May 22, 2023

Final STVR Regulations, New Chief Equity Officer, and More

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• On May 16 the city council gave final approval to new Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) regulations. The legislation will take effect on May 30. The moratorium will expire on July 10.
• On May 16 the city council approved the appointment of Anthony Sammons as Chief Equity Officer.
• On May 23 the city council will vote on requests to rezone 7707 and 7717 Lee Highway from C-2 to UGC to allow the full conversion of existing hotels into apartment complexes. If the rezoning is not approved the hotels may still be converted, but will have fewer units.

MAY 16 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Agenda Session recording can be found here.

• The council discussed long term enforcement of city landscaping ordinance and how to ensure that trees that are required to be planted during construction remain on site long term.
• The council discussed the possibility of a tree ordinance which regulates large specimen trees on private property, possibly by requiring a certain number of trees being planted or a certain fee being paid to replace the trees removed.
• The council interviewed the only application for the Administrative Hearing Officer (AHO) position. The AHO will be partly responsible for enforcing the new Short Term Vacation Rental regulations as well as other ordinances, and will have the authority to levy fines of up to $500/violation/day.

The Business Session recording can be found here.

• The council voted on several rezoning cases, including:
  • a deferral (until May 23) of a request to rezone 1013 South Greenwood Ave from R-1 to UGC.
• The council approved new Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) regulations (final reading). The legislation will take effect on May 30. The moratorium will expire on July 10.
  • Absentee (non-owner occupied) STVRs will only be permitted within commercial zones (C-2,C-3, C-4, C-5, UGC, CC, IX, RV, RF, CX, and SH). There will be an 18 month “cool down” between any rezoning and any STVR permit.
  • Homestay (owner occupied) STVRs will only be permitted within the existing STVR overlay area.
  • Application and yearly renewal fees will be $500 for absentee and $250 for homestay STVRs.
  • Permits will be tied to the property address. STVRs can be bought and sold without losing their permit.
  • Each STVR must have a designated agent who is able to be on site within 2 hours.
• The council confirmed the appointment of Buell Connell to the Police Advisory Review Committee.
• The council approved a lease agreement with the Hamilton County Board of Education.
• The council approved an agreement with Chattanooga Disc Golf Club, Inc. for disc golf courses within the city.
• The council approved the appointment of Anthony Sammons as Chief Equity Officer.
• The council authorized two grant applications for the Chattanooga Police Department.
• The council approved a $60k agreement with the Hamilton County for the Courts Community Service Program for litter pick up.
• The council approved the allocation of ~$1.7M of Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act funds for the purchase of Public Works vehicles.
• The council approved 1 routine purchase, a $50k purchase of biohazard removal services from Belfor USA Group Inc.
• The council approved the release of three Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The city is seeking proposals for:
  • Online survey tools.
  • Workspace redesign for the 3rd floor of the Edney building.
  • The continuation of the city sanctioned homeless encampment.
• The council was notified of one emergency purchase,~$50k in repairs to the Hixson Youth Baseball Fields.
• The council was notified of two legal settlements, ~$59k to Doyle Bowdenhammer and $65k to Michelle Mormon.
• The council dismissed an ethics complaint filed against Councilwoman Berz.
• Several citizens addressed the council. You can watch the full comments here.
  • Mike Smith, executive of the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition. The organization will soon be renamed to the Tennessee Homeless Coalition.

The meeting minutes can be found here.

MAY 23 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

• The council will vote on several rezoning cases, including:
  • Requests to rezone 7707 and 7717 Lee Highway from C-2 to UGC to allow the full conversion of existing hotels into apartment complexes. If the rezoning is not approved the hotels may still be converted, but will have fewer units.
• The council will vote on two Right Of Way closures (final reading)
• The council will vote on the distribution of American Rescue Plan Funds:
  • ~$12k to the Parks and Outdoors Department for a swing set at Hill City Park Playground.
  • $25k to the Kiwanis Youth Foundation for a playground at Jack BEnson Heritage Park.
  • $15k to Olivet Baptist Church for their Second Chance Recidivism Program.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Tracy Davis to the District 8 Community Advisory Committee.
• The council will vote to authorize a partnership with the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence to apply for a 5-year, $750k grant.
• The council will vote on the confirmation of J.W. Cole to the Beer & Wrecker Board
• The council will vote on the confirmation of David Hudson, James Boshears, Anna Massey, John Coffelt, and Mike Price to the Stormwater Regulations Board.
• The council will vote to authorize an application for a $2M Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative grant.
• The council will vote to rename the Triangle Park Pavilion to the Melinda Hickey Memorial Pavilion.
• The council will vote to approve a new liquor store permit at 5450 Highway 153.
• The council will vote to authorize a grant application for a $3M USDOT electric vehicle changing grant.
• The council will vote on several public works contracts (see agenda for details).

The city council will not meet on May 30 in observance of Memorial Day.

JUNE 6 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

The June 6 agenda is not currently available. You may check back by visiting the city council website and click “Current Agenda”