City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'll call to order the August 4th meeting of the Chattanooga City Council. And in Councilman Harvey's absence today, I'll lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. So if you would please stand and join me in the pledge.

Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance.

And if you'd like, you can bow your heads with me for a brief prayer. God, we thank you for another opportunity to serve this great city. Pray that you would give us wisdom to know the right decisions to make and the courage to make those decisions. Pray that you would make us all quicker to listen than we are to speak and to hear each other well. We pray that your name will be glorified through the work we do here today. Amen.

Okay.

Council, can I get a motion on the minutes from last week's meeting? I do have a motion properly seconded, and the minutes will stand as published. Council, if you would look with me. I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF. FOR THOSE GUESTS THAT WE HAVE, WE ALWAYS AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETINGS GIVE KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF HOW OUR MEETINGS RUN SO YOU'LL KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. So our meetings are run in two parts. The first part is our agenda session where council will ask questions or make comments about any items on our agenda tonight and then our agenda items next week. And finally, items coming up three weeks or later into the future so that we're well prepared for everything that comes before us. We will also look at the purchasing items that are before us tonight for consideration, and council will have an opportunity to ask questions or make comments about those items. We do have a planning and zoning committee meeting that will happen today during our agenda session that Councilwoman Burrs will lead for us. after that we will have a recess as we normally do between our agenda and business session and during that time we often have an attorney-client meeting and we will need one today so we will all announce at that time when we recess how long we'll be recessing for and then when we come back we'll be voting on all the items on our agenda this evening At the end of that, at the end of our voting session of the meeting, there will be a time for members of the public who are here to address council on any topics you would like. And there are some rules for that that our city attorney will read at that time. And when that time comes, we'll just have folks line up at the podium down front for that public comment period. Okay. So with that out of the way now, council, if we could look at this week's agenda. AND GET YOUR LIGHTS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, AND I SEE COUNCILWOMAN DOTLEY.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Item A on the public works, the abandonment of the alleyway, the 1300 block of West 46th Street. Can someone from public works, I've read the report in regards to why it's up for denial. I just wanted to confirm that it does give access to the six lots adjacent to it.

Is anybody here too? Bill. Thank you, Bill.

And if there are any other access points besides that, the alleyway area.

um thank you uh councilman appreciate the question uh bill payne city engineer in public works the that particular alley does run to the rear of three lots that run sort of side by side but then it also provides uh has the potential to provide access to some other lots as well to provide their rear rear access i don't believe that there's any that are that that's it that that is the sole access point but it does provide rear access and in that just with the way that a lot of those lot sizes are there is a lot of rear access that occurs um within within that entire area and so just the the recommendation was was to continue to uh to maintain that in for any sort of future connectivity for additional rear access because those other lots are undeveloped and so that may be something that becomes necessary as those lots develop in the future so some of them are developed but not all of them.

Okay. And then for, I do plan to deny with the recommendation that you have, but my other question is, would a temporary use for the landscaping be permissible until they are developed?

Yes, that would be completely acceptable. We'd be glad to speak to the applicant about that if that's something that they'd like to pursue.

Okay, yes. So if you could, because I do plan to move to deny this one. So if you could reach out to them and let them know that, and then that they can apply for that temporary use permit for the landscaping until it develops. Okay, that works. Thank you so much, Bill. I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Any other questions, Council, on the ordinances that are on our agenda for this evening before we move on to resolutions? Okay, we'll look then at resolutions. We have a few on for consideration this evening. Any questions or comments on those, Council?

Okay.

We do have also in other business tonight a certificate of compliance for Sunrise Liquors, and that's in District 5. Okay.

Councilman Clark. Sunrise Liquors, is that associated with the gas station or is it at a

is it what's been built next door to the streetway it is uh 6506 bonnie oaks drive i do not know beyond that they did a search at least for the area within nothing is within 500 feet in violation of our requirements i'll provide that to you this evening i've seen the address so i can look it up i didn't see this on this is the first time i've seen it yes 6506 bonnie oaks drive

NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS.

NEW SPEAKERS.

I HAVE A QUESTION, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION FOR THE STOREFRONTS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH RIVER CITY. HI, SARAH.

NEW SPEAKERS.

good afternoon some of these are going to be for you some of these necessarily won't be for you okay okay and this is 9a on page three just everybody's on the same page i know a couple months ago we were we partnered with you guys with a similar allocation for storefront improvements how has that program gone and how much of those funds have been exhausted so far

Nearly all the funds have been exhausted. We've had 11 approved applications, and we have three pending applications, and we have about three more that are in queue waiting for additional funding. So we've had tremendous interest and success with the program. Almost all those businesses were small, local businesses. locally owned businesses opening a new storefront or expanding their business or restoring their business. So we've had tremendous success with the program with great economic impact so far. So very pleased. We just launched in November, so it's only been eight months. So we're very pleased with the success of the program so far.

Do you guys track the overall financial health or the health of the businesses in general?

Yeah, that's the plan. Once we're once they're about a year in business, I'll follow up with them to check on their sales growth and number of employees, jobs created or retained so that we can track their year over year success of their business.

And how many other businesses do you guys have? You have three more businesses pending, correct? Yes. Are there any other businesses interested in these funds so far?

I get about three to four inquiries a week. Okay. so i think a lot of them are just um i would call them pre-applicants they haven't yet gotten quotes for construction they're just now learning about the program they're seeing their neighboring businesses getting these funds and putting up beautiful awnings and signage so the word is spreading and they're just not quite there yet so they are still doing the research but i probably get three to four businesses reach out every week

Okay. And can you describe the River City's footprint for the businesses that are allowed to take part in your program?

Yeah, thank you for asking that. So we cover Fraser Avenue on the North Shore on the north end of our boundary. And then we go all the way back to the interstate. So all the way past Main Street to the interstate. And then on our western boundary is Highway 27 to pretty much like UTC and Central Avenue on the east side.

Any on Main Street? I think I saw a project. Have you guys extended down the main?

Oui Oui Boulangerie on Main Street was one of our first applicants and disbursements. That one was a great success. They would not have been able to afford to put up that beautiful awning that they have that's given so much character to that block. And then we have one approved application on Main Street.

Okay. So businesses on Main Street can also take part, correct?

Yes, they can.

Okay. Well, I do appreciate this, and you guys have done a good job over the years of advocating for your footprint, and I really appreciate that. So this next series of questions may not necessarily be for you, but you can stay if you want. I'm curious to know exactly where this pool of funds come from. This may be a question for someone in administration. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SARAH. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU.

NEW SPEAKER SO THIS MONEY COMES FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDS BUDGET COST CENTER OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NEW SPEAKER SO THIS IS NOT COMING FROM ANYTHING FROM IDB OR ANYTHING ELSE. WE HOLD THESE FUNDS OURSELVES, CORRECT? AND HOW MUCH WAS ALLOCATED IN THIS FY27? uh last year there was six hundred thousand dollars in the line item that this came out of from last year so i'm not sure i don't know 500 richardson 500 of that is allocated and all of it is intended for this year for this project okay um do you guys have any other um projects or call centers for any other neighborhoods or parts of town for economic development In this year's budget? I may defer to Richard on this.

Are you referring to the corridor program that Sherita started?

Corridor program. I know that was allocated last year I see we put money in the budget this year for downtown for River City Are there any other new dollars from this past budget that you guys have allocated for neighborhoods for economic development purposes? Okay Thank You Richard and Thank You Weston I think broadly I You know, it's always important that we have a strong city center, right? And I think we're lucky that we have River City as a good partner to help make sure that we can have that catalyst. And so I thank you all for that work. One of the things that is always on my mind is how do we bring that same level of energy back to our neighborhoods where they oftentimes are overlooked and under-resourced, right? um before i started you know councilman dotley has done a great job of being an advocate for a rossville boulevard corridor they they just launched um their opportunity zone since this term has started councilman burrs has done a very great job of advocating for brainerd and bringing life into that district councilman clark has been steadfast on looking for a grocery store that is plaguing so many communities who live in food deserts i am trying to bring life back to glass street i am trying to slow down traffic on old town brainerd in that stretch of area i am trying to breathe a lot of life into my eastdale community And I think sometimes where the frustration lies just broadly is, you know, while it is our job to advocate for our districts, oftentimes it feels like we're the only ones fighting for our people. We're the only ones seeing the need to bring those resources back to our communities, to the communities who oftentimes don't get these energies. And yes, we got the storefront dollars, I think it's $600,000 in storefront dollars that I hope all businesses take advantage of, but that's really oftentimes a drop in the bucket for people who also pay taxes. i was in a community meeting last night where people are screaming for simple stuff for brown brush consistent codes maintenance and it should not take council people for stepping stepping in for the city to just show up for his people I think that's the frustration I have more broadly, is how do we show up for people who, when the festivals are gone, when the conventions are gone, when it is no more tourists during the week, it is Chattanoogans who keep this city afloat, who call this city home, who oftentimes, more times than not, get stuck with a big question mark, right? And I know the administration has many priorities, but our districts are your people too. And I think the broader question I'm asking is for people to be, showed you at least half a fraction of energy that we show for downtown and some of these other corridors for our communities as well. We are not a part-time council. Many of us all have private businesses we have to run or work for someone else. If we're retired, you're lucky. You're lucky that you can. And so, but I know many of us, all of us wake up every single day and say, how do we show up for our district meetings? when our time is limited and we have little capacity but we fight for our people every single day and it is hard i've seen council members fight for a very long time she's picked up the mantle that her mother started about breathing life into midtown and brainerd and oftentimes those conversations have fallen only on our shoulders where is the help for the people who are hired to help show up for our folks Now, I'm not the one to say to put any folks on blast or whatnot, but we got people making almost $200,000. I'm just asking for some help. We're asking for some help. And so that's all I have to say, counsel. I think I'm just, I'm frustrated. My frustrations are long and deep and I am not calling anybody out. I don't think people wake up every day and say, how do we not show up for people? But I wish people will wake up and say, how can we be more intentional about showing up for the lease of thee? Because that's where we're failing. Communities are begging for help time and time. Mr. Green comes here every single day. And I have been working my butt off to figure out how do I just get a tree cut down for that man? I got neighbors who can't walk through the middle of their house because runoff water from the side of the ridge has cut a hole through their home. They're 89 years old and they have to move out of their house because runoff water has eroded their property. They can't afford that. That man told me last night, we're thinking about having to take out a loan for runoff water that's partly probably our fault. And I'm just asking for simple help from my people. And once again, I'm not knocking downtown. I'm great that y'all are advocating for it. But when is somebody going to join the rest of us advocating for the rest of the city? That's all, Mr. Chair. Okay.

Councilman Clark. Thank you, Chairman Davis. Vice Chairman Elliott, I echo some of your sentiment and have since day one, as you know. But I do want to ask a question about the storefront project. Because I think where i'm trying to get a footing on and and i hate that this is oftentimes the sentiment is displaced on river city company because i think you have a footprint your footprint does not include my district your footprint does not include uh councilman elliott's district and i think the revenue that you all develop i think is is a variable right um and a multi-stream economic development effort to bring in revenue to our city. Our downtown footprint brings quite a bit of funding to our general fund. So one, I want to say I'm appreciative to the work that you all do. I think that's important. The second part is that I am a localist. I don't even know if that's a word. Is that a word, Jenny? Yes. Okay, because she knows. I'm a localist. But I'm not an anti-development person. Build, baby, build. But on whose back, right? And I think that the leverage that we have to yield, Mr. Chair and Vice Chairman Elliott, is how do we do both without trampling what you're doing? Because I think you need to do more, actually. And I think what happens is that it gets tricky because I want the money, you want the money, we all want the money. And there's just not enough money that we generate. in the lowest paid tax state in the country for property tax and whatnot, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So my question to you directly as a localist, The storefront properties, how many of those properties are owned or how many applicants, and you may not have this data, maybe you do, are actually people who own local downtown buildings. Like if it's a franchise that owns one of the storefronts, which I support, it could be like five guys. I'm not saying they're one of them. I'm just providing an example. Do you have data on how many local people who own property downtown are taking advantage of this program?

Well, nine of our approved application or 11 out of our 13 total applications are locally owned businesses.

Okay. So these are people who own downtown businesses at a storefront. And are they franchised? Do you know?

No, these are local mom and pop businesses.

The people who live in Chattanooga?

Yes, people who live in Chattanooga, possibly in North Georgia.

As you remember, I had a Constituent who reached out to me who owns and shout out to divine purity? Yeah One of the things I want to put at your foot because I think you can do more one and I think sometimes we stop But it's how do we incentivize more locally owned businesses to come into downtown? Oftentimes we see some of these big box You know alpabees Taco mac they come in they leave, you know And they don't have the same heart for the community that we do. What are we doing? Sarah, correct?

Yeah.

What are we doing? So congrats on the storefront deal. What more can we be doing to incentivize and help people like Cassandra Tucker, who you met, to move Divine Purity into like a retail mall? Or what can we do to get more Chattanooga merchandise manufacturing into the downtown public so that when people do come in,

our downtown and they're spending their tourist dollars i'd like to see that duplicated back into our local economy with local vendors what what can we do there um that's my last question yeah one of the missions of this program is to help our small local businesses to have the same competitive advantage as these flashy well-funded franchises so we want them like scoop around um signage on their new location across from the aquarium it's a beautiful profession they have great branding they look like a franchise almost because they have such a good branding and they were able to afford that nice signage for their storefront so i think giving them helping them with the capital to have that competitive advantage i think what inspired me to work on this program was so many businesses were opening very bare bones and they weren't putting that extra level of polish and professionalism, which is ultimately going to help them draw more customers and be to the public benefit. So that's one mission of it. I also work very closely. I've been working in the entrepreneur ecosystem here in Chattanooga for 10 years, so I work very closely with all of our entrepreneurship, organization partners, kitchen incubator, launch, Urban League, all of those, to work with their clients and their small businesses to get the right technical assistance, business planning capital they need to be able to open a storefront downtown. So it's a really holistic approach that we try to take.

Mr. Chair, I was not completely honest. I have one more question. I'm so sorry. How often do you think you'll come back to the city council? We did award you an increment for the inaugural launch of this program. Is this something you see as a reoccurring request?

Unless we had some other replenishing fund for economic development projects like this. Other cities that we researched do have a recurring annual funding revenue source.

So you will come back on multiple occasions asking to support the expansion of the success of this program?

Annually, I would assume, yeah. Okay.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

Council, are there any other questions or comments about any items on next week's agenda?

All right.

We'll turn then to the purchasing items that are before us this evening. Okay. And as you look through those, just hit your light if you have any questions or comments. Councilwoman Hill, you're recognized.

There's an item on first read for our planning agenda next week. I just wanted to get it corrected. It says item D is in District 2, but it's actually District 1. That's all.

Item D, you said?

Yes, sir.

Any purchasing questions, council?

All right, we'll look then at future considerations. And as you look through these, and there aren't many, hit your light if you have any questions or comments. Okay, nope, seeing no Lights here on the board. I will yield the chair to Councilwoman Burrs to lead our planning and zoning committee meeting this afternoon.

Okay, Council, I'd like to call to order this month's Planning and Zoning Committee meeting. Can I get a motion to accept the minutes from last month?

So moved. Second.

Thank you. The minutes shall stand as published. All right. As you all have seen, we've got a very short agenda of items to go over today. So real quickly, two items, item D, which is in District 1, I understand, and item E have been flagged by Karen Rennick to discuss, but we also have another item, item C, which is in District 1. Councilman Henderson, do you need a presentation on both of those or just the one that was flagged? All right. Item E happens is in District six, I may have Karen just go over the the conditions that were discussed to see if you all have any questions. But we did have several community meetings leading up to the Planning Commission meeting where Planning Commission did approve it with conditions. So if anybody has any questions about that one, we can go over it. And then Councilwoman Hill and there's one in District two, do you need to hear anything about that one? And then, Karen, if you want to go ahead and come forward, The only other thing is you'll see on next week's agenda that we do have a public hearing regarding Plan Chattanooga. I know our strategic planning committee meeting the first week of June, Karen made a presentation on Plan Chattanooga. And so we will have our public hearing next week. She will go over at the beginning of that presentation just a reminder of how we got to where we are. And a reminder of what the purpose is of Planned Chattanooga. If you all have any questions today you want to make sure that she covers next week or maybe she can answer some of those questions today. We'll go over that at the end of this committee meeting. See no light.

So let's go ahead and move forward, Karen, with item D. Okay. And just to give you a heads up, last month was a light month and this month is a light month. August, we have seven cases, five are rezoning. But September, we have 14 rezoning cases. We usually have a little bit of a lull in the summer. But just to give you a heads up that it's that it'll be picking back up here soon. Case 95 is on Dayton Boulevard, a series of properties that are at the intersection of Highway 153, Dayton Boulevard, and Boy Scout Road. This is heading up the ridge there. And as you know, that Dayton Boulevard corridor has a share of annexes and a mix of commercial, kind of larger and smaller scale, and several manufactured home parks. applicants request to rezone from rn16 residential neighborhood zone to the rn13 residential neighborhood zone we'll see a chart here in a moment that shows some of those differences and the request is for a single unit residential subdivision there's been activity in the area of two cases one just to the northeast of the property in 2018 rezone to at that time rtz which allowed townhomes and smaller Lots, there are several conditions for that. And then in 2019, a property to the southwest for A1 and R3 residential zone. So the property's current RN16 rezoning does allow a subdivision development. And the applicant provided a site plan showing what a standard RN16 subdivision would be. The applicant is requesting the RN13 primarily to go to have that smaller lot size. They're not intending to go down to 3,000 square foot lots. They are interested in building a 40-foot wide by 120-foot deep lot, but that RN13 zone allows them to do that development form. The applicant's narrative states, by utilizing narrower lots and reduced setbacks, the development can minimize grading extents, reduce land disturbance, and preserve larger portions of the site's existing natural features. including forested areas and steep slopes. And that comes up again in a condition. So the applicant site plan, again, using kind of the top of that ridge. And so I will... The Plan Chattanooga, which is adopted by Planning Commission, calls for a suburban residential for the site, which is primarily single unit detached residential and a natural resources overlay. And that natural resources overlay mentions favoring the clustering of homes to leave floodplains and steep slopes untouched.

So the RN3 zone allows that more compact form of development.

And the RN13 zone, just as a reminder, particularly has occurred outside the city's urban core, allowing the smaller lot sizes and form, but often has conditions limiting the unit count. But it does allow for that more compact development. And so staff recommended approval with conditions. So I believe that there's approximately 58, 59 homes can be built without rezoning. Staff was recommending 72, but no grading or land disturbance. There's activities to occur below the existing 750 line, which I don't believe I have, but it kind of falls right below where those lots are. That's the 750 topo line. There is opposition at Planning Commission from a nearby resident concerned about stormwater drainage, clearing of the site, impact of wildlife. Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions. The applicant did ask if below that 750 topo line that could put in stormwater management facilities if needed. So the Planning Commission, excuse me, that's a staff recommendation. The Planning Commission recommendation is approved with conditions with activities including the access roads, storm water management, utilities, emergency services below the 750 line. And so that comes with a recommendation to approve with those two conditions.

Councilman Henderson, anything?

Nope. There we go. All right. So that was an addition, the stormwater management?

That was. The applicant asked if utilities included stormwater management, and it was determined at Planning Commission to be clear for permitting purposes that it could include stormwater management.

Which I guess is a little bit of concern to me. I'm not sure how much of that is going to be on the steep flow. I don't know what the topography looks like, We're coming off of Dayton Boulevard. Well, it looks like it goes up a little ways, and I'm assuming this stormwater management may be on a shelf.

I don't know, but I can send you both a topo, the steep slope map, and show that 750 line and ask the applicant to contact you more specifically about stormwater facilities. We always put emergency services in just as a cover in case they need something. utilities and the access road are something we have done over time to be clear those are elements the stormwater management we didn't speak into great detail so i'm not able to answer kind of what their plan is for that and i don't believe that shows on their site plan so when i see a site like this and it reminds me of a of a project that i have over kind of across from stringers ridge right now you can see the project to the

if you had a north uh west of 27 yes even though you know we say that we take care of storm water i'm starting i'm still getting complaints of people below that that are being inundated with with water and i mean at this point i'm not sure how much really can be done but in this situation they've obviously funneled their storm water to sort of one corner one area, because I'm assuming, well, obviously they don't own, it looks like their property comes down to sort of a, I'm going to call it a narrow point, even though it's a narrow point and then it broadens out. That's correct. All of the land below this development, I mean, what, I have concerns with stormwater coming in on that property as well that doesn't look like it's developed it looks like it's it's wooded now but i'm sure at some point in time that may be developed as well so i have a concern about that the applicant has not reached out to me to discuss this project at all we do seem to have sort of an assortment of zones in in this area but it would create a new zone. We don't have any R113s, to my knowledge, anywhere in this area.

That's correct. It is the new zone, and we did not, I don't believe we would have equivalency mapped anything in the area. So the county, the A1 to the county starts just at the edge of the property, and that's why it is a mix, and its location is, The TRN3 zone in the upper right, the 2018 activity, although it has quite a bit of, there are quite a few conditions on it, it would be introducing a new zone, that's correct. We did make a note in the staff report that previously someone would have used probably the PUD tool, and in this case they're using the RN13, probably similar to how a PUD tool would have been previously used. I will ask the applicant to call you and perhaps they can confirm whether the facilities shown there are an actual representation or that would need to be better worked out during permitting.

So let me ask you this. And since, by the way, I need a cheat sheet on what zones, what the lot frontage is and, you know, what's allowed. We'll provide a cheat sheet. I still haven't got these new zones in my head yet. But under the old PUD tool, you would not have to have listed like it's an RN-13. But under the new, or do we even, we still have the PUD, correct?

We do have the PUD. We've only had one. The PUD is very different now because the PUD was somewhat being used for a series of variances. which was the tool. The PUD has changed. We've only had one request for the new PUD that I, it was withdrawn somewhere in the process, I believe, before it got to council. And so this tool, this is the tool that has been chosen. And that is really just to get to the lot size, the minimum lot size of 3,000, although they're not going to a 3,000 square foot lot.

So Karen, here's my concern. we're opening up a new zone in what i would consider the rural part of the city how does our how does that i mean i understand how planning commission gets there i don't know i'm not sure they've ever seen a development that they didn't like but how does staff get to the point of saying we're good with rn13 going in a rural part of the city that does not have an RN-13 within how many miles of it? I mean, what's the closest RN-13 from here?

I don't know. I can get it. The staff report does note a couple things. One, it says this does appear to be using what the old PUD would have been, and the applicant can still apply for it.

And I think that's a different, like, I can almost see putting a PUD here, calling it a PUD, as opposed to calling it RN13. That's right. Because now we're introducing a zone that we're saying we're okay with putting this out in this rural part of the county and where do you stop it? Where do you stop putting RN13s?

So we also made the point that the RN13 has been approved outside the urban area usually with conditions. So we did note that was part of the discussion we had is the RN13 is a tool How is it being used? So we made a note in the staff recommendation that it has been used outside the urban overlay, often with conditions for form and density. And then we had the same kind of discussion. Dayton Boulevard is a real mix of zones. And it's a mix of zones and land uses. And it's in close proximity to the 153 Dayton Boulevard Boy Scout intersection. That's that large right-of-way there. And so the plan recommends single-family residential detached. The plan recommends addressing the slope. And so staff, because of that, staff recommended approval. The applicant did submit a site plan and can develop under that RN-16 Zone 2. And so I think that is the tool we have.

Now, say that again.

The applicant can develop under the RN-16 and just provide a site plan to say, yes, they could do that too.

Which basically, though, cuts his lot count in half.

It does. Well, it goes from 58 to 72. But this also enables, with a rezoning, enables that grading and land disturbance condition to go into play because right now there would be no condition for that.

So I guess I didn't understand. Well, what I don't understand is it goes from 58 to 72, but the units per acre seems to stay relatively close to the same.

That's correct. I think it's 2.7 is the proposed density, I believe.

So if he developed it under the RN-16... Did you have a SOC plan on that one, the RN16?

Yes, this is what the applicant provided. Okay. And then we as staff, let me see if it's in here. We as staff did some numbers too.

I mean, I guess the worst that could happen, I mean, so we have special rules in place for grading on our steep slopes anyway, correct?

There are rules, and then we have the vegetative standards.

So my guess is, I say my guess, you know, if he develops RN16, he's going to stay off as much of that steep slope as he could anyway.

Yeah, the applicant has provided this as we're calling it a site plan. They're calling it a layout exhibit. And so that it could be any form of development. That's correct. I don't know how the applicant would handle that.

Okay.

Okay. I would say for us, the mix of zoning types and its location at the interchange was also a factor.

And how many showed up in opposition? Just one? I believe just one. And were they affected by what they may think is considered to be the stormwater runoff?

I believe that she is close to where it says A1 on the map.

i will send you her name and address just for your information okay uh switching gears to the to item c the zero zero nine one yes uh planning commission recommended approval staff recommended denial i know when we did the equivalence equivalency map this went from an r5

It did. To R1? It did. And staff missed that in the zoning history that it had been previously been rezoned to R5.

So what would have been the equivalency to R5? Well, if we would have.

So R5 was one of the tough ones. R4 was a tough one because it, so R5 allows single wide manufactured homes and duplexes. If someone wanted to rezone to single wide manufactured home zone, that was the zone that we recommended. So R5 went to RN1 7.5 in this case and lost the ability for the duplex. Staff missed that in the staff report. We have had some kind of readjustment of staff. And so when that came out at Planning Commission and the applicant had just used that, the older zone to pull a permit to build a duplex, that probably would have changed the staff recommendation. Okay.

That's what I wondered.

And so I think Planning Commission was compelled by the fact that there was one down the street that is just newly constructed by the same applicant. This was two lots away and had previously been rezoned for that use. Okay.

I was just curious why staff recommended it now, but now...

I think afterwards we had just, we did not get that, so we put something in place to make sure we double check the equivalencies out.

Have you ever Do you ever go back and do an addendum? I mean, in this case, and I don't want to put you on the spot, but do you think staff would recommend approval at knowing what you know now?

I would think we do not normally revise our staff recommendation, but, yes, I would think that we would have put that into consideration because we spend a lot of time on staff recommendations, kind of going back and forth and weighing the pros and cons, and we didn't have that information for that. Okay. So yes. There are, I think that we had noted there's like seven duplexes in the area. The plan is shifting more towards the single family, but in our note was basically if you can already provide missing middle housing without rezoning by doing a single family house in an ADU, that would be the preferred approach. And so it wasn't, it was more just based on if you want two units, that seems to be an allowed, you know, in line with the plan without rezoning. Okay.

All right.

Thank you. Thank you, Karen. So for item E, it's in District 6. I don't need another presentation on it. Is there anybody here that would like a presentation on it before next week? I'm sure the applicant will be here and any opposition will be here. We had good conversation at community meetings, two of them leading up to it. Great exchange with the developer. and then the same at the planning commission meeting. So what is the will of council? Anybody need any more information? True district.

Okay.

You'll be voting, though, so I want you to understand. All right. So I don't need a presentation on that one. And then the final item for the special exception, does anybody need any more information on that one? I think Councilwoman Hill, you said you're good. I'm good. Okay. And then Karen, do you want to say a few words about your special presentation for next week?

Sure. Certainly can tailor it. My thinking was to be, as part of that presentation, to be really clear about what is the purpose of the plan. It is a guiding document. It does not require council to, you know, does not require council to have all their decisions in line with the plan. It is a guiding document for kind of our citywide growth, physical development, And then we also use it more specifically for zoning cases. So it is a point of information. I also think it would want to note that kind of like we did with form-based code and ADUs and the zoning ordinance that we will do at a minimum of six months. report out or or changes. I don't want the the plan to be set and unchangeable and we're adopting it and it's forever. But it does need to be responsive to you know, to a new park is in place or we have kind of maybe a council puts in a new policy or just and so we'll add that to the resolution and also reflect that in the presentation that we'll do at a minimum of six month um report to council we already have kind of a list of changes that we might want to consider and we can always share that with councils we move along and then just really just orienting folks to both the document and the map they're both at play and that we're happy to come to any neighborhood association meetings afterwards and share about the plan answer questions and then any other kind of activities that might make council comfortable that we're just keeping a pulse on the plan.

Okay. I see no lights. Any questions about Plan Chattanooga before the public hearing next week? All right. I appreciate the fact that you all have already started keeping a list of the items that we need to consider, and we discussed the six-month update. Whether we need it or not, we're going to come back and review it to see what needs to be tweaked, if anything. So I know that

When you and I were talking about it was just nice to know that we're already using it as a guide and it's been Just kind of way to test the waters to see and I think it's served us well thus far So now we're making right usually when a plan is approaching it is an adoption phase We start to use it just not knowing, you know, if it gets deferred just making it so we have that in until you'll note for both the Dayton Boulevard case we used it as well. So we did for that Kirkman Tonner Road Thank You Karen

Two announcements that I have, of course, the public hearing next week for anyone that wants to come and make comments on Plan Chattanooga. And then the August Planning Commission meeting, we will be in our new location, which is at the Development Resource Center, starting this coming Monday, the 10th. You all should have received an email from Brian with the cases that will be coming before us. And since it's so close, if you happen to be in the area, please feel free to stop by. With that, Mr. Chair, what time would you like to return?

Madam Chair, the time is still the same, correct?

It's still at 1 o'clock, yeah. So we'll be in the first floor. You don't have to go through security. You can park here. If it's a nice day, you can walk. But still 1 o'clock. The city cases are always heard at the front of the meeting, and then the county cases will be heard at the second half of the meeting.

So attorney client meeting at 5 o'clock.

Okay. Attorney client meeting will return at 5 o'clock.

all right we are back in session oh yeah and madam clerk if you would please read item 8a an artist closing and abandoning the unopened alley in a 1300 block of west 46th street as detailed on the attached maps

Councilwoman Dotley, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. As mentioned earlier, I'll make a motion to move to deny, but noting that staff will reach out to the applicant advising the process for a temp use permit for landscaping until development occurs. So with that, move to deny.

Second. Council, we do have a motion properly seconded to deny this item. Are there any other questions or comments before we vote? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And the motion to deny is passed. Item 8B, please.

In order to close again, abandoning a portion of the unopened right-of-way in the 3600 block of Divine Avenue plus two adjacent alleys as detailed on the attached maps subject to certain conditions.

Councilwoman Nola, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I actually went out to visit that site to make sure that it was not impeding upon any residential area, and it is not. So with that being said, and I did see

a building that they had built that is going to be pretty much the replica of what they're trying to do and it was it was a good thing so with that being said i move to approve right all right council we do have a motion properly seconded to approve this item ordinance on first reading are there any other questions or comments before we vote all in favor any opposed and the ordinance has passed on first reading Item 9A, please, Madam Clerk.

Resolution of the City Council of the City of Chattanooga amending the administrative structure of the legislative branch to formally establish the division hereinafter known as the Office of the Clerk to Council within the City Council Department, defining its role and responsibilities and providing an effective date. And I can read that again if I need to.

Councilwoman Hill, you're recognized.

I make a motion to approve, Mr. Chair.

Second. Council, we do have a motion properly seconded. Are there any questions or comments before we vote? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And the resolution passes unanimously, Madam Clerk. Item 9B, please.

resolution authorizing changes to the employee information guide eig section 7.6 related to the demotion policy specifically tied to salary changes and appointed staff council we don't have a motion properly seconded on this resolution are there any questions or comments before we vote all in favor any opposed and the resolution passes

Item 9C, please, Madam Clerk.

A resolution authorizing the Department of Technology to enter into a second five-year purchase agreement with OpenGov, Inc., for the OpenGov property tax and revenue software for the City of Chattanooga Treasury Department and for the OpenGov permitting application for the City of Chattanooga Land Development Office.

Council, we do have a motion properly seconded on this resolution. Are there any questions or comments before we vote? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And the resolution passes. And item 9D, please.

Resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Wastewater to renew blanket contract number W22018201, raise and lower manholes for Tennessee state paving projects to professional concrete finishing ink of Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a price increase due to material and personnel cost escalation. 2026 price list attached for year four of four for an amount not to exceed $500,000 annually. Move to approve.

Council, we do have a motion properly seconded on this resolution. Are there any questions or comments before we vote?

All in favor?

Aye. Any opposed? And the resolution is adopted. That takes us to purchases. We're happy to welcome Weston to the podium.

Good evening, Council. Good evening. We have eight purchases recommended for approval this evening. Item number one is with the Police Department. This is a one-time purchase of ammunition for the Police Department. This purchase from Precision Delta will be in the amount of $112,590, utilizing the Tennessee statewide contract. Item number two is with the police department. They're requesting a one-year extension to agreement PA100213 for body armor equipment with GT distributors. The annual amount limit will remain the same. Item number three is for Public Works. This is a one-time purchase of two Ford bucket trucks to be used for traffic signals. This purchase from Time Manufacturing will be in the amount of $410,988, utilizing the source of the contract. Item number four is with DTS. They are requesting a one-year extension to agreement PA100192 for traffic signal parts and services. The annual amount limit will remain the same. Item number five is also a DTS. They are requesting a one-year extension to agreement PA100277 for audio-visual system products and services. The annual amount limit will remain the same. Item number six is with the Police Department. This is a one-time purchase of high-density shelving for the Police Department. This purchase from Patterson Pope will be in the amount of $199,825.50, utilizing the source well contract. Item number seven is with Public Works. Fleet is requesting a one-year extension to agreement PA100653 for fuel cards with Fleet Corps utilizing Tennessee statewide contract. The annual amount limit will remain the same. And finally, number eight is with Public Works. This is a new agreement for long-term vehicle leasing with Enterprise FM Trust. This will be a four-year agreement with an annual limit of $250,000 utilizing a sourceful contract.

Council, we do have a motion properly seconded to approve these purchases. Are there any questions or comments before we vote? All in favor? Aye.

Any opposed? And the purchases are approved. I have two sole source purchases to report this evening. The first is with DTS Gov QA and boards and commission software platforms utilized for citywide legal requests and agenda management in the amount of $44,823.77. And item number two is with the Police Department for surveillance poll cameras in the amount of $41,631. Thanks, Weston.

We'll go around the dais now for committee reports. We'll start with Councilwoman Null.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Before I want to say thank you to East Chapel Hill for their back to school drive.

It was amazing. Also to Carver Center.

Shea did a wonderful job. It was a packed house for back to school and Avondale as well. So thankful for that.

All right.

thank you councilwoman dotley council members thank you mr chair we had a planning and zoning committee meeting

reminded us of the special presentation we'll have next week um and the public hearing for plan chattanooga and council noah i want to thank you for mentioning the back to school bash because i have one in district six on the seventh we're gonna be giving away a thousand backpacks so if anybody needs a backpack um or some other resources please come to the kitchen incubator on friday at three o'clock three to seven

Councilman Henderson. No report. Councilwoman Hill.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We did have an annual report on the status of our pilot incentive agreements with the IDB during strategic planning today.

Okay. Thank you. And Councilman Clark.

No report, Mr. Chair.

Vice Chair Elliott. No report. Okay. You do have one item of other business, Mr. Attorney.

Yes, sir. There has been a certificate of background investigation and zoning regarding Ma Navduga Inc. DBA Sunrise Liquors. It's at 6506 Bonnie Oaks Drive, which is at the intersection of Bonnie Shire Drive here in Chattanooga and District 5. The applicant has not been convicted of any felonies or anything that would prevent them from applying, and the location is proper in this case. And so that certificate of compliance has been signed by the body. Okay. Thank you.

WE'RE NOW TO THAT PORTION OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE'RE HAPPY TO RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, AND SO IF YOU'RE HERE FOR THAT PURPOSE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM DOWN FRONT HERE AND LISTEN WHILE OUR CITY ATTORNEY READS THE RULES, AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU DO LISTEN CAREFULLY AND ABIDE BY THE RULES.

NEW SPEAKER Yes, SIR. AT THE END OF EACH COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING, THE CHAIR WILL RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, AND HERE'S YOUR RULES. Each speaker wishing to address the council can only be recognized at the microphone up front for that purpose, and you can't have more than three minutes to speak. And you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quasi-judicial authority and not on matters which are not under their authority or regulated by other governmental bodies or agencies. Do not engage in any vulgar or obscene language nor use the floor to personally attack or personally denigrate others and address the council as a whole and not make comments directed towards individual council members. And lastly, do not engage in disorderly conduct or disrupting a public meeting which is prohibited by Tennessee law and someone commits that offense if a person substantially obstructs or interferes with the meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering. Having stated those rules, sir, please state your name and what's your district.

Thank you. Jacob, District 9 Menlo Park. Today, I'm here to talk to you about the proposed homeless shelter that you heard about in your strategy meeting. You all probably know me by now as a fabulous public speaker, but I'm also someone who was homeless for three years off and on, and I'm an alcoholic who's in recovery. Sobriety is what led to my housing and ultimately my homeownership here in Chattanooga. And I always classified myself and fellow homeless people into two broad categories. the visible and the invisible homeless. I fell into what would be considered the invisible category. I lived in my car very often at Prentice Cooper or other public land camping. I didn't utilize shelters, free meals or other resources because truthfully I was still working and I didn't need to. I was much more comfortable living in the woods where I had space and the freedom to drink myself blind without fear of arrest or harassment. I never stole. I only defecated where permitted. And quite frankly, I cannot think of a worse place for stability and long-term recovery than a homeless shelter. My point is, and it's dark, is once one has become visibly homeless, most often they're beyond help. Unless they make a commitment to sobriety, we should not be investing in them. That is the necessary first step. The communities that are created at these centers are the opposite of constructive. They encourage relapse, drug abuse, and mental health breakdowns. I believe that a true and honest desire to get sober is the one and only necessity for individuals to escape homelessness, and that plentiful resources are already being offered with this as their only required condition. No low barrier shelter necessary. In my opinion, we should be spending this money on drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs. Halfway houses are programs that serve the invisible homeless before they become the visible homeless. $1, or in this case, $750,000 spent on an addiction and recovery, early intervention, or even low-income housing are worth 10 times that amount spent on a center, which will only enable continued antisocial behavior. James Barber, who I believe spoke to you earlier, is paid 160K a year to make sure that homelessness stays a big problem. If he offered real solutions, he would not have a job, paying three times the median income. My final notes, no more pilots and TIFFs, no more taxpayer handouts for downtown business owners. If our seniors don't get a tax break, the companies shouldn't either. Pilots create a race to the bottom with other cities that no one will win. Thank you.

thank you is there anyone else here who'd like to address the council council i don't see anybody and we've reached the end of our business for the evening what's your pleasure and all in favor we're adjourned