June 13, 2022

June 13, 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

• 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.
• On June 7 the city council approved the first of two votes on the proposed 2023 Fiscal Year Budget (July 2022-June 2023). The executive summaries for the operating and capital budgets can be found here.The full documents can be found here. The budget can also be viewed in an interactive chart here. The second vote will be held on June 14.
• On June 7 the city council will hold the first of two votes to apply the 4% hotel/motel tax to short term vacation rentals. The second vote will be held on June 14.
• On June 7 the city council will vote to confirm Eduardo Centurion and Pastor Gary Hathaway to the Chattanooga Land Bank Authority. This signals a broader movement in the mayor’s affordable housing plan, as the land bank has been inactive for several years.
• On June 14 the city council will vote to confirm Tara Viland and Owen Seaton to the Beer and Wrecker Board.

JUNE 7 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The meeting recording can be found here.

The meeting minutes can be found here.

Ordinances – first reading:

• Passed: An ordinance to adopt the proposed 2022-2023 Operations budget.
• Passed: An ordinance to adopt the proposed 2022-2023 Capital Improvements Budget.
• Passed: An ordinance to apply the 4% hotel/motel tax to short term vacation rentals.

Resolutions:

• Passed: A resolution to extend a purchase order with Harris Computer Systems for ~$121k for the purpose of billing and collecting property taxes.
• Passed: A resolution to renew and agreement with CIGNA to provide dental plan options to city employees and retirees at an employee paid cost of $1.35M.
• Passed: A resolution confirming the appointment of Eduardo Centurion to the Chattanooga Land Bank Authority.
• Passed: A resolution confirming the appointment of Pastor Gary Hathaway to the Chattanooga Land Bank Authority.
• Passed: A resolution to approve 2022-2023 conservation services agreement with the Trust for Public Land for $150k.
• Passed: A resolution to amend the 2021-2022 conservation services agreement with the Trust for Public Lands for ~$28k.
• Passed: A resolution authorizing the waiver of park rental fees for Pops on the River, with a value of ~$3k.
• Passed: A resolution to enter project development contracts with Volkert, Inc., Ragan-Smith Associates, Inc. (for transparency’s sake, that is my employer), Cornerstone Program Management Group, LLC, and Oakmae Development Group, LLC, for $1M ($250k each).
• Passed: A resolution to enter a construction agreement with EPB to improve electrical service to Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant for $170k.
• Passed: A resolution to enter a contract with Wilder Contracting, LLC for gym floor replacement at the North Chattanooga Community Center for ~$110k.
• Passed: A resolution to add the secondary commemorative street name of “Hattie Darby Street” to a portion of North Market Street.
• Passed: A resolution to enter a contraction with Thomas Brothers Construction Company for improvements to a 38th street detention basin for ~$689k.
• Passed: A resolution to enter an agreement with Hamilton County for court community service litter pickup for $60k.
• Passed: A resolution to renew professional environmental consulting service agreements with S&ME Inc., Alternative Actions Inc., Spectra Tech Inc., K.S. Ware and Associates LLC, GLE associates Inc., Ensafe Inc., Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions Inc., and Frost Environmental Services LLC for $350k.

Other:

• The council was notified of 6 routine purchases and one emergency purchase: a $430k grinder pump replacement to prevent wastewater from discharging ot the Tennessee River.
• The budget and finance committee met to discuss the F23 budgets.
• The planning and zoning committee met to discuss rezoning cases that have opposition. These cases will be on the June 14 agenda.
• The ad hoc STVR committee met and is considering hiring UTC to conduct an STVR study.
• Chief Murphy addressed the council to discuss the McCallie Avenue shootings. I recommend watching her full address using the link above.
• James Brantley addressed the council expressing dismay that the event preceding the McCallie Avenue shooting was quite large and loud but there was no police presence until the shooting occurred.
• Marie Mott addressed the council expressing similar dismay as Mr. Brantley. She also asked that leadership step up and try new solutions.
• Dustin Landis addressed the council to draw attention to violence against women, animal abuse, and drug use in the homeless encampment on 11th.
• Joe Denkins addressed the council to discuss the work he is doing on prisoner reentry and offered his help in addressing violence in the city.
• Henry Slayton addressed the council to express his opinion that the current wave of violence stems from a lack of respect and self-reflection.
• Angela Roberts addressed the council asking why the city is spending money on cameras that are not working. She also asked why there is no city homeless shelter.

JUNE 14 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The meeting agenda can be found here.

Ordinances – second reading:

• An ordinance to adopt the proposed 2022-2023 Operations budget.
• An ordinance to adopt the proposed 2022-2023 Capital Improvements Budget.
• An ordinance to apply the 4% hotel/motel tax to short term vacation rentals.

Rezoning Ordinances – first reading:

• 713 Hamilton Avenue - David Fidati & Wise Construction
• 3820, 3834, 3836 Hixson Pike - Matthew Mucciolo
• 2149 Crescent Club Drive - Mike Croxall
• 1040 Givens Road - Collier Construction
• 509 Airport Road - Humberto Corona
• 101 Cedar Lane, 103 Jubilee Drive, 5959 & 5995 Brainerd Road, 5707 Lee Highway - Chattanooga Metro Airport Authority
• 603 Airport Road - Ingram, Gore & Associates
• 5920 Pine Grove Trail – Reed L. Pond & Pond Holdings, LLC
• 3698 & 3710 Faith Road – Benjamin Philips
• 1412 East 49th Street – Wesley Thompson
• 2811 South Hickory Street – Ben Parker
• 1300 & 1304 Bennett Avenue – JW Holdings, GP
• 1817 Ridgewood Drive – Brad Brackett

Resolutions

• A resolution to enter into an agreement with eh State of Tennessee to maintain a multi-use path under the SR-17 South Chickamauga Creek Bridge for 10 years.
• A resolution to adopt a five year Capital Improvement Plan (2023-2027).
• A resolution to issue $30.5M in bonds to fund portions of the Capital Improvement Budget.
• A resolution to confirm Tara Viland to the Beer and Wrecker Board.
• A resolution to confirm Owen Seaton to the Beer and Wrecker Board.
• A resolution to grant a special exceptions permit for a planned unit development at 2698 and 3710 Faith Road.
• A resolution to approve an $~11k change order to Davis Kee Outdoor for the Avondale Youth and Family Development Center landscaping.
• A resolution to award on-call contracts to Asa Engineering, Barge Design Solutions, Consor Engineering, Croy Engineering, Earthworx, RaganSmith (for transparency’s sake, this is my employer), The RLS Group, and Vaugh & Melton Consulting Engineers for an annual amount of $1M.
• A resolution to execute the right-of-way phase of a federally funded Hamilton Place Boulevard Modification project with the city contributing 20% (~$441k).