August 7, 2023

Police Advisory Review Committee Moratorium, State of the City, and More

GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS

• This past weekend I released my interview with Casey Tinker, manager for the Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.You can listen to the interview by searching “Chattanooga Civics” in your favorite podcast app or on YouTube.
• On August 3 Mayor Kelly gave his State of the City address. You can view the full address here. He offered the following highlights in his latest newsletter:
  • $440 million of economic investment in Chattanooga and more than 2,000 jobs created.
  • Housed nearly 800 Chattanoogans through direct city support or investment in 2023; nearly 3,000 since taking office.
  • 40% reduction in homelessness in 2022.
  • Prevented evictions for 279 households through the Eviction Prevention Initiative (EPI) - more than 800 people.
  • 600+ more affordable housing units in development or planned.
  • Estimated $2 billion in investment through South Broad and Westside Plans.
  • More than 160 lane miles paved and more than 40,000 potholes paved.
  • Developing the first comprehensive Parks and Outdoors Plan in 25 years.
  • Improved 311 request completion times and reduced 311 wait times.
• On August 1 the city council instituted a moratorium on the Police Advisory Review Committee so as to stay in compliance with new state laws regarding police review committees.

AUGUST 1 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Agenda Session recording can be found here.

• The council discussed the temporary moratorium of the Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) ordinance due to changes in state law:
  • State law now limits police review committees to 7 members to be appointed by the mayor and approved by council (PARC is currently a 9 member board, with each council member appointing one member).
  • The police review committee must appoint an executive director, which would likely be a paid position (this position does not currently exist and adds substantial cost to the committee).
  • Police review committees must be open to the public (currently they are closed due to the discussion of ongoing investigations).
  • Police review committees cannot review investigations prior to closure of an investigation, meaning that any disciplinary decisions will already have been made before the committee can review the case.
  • Several PARC members spoke out against the changes and asked the city council to lobby the state legislature to review the new regulations.
  • Chief Murphy promised that in the meantime she would work to maintain the relationship between the committee and CPD and council as best as possible.
  • The full conversation is quite long but is worth watching.

The Business Session recording can be found here.

• The council approved an amendment to the city ordinance governing the Fire and Police Pension Fund board of trustees (final reading).
• The council voted on a number of rezoning cases (first reading, see agenda for full details).
• The council approved a moratorium on certain sections of the Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) ordinance in order to comply with state law (first reading). See the agenda session notes for a more detailed explanation. Voting YES: Councilmembers Henderson, Smith, Hester, Noel, and Dotley. Voting NO: Councilmembers Berz, Coonrod, and Hill
  • The council members spent several minutes discussing this vote. You can view the whole discussion here..
  • Councilman Henderson explained that if PARC continued to operate under the current ordinance they would be violating state law, and said that is “not a good look”.
  • Councilman Smith expressed frustration with the new state law, but said “we don’t have a choice”.
  • Councilwoman Berz countered, saying she would prefer to leave the choice up to PARC as to how to proceed.
  • Councilman Hill said it would make a stronger statement against state preemption to let PARC disband itself.
  • Police Chief Murphy said it would put her in a difficult position if the ordinance were not changed to comply with state law.
• The council approved an initial resolution authorizing the issuance of up to $46M in general obligation bonds.
• The council approved an amendment to a supplemental agreement with Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, INC..
• The council confirmed the appointment of Brenda Nunn, Dan Mayfield, and Christie Morris to the Beer and Wrecker Board.
• The council voted on a number of contracts for Public Works and Wastewater. See minutes for details.
• The council approved 8 routine purchases, including a $6M purchase of electrical services from Adman Electric, Nabco Electric, and Tri-State Electrical Contractors.
• The council was notified of 4 emergency purchases of liquid oxygen for the Moccasin Bend treatment plant totalling $235k.
• Three citizens addressed the council. You can watch the full comments here.

The meeting minutes can be found here.

AUGUST 8 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

• The council will vote on a number of rezoning cases (first reading and final reading, see agenda for full details).
• The council will vote on a moratorium on certain sections of the Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) ordinance in order to comply with state law (final reading).
• The council will vote on an ordinance amending the General Pension Plan (first reading).
• The council will vote to allocate $35k in American Rescue Plan funds to Olivet Baptist Church for youth training programs.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Chip Baker and Harriette Stokes to the Metropolitan Airport Authority.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Reginald Jordan to the Stormwater Regulations Board.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Lee Helena to the Form-Based Code Committee.
• The council will vote on the appointment of Cynthia Coleman to the Passenger Vehicle-For-Hire Board.
• The council will vote on two Residential Planned Unit Development Special Exceptions permits.
• The council will vote on support for an application for a US Department of Transportation Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant.
• The council will vote on a change order to a contract with Alfred Benesh & Company to provide engineering services for the Shallowford Road widening project, total cost of ~$1.1M.

AUGUST 15 CITY COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

The Proposed Meeting Agenda can be found here.

• The council will vote on an ordinance amending the General Pension Plan (final reading).
• The council will vote on a number of rezoning cases (final reading, see agenda for full details).
• The council will vote on the appointments of Toccora Johnson-Petersen and Joyce Jackson to the Head Start Governing Board.
• The council will vote on a number of Public Works contracts (see agenda for full details).