November 7, 2022

November 7, 2022 - STVRs, ADA, and more.

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Election day is November 8. You can find sample ballots and polling location schedules by visiting the Hamilton County Election Commission Website.
• The city council is working towards new Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) regulations. No changes have been made to the code, and a final vote has not yet been scheduled. The council is currently considering the following changes:
  • A permit fee increase to $500.
  • Absentee (non home-owner occupied) STVR permits no longer to be granted in R-1 zones. Homestay (owner-occupied) STVR permits still to be granted in R-1 zones (i.e. for spare bedrooms and ADUs).
  • Homestay STVR permits to only be granted to persons, not trusts, LLCs, etc.
  • No more than 25% of the units in any given multi-family parcel shall be permitted as STVRs.
  • Permits to be handled by staff rather than city council.
  • A new appeals board to be created.
  • Ownership information and the local contact designee will be posted on a public website. The local contact person shall be available 24-hours, and must be able to appear at the property within 2 hours to address safety issues, noise complaints, etc.
  • New enforcement staff will be funded with permits funds.
  • Further suggested changes to the code, as well as background information, may be found here.
• The city is undergoing an American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evalutation and Transition Plan. You can find out more here.
• Chief Financial Officer Brent Goldberg has accepted a new position as Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at UTC and will be resigning his post at the city effect December 1.

NOVEMBER 1 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The meeting recording can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.

• On November 1 the city council:
  • voted to amend city code to replace the Office of Multicultural Affairs with the Department of Equity and Community Engagement (first reading).
  • authorized a number of leases and property transfers (see the minutes for full details).
  • amended the Tax Increment Financing Policies and Procedures.
  • authorized the acceptance of $500k in American Rescue Plan Funding for a home repair program administered by the Neighborhood Services Division.
  • authorized the acceptance of a ~$4.6M grant for the “Integrated Smart Electric Grid and Transportation System Management” project.
  • authorized a ~$232k contract with RaganSmith (disclosure: I am employed by RaganSmith) for design services for the Chattanooga Skatepark.
  • adopted the Westside Evolves plan as a roadmap for future land use decisions in the effected area.
  • voted to authorize an agreement to renovate the James A. Henry building, necessary to the Westside Evolves Plan, for an amount not to exceed $1M.
  • approved 5 routine purchases, including a ~$266k Frost Stadium light system retrofit.
  • approved the issuance of one Request for Proposals for a new police records management system.
• A number of citizens addressed the council, mainly with regards to the city’s plan to convert the Airport Inn on Lee Highway to supportive housing. You can view all comments here.

NOVEMBER 8 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The proposed meeting agenda can be found here.

• In observance of election day the city council will be meeting for agenda session at 2:30pm and for regular business session at 4:00pm.
• On November 8 the city council will:
  • vote to amend city code to replace the Office of Multicultural Affairs with the Department of Equity and Community Engagement (final reading).
  • vote on a number of rezoning cases, including a request to rezone the old Airport Inn to provide supporting housing (see agenda for full details).
  • vote to renew a lease of 36 Sheridan Avenue to the Missionary Ridge Neighborhood Association for the amount of $1 per year.
  • vote to authorize the increase of an IT software licensing contract by ~$186k over three years.
  • vote to confirm the appointment of Ronald Smith to the Beer & Wrecker Board.
  • vote to confirm the appointment of James Walker and Michael Webb to the Board of Construction Appeals.
  • vote to confirm the appointment of Jeffrey Wilson to the General Pension Board.
  • vote to place several conditions upon the conversion of the Airport Inn to Supportive housing. You can read the full list of conditions here.

NOVEMBER 15 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The proposed meeting agenda can be found here.

• On November 15 the city council will:
  • vote on several rezoning case (see agenda for full details).
  • vote to confirm the appointment of Cassandra Nice and Chanda Chambers to the North Chattanooga Region 3 Community Advisory Board.
  • vote to confirm the appointment of Linda Mathis, Carlos Santez McConnell, Timothy Bowman, and Nan Zamata to the Standifer Gap Region 9 Community Advisory Board.
  • vote to approve a new liquor store at 6231 Perimeter Drive.
  • vote on 3 public works contracts (see agenda for full details).