changes are and provide us with a

37:31red line as well?

37:32>> Uh, yes, ma'am. Uh we uh specifically uh

37:36in in this uh resolution or [snorts]

37:39this ordinance here, it's an amendment

37:41to your your current provisions in the

37:43pension code. Uh we had to go through

37:45and look at the sections for the general

37:48pension plan and include specifically uh

37:51definitions for new things that the

37:53federal government is requiring

37:54regarding uh the actual uh beneficiaries

37:58of uh people here uh for the city.

38:01designated beneficiaries and eligible

38:03designated beneficiaries as those terms

38:06have changed under federal law and we uh

38:09have uh provided those in here based

38:12upon the recommendations of uh council

38:15in u uh situations where there are I

38:18guess estate issues that are involved.

38:20Uh these were reviewed by the city uh uh

38:23uh board here that handles this matter

38:26on there for the general pension board

38:28and they were recommended to the council

38:30here and and those changes are in

38:33compliance with current uh internal

38:35revenue uh code requirements. So that's

38:37the reason for those changes.

38:39>> Okay, that's that's helpful. So as I'm

38:42reading through the document, there are

38:45quite a few editor's notes. Will those

38:47remain in the actual version? The

38:49editor's notes should not remain in the

38:51final.

38:52>> Okay. I thought that was new. [laughter]

38:54>> Yeah.

38:55>> Um Okay. So, this is sort of a hybrid of

38:58a red line and a

39:00>> Yeah, that's a little odd on here. That

39:01for some reason they included those

39:03editor notes. We We will get those

39:04resolved for you.

39:05>> Okay. Thank you very much.

39:06>> Yes.

39:08>> That's all, Mr. Chair.

39:09>> Okay.

39:11>> Councilwoman No, you're recognized.

39:13>> Okay. Uh Mr. Chair, are you in any

39:14certain spot on this next week's agenda?

39:16Can I just go anywhere with it? Uh,

39:18well, we're um we're at resolutions

39:20right now. Um,

39:22>> okay. Well, then I'll wait. I'm I'm way

39:23ahead of you.

39:24>> Well, let me see. I've got Councilman

39:26Harvey, did you have a question about a

39:28resolution or some or an ordinance?

39:30>> I too am moving forward on this.

39:32>> Okay. Well, then feel free to move

39:34ahead.

39:35>> I I can just jump in there. Okay. Thank

39:37you. So, I'm going to go to um

39:42uh under parks and public works and

39:44wastewater

39:46public works. Why? For the renaming of

39:50Canon Avenue. So, it's m Mr. Bill Payne.

39:55Yes. I I want you to come down for a

39:58minute, please.

40:03[snorts]

40:05So, I did get some opposition on this.

40:08So, what I want to do is have a meeting

40:11with you in reference to it because I

40:14might just have to knock several doors

40:17out there to make sure um

40:20this is this is good. Okay.

40:24>> Okay.

40:24>> All right.

40:24>> We'll be glad to do that.

40:26>> Okay.

40:26>> Okay. Thank you. [clears throat]

40:28>> Yes, ma'am.

40:30>> Thank you, chair.

40:31>> Okay. Councilman Harvey, you recognize.

40:33>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh under item

40:36under the mayor's office item G. Uh I

40:40will be glad to support this item and

40:41bring it to the floor um for a vote.

40:45However, I will be uh recusing myself

40:49from the vote. Uh I many of you know I

40:51am a bluegrass musician and uh do plan

40:54on playing at some point during the

40:56festival. Um, so, uh, as to not be a

40:59conflict of interest, um, I want to say

41:02I support this, but will, uh, recuse

41:04myself from voting, uh, during the

41:07official tally. Um, [snorts] if I may, I

41:11want to move on.

41:13Um, item U, regional planning

41:17commission. U, I'm glad to support

41:20Janice Gooden. Um, I have heard some

41:23concerns about the mayor's appointment

41:25of Ethan Collier again to the planning

41:27commission. My opinion, 12 years is

41:30enough. Uh, perhaps it's time to move

41:33on, let someone else uh from the city uh

41:36go on to that board. Um, just a just a

41:41point of uh consideration.

41:44[clears throat]

41:45>> Thank you, Councilman.

41:46>> Yeah.

41:47>> Okay,

41:50council. Are there any other questions

41:52or comments on any items on next week's

41:55agenda?

41:58[clears throat] All right, I don't see

41:59any lights, so we'll look at purchases

42:01here that are up for approval this

42:04evening.

42:07[clears throat]

42:07We do have a handful of purchases. If

42:11you have any questions about any of

42:12those, please hit your likes.

42:20[snorts]

42:21All right, I don't see any lights and so

42:24we will move on to future

42:26considerations.

42:29And as you look through our future

42:31considerations document, if you have any

42:33questions about any items listed on

42:35there, please hit your lights. [snorts]

42:46Okay.

42:48Well, that takes us Oh, Harvey.

42:51Uh, yeah. I just I just I want to make a

42:53a comment here on uh u Odell's on the

42:57go. I'll have to say I was in Councilman

42:59Henderson's district a few days ago and

43:01was stuck in the drive-thru protruding

43:03out into the road. So, I'm glad to see

43:05this on the future considerations. Uh,

43:08>> they're desperate to make

43:10>> Yes, they are. Yes, they are. That

43:12That's all.

43:13>> Okay.

43:15It's a good hamburger.

43:18>> Okay. Um, so I believe we have with us

43:21tonight Steve Brooks from the downtown

43:23Chattanooga Alliance to talk with us

43:25about their annual budgets. We're happy

43:27to welcome you.

43:28>> Thank you very much. Good afternoon. My

43:30name is Steve Brooks. I'm the executive

43:31director of the Central Business

43:33Improvement District or the Downtown

43:35Chattanooga Alliance. I'm here to uh go

43:38over in your council packets the 2026

43:40results of our budget and the uh budget

43:43for 2027. Um we ended the fiscal year of

43:472026 with a surplus of 28,000 uh versus

43:50our original budget of zero. The surplus

43:52came from hours not performed by our

43:54vendor who holds the ambassador contract

43:57um for 2027. Just some of the

43:59highlights. Uh the total assessments

44:01that will be build minus the allowance

44:03of 25,000 for bad debt and assessment

44:06waiverss. Roughly 754,000 be paid to

44:09block byb block for our ambassador

44:11contract which is maintenance, safety,

44:12and hospitality services. 39,000 for

44:15beautifification projects within the

44:17district. Uh 22,500

44:20for public relations. A 2% assessment

44:22collection fee to be paid to the city of

44:23Chattanooga.

44:25approximately 22,300

44:27in rent uh for our office space at 407

44:30Broad Street. It's a balanced budget and

44:32an amount not to see exceed $150,000 for

44:35ambassador services in Miller Park.

44:38Okay.

44:40And I do see we have Councilman Clark

44:43and Councilwoman Dotley with might have

44:45a few questions for you. Councilman

44:47Clark, you're recognized.

44:48>> Uh thank you. Uh Chairman Davis, quick

44:51question about homeless services.

44:53>> Yes, sir. Uh so okay 20 20 in 2026 we

44:59spent $20,000 in homeless services and

45:02it's dropped almost by 17,000. What what

45:06exactly do those services entail and

45:09what was the justification for the drop?

45:11>> Sure. So the the 20,000 was a grant we

45:15rece or was money we received not a

45:17grant money received from Hamilton

45:18County to run our homeward bound program

45:20which helps people who get stranded in

45:22Chattanooga get back to their families

45:23and friends uh or a safe place could be

45:26a shelter or a treatment facility. Uh so

45:28that's transportation whether that's a

45:29bus ticket very rarely but every once in

45:32a while an airline ticket or we provide

45:33the transportation ourselves or an Uber

45:36ride. Um, and so we got a grant through

45:39the downtown public safety grant to the

45:41from the state of Tennessee this year

45:43that will fund that. And so the $3,000

45:46the board put in for me to be able to

45:48buy food uh and drinks and other items

45:51that we may need for the individual as

45:53we're helping them to get home. Uh so

45:55for example, last week we helped a

45:57gentleman get back to Arizona to his

45:59adopted father and we wanted to make

46:01sure he had food and uh water and

46:04Gatorades and stuff like that to not get

46:06distracted during his transfers uh

46:08riding Greyhound back there. So the

46:10state grant does not allow me to buy

46:12beverages or food when we're helping

46:15someone get back home or to a treatment

46:17facility.

46:20So when it says services, it's not it.

46:23This basically is a bus ticket out of

46:25downtown.

46:28>> Well, it's a or an Uber ride or we

46:30drive. We have a vehicle that can help

46:32people get home and it's governed in

46:33Tennessee. It's governed by a state law

46:35that went into effect this past year.

46:37>> Gotcha. Awesome. Thank you so much.

46:39>> Is that all? Councilman.

46:40>> Yes.

46:41>> Okay.

46:42>> Councilwoman Dotley, you're recognized.

46:44>> Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. I just

46:46wanted to just uh say thank you to Steve

46:49for all the [clears throat] work he does

46:50with the downtown Chattanooga Alliance.

46:52You are an amazing executive director.

46:54You keep our downtown clean in addition

46:56to uh you know all the beautifification,

46:59all the safety measures, all the things

47:00that you do. So I just want to say I

47:02appreciate you and I thank you for

47:04representing business owners because we

47:06know if we we don't have a strong

47:07downtown, we don't have a strong

47:08Chattanooga. U and um it serves as a

47:12model to other economic corridors. I had

47:15someone from Main Street reach out about

47:16the downtown alliance as well as looked

47:18at it on Ross Boulevard and you came

47:20present it for us to help us understand

47:22how maybe we can do something similar uh

47:25on the boulevard. So um even though this

47:28was one of those things that started

47:29started out very controversial um

47:31including myself. I was anti-bid myself.

47:34Um but to see the actual work of it uh

47:37is amazing. So I appreciate you. I just

47:40wanted to say thank you for the work

47:41that you do. I really appreciate it.

47:42>> Thank you council.

47:43>> Thank you so much. Thank you, uh, Mr.

47:44Chair.

47:45>> Sure.

47:46>> Well, thank you very much.

47:47>> Thank you.

47:50>> All right. That takes us through, um,

47:52our agenda session of our meeting, and

47:55we do not need an attorney client

47:57meeting. We will be in recess until

47:594:45.

48:03>> Okay.

1:23:28We are back in session. Madame clerk, if

1:23:30you would please read item 7A,

1:23:33>> an ordinance amending Chattanooga City

1:23:35Code Part 2, Chapter 5, Section 5-48,

1:23:38Expiration of Beer Permanence.

1:23:40>> Second. Have a motion properly seconded.

1:23:42Council, are there any questions or

1:23:44comments before we vote?

1:23:47>> [laughter and clears throat]

1:23:47>> All in favor.

1:23:49>> Any opposed?

1:23:50>> And the ordinance passes on final

1:23:52reading. Item 7B, please.

1:23:55>> An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City

1:23:56Code Part 2, Chapter 24, Article 14,

1:23:59Section 24-502, schedule 2, speed on

1:24:03through streets.

1:24:04>> Second.

1:24:05>> We have a motion properly seconded on

1:24:07this ordinance on final reading. Are

1:24:09there any questions or comments before

1:24:10we vote?

1:24:12All in favor? I.

1:24:14>> Any opposed? And the the ordinance

1:24:17passes on final reading.

1:24:19[clears throat and cough]

1:24:19Item 7C, please.

1:24:22>> An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City

1:24:24Code Part 2, Chapter 38 zoning ordinance

1:24:26so as to reszone property located at

1:24:285502 Dayton Boulevard from RN2

1:24:30residential neighborhood zone to CNT

1:24:32neighborhood transition commercial zone

1:24:34subject to certain conditions.

1:24:38>> Second.

1:24:38>> We have a motion properly seconded on

1:24:41this ordinance. Are there any questions

1:24:44or comments before we vote?

1:24:47All in favor?

1:24:49>> Any opposed?

1:24:50And the ordinance passes on final

1:24:52reading. [snorts] Um item 7D, please.

1:24:56>> An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City

1:24:57Code Part 2 Chapter 38 zoning ordinance

1:25:00so as to reszone property located at

1:25:011307 Hixon Pike from INST institutional

1:25:05zone to CNT neighborhood transition

1:25:07commercial zone. Motion to

1:25:09>> approve. Second. Have a motion

1:25:11[clears throat] properly seconded on

1:25:12this ordinance on final reading. Are

1:25:14there any questions or comments before

1:25:16we vote? [clears throat] All in favor?

1:25:19>> Any opposed? And ordinance passes on

1:25:22final reading. Item 7E, please. An

1:25:26ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code

1:25:28Part 2, chapter 38 zoning ordinance so

1:25:31as to lift condition numbers 3, 4, and 6

1:25:33from ordinance number 13479, previous

1:25:36case number 2021-209,

1:25:38[clears throat and cough]

1:25:39and to amend condition number five for

1:25:41the property located at 5313 Champion

1:25:43Road, Hamilton County Tax Map number

1:25:46120K003

1:25:48only, subject to certain conditions.

1:25:50Move [snorts] to approve. Second. Have a

1:25:52motion properly seconded on this

1:25:54ordinance. Council, are there any

1:25:56questions or comments before we vote?

1:25:59All in favor?

1:26:01>> Any opposed? And ordinance

1:26:03[clears throat] passes on final reading.

1:26:05Item 7F, please. An ordinance amending

1:26:08Chattanooga City Code Part 2, Chapter

1:26:1038, the Chattanooga Zoning Ordinance, as

1:26:12adopted by ordinance number 14137 on

1:26:15July 23rd, 2024. Article 9 uses section

1:26:2038-41.1

1:26:22use matrix table to amend

1:26:24drive-throughs, standalone, or as an

1:26:25accessory use as a permitted use when

1:26:27located outside the urban overlay zone.

1:26:29and to amend section 3842 and 3843 by

1:26:33amending the stacking requirements and

1:26:36to add no drive-through increase egress

1:26:39can cross the Riverwalk or Greenway

1:26:41connector.

1:26:43>> Second,

1:26:45>> we have a motion probably seconded on

1:26:47this ordinance on final reading.

1:26:48Council, are there any questions or

1:26:50comments before we vote? All in favor?

1:26:54>> I. Any opposed? And ordinance passes on

1:26:57final reading. [clears throat] Item

1:26:59[snorts] 8A, please.

1:27:00>> An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City

1:27:02Code Part 2, Chapter 24, Article 14,

1:27:05Section 24-502,

1:27:07schedule 2, speed on through streets, to

1:27:10change the speed limit from 50 mph to 45

1:27:12mph on Bonnie Oaks Drive from Boris

1:27:15Drive to 400 ft west of Silverdale Road

1:27:18per the request of the Tennessee

1:27:19Department of Transportation for safety

1:27:21and consistency along the corridor.

1:27:24>> Move to approve.

1:27:25>> Second. Have a motion properly seconded

1:27:28on this ordinance on first reading. Are

1:27:30there any questions or comments,

1:27:31council, before we vote?

1:27:34All in favor?

1:27:36>> Any oppose? The ordinance [snorts]

1:27:38passes on first reading. Item 8B,

1:27:41please.

1:27:42>> An ordinance closing and abandoning the

1:27:44unopened ride ofway in the 900 block of

1:27:45Dods Avenue as detailed on the attached

1:27:48maps.

1:27:49>> Move to approve.

1:27:51>> We have a motion properly seconded on

1:27:52this ordinance on first reading. Are

1:27:54there any questions or comments before

1:27:56we vote? [clears throat]

1:27:59All in favor?

1:28:00>> Any opposed? And ordinance passes on

1:28:03first reading.

1:28:05>> Item 9A, please.

1:28:08>> A resolution authorizing the Department

1:28:10of Technology Services to enter into a

1:28:125-year contract with Axon Enterprise,

1:28:14Inc. for public safety hardware and

1:28:16software to support the Chattanooga

1:28:17Police Department and Chattanooga Fire

1:28:19Department based on source contract

1:28:21number 101223-

1:28:24AXN with an annual spend limit not to

1:28:27exceed $3 million.

1:28:32>> Mr. Chair,

1:28:33>> yes.

1:28:34>> I'd like to make a move.

1:28:36>> I'd like to make a motion to approve.

1:28:38>> Second.

1:28:39>> And then I'd like to make a motion to

1:28:40amend.

1:28:41>> Okay.

1:28:42>> And Mr. Attorney, would you please read

1:28:44the language for the amendment, please?

1:28:45>> Yes. The the caption would be uh ended

1:28:48with the following language. Subject to

1:28:51final review of ALPR equipment

1:28:54installation and service by the city

1:28:56council before deployment of such

1:28:59technology shall occur.

1:29:03>> All right, we have a motion properly

1:29:06seconded on the amendment. Okay. Are

1:29:08there any questions or comments,

1:29:09council, on the amendment?

1:29:14All right. All in favor?

1:29:16>> I. [clears throat]

1:29:17>> Any opposed?

1:29:19>> And so the amendment passes.

1:29:20>> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion to

1:29:23approve the resolution as amended.

1:29:25>> Second.

1:29:26>> We have a motion properly seconded to

1:29:27approve as amended. Are there any

1:29:30questions or comments at this point?

1:29:32Council,

1:29:33>> all in favor?

1:29:35>> Any opposed?

1:29:36>> No.

1:29:37>> And the resolution is adopted. Noting

1:29:41the one no vote. [snorts]

1:29:45Item 9B, please.

1:29:50>> A resolution authorizing the fire

1:29:51department to accept an award of $59,39

1:29:56from Hamilton County via the 2025

1:29:58Homeland Security Grant Program to

1:30:01purchase biological detection equipment

1:30:02for the Hamilton County Chattanooga type

1:30:051 hazmat team. Move

1:30:07>> to approve. Second. Have a motion

1:30:09properly seconded on this resolution.

1:30:11Council, are there any questions or

1:30:12comments before we vote?

1:30:14>> The motion to. [clears throat]

1:30:16>> All in favor?

1:30:18>> I.

1:30:18>> Any opposed?

1:30:20And the resolution is adopted.

1:30:23Item 9 C, please.

1:30:26>> A resolution adopting plan Chattanooga

1:30:28as the comprehensive plan for the city

1:30:30of Chattanooga. Move to

1:30:32>> approve. Second. You have a motion

1:30:35properly seconded. and councilwoman

1:30:37null, you're recognized.

1:30:39>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I can have Miss

1:30:40Renick to come up, please, and read into

1:30:43the records, [clears throat and cough]

1:30:46too.

1:30:47>> Um, yes, we'd received um some

1:30:50communication and feedback from Battery

1:30:52Heights. And the RPA's intent is to

1:30:54revise the Campbell Street North New

1:30:57York Avenue page and plan Chattanooga.

1:30:59The six-month mark as follows. Remove

1:31:02the language stating vehicular traffic

1:31:03counts currently do not warrant

1:31:05pedestrian crosswalks. Add text that

1:31:07Battery Heights has been advocating for

1:31:09a crosswalk at Campbell Street and New

1:31:11York Avenue to address the concerns of

1:31:13young children intended and unattended

1:31:15and adults crossing the street, walking

1:31:17along the street and waiting at the bus

1:31:19stop. Residents are concerned about

1:31:21pedestrian safety and have observed both

1:31:23accidents and near misses at this

1:31:25location and add the following language

1:31:27under recommendations. Complete the

1:31:29service request review for review of

1:31:32pedestrian infrastructure and safety of

1:31:33this intersection. Review to include

1:31:35speed data, pedestrian counts and

1:31:37evaluation of the site triangle at

1:31:39Birchwood Drive and Vinewood Drive.

1:31:41Additional consideration will be given

1:31:43to possible re possible reconfiguration

1:31:45of one Parkway Drive. This will not

1:31:47impact the historic wall and two a T

1:31:50intersection at Countryside Drive.

1:31:52Lastly, add the results recommendations

1:31:54of the service request of the FY27

1:31:57capital budget request to secure project

1:31:59funding. And this has been provided to

1:32:02the city attorney to be added into the

1:32:04minutes.

1:32:04>> Okay.

1:32:05>> Yes.

1:32:06>> All right. Legal legal.

1:32:07>> Yes, ma'am.

1:32:08>> Okay.

1:32:09>> All right. We do have a motion properly

1:32:12second.

1:32:13>> Mhm.

1:32:15>> Councilwoman, is

1:32:16[cough and clears throat] that you need

1:32:17to amend the plan to include those

1:32:19changes? Are you okay?

1:32:20>> No, we're good.

1:32:21>> Okay. Okay. And that will occur at the

1:32:23sixmonth time everything. Absolutely.

1:32:26>> Okay. Thank you.

1:32:26>> Thank you.

1:32:27>> I don't want to leave it out.

1:32:29>> Thank you for looking at.

1:32:31>> Okay. Any other questions or comments,

1:32:32council, before we vote?

1:32:35>> All in favor?

1:32:36>> I. Any opposed? And the resolution is

1:32:40adopted. And item 9D, please.

1:32:44A resolution authorizing the Chattanooga

1:32:46Police Department to apply for and if

1:32:47awarded accept the FY2026

1:32:50National Integrated Ballistic

1:32:52Information Network, NIBIN

1:32:54modernization program grant for five for

1:32:57a 5-year period to be used for

1:32:59reimbursement for the purchase of a new

1:33:01brass for I'm sorry, brass H4, also

1:33:06known as NIBIN, as well as the annual

1:33:08maintenance for 5 years in the amount of

1:33:10$300,000.

1:33:14Second.

1:33:14>> We have a motion properly seconded

1:33:16council on this resolution. Are there

1:33:18any questions or comments before we

1:33:20vote? All in favor?

1:33:23>> I. Any opposed? And [snorts] resolution

1:33:25is adopted. That takes us to purchases.

1:33:28We're happy to welcome Weston to the

1:33:29podium.

1:33:32>> Good evening, council.

1:33:33>> Good evening.

1:33:34>> We have two purchases recommended for

1:33:36approval this evening. The first is with

1:33:37public public works. They're requesting

1:33:39a one-year extension to agreement

1:33:41PA1000299

1:33:44from September 11th, 2026 through

1:33:46September 11, 2027 for standard

1:33:49protective footwear for their employees.

1:33:51CentOS Corporation is requesting a

1:33:5313.25%

1:33:55increase negotiated down to a 7%

1:33:57increase for the extension due to the

1:34:00increase in market prices. The new

1:34:02estimated spend will be $150,000.

1:34:05>> [snorts]

1:34:05>> Item number two is a new citywide

1:34:08agreement for road planning services

1:34:09[clears throat] at wastewater. This will

1:34:11be a 4-year agreement with an annual

1:34:13amount limit of $140,000.

1:34:15The award will go to TNT Concrete as the

1:34:18best bit.

1:34:21>> Second. You have a motion properly

1:34:23seconded to approve these purchases.

1:34:25Council, are

1:34:26>> there

1:34:32>> one I believe was removed. have an older

1:34:35version. I apologize.

1:34:36>> No. Yes. Okay. So, just the two, right?

1:34:40All right. We do have a motion properly

1:34:43seconded. Are there any other questions

1:34:45or comments before we vote? [snorts]

1:34:48All in favor?

1:34:50>> I. Any opposed? And the purchases are

1:34:53approved. Thank you, Weston.

1:34:56All right. We'll go around the dis now

1:34:58for committee reports. We'll start with

1:34:59Councilman Henderson.

1:35:03>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. We did have a

1:35:05budget and finance committee meeting

1:35:06today at um 2:00 [clears throat] p.m.

1:35:11Believe that was 2 p.m. Uh we went over

1:35:13a variety of issues. Uh we identified uh

1:35:17peer cities. Uh we looked at budget

1:35:20amendments, proposed budget amendments,

1:35:23and then proposed legislation capping

1:35:25future tax increases. Our next committee

1:35:28meeting will be September the 29th. Our

1:35:31start time will be 12:30, which is a

1:35:34different time than we had first posted.

1:35:36So, make a note of that new start time.

1:35:42>> Councilwoman Hill,

1:35:44>> thank you. I don't have a report, but

1:35:46[cough and clears throat] I would like

1:35:47to formally say thank you very much to

1:35:48the RPA staff. Um, getting Plan

1:35:51Chattanooga over the line

1:35:52[clears throat] with the unanimous vote

1:35:55um is is something you should be really

1:35:57proud of. Um, thank you for all your

1:35:58[clears throat] efforts of community

1:36:00outreach, um, and the thoughtful work

1:36:02that went into that plan. Um, I'm glad

1:36:05we're going to have it as a document we

1:36:07can use. Thank you very much.

1:36:09>> That's all, Mr. Chair.

1:36:12>> Councilman Harvey,

1:36:13>> no [snorts] board.

1:36:16>> Councilman Clark.

1:36:17>> Uh, thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. Um, I'm

1:36:22really excited to announce that in the

1:36:24Lake Hills community,

1:36:26um, I have the pleasure of serving as

1:36:28the parks and outdoors infrastructure

1:36:29public works. I don't even know the full

1:36:30name of the committee, but uh, this is a

1:36:33project I began working on, uh, when I

1:36:36came into office and how we can provide

1:36:38more pavilions and parks, uh, throughout

1:36:40our district. And one of them is

1:36:42complete uh, with Murray Hills on its

1:36:44way. And then we have our signature

1:36:45park, Wood Whitmore Park, happening

1:36:47soon. But I welcome anyone to join us

1:36:50this Saturday as we do the ribbon

1:36:52cutting for the uh new pavilion at Lake

1:36:54Hills Park on Belleview Avenue. Uh

1:36:57special thanks out special thanks to the

1:36:59parks and outdoors team. I don't see

1:37:01David Johnson, uh Morgan and all those

1:37:03people who worked with me for over 9 to

1:37:0510 months in doing the designs. We

1:37:07welcome everyone across the city to come

1:37:09join us. It's a free event. You can

1:37:11bring along chairs. There'll be food,

1:37:13food trucks, inflatables, games, and

1:37:15we'll be there uh from 3:00 to 6:00. So,

1:37:18uh come out and help us celebrate. And

1:37:20Park Spark, by the way, is a program

1:37:23where um the Department of Parks and

1:37:27Outdoors will come into your community

1:37:29and

1:37:31provide these things at no cost to you

1:37:33and your neighborhood association. So,

1:37:35it's an amazing program that they have

1:37:37um with the uh department of arts,

1:37:39culture in the creative economy with

1:37:41Monica Kinsey and Carmen Davis and that

1:37:44team over there. So, meet me there this

1:37:46Saturday. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1:37:48>> Okay.

1:37:50>> Councilwoman Nolan,

1:37:51>> no report. [clears throat]

1:37:53>> Councilwoman Dodley.

1:37:54>> Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. I have no

1:37:55report, but I did want to recognize my

1:37:58county commissioner, Commissioner Montre

1:38:00Bezley, for being here in our meeting

1:38:02today. He's doing an amazing job only

1:38:04into the first month. So, just want to

1:38:06recognize him. Thank you so much. Thank

1:38:07you, Mr. Chair.

1:38:08>> You're welcome.

1:38:12>> And Councilwoman Burrs.

1:38:14>> No report, Mr. Chair.

1:38:15>> Vice Chair Elliott.

1:38:17>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1:38:19>> I'm sorry. [snorts] We're about to journ

1:38:20[laughter] so I can get it out. You

1:38:22going to make it?

1:38:23>> I don't know if I'm going to make it. I

1:38:25want to thank everybody who um was able

1:38:27to attend our annual District 9 town

1:38:30hall last Monday. I appreciate uh Second

1:38:33Missionary Baptist Church for hosting

1:38:35us. For those who weren't able to

1:38:37attend, you can find a live recording

1:38:40that will be posted this week of that

1:38:42town hall. Uh and also information is

1:38:45including the slide deck presentation

1:38:47highlighting everything that went on.

1:38:49And also you can find um it will include

1:38:52access to our project dashboard that you

1:38:55can find on our uh website at

1:38:57roneliot.com.

1:38:59but it allows you to keep track with

1:39:01everything that's going on in our

1:39:02district. So, I want to thank everybody

1:39:04for attending and be on the lookout for

1:39:06those follow-up materials. That's it,

1:39:08Mr. Chair.

1:39:08>> Okay.

1:39:11>> Okay.

1:39:12>> And I just wanted to recognize we have

1:39:14here with us tonight Kristen Auff who

1:39:16has just started as deputy chief of

1:39:20operations. So, welcome.

1:39:22>> Yeah.

1:39:23[applause]

1:39:29All right, that takes us to the portion

1:39:30of our meeting where we're happy to um

1:39:33welcome members of the public to the

1:39:34podium down front if you'd like to

1:39:37address council. Um and so if you're

1:39:39here for that purpose, please come to

1:39:41the podium and listen while our attorney

1:39:43reads the rules. And we just ask that

1:39:45everybody listens carefully and abides

1:39:47by the rules.

1:39:49>> Yes, sir. At the end of each council

1:39:51business meeting, the chair will

1:39:52recognize members of the public who wish

1:39:54to address the council. And here's your

1:39:56rules. Each speaker wishing to address

1:39:58the council can only be recognized at

1:40:00the microphone up front for that

1:40:02purpose. And you can have can't have

1:40:04more than three minutes to speak. But

1:40:06you can address the council upon matters

1:40:08that are within their legislative and

1:40:10quaile judicial authority and not on

1:40:12matters which are not under their

1:40:14authority or regulated by other

1:40:15governmental bodies or agencies. Do not

1:40:18engage in any vulgar or obscene

1:40:20language, nor use the floor to

1:40:21personally attack or personally

1:40:23denigrate others. and address your

1:40:25comments to the council as a whole and

1:40:27not make comments directed towards

1:40:28individual council members. And lastly,

1:40:31do not engage in disorderly conduct or

1:40:33disrupting a public meeting which is

1:40:35prohibited by Tennessee law and someone

1:40:37commits that offense if a person

1:40:39[clears throat] substantially obstructs

1:40:41or interferes with the meeting by

1:40:42physical action or verbal utterance with

1:40:44the intent to prevent or disrupt a

1:40:46lawful meeting or gathering. Having

1:40:48stated those rules, ma'am, please give

1:40:50us your name and your district and go

1:40:51right ahead.

1:40:53Jan Pertie, District Three. And I just

1:40:56want to add my thanks to the RPA um to

1:41:00Karen Renick and all of those who have

1:41:03helped us uh with town hall meetings to

1:41:06inform us about plan Chattanooga. And uh

1:41:10we're exploring ways to work with the

1:41:14RPA uh with a productive voice for uh

1:41:18neighborhood in Hixon uh identified as

1:41:22Big Ridge um and places that also have

1:41:26similar issues that have to do with

1:41:27protecting uh the uh land um with um

1:41:32slopes and wetlands. So we're just very

1:41:36grateful. We've had a lot of coaching

1:41:39and we're exploring and understanding

1:41:42where it's useful to step in and and

1:41:45have a productive voice and that's what

1:41:47we want to do with you. We hope that the

1:41:50uh suggestions we have which are pretty

1:41:52minor for modifications in plan

1:41:54Chattanooga in the Hixon section can be

1:41:57included in the post councsil adoption

1:42:00list. So, we'll work with um uh Chair

1:42:04Davis and uh with Karen Reic and

1:42:07determine what we can do in a productive

1:42:09way. So, thank you. I mean, this has

1:42:12been

1:42:14I I haven't often come to the council,

1:42:16but um I've just been very grateful for

1:42:19the responsiveness and the um guidance

1:42:22that we've had. So, thank you. We look

1:42:25forward to working with you and you can

1:42:27have my time unless you want me to sing.

1:42:30>> [laughter]

1:42:31>> No,

1:42:33>> thank you. Is there anyone else here who

1:42:36would like to address council? Yes,

1:42:38ma'am.

1:42:39>> Hi. [clears throat and cough] Thank you.

1:42:42>> Um, I'm Sheena Bene, Battery Heights,

1:42:46president [snorts] of the Battery

1:42:47Heights Neighborhood Association. Um, I

1:42:50too want to thank the RPA for all the

1:42:52work they've done on uh Plan Chattanooga

1:42:55so far and the council for all your work

1:42:57there, too. And um it's a lot it's a lot

1:43:01there's a lot in that document. Um

1:43:04one of the things that we wanted to

1:43:07bring to the attention is that um for

1:43:11our community we participated heavily

1:43:13with input. We did the surveys. We

1:43:15filled out the the web um interactive

1:43:19map. We went to the library. we fully

1:43:22engaged um not just me but you know

1:43:25other members of the community too. And

1:43:29um when we were going through the

1:43:31process of reviewing the plan, we

1:43:34recognized that um our input had not

1:43:37been captured or applied. And we were

1:43:40working we have been working with uh

1:43:43Karen Renick, which we really appreciate

1:43:45on those individual items as we think of

1:43:48them. But um because for a long time

1:43:51there was it was nonresponsive to get

1:43:55where that information went where our

1:43:57input went. We had filed an open records

1:43:59request. That open records request

1:44:01remains open. Um it's unresolved as of

1:44:05today. Um and that is our hope that we

1:44:08can recover any input that was lost from

1:44:11the larger community. Um and that

1:44:14includes you know there's things we are

1:44:16working on. progress is being made and

1:44:18we're looking forward to the six-month

1:44:19update. Um, but we also want to kind of

1:44:23point out that if we do if our community

1:44:27has had this happen that it is

1:44:30potentially happened elsewhere and that

1:44:32that should be a consideration for all

1:44:35communities um to verify their input,

1:44:39their hard work, their time they put

1:44:41into the trust they put into the process

1:44:44is also applied. So, um, what we would

1:44:47ask now is just a sense of awareness.

1:44:50We're going to check back in. We really

1:44:51appreciate all of city council, um,

1:44:55working with Marvine and Karen to

1:44:56resolve this. Um, but we do think it's

1:44:59important that that open records is

1:45:00still there. We want to find out what

1:45:02got lost, what um what you know where

1:45:04where is that information because we you

1:45:06know we can remember as we go along but

1:45:09you know we have people that might not

1:45:10come back and they might lose faith that

1:45:14input is just optics.

1:45:17So um that's my statement for now but

1:45:19thank you again very much and we really

1:45:21do we really do appreciate um the work

1:45:24that was put into this and will be put

1:45:26into it.

1:45:27Thank you, [snorts] Councilwoman No.

1:45:30>> Thank Thank you, Chair. Um,

1:45:34Madame President Bente, um, that she is,

1:45:38uh, Battery Heights President, which is

1:45:40in the Great District 8. Um, and when it

1:45:42was brought to my attention, um, we are

1:45:46diligently seeking to recover what was

1:45:49missing. So, I it's not lost. It's

1:45:52probably sitting under a paper here or a

1:45:56book there, but uh we will find

1:46:00>> Thank you, ma'am.

1:46:01>> We will find what you don't have. Okay.

1:46:03So, just know that um the great District

1:46:078 family, Battery Heights family will

1:46:09definitely be made whole. Okay. Thank

1:46:12you, chair.

1:46:13>> Okay.

1:46:14Is there anyone else here who would like

1:46:16to address council this evening? Yes,

1:46:19ma'am.

1:46:22Okay,

1:46:24ladies and gentlemen, um, city council,

1:46:27I'm Jacqueline Ramsey, and, um, if you

1:46:31don't mind, I'm going to read what I've

1:46:33written out for, uh, what I'd like to to

1:46:36have done here. Um, I'm developing a

1:46:39low-speed vehicle mobility service for

1:46:41downtown Chattanooga. The purpose is not

1:46:44to replace Carter, the existing

1:46:46transportation, or other shuttle

1:46:48services. It is to fill the short

1:46:50distance transportation gap, helping

1:46:52residents, visitors, seniors, hotel

1:46:54guests, and event attendees travel the

1:46:58last few blocks between parking areas,

1:47:00restaurants, hotels, entertainment

1:47:03venues, and destinations such as the

1:47:05Heirlinger Park. Chattanooga is growing,

1:47:08particularly with the development of the

1:47:11South Broad, Heirlinger Park, the Ben,

1:47:14and other downtown investments. As those

1:47:17areas attract more people, convenient

1:47:19movement between downtown destinations

1:47:22becomes increasingly important.

1:47:25Uh, a properly regulated LSV service

1:47:28could provide an additional

1:47:29transportation option using small street

1:47:32legal vehicles operating in um

1:47:36inappropriate low-speed streets. It can

1:47:38help connect people to park uh park

1:47:42further who park further away with um

1:47:45their actual destination and encouraging

1:47:49visitors to move between businesses

1:47:51rather than getting back into their cars

1:47:53for a short trip. I'm asking the city to

1:47:56uh commit to a large program. I'm

1:47:59proposing that Chattanooga considers a

1:48:01controlled pilot program so that we can

1:48:04collect actual data uh on road ship

1:48:07wrership, excuse me, safety routes uh

1:48:10demands and the benefits to downtown

1:48:13businesses and visitors. My goal is

1:48:16simply to make downtown Chattanooga

1:48:19easier to move around while supporting

1:48:21the growth that the city has already uh

1:48:24invested in. Um

1:48:27the city's um own planning supports

1:48:30several parts of my reasoning.

1:48:33Chattanooga says its downtown planning

1:48:36is for a vision of urban mixed use,

1:48:39walkable and neighborhood friendly

1:48:41environment.

1:48:43Um

1:48:44uh let's see

1:48:47uh let's see. The city has also

1:48:49acknowledged the downtown growth is

1:48:51creating transportation and parking

1:48:53challenges. this would eliminate or

1:48:57stifle some of that. Um,

1:49:01the south broad is particularly

1:49:03important to my case because the city's

1:49:05financial report describes the district

1:49:07around Heirlinger Park as a 140 acre

1:49:11development with housing, commercial

1:49:13spaces, public green space, and trails.

1:49:16While heirling park is intended to

1:49:19function not only for the baseball but

1:49:22for year-round venues, for concerts and

1:49:24community events.

1:49:27>> Okay.

1:49:28>> Thank you for you all's consideration.

1:49:30Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

1:49:31>> Thank you.

1:49:33>> Is there anyone else who'd like to

1:49:34address council this evening?

1:49:39>> All right. Seeing none,

1:49:41>> we have a motion properly seconded to

1:49:43adjurnn. All in favor? Clear a germ.