March 25, 2024

March 25 City Council Update

MARCH 19 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Budget & Finance Work Session recording can be found here.

The Agenda Session recording can be found here.
- The council heard a presentation regarding changes to bulk trash, brush, and loose leaf pickup. Starting April 1, bulk trash pickup may be scheduled via 311 and brush pickup will now be provided on a rolling basis (simply leave brush on the curb and it should be picked up). Starting November 1 leaf pickup will be provided on a rolling basis.

The Business Session recording can be found here.

• The council approved a number of rezoning requests (final reading).
• The council deferred a vote on a new fee schedule for city parks and facilities until April 2 (first reading).
• The council confirmed the appointment of Alan Richelson and Scott MColpin to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• The council will approve a grant of $3M in HOME Investment Partnership Program Funds to assist in the development of a 166-unit affordable housing project. Full disclosure, I am the civil engineer for this project.
• The council deferred a vote on amendments to the Employee Information Guide until March 26.
• The council approved the application for a $500k grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a railroad corridor study.
• The council approved a contract for the construction of a new fire training tower.
• The council approved three Public Works contracts.
• The council confirmed the appointment of Rob Ellis to the Air Pollution Control Board.
• The council approved 4 routine purchases, including a ~$725k contract for ground maintenance of city parks.
• Six citizens addressed the council. You can watch the full comments here.

The meeting minutes can be found here.

MARCH 26 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

• The council will hold a Planning & Zoning Committee Work Session at 1pm. The work session is open to the public and will be streamed live on YouTube.
• The council will vote on two right-of-way closure requests (first reading).
• The council will vote on several grant awards:
  • ~$42k in ARPA funds to the Frances B. Wyatt Community Center for a digital public information sign.
  • $10k in ARPA funds to the Lakeside Youth Athletics for a computer lab and sports equipment.
  • $40 in HOME funds to Habitat for humanity for the construction of an affordable house at 537 West 37th Street.
  • $40 in HOME funds to Habitat for humanity for the construction of an affordable house at 3421 Kirkland Avenue.
  • $1M in CDGB funding to Chattanooga Housing Authority for the renovation of Emma Wheeler Homes.
• The council will vote on a lease agreement with Four J’s Ducks for use of the Ross’s Landing Boat Ramp.
• The council will vote on updates to the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program to support affordable housing.
• The council will vote on amendments to the Employee Information Guide.
• The council will vote on a ~$57 contract with Woolpert, Inc to update GIS data.
• The council will vote on designating portions of Market Street with the secondary name of “Reuben C. Lawrence Sr. Commemorative Street”.

APRIL 2 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

• The council will vote on two right-of-way closure requests (final reading).
• The council will vote on updates to the park rental fee schedule (first reading).
• The council will vote on the appointment of Paul Betbeze to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Quinita Robinson to a Community Advisory Committee.
• The council will vote on the reallocation of ~$218k in unused funds to the Rapid Rental Repair Program.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Bryan Johnson to the Electric Power Board.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Nicholas Nguyen to the Head Start Governing Board.
• The council will vote on the appointment of S. Reginald Ruff to the Form Based Code Committee.
• The council will vote on the appointments of Victor Rodriguez, Jennifer Dennard, Jamaal Macon, Jamyah Johnson, and Austin Jones to Community Advisory Committees.
• The council will vote on the appointment of a number of city employees as special unarmed police officers to facilitate their inspection duties.