July 11, 2022

July 11, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

• Early voting for the August election starts on July 15. You can see the schedule here and you can find your sample ballot here.
• The city has announced that more than 90 percent of Chattanooga potholes have been filled. You can read the entire press release (PDF download) here.
• The city and county have announced a joint plan to support a new Lookouts Stadium at the U.S. Pipe site as part of the efforts to revitalize the South Broad district. You can read about the plan here.
• The City of Chattanooga Department of Parks and Outdoors has launched the Parks & Outdoors Plan to build a vision for the future of city parks. You can find out more and take a survey here.
• Mayor Kelly is taking applications for the 2022-2023 Mayor’s Youth Council. This program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors who live within the Chattanooga city limits.
• The City of Chattanooga has created 10 Community Advisory Committees to provide direct input into the operation of the Chattanooga Community Centers. You can apply for a committee here.
• On June 28 the city council voted to confirm the appointment of Randall Addison to the Board of Sign Appeals.
• On June 28 the city council voted to pay ~$385k to TDOT to remove all restrictions from city owned parcel 135N A 006 (201 Riverfront Parkway). The parcel currently contains a deed restriction stating that if the parcel ceases to be used for public purpose the ownership will revert to the state. The parcel currently is home to the Ross’ Landing Boat Ramp and Erwin Marine, as well as a portion of Riverfront Parkway and a small public parking lot.
• On July 12 the city council will hold the second of two votes to change to the minimum amount of expenditures that must be approved by council from $25k to $50k. The minimum amount of city contracts that must be opened to competitive bid is likewise being changed from $25k to $50k.
• On July 12 the city council will hold the first of two votes to remove the elderly low income or disabled homeowner exemption from stormwater fees in order to stay in compliance with state law.
• On July 12 the city council will vote to confirm Michael Martin to the Police Advisory and Review Committee.

JUNE 28 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The meeting recording can be found here.

The meeting minutes can be found here.

Rezoning Ordinances – final reading:

• Passed: 713 Hamilton Avenue – Dave Fidati and Wise Construction
• Passed: 3820, 3834, 3836 Hixson Pike – Matthew Mucciolo
• Passed: 1040 Givens Road – Collier Construction

Other Ordinances – first reading:

• Passed: an ordinance to change to the minimum amount of expenditures that must be approved by council from $25k to $50k. The minimum amount of city contracts that must be opened to competitive bid is likewise being changed from $25k to $50k.
• Passed: Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of Brown Street – Ben Parker Company
• Passed: Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of E. 28th Street – Ben Parker Company
• Denied: Right-Of-Way closure on the 2800 and 2900 blocks of S. Hickory Street – Ben Parker Company
• Passed: Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of Belmont Avenue – Benton Crisler Torrence

Resolutions:

• Passed: A resolution to confirm Randall Addison to the Board of Sign Appeals.
• Passed: A resolution to lease 344 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center to Hamilton County Mental Health Court for $1 annually through June 30, 2023. This is an amendment of an existing lease.
• Passed: A resolution to lease 120 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center to Helen Ross McNabb Center for $1 annually through July 1, 2024.
• Passed: A resolution to lease 454 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Inc. for $1 annually through July 1, 2024.
• Passed: A resolution to lease 311 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center to Nurture the Next for $285.08 monthly through January 1, 2023.
• Passed: A resolution to lease 107 square feet of office space at the Family Justice Center to Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, Inc. for $1 annually through July 1, 2024.
• Passed: A resolution to approve a quitclaim deed between the City of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Downtown Redevelopment Corporation, and the RiverCity Company.
• Passed: A resolution to pay ~$385k to TDOT to remove all restrictions from city owned parcel 135N A 006 (201 Riverfront Parkway).
• Passed: A resolution awarding a four year ~$217k landfill groundwater sampling monitoring contract to CTI Engineers, Inc.

Other:

• 12 routine purchases approved.
• The Economic Development Committee will meet on July 12 to discuss Tax Increment Financing.
• The Planning and Zoning Committee will meet on July 12 to discuss upcoming zoning cases.
• The Public Safety Committee will meet on July 26 for the quarterly Police Advisory and Review Committee report.
• 11 citizens addressed the council. I did not have time to summarize each comment and have instead copied the summaries from the City Council Minutes.
• Marie Mott - Milne St. Duplexes/Duplex Program Fund Accountability. Chairman Ledford asked Tony Sammons, Administrator of Community Development, to follow-up on this with Ms. Mott.
• Nicholas Kanable - Safe space/Preventing gun violence.
• Savannah Guffey - Council needing to pay attention to the people.
• Jaron Pasada - Public Works employee questioning city interview process/City government structure not working.
• Chester Heathington - Concerned with crime/Reinstating police to work night clubs and Police Athletic Leagues for at-risk kids. Councilman Ledford asked that someone from CPD speak with Mr. Heathington.
• Cooper - Needs of homeless, gay, and black communities/Call to action for the Council to participate in their communities.
• Candy - Council not treating people right/inappropriate reactions to public comments.
• Jackie Simpson - Commending black officers for 3-in-3 basketball event this weekend.
• Edward Green, Jr. - Posting signage honoring Officer Hamler. Vice Chair Dotley gave Mr. Green the tentative date planned for the sign ceremony and asked to speak further with him after the meeting.
• Hailey - Does not feel safe in the city/Council reactions to public comments not good.
• Eddie - Helping people/preventing violence Councilwoman Berz offered her contact information for him and others in District 6 to reach her.

JULY 12 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The meeting agenda can be found here.

Ordinances – final reading:

• An ordinance to change to the minimum amount of expenditures that must be approved by council from $25k to $50k. The minimum amount of city contracts that must be opened to competitive bid is likewise being changed from $25k to $50k.
• Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of Brown Street – Ben Parker Company
• Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of E. 28th Street – Ben Parker Company
• Right-Of-Way closure on the 2800 and 2900 blocks of S. Hickory Street – Ben Parker Company
• Right-Of-Way closure on the 1600 block of Belmont Avenue – Benton Crisler Torrence

Rezoning Ordinances – first reading:

• An ordinance amending the structure of the Public Arts Commission.
• An ordinance to remove the elderly low income or disabled homeowner exemption from stormwater fees in order to stay in compliance with state law.
• An ordinance to amend the rental rates for municipal parks.

Other Ordinances – first reading:

• Unaddressed property on Fringe Road - Andrew Stone
• 5117 Gooden Lane, 1326 Mayfield Lane, & an unaddressed property on Gadd Road – Pratt & Associates
• 1302 Gadd Road – Michael Long
• Unaddressed property on the 7500 block of Standifer Gap Road – ASA Engineering
• 1248, 1259, & 1281 Lester Lane – ASA Engineering
• 1413 North Concord Road and 6906, 6931, 6957 and an unaddressed property on the 6900 block of Concord Circle – Neuhoff Taylor Architects
• 7548 and 7554 Igou Gap Road – WH Holdings
• 1820 and 1830 Gray Road – James Perry
• 2000 Gunbarrel Road and 7555 Goodwin Road – EAH Acquisitions, LLC
• 1558 Vance Road – Brantley White
• 1850 Newell Avenue – Alex Spears
• An unaddressed property on the 300 block of North Highland Park Avenue – Edward Thrasher
• 1126 E. 8th Street – Sarah Crocker
• 2101 Soth Watkins Street – Len’Torry Coleman

Resolutions:

• A resolution to confirm the appointment of Michael Martin to the Police Advisory and Review Committee.
• A resolution considering a Short Term Vacation Rental permit application at 705 N. Holy Street.
• A resolution to amend a donation agreement at 2514 E. 17th Street. The property is being donated by the city to Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise for the purpose of construction and maintaining affordable housing for a period of 10 years.
• A resolution to authorize Trevor Moorer as a Special Policy Officer (unarmed) for McKamey Animal Center.
• A resolution to authorize Jason Rains as a Special Police Officer (unarmed) for the Department of community Development.
• A resolution approving a special exceptions permit for a liquor store at 541 Signal Mountain Road, suites 229 and 235.
• A resolution approving a special exceptions permit for a residential planning unit development for properties at 7548 and 7554 Igou Gap Road.
• A resolution approving a special exceptions permit for a residential planning unit development for properties at 2000 Gunbarrel Road and 7555 Goodwin Road.
• A resolution authorizing the application for and (if awarded) acceptance of a $25k grant from the Boyd Foundation for the improvement of the dog park at Greenway Farm.
• A resolution to execute a $420k contract with CTI Engineers for landfill deficiency recommendations and repairs.