City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. Like to call to order the Chattanooga City Council meeting for today is the 24th of March, 2026. Um to get us started, I'd like to invite Councilman Harvey to lead us in the pledge of allegiance and invocation. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um want to do something a little bit differently uh today. Um my grandfather 92 years passed away um last week. We had his service yesterday. Um appreciate all the the text and calls. Appreciate my my brother from another mother, Ron Elliot, for coming to the funeral yesterday. Uh so that really meant a lot. But um he was a man who uh loved his city. He uh was a lifelong resident of Signal Mountain. Uh but made his living as a blueco collar man in the city of Chattanooga. He drove a truck for Coca-Cola, worked at the old signal knitting mill, and uh made most of his career at DuPont over in District 3. Um so I wanted to honor him today um by having a moment of silence. Um if you don't if you don't mind, join me in in honoring my grandfather, Charles Albert Harvey.

Thank you. Thank you. Um, before we get started today, I see some faces in the in the crowd that are not our every Tuesday faces. So, I want to share with you a little bit about how our meetings progress so that you um can make choices about when you want to be here and and um understand how things work. So,

there he goes again. Councilman Henderson used to say when he was chair, will you please be sure to turn off your devices? Silence your devices. We all want to do that. Uh any anybody who's isn't silent might be a great time to do that. Um but what I wanted to share with you all is that our council meets every Tuesday um at 3:30 to begin our our official work of the day. Now, very often on Tuesdays, we also have other meetings throughout the morning and afternoon. Um, today our council had an education session for new members um on our pension plan, for example, for fire and police. Um, so this council puts in quite a lot of of work throughout the day. Um, today what we're going to do is we will go through our agenda for this afternoon and then we will take a look at our purchases. We'll take a look at our agenda for next week and then items that are going to be on future con what we call future considerations that are going to be on our agenda in the next three and four weeks. This is a council that does its homework that looks um far out in advance so that by the time we get to the point where we're going to vote, we are well educated on the issues at hand. Um we will go through all of that. We do have a committee meeting today. All of our committees are committee of the whole. will have an economic development committee meeting with a presentation from the Chattanooga Tourism Company. Um, and then we will take a recess. Our recesses are usually about 45 minutes because surprise surprise, we have work we have to do in in between often um uh whether it be with our constituents or with our attorney. Um when we return, we will vote on all of the items on today's agenda and then we will be very happy to open the floor for public comment. Um you'll have the opportunity to speak for up to three minutes if you are

interested and we will cover the rules when the time comes. So that said, thank you for being here and we will get down to it. Council, please take a look at our ordinances on final reading. Hit your light if you have any questions. Oh, thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Rewind. We're going to do a quick minute approval. And actually, we have a special presentation as well. Sorry, I missed that. So, let's do our minute approval. Can I got can I get a motion on the minutes from last week?

Thank you. The minutes will stand without objection. And actually, everybody, sorry, that little speech about here's what we do uh is a new one for me. I've only done it two weeks now. So, we'll get more succinct on that. Um, but we do have a special presentation from Carta related to booting and im immobilization of vehicles. This is an item that's going to be on our agenda soon. So, if I can welcome up Charles Frasier, please take it away, sir.

All right. Good afternoon, uh, madame chair, madame vice chair, city council members. My name is Charles Frasier. I'm the CEO of Carta, also doing business as the Chattanooga Parking Authority. And I have a small army of people with me today. Our goal is to answer all of your questions today. Anything that we can't answer, we'll bring back to you before your first reading. But allow me to introduce uh Brent Matthews. He's the director of parking and facilities. Uh Rachel Ruiz, she's with Miller Martin, and she is our legal counsel. Just wave your hand. Uh Britain Stansel on this side, he's the founder and CEO of Brightbase. uh Emily Mack, president and CEO of RI River City Company on that side of the room and not here today, but certainly a collaborator with us, uh Melissa Blevens. She's the president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Uh and so in just a minute, I'm going to run you through a briefing on uh the ordinance, which we are calling the Consumer Protection and Parking Compliance Ordinance. And if I may, I just had a couple of comments I'd like to do before I start the presentation. Uh first I'd like all of you to be aware that I am cognizant of the fact that this community has strong feelings about parking, whether parking should be paid or whether it's not and the pricing variances. And so my uh approach to this has been an active listener and a collaborator. And so what I'd like you to understand is for about the last year and a half uh in partnership with uh Emily Mack from River City Company, we have been convening a quarterly parking meeting. And at the quarterly parking meeting, Chattanooga parking authority is there. We've invited all of the private operators of parking to the meeting. Uh Chattanooga tour Tourism has been there, River City's been there. Uh private businesses have been there. And the goal of this was to put everything on the table about what people are experiencing from a management point of view of the of the parking spaces and then uh what people are experiencing

when they come downtown. So that's the first comment. The second thing I I just want to acknowledge that in our parking ecosystem in downtown there are some challenges to be solved. um CPA uh Chattanooga parking authority uh manages over 7,000 parking spaces and then the private owner operators manage 14,000 parking spaces in a whole. So there is a lot of parking available. Um the challenge starts is because as someone parking you can't tell the difference between where you're parking everything is co-mingled and sometimes right next to each other. And so I want to just share an experience with you about how I really learned that there's a problem to be solved. I came downtown for lunch meeting looking for a place to park. I I was looking in the paid parking because it was the least expensive and closest to where I wanted to be. Wasn't available. So I came into a lot and I parked on the lot. Um had to download an app and get my credit card entered. By the time I was ready to check out, I discovered that the minimum time that I could park was 4 hours at $10 an hour. And so what was starting off as my $12 lunch was now a $52 experience. And I was I was angry by that. And so what I want you to understand is that the ordinance in front of you um is not a silver bullet. It's not going to solve all the problems, but it is a major step in the right direction. And so uh with your consideration, I'll go ahead and jump into the presentation.

Absolutely. Okay, thank you very much.

All right. Um, starting off, I have a short agenda. It's a brief presentation, seven slides. Uh, I want to just explain to you how we got here today. We actually started this process two years ago. Um, I'd like to just explain to you what the ordinance does in plain English. There's there's four major components. I'd like to explain to you a little bit about how the private operators intermingling with uh CPA and the challenges that that gives our community. I want to talk in general about how this ordinance will help uh Chattanooga. It's going to help both businesses and people that are trying to park. Uh important, I know, to this uh council, the community support and amnesty program. We've had a lot of conversation about this over the last two years. I'm going to give you the bottom line about what we're trying to accomplish and then I'm going to give you a forecast about what's going to happen over the next several months uh if uh the council does approve the ordinance. Okay. So, how we got here? This really started from my point of view in 2024. You may remember, uh, we had a new Carta board. I was brand new to the organization. And as we were getting acclimated to all things Carta, we discovered that there were tens of thousands of parking citations that were outstanding and millions of dollars that had not been collected. At the time it was actually feasible for Carta to begin enforcing through immobilization and we just never had done so historically and I I can't answer that question about why we never did uh being new to the organization. Uh when we put our plan together I came and met with the sitting council members at the time and what I learned from all of you was we need to make sure that we're protecting our community and so there are robust community support programs. I'm going to go over those with you today. Um but then something happened in 2024 2025. State law changed before we could actually implement the plan and begin the enforcement process. And so now we are back at the table. We are following what is allowable by Tennessee state law. And that's what you're going to

hear today. I do want to make sure that you're aware that there is a problem with people not following the rules and it's quantifiable. From Carter's point of view, we have over 64,000 outstanding citations and that is a value of $4.1 million in fines. And at the end of the day, the real issue is less parking available to support businesses. This is really an economic impact economic activity um problem to be solved. And so uh that's the that's how we got to where we are today.

Okay. What the ordinance does functionally. So this creates a legal framework and it does four things. The first thing it does is it establishes consumer protections for any entity that's involved in enforcement, whether that's CPA or private owner operators. That's the first thing it does. And that's things like if you're going to enforce by immobilization of a vehicle, it must be self-releasing. There must be a 247 customer support line that people can get a hold of. So those are baseline and those are baked into the ordinance itself. The second thing it does is allow the Chattanooga Parking Authority to enforce parking violations both on the street and then in our properties, the garages and lots that we own and operate. The third thing it does, and this is new from where we were two years ago, it assigns the CH Chattanooga Parking Authority as the licensing administrator for any private operator that would like to take advantage of the enforcement program. So, we're going to be in charge of licensing. And then finally, it allows the Carta board of directors to establish the licensing requirements for those operators. And so that's the framework that you're you're going to be considering. Um, practically what this does, kind of two columns here. It creates consumer protections. So, for example, all enforcement operators must be licensed, bonded at $250,000, and regulated by CPA. Mandates the self-release enforcement tool. It requires clearly posted signage at the entrances and exits of any of the lots and then it caps any service fee uh at $75. It also restores fair enforcement. This completes a phased compliance plan that we brought to you in 2024. So, we're picking this up. It uses the local option permitted under Tennessee law. So, we are following the rules and this really focuses on repeat chronic non-payment violators. We are not looking for little onesy twoosies. We're looking for the people that are chronically abusing this. Hundreds of tickets that are not being paid. They're

just ignoring the law. And then of course the amnesty and voluntary payment uh remain the first step. Okay. Um licensing for private operators. So this is the part where I think there's a real opportunity to move the needle and make parking more available for parkers and also for businesses. These are the draft licensing requirements that will be finalized by Carter's board of directors. But any private operator that wants to take in advantage of the enforcement mechanism will need to meet the licensing requirements. In this draft, what you're seeing is there's a maximum hourly parking rate. It cannot be more than 150% of the on street rate which you are assigning. So for us, it's $2 on street. The most they can charge per hour is $3. Um there's a maximum daily parking rate of any licensed operator at $18. This one I think is critically important. a oneh hour minimum must be allowed. So you're not able to do this four hours, 10 hours before you can um use the system. A maximum ticket fine not to exceed uh $25. So there would be the daily max which is 18 plus the 25. So it's not a $75 ticket. And then a minimum a maximum ex escalation fee for delinquent tickets of $20. So no more of doubling the ticket. They got want to be able to have you pay and move on. Okay. So those are the draft requirements. Um licensing oversight. So Chattanooga Parking Authority will be responsible for both issuing the licenses and then monitoring how any private operators are using the system. So we may may revoke or suspend licenses for good cause including violations of the ordinance itself. We are to investigate customer complaints. This also requires us as a safety net quarterly complaint reports to city council. So those will be coming to you directly. um ensure all lots comply with the uh required signage standards. So, it's going to have to be overt that this is going on, their license number, the

names, the customer service uh phone number. Um we will be referring suspected violations to the attorney general, law enforcement or both. And then we also will maintain a public registry of all of the licensed operators. Okay, this is a little bit of a repeat, but I just wanted to kind of reiterate challenges today. Some, not all, of the private operators require 8 to 10 minimum uh hours of of payment, even for a short dinner or a quick errand. Um, some operators charge excessive rates and fines compared to CPA. And this contributes to limited public parking inventory for restaurants and stores downtown. We've heard from a lot of restaurants uh in support of something that will help get people in their front doors. Um what this ordinance changes, it creates a reasonable time minimum for uh people that actually want to park for shorts amounts of time. Uh fee caps, mandatory licensing, and then it creates a more reasonably priced public parking opportunity. How this helps Chattanooga for drivers, I think you're protected from arbitrary fees if the public operator is participating in the enforcement program. for local businesses. Fair, more predictable parking means customers aren't deterred and driving away and, you know, not being downtown. Uh, responsible parkers. This is one I've heard a lot about. People who follow the rules stop subsidizing those that don't. And I think that's what we want to do is just everybody follow the rules. And then the community, all enforcement, Carter, and participating private companies under under operate under the same uh standards overseen by the CPA. Okay, this one is an important slide that I'd like you to just take a minute and digest. There are three components to our community support programs. First and foremost, if the board is to adopt uh the ordinance in April, there's no enforcement taking place until October. So, there is a 120day proposed amnesty period giving people an opportunity to resolve their fines and cover that. Second, um a proposed hardship program.

We need to work through the exact details of this. Carter's board will do that. It will be administered by the CPA. It will offer a monthly payment plan and then a partial fine reduction could be anywhere from 25 to 50% based on the qualifying hardship. You lost your job, something like this. And then the proposed food donation credit program. So, I always try to make a win-win out of sour situations. Um, we really want to try to make a positive impact for the community here. So, we are going to include a partnership with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank where um folks are encouraged and incentivized incentivized to donate either cash or food to the food bank to pay down their fines and we will finalize what that escalator is. But the concept is if you pay a dollar, you get $2 towards your fine removed if you do the food donation. So, there's an escalator and an incentive. There'll be some sort of maximum food donation credit that uh Carter's board will work out and we don't know if this will be ongoing for now. We're going to table it at this would be available during the amnesty period.

Okay. Bottom line, four bullets. Um this is uh for responsible drivers, it stops subsidizing those that are ignoring the rules. For private operators, they must meet fair standards to access the enforcement tools. Downtown business gain a consistent welcoming parking environment. and Chattanooga. Uh this completes a plan that was interrupted by state law and and does some more. Uh next steps and then I'm I'm happy to take whatever questions you may have. Um assuming that uh the the city approves this, you'd have your second reading in April. What would happen is Carter's board of directors in May would go ahead and take on the responsibility of the licensing requirements and finalizing the community support program. The amnesty period would run all summer long, June through September. Uh, and then enforcement would begin in October. And I've already put out here just kind of looking ahead to April. What I would like to have happen is us come back to the city council and give you a report here. Here's everything that we found that took place in this, you know, trial period for this. And then finally, before I I stop for questions, I do want to look for some opportunity for a tongue-in-cheek opportunity where maybe we could boot one of your vehicles as we're getting as a joke. uh just you know kind of get get the word out there that oh look somebody got booted. Um and so I don't know Madam Chair if you want to volunteer for that role or if

I pay my tickets but but I think the the point the point is is we want to make it a little bit of a media event and make it a little bit more fun. But we really are going to be pushing the food donation as the primary source for people paying down the fines. And with that I will yield my time and happy to answer any questions you may have. If any of our council members appear on the list of offenders start with them. give us the opportunity to make that tongue and cheek and say that I pay my tickets because and actually I try really hard not to get tickets in the first place. I'm cheap. I'm really cheap. Okay, Councilman Elliot.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um Charles, I want to first thank you. I know you you came in into a situation that was not great. So, I want to applaud you and your team for trying to figure out every way possible to make sure Carter is successful. I know ultimately you guys are uh really need more financial support, but I appreciate you guys constantly thinking outside of the box. Um so I want to say that first. And then secondly, I do want to say there's a black Tesla in the back that you can use. Uh I think it belongs to the the was it the great district 8?

Please feel free to use her as a test case. I have a couple questions. Um, so for those private entities that are operating uh parking lots or have paid parking opportunities, are they grandfathered in or do they also have to uh sign up for a license? They're not grandfathered in. To be able to use the enforcement tool, you've got to be licensed with CPA if you want to use the enforcement tool. And for the lot or the garage that you would like to be able to use the enforcement tool, you need to meet the licensing requirements. Okay. And is the So they're not required. They're not required.

Okay. So that makes sense. Uh well, I think you just answered a lot of my questions now. And if I may, um, council member, I just want to say that it's been, um, really eye openening for me to sit with the private owner operators and hear about the challenges that they have. And what I'm observing is they want to be part of the solution. And so they've got the same situation um, in terms of unpaid citations and a a dollar value to that. Um, my approach is try to bring everybody along and and find a team solution to it. And so we'll continue to do so. Madam Chair, one more. Um, based on your conversations, how many private entities are you expecting to join this program?

Um, I know for sure that we've got three that are real interested. The main players in town are Bright Base, Omega, LAZ. They were been all at the table. I don't want to speak on behalf of Britain, but I might just throw out there that Britain has already signaled in our conversations that the licensing requirements are in the realm of possibilities for them. Um I think um and so I said I wasn't going to speak on his behalf, but I'm going to. Um I think that it's it's good business uh to draw more um revenue to the lots and if you can be competitive with the pricing, I think it's a win-win. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilman Clark.

Uh thank you, Madam Chair. Can we go back to the slide where we talks about the amnesty? I've got a question regarding that that period, that 120day period. I know we're incentivizing people to bring in um the canned food, but we only give a fine reduction to people who are hardship. Can we create an incentive and I think you and I talked about this during the call where if we create an incentive not necessarily tied to our hardship to to recoup some of that money can we say if you get rid of your you know if you pay something in that 2020 120 day period you can we'll take 25% off and it's just not limited to people who have hardships but as an incentive to get those tickets down. I know that was something that we discussed. So the answer is and and I'm happy Thank you for that. Uh Councilman Clark, um the answer is that we will take everything into consideration. So just the fact that you brought it up here today, you and I had already talked about this when we present to Carter's board. We'll make a recommendation on all of the things that we've heard and our goal is to have a win-winwin across the board. So I think it's absolutely possible and I'm happy to take that note and we'll put it into our plans.

I'm just Madam Chair, one other question. You know, booting is very controversial in other cities

where the abuse where it's not uniformed and if it c it causes the opposite effect of people not wanting to come into downtown. And so what is what is the process that makes sure that we're not in going down that road when we have to be like, okay, is booty becoming more of a nuisance or a money grab? And not saying that that's the intent, but is there like an appeals process or like some type of review committee that would allow us to be like, listen, we don't want to be like Philadelphia and you know, they have those shows where they have shows dedicated to booting because it's just that chronic but that much of a nuisance for residents. How do we avoid that? And is there a review process built in

to this program that catches that if we're going down that road?

Yeah, thank you for that question. And I got I think I have three comments on it. First of all, um I want to be clear that Carter CPA I don't believe on I don't believe the city wants to be responsible for enforcement. In many states, enforcement is handled at the state level. And so if you uh have a ticket and you go to register your vehicle or renew your license, it stops there and that's where the enforcement takes place. So I've already had some conversations about how we move that forward because at the end of the day, I think we want to avoid any conflict. To answer your question a little bit more directly, there is an appeal process that's built into this. We will be monitoring all of that and as I indicated, we will be bringing to the council uh reports on this on a regular basis and I appreciate you um after our conversation, I quickly looked up what's going on in Atlanta and I was like, good grief. Like I re I really don't want any of us in that. And for Carta and the city, we both get um some revenue from the citations. This is not a revenue stream that we're looking to um leverage. It's not something that we want to be accounting for to pay for capital or operating expense. What we really want is people following the rules. So, I'd much rather have enforcement at the state level and it's just handled there and we have no revenue from it. That's that's my ideal solution.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Fraser. Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilwoman Dotley.

Yes. Thank you so much, Madam Chair Charles. Thank you so much for this presentation. Listen, as somebody who has been ticketed multiple times downtown while on council, uh, at the Creative Discovery Museum, $40 I had to pay because I forgot to put the in away. So, just know I am glad to and and I've I've got multiple tickets from multiple private what do they private operators just for variety of me just forgetting to put it in or just being Rakita and feel like I could just park where I want. So, I am excited about this because it brings some uniformity, it brings some order to downtown and it brings um everybody to the same place. Um the fee cap love that because as somebody who I mean I probably spent maybe $1,000 in fees over the variety of private companies downtown cuz I frequent downtown and it is

it becomes very expensive when you or if I'm at the movies and my movies 3 hours I pay for two hours now I'm paying $40, you know. So to be able to do that um is I I'm I'm grateful for that. Now, you mentioned the self-releasing mechanisms. Uh, could you share a little bit more about that cuz I was interested in, you know, what what does that look like? So, is it a boot or what what is it? It is. It's a boot on a vehicle. We could bring one in and show you. They're fairly lightweight and then you get a code. So, you you call in and you get a code and then you enter it and it self-releases at that point.

Once you call in, you pay you pay the fee. Um, and then I guess that'll be something a little Yeah. Okay. So, you call and pay the fee and then love the partnership with the food bank. I think that is fantastic. I'm a big fan of the food bank. Um, but overall I do like it. I had I had my reservations, but you know, I support Carter, so it was hard for me to have a lot of reservations, but I had some reservations about it. Uh, as you know, rumors and things kind of get around in the community and misinformation. So, to be able to get all this clarified and people can understand and I can explain it, um, is fantastic. But just me as a resident of Chattanooga that visits downtown, this is, let me tell you something. If I I wish somebody would have did this 10 years ago, it would have saved me thousands of dollars at this point. Um, and I hope that more operators join on board with you all uh uh for us because it is, you know, my little $40, I could have used that for something else, you know, but then I had to pay it or me being me, I argue with with the private operator, too, cuz I'm not sometimes I don't think, but you know, it's just

So, also if I come up on the list, just just, you know, just just know I'm just saying it out loud right now in case I come up on the list. Just I'm just saying. If I may, Madam Chair,

thank you, Madam Chair. If I may just madam chair, if I just may respond briefly, I just wanted to thank you for your comments and um also um Councilwoman Doley, I I want to thank you in particular because you I when we met two years ago on this, you really did kind of give me the open book test about your concerns and so those have been baked into the whole concept and so I really appreciate that from you. But also just a reminder also our hope is so as these um citations and the fines get come under control, please remember that Carter already offers the first hour free in our garages. I would like to see us expanding that to maybe it's the second hour, maybe it goes to the lots and maybe even some of our private operators could start to extend that same kind of a courtesy. So, we really are focused on quality of life for our residents, economic activity for our businesses, and I appreciate the support.

Thank you so much. I appreciate Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilman Henderson. Thank you, Charles. Does the private operators own the boots? They will own the boots. Okay. And I'm assuming that the number that they call is on the boot. Is that how they get the number to call? There will be multiple numbers. Yes, it'll be on the boot. It'll be everywhere. Well, when you say everywhere, what do you mean by signage? So, it'll be on all signage. So, it will be in lots, the entrances and exitses of lots, garage, there'll be signage on the street, but certainly on the boot as well. Okay. And then when when it when they self unlock, we're just going to leave them there on the street.

No, it needs to be it needs to be returned to a designated location. We will work out those details about where it needs to be returned, but it does need to be returned to a designated location. For example, CPA at Shuttle Park South is where we would have a drop off zone. And how will they know this? How will they know? Oh, it'll it'll be part of the when when they're calling in when they're calling in to understand the fine and and how to get the code. It'll all be explained. Okay.

And we'll do a good media push beforehand. So, when I was I was joking about booting Chairwoman Hill's vehicle, but but I I said I said that I we won't be I'll do mine. We'll we'll boot my vehicle. Um but but I say that I say that because I think what we want is the media partners support. We want people to know that it's happening and we're going to inundate people with all of the ways to navigate that scenario. We really again I want to tell you we don't want to be booting. We want we what we want is people following the rules. But I I hear what you're saying and I'll make sure that the signage and that we have all of the safeguards in place. Okay. Thank you, Vice Chairwoman. Null. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Frasier.

You're welcome. Thank you so much for the presentation and actually you have answered my question because my council family has already asked them so we were all on the same page and one of them was appeal process and then the self-release where you would actually carry that boot that was on your vehicle and um so how would the constituents that are owing fines now be able to so we didn't find out what their fines are?

Yes, ma'am. uh we didn't want to get ahead of ourselves and so we wanted to make sure that the council was fully briefed. We will start putting together the program. So there will be notification to everyone. It'll be come in written form. There'll be multiple notifications over the next several months and it'll continue on. Um just to be clear, everyone has already been notified. They have the ticket, the original ticket. They got the notice of the ticket. There's been followup and so everyone is already aware. We will notify all of the everyone again on our website. We will create a dedicated page that has the frequently asked questions, how to how to find out your balance, the number to call, all of these things uh will be detailed on the website.

Okay. Thank you. Because, you know, I'm always concerned that my constituents do not have any extra hardship placed upon them. Yes. So, I want to always be um ahead of the game when it comes to that. Okay. All right. Thank you. I appreciate it. You're welcome. And we could also anything that the council thinks of um between now and the time this goes into play. I would love your feedback. We will do some open houses. We can host things at any of our garages. I'm I'm open to whatever strategy you might recommend. Well, I I think it's a good thing from what I see. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Council Harvey. Council Harvey.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Charles, thank you for your hard work that you're doing at Carta. Really transformed u that department down there. So, thank you. Thank you for this detailed plan. Um, and I love uh entertaining the thought of offering um some sort of, you know, one hour the first hour free parking. Um, we, you know, I we I think we just got to we've got to make uh visiting downtown, visiting our our areas much more friendly and appealing uh to not only Chattanooga residents, but those outstanding uh in in the rest of Hamilton County. Um, so I I love that idea. Um, just a couple of questions. So when you talk about enforcement, who is doing that? Is that explain that kind of to me and who's doing the booting etc.

That's right. So So already today Chattanooga Parking Authority does this on behalf of the city. So we write the citations. Okay. So we will also be doing the enforcement for this as well. Okay. All right. Um in the tag on to that who's responsible uh if a boot damages a wheel? We would be responsible for that. So we'll need to take that into consideration. There are a lot of different models that we are investigating. Obviously we don't again we really don't want to be doing enforcement and so we want to minimize risk and just I want you to be aware as uh much of my job is managing risk. So we have so many vehicles on the road every day. We're already doing this work and so I think we're properly poised to do it properly.

Okay. And I know earlier you mentioned, you know, we don't want to uh do we don't want to boot first uh offenders, but is there a number in mind that you have uh that we would consider uh booting a person? Is that in the plan? So, in the ordinance itself, you have to have three outstanding citations past 60 days due and nothing under appeal before you would even pop onto the list of possibilities. Okay.

Um, our intention is to work backwards from that, although anybody that reaches that threshold could be booted. Um, but really there's there's folks that have 200 citations, 300 citations. And so, we really are going to be focusing. And I I do want you to know it's not limited to um, Carta. The private operators are having the same situation. UTC is having this same situation on campus. So, it is widespread. Okay. Gotcha.

I have one other comment if I may. Starting to to to your first point about the free parking, I want city council to know that one of the uh budgetary requests that I submitted to Hamilton County uh was an opportunity to subsidize the second hour free at Carter's garages. And so I think it's important for the city and the county to come together and and uh you know give an opportunity for economic impact downtown. So I'll let you know how that turns out. Absolutely. Great. Thank you. I appreciate that. That's all. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. So, we we're going to go around the horn again. Um, but since everybody who's has already spoken once, I'd like to get a couple thoughts in. Um, it does seem to me that we have an environment in private parking in Chattanooga that has become predatory and as a city council, it's important for us to to act just act for justice and to try to eliminate predatory practices when possible. On the other side of that coin, we talk a lot about our our rights as Americans, but also we have responsibilities as as members of a community. And so I think that this balances that, right, that you you have protections, you have um you have um some some base level expectations for due process. And also there's an expectation that you follow the rules. Um because if we all follow the rules, then it works better for everybody. And I think one reason that I'm a little bit um touchy about this one is because in my district, we have an incredibly dangerous road called the S-curves, the Hixen Pike S-curves, where we have cameras and they are allowed by state law to take pictures and people can be pretty blasze about those tickets. But the reality is that people die on that road and when people go slower on that road, people don't die. So, I don't think it's something that people should speed through the S-curve just because they can and say, "Oh, I don't have to pay a ticket." Um, and so, in the same way, um, we have small businesses, um, downtown that rely on people moving through them.

Yes. And it's important to be able to park. And if people didn't park and take stay all day, we wouldn't have to have paid parking. Um, now that said, um, couple thoughts. One of the concerns that I have for Carta, knowing that you all run on really tight margins, is the cost to manage this process. And so, I had asked you before,

will you be charging a fee for lensure? And I I know right now it sounds like, you know, we've got three or four primary private entities. Um, but I encourage you, Charles, that as your board works to build that into your your bylaws for that that that you can if you find that you need to. Um, also, can I get clarity? I I just want to double check if a boot needs to go on a vehicle in a private lot. You're saying that Carta staff will boot that.

Thank you for the clarifying question. No, the answer is we won't do it in a private lot. Okay. So, in the ordinance, you'll see there's some very specific language. When the private owner becomes licensed, they have to have a licensed vendor that will actually do the booting. It must be an employee of that company. So, for Thank you for the clarifi clarifying question. For owner private operators, they will have their employees do it. They still have to be licensed a vendor by us. Okay. Thank you very much. Um and they would have their own locations for where you would drop off the boot.

That That's right. They would, but Carter will take the lead on kind of creating this one-stop shopping for who's involved. We'll know all the people that are licensed and so we'll put all in a map and make it easy for people to find. Okay. Um the the other thought uh two other thoughts I had is that um for myself, I would love to see private parking lots become private developments that contribute to our economy in a meaningful way. Um, I think parking is obviously necessary. It's interesting that we have double the number of private spots than we do public spots.

Um, but parking lots aren't doing our downtown a whole lot of good. Um, when it's just a vacant lot that nobody's doing anything on. Um, so perhaps not allowing a predatory environment will encourage people to think a little bit differently about how they invest or don't invest in their property that they own. Um final point would be um I would encourage you um to think about how um this can be a marketing differentiator. I know we can't put um we can't put signs on the private lots that choose not to participate in this that are predatory money money leeches. Um

but we sure as heck can put it on um on the lots that are licensed and and make it very clear this is a place where you have consumer protections. this is the preferred parking and you know we're going to have the tourism company here and we've got reps from the chamber like that should be on all of our Chattanooga literature. When you come to Chattanooga be sure to park in this lot in the same way that sometimes you go to a city and it says don't get in a cab that doesn't have this sticker on the window or you might get um taken advantage of. Right? If you park in if park in one of these lots, you will not be taken advantage of. Um so we have some consumer um education for all of our visitors that come. We want it to be a positive experience for them as well as for the folks that live here. So,

yes. Yes, ma'am. I have three three three responses for you. Number one, I did follow up on your first question and yes, we Carta could charge a fee. Um, just be aware that operators will always already be required to have the $250,000 bond, but to your point to make sure that we're covering our margins. So, we will make sure our board considers that. Um, secondly, I just want to kind of think positively here. Um, I envision an opportunity where we create something like the Chattanooga parking club. And so this is your trusted space to park. This is where you know the pricing. This is where you get the first hour free or whatever it is. So I'm I'm already kind of thinking in that direction. And so we will continue to flesh that out. And I just put the logo up there as something to be thinking about um in the future. So we we absolutely are already in line with that. And then finally, um I think at our next quarterly parking meeting, um we're going to play back this meeting because it's important to me that the private owner operators, the businesses all understand kind of your direction as you're setting this. So I'm happy to take forward this message and as we're collaborating together, uh make sure everybody understands the the game plan.

Um thanks for exceeding expectations and having this little guy on your on your secret slide. I appreciate that. Okay, we are going to go back around the horn. This thing is lit up. So, Councilman Elliot, I just have one question. I had somebody text me since we're up here. Um, what time I mean, are there certain hours to which someone can call in and get a boot removed? 24/7.

It's 24/7. Okay. Want to make sure they heard that. And for the situation, if they cannot afford immediately to get that boot removed, does it stay booted until they either go through the program, some of those cost burden programs you highlighted, or are there other workarounds?

We'll need to flesh out exactly how we manage that. And so what I'll let you know is we will build into the program some sort of minimum payment type of a situation. Um I want to make sure though that I'm not giving you any legal That's right. I'm I'm good on that. I look around. So I'm looking for my lawyer. I'm looking at Phil like where do I so so the the answer is we can build in that protection. So again going back so this is not a money grab for Carta. This is not intended to be something that's a penalty for people. We want people to follow the rules. My goal is enough outward attention during the amnesty period that we've reached all of these folks in the near term and then give everybody an opportunity to to resolve this a payment plan reduction whatever it is. I'll make sure that we address your question specifically though and and you'll have that answered. If a vehicle remains booted and unpaid for a period of time, will there be any towing incorporated in it or does it just sit there? Um, I'm going to say that there's not going to be towing by CPA on the public locations and I might look one more time to our legal folks just for any guidance on the towing piece of it. Um, if there would be an ability to tow, but I would anticipate we could set those rules.

Yes. Okay. We can set those rules. So, I think what we can put into the license agreement is that there is no towing allowed once it's been booted. Okay, perfect. Thank you very much. Why would we do that? Why would we not add something like the car will be smashed and melted? Was that intended for me or Well, I mean, if if I mean, the next call that we're going to get from our constituents, and Councilwoman Doyle will get it the most is there's a car booted in front of my house and it's been sitting here for 6 months. So, we absolutely are going to need to be have some kind of pick up that car, some sort of mechanism. Yeah. So, we'll take note of that and we will bring that back to you as part of the licensing agreement so that you have knowledge of that. Okay.

Councilman Clark.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a follow-up question. Um, I know I know there's a lot of things you have to flush out and I know to some of our questions, but for some of the chronic individuals who you mentioned have thousands of dollars worth of tickets and they're booted, right? How much of that ticket price do they have to pay to get their boot out? Do they have to pay all of it? So, let's say if I owed $4,000 in parking tickets and I get booted in front of the choo choo, do I have to pay all of that $4,000 before my car can be released or do we have a program that says, you know, if you get into like a repayment plan like they do in the court system. Like, are we sensitive to those things? Because I'm with Chairwoman Hill on this. in in just talking to some colleagues in other cities,

you know, there has been predatory practices and we still have to protect our constituents and the consumers regardless of their chronic behaviors. Um, and I'm concerned about that because I I'm seeing the case studies in other cities and I don't and I want to make sure we have those protections. So, that's my first question. But secondly, some of the things that you mentioned that we need to flush out, should that be included in the ordinance in the ordinance or should that be solely left up to the Carter board to decide when it comes to some of these things uh you've mentioned? That's two questions.

Sure. Let me take them in reverse order. I'll start with number two. I think that we've baked into the ordinance itself, and I want to thank um city attorney Knobblet for his expertise in this area. We've put in the things in the ordinance that that should never be considered by other anyone other than the city council. I think it makes sense. Carta is your representative by city code to manage parking. We are set up to do this work. And so I think that the Carter board is wellprepared to take on the challenge of the licensing, the community support program. So I I think it's an okay thing, but you would need to tell me if it's not. I think everything that's necessary is in the ordinance. Um, for the first piece, I I want to kind of reiterate, and I think it was similar to what um, Council Member Elliott was asking, we can look into, you know, what happens if somebody gets booted. So, we're talking about October before any of this would happen. During this runway, when we're teaming everything up, we're going to be whittling down and we're going to be having a lot of communication with everyone that's on the scoff list, the 64,000 citations. that communication is going to be overt. We'll end up sending certified letters when necessary to make sure everybody knows. So, and that's when the opportunity for the payment plans and everything else. But to answer your question, I'm going to follow up with both you and Councilman Elliot on on what that negotiation is. Should I get the boot and I can't pay the whole thing, what happens then? We'll we'll work through those details.

Can I have a follow-up question, please? One. Thank you.

Just one. My I I guess my concern is that, you know, we judge people based off some of the decisions they make, but we don't know what put them in that decision to even be there if they're coming into town to work. And this is where cuz some employers and some schools don't even provide parking. So, I just wanted us to be sensitive to when we're judging people about how many tickets they have. We don't know why they have tickets. you know, sometimes that they may not have the money because they have four kids and they're struggling even to pay light bills. And so, I just want us to be sensitive when we're creating these policies that you mentioned and how they repay so it doesn't become a burden, not just a hardship, but then we become a burden. And so if those are things that we need to enshrine in city ordinance about if you have $4,000 worth of tickets and you become booted then if you get into a repayment plan then we'll unboot you. You know some effort towards your chronic um issue. So I just want to be I just want to say that uh statement and to I hope you're open to allowing us to maybe add some of those types of things uh to the ordinance.

If I might respond. I'm I'm open to so I'm a public servant here and I'm I'm serving all of you and I'm open to all of the suggestions and so I take um your comments seriously. We are thoughtful and sensitive to the community and we'll continue to do so. Thank you Charles. You're welcome. Vice Chairwoman Null. Thank you. I just have one well actually the Councilman Elliot asked the question in reference to uh the release if the boot was on if it's a 24-hour release and staff call in. So, you answer that. But the only other um comment I want to make is that I'm looking at the logo. It looks really nice. And you know, you are in the great district 8, so I would love to see some pink in there somewhere. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Councilman Henderson. Charles, if if a person gets booted, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it should not have caught them by surprise, right? because they've had at least three violations and and and forgive me, I've never had a ticket, so I'm not sure how this system works as far as parking ticket. I've had plenty of speeding tickets, but I'm assuming they get a ticket on the windshield.

Do they get a letter in the mail saying they've got a ticket? they they if they if they if it goes past the escalation time, so if there's after a certain amount of time pays. Yes. So So they've gotten at least two forms of communication that they've gotten a ticket. And then at some point I'm assuming that we send them a letter saying now you've got three violations. Correct. That's right. So they've had multiple forms of communication. by the time they decide, well, I think I'm gonna go down town and take a chance on not getting booted. I mean, that's got to at least be in the back of their mind. Correct. I would think so.

Okay. And so during this grace period that we're giving everybody, they're going to get another letter saying you are potentially going to be violated. I'm violated. you're potentially going to be booted for your violations the next time you know that you come down park. Correct.

Yes. So, you've had multiple forms of communication to these individuals and and it sounds like we're going to create some kind of program where they can at least call and and start setting up some kind of payment plan so that they don't get booted when they come down. Correct. That's right. I mean, so if somebody comes out and they find their car booted, I mean, I it shouldn't be of a surprise to them that, oh my, it's not like they've had one violation or they just, you know, extended their time and now walk out and find my car booted. I mean, this is after multiple communications, correct?

Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Charles, that is all the questions on the board. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. Okay. All right, council. Let's take a look, please, at our agenda for today. Hit your light if you've got any questions about items on final reading or first reading. Both of them are in district five. Councilman Clark.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, as far as the first reading in parks and public works regarding the abandonment of the public tour, I think we're we're good with that. Um, and I plan to uh vote that through tonight on final reading with your support. Um, our first reading to and I want to say thank you to our neighbors who are here regarding the Agawa um drive zoning case. uh two weeks ago I was not here because I was sick, but so thank you all for coming and participating in that conversation and thank you to the neighbors who have reached out and have been in communication with Karen Renick uh regarding some of the permitting processes with this project. Um there are I do have a desire to approve this tonight with the 67 town home units uh with conditions and madam chair I did send those to the I did send those to you by the way. I'll be working on them tonight.

Uh today uh but there will be seven um okay conditions placed on that. Do you need that discussed today or I mean I mean no I think if we have if the city attorney has them we can read them into the record. Let's also make sure our clerk has those please. Um and then we'll we can get those read in and we will pass that with conditions. So we'll just need to do um an amendment to that ordinance. Um all right. All right. Thank you. Thank you, council. Looking at at resolutions for today,

we have a deceptively short agenda compared to the talking we're doing in special presentation and um and committee meeting. I anticipate um Councilwoman Burr. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, under resolutions, the item regarding Boy Scout property. I know we talked about this at length last week, but I just wanted to reiterate for the record. Is is Richard Felen here? I don't see. Okay, I saw him outside earlier. I just want to reiterate the intent of the purpose of purchasing the Boy Scout property that um and we said this last week, it's to have control over the destiny of this property so that Hamilton County and the city partner together to have destiny over I mean have control over the destiny of this property and to maintain it as an open space. Is that correct?

Thank you, Councilwoman. Kevin Rook, chief of staff. Um so it's a buy and hold strategy. We don't have any plans uh for the the parcel. U our intent is to buy it so that we can control its destiny. I I don't think that um it isn't that we don't want to necessaril that we don't want to preserve it in perpetuity, but I don't think that that's something that I should say because that hasn't been explicitly agreed upon between the city and the county. But there are no plans and that is the default setting in terms of that's what it is right now and we're just going to hold it.

Okay. So, as far as the city of Chattanooga goes, there is there is no plans for any future of that space other than to protect it from any further development. At this point, there are no plans from the city of Chattanooga's perspective to do anything with that property. we are simply acquiring it so that we do have control of what happens versus some external party having that control.

Okay. Um, and I know because it's a resolution, we really can't put any conditions on a resolution, but I as I sat on the planning commission, I brought this up at the planning commission that and I don't know how many of my council members received emails over the last week, but I I received lots of phone calls and lots of emails um encouraging um the city to protect that property and maintain it as open space. So I do want to get that on the record because there there is an extended interest because it's connected to Enterprise South because it is green space to continue to protect that at all costs. So

absolutely and just on behalf of the administration we we also have received a lot of input along those lines and we are very sensitive to that desire from the community and we want to honor that. Okay. Thank you chief. Thanks. Thank you Madam Chair. Uh-huh. Councilman Elliot, Kevin, don't go don't go too far.

This is on this item here. Um, building on what Councilwoman Bur says. So, I hear this correctly. There's no plans now, but are there any mechanisms in place to ensure that it remains a green space or is this something that the city and the county is going to hold and you all can be out of office, it can be an administration on both sides and somebody comes up and this is now an extension of our industrial park. Well, so so that that second part would require its own process. I would imagine that there would be reasoning involved. There would be a lot of things that would be subject to this body and to the county commission should there be like a change in use for for for the land. Um is my presumption. What what I am the to the extent that it I appear ky about it, it is simply because I'm not aware of any deed restriction on that property. I'm not aware of anything already in place related to that property's use. What I am aware of is the intent for us jointly purchasing it at this moment is simply so that we have it and I'm again just want to reiterate that we have no plans for it.

I'm going to say this, plans change quickly and I just don't want I'm going say this for my vote. I don't want somebody looking at me crazy down the line and say you voted for this to be natural open space, but plans change and it's something else. Sure. So I I want to make this clear. I hear what you're saying, Council Burst, and I appreciate it and respect it that her intention is for this to be an open space, but is that for sure? No. cuz if if you're not

not like I think that's what he's saying is that no, there is no plan for this. A vote on this is to purchase this property. It is not to guarantee that it will be open space. That's not in the resolution. That came from these emails. It's an idea from the community. I just want to make sure it's clear cuz I hear what you're saying and I just don't want there to be a misunderstanding if something changes and I don't want people looking at me crazy for my vote and saying I I pulled the wool over their head.

Well, that's correct. So, what Madam Chair says is correct. I I'm not saying that it is going to be preserved. I'm saying that the the property exists as it is today and we're acquiring it and it will continue to exist just under the joint ownership of the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County um as it is today and that there are no plans to change its use right now. But in two years now the chamber could bring an idea and it would and that would change, right?

Or and I can't predict the future of what um and that I'm not saying that in a snarky way. I'm just saying I don't know what the future may hold, but I do know that this administration and in conversations with the county there there is no plan to do anything different with it right now. So I I want to say this to be clear for everyone who's listening. Um, if this does pass, yes, it may be a green space now. Uh, but that may not be the case in the future. So, I don't want people to be me misunderstood as to what could happen. And that would, I think, more so be the case if it was purchased by an external party.

Right. In this case, we know that there are no plans for it. And so, we can rest assured that it will continue to exist as it does now. Mhm. Council members. Thank you, Madam Chair. Karen Renick, I have a question for you.

Is this property to OS? Is that the Is that the right zone? I was just I believe the property is zoned M1 without conditions and I think that was a carryover from when it was annexed, but I can confirm that. I have an email with Richard, I believe, where we talked about the property. What did I'll have to go back and look at the agenda of the planning commission three weeks ago or two weeks ago that I thought this was on our agenda and we made a recommendation for it to be reszoned.

It was the mandatory referral case. It's part of the um the caption for this um on the agenda, excuse me, is has the mandatory referral case um excuse me math where it says recommended for by planning commission MR 202624. I think that's the case where that we talked about the mandatory referral case to um to do the um enter into the contract. So the caption's a little bit different, but that's the follow through of that being the mandatory referral case that was discussed at planning commission, but I don't think we discussed the zoning and it was not a zoning case. Okay. I I where did I get I'll have to go back and look at the notes to see where I got OS. Um

but it I just check um looking at the zoning map, it's not zoned OS. It's not. Okay. So then my other question and I guess sorry chief I have um and Karen might be able to nothing can be done to that with the property without the agreement of both entities. So if one entity came up came to the table with an idea for that property because we will be joint owners 50/50 both entities have to agree if there's going to be anything else done with the property. Right. Well,

let me answer one part of the question and Kevin did touch on well I haven't looked at deed restrictions. I have no idea about that. It was just answering for the zoning. Um and so um the you know the property is I understand does not have road access. So some of that would have to be addressed but the zoning is goes with the land regardless. And so that is the zoning for the property in the city of Chattanooga. So, how it gets managed and how that's done is outside the purview of zoning. Okay.

And and I confess I'm a little over my skis on it. I I don't know the answer. I need to find out in terms of but I don't think that either legislative body could unilaterally act on a parcel within kind of the portfolio of Enterprise South. But I do need to confirm that. Yeah. Um our city attorney can confirm. Yeah. Memphis is jointly owned property here in the name of the city and the county. Neither party can do it without the consent of the other. And I apologize for all the last minute questions. I thought I had I thought I had this figured out in my head, but it all of a sudden these these questions have come up. So again, my apologies. I know it's we should have had these conversations prior to today. So my apologies.

That's all right. And I I again want to reiterate my recognition and the administration's recognition of the community sentiment around this issue. And just want to be clear one more time that we have no plans for it. Okay. Thank you very much, Councilman Harvey. Thank you. I guess some clarification on my part. Um, so since the county and and this may be more of a Phil question since the county will have, you know, monetary skin in the game, so to speak, will so if this if the All right, let's say this goes through, who has the authority, is it both bodies to reszone this? If if should we need to reszone this? Is it county commission and us or is it just the city council since it's in the city?

If it is a property that is within the city of Chattanooga, we would have to consent to any reszoning. Yes. Yes. So So both bodies would have a regional planning commission that sends things to the RPA. That's the way that works right now. And that would come to you in that regard if it was in the city for reszoning.

Okay. All right. I too got a lot of emails on this and I I think there's some public um confusion on uh since it went to planning commission I think they automatically think it was recommended for a zoning and so of course open space was was at the top of everyone's mind and I think council member Bers I think in my opinion I think that's where that came from

is everyone's advocating for open space. I I think, you know, I think this this property has a better chance of uh being open space if uh we do this with the county than a a a privately owned uh or a private development because if we don't act on this, somebody else will quickly. And it's not it's not going to be, you know, it has much more of a uh promise to be an open space or whatever we want it to be with the county. So, I'm for this. I think it's something we need to do um so we can protect this land uh and do what's right for uh this the citizens of Chattanooga. Um, council, I don't have a far from a perfect memory as you all know, but I believe that when we initially discussed this and it was presented to us, it was presented to us as the city of Chattanooga has a limited amount of of uh space for large manufacturing economic development projects and that we wanted to control this property. So, I I do think that the desire of the community has brought in the open space conversation, but um when we initially learned about I was not under the impression that that was the intention. Um though we hear from Kevin, there is officially no plan for this land. Um but it sounds as though a longer intentional conversation about the uh potential of expansion of a muchloved park would be appropriate. um in another forum.

Did I correct ma'am? Do you have something you want to add Karen? I do and I I was looking it up based on Councilman Bers's comment because we had a robust planning commission last month. She's you are correct. Um there in the planning commission resolution um it deter it's was about the MR and then there is a in the resolution notes that as and whereas the planning commission recommends that the city of Chattanooga explore the option of reszoning the property from IH heavy industrial to OS open space zoning. So, I'm sorry for misspeaking. So, I'm glad I wanted to page. Yes,

I had to go back to the planning commission um and so it was a um planning commission just explored the recommendation um of that reszoning. You're welcome and apologies. Thank you. Okay, council. Do we have any other conversation about that item? Okay. Um we have some uh we have a human resources item. We have some mayor's office appointments um and parks resolution or parks and outdoors, excuse me, public works. Please hit your light if you've got questions or uh comments about any of these items. There are there's also a planning item and some police items. Councilman Henderson.

So, thank you, Madam Chair. under the planning item, and I don't know how I missed this last week, but um the $2 million, and I don't remember us really discussing this much um on the uh west side for the uh reconnecting. Is the $2 million just coming out of the planning agency or where is that money coming from? Um, there is a $2 million grant from the US DOT grant for reconnecting communities and that was a grant application. Believe we got council approval. I think it was as long ago as perhaps 2022. Um, but then we had received the grant and then there was kind of a pause during administration changes and so um that is a $2 million federal grant.

Okay. All right. Thank you, ma'am. You're welcome. Councilman Elliot.

Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Not directly on this item, but administration to Councilman Henderson's point. Now, I know I made a request previously for us to put where cost centers sees are coming from, and you guys do a great job in our purchasing document. So, Debbie, thank you for your team for that. But when we have these resolutions coming up, I I also ask for that to be placed there as well. So, as council members, when we see these items popping up, we know exactly where the money is coming from and also the public as well. So, I think this is the third time I've asked about it. I would really love to see if we can do that going forward. Thank you. That's all, Madam Chair.

Thank you. And so, Mr. Attorney, that would be important, I think, in the captions of these items in the cost center. Yes.

Okay. Well, speaking of cost centers, let's take a look at our purchase requests for today, council. Um, we have it looks like six purchases. We do not have any other purchases for consideration, renewal, RFP, emergency, or soul source purchase. Hit your light if you got any questions about these purchase requests. Okay, looks like we're good on that. Let's take a look at our twoe agenda, please council. Um, ordinance is under first reading. We do have um an item under resolutions um related to um the stadium corporation and anou. I believe that there's uh that the administration is interested in potentially deferring that item, but we will know next week if we need to defer it. That's item A. Um, under item C, council, you have received um, full red lines and videos explaining these um, EIG policy changes. So, um, if you haven't already had the opportunity to take some time and look at those, please do. Um, if you have already seen those and you have questions, go ahead and hit your light. Okay, it looks like we don't have any questions uh, for next week. Let's take a look at future considerations, please. Council Oh, here we got some we got some bites. Council Harvey.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, I'd like some clarification under parks, public works, and wastewater uh on item B, the historic guidelines uh for use. If we could get some clarification on that, please. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Chris Anderson, senior adviser to the mayor. Councilman Harvey, I'll do better than that. How about a full presentation next week about Perfect. You got it. I'll take it. I'll make a note of that. Okay. Councilman Clark.

Uh that Thank you, Madam Chair. That was going to be my question for Mr. Anderson. Is it prior to the presentation next week? It's okay. Uh can we be sent the uh guidelines for review prior to the uh presentation? Yes. My intention, Councilman Clark, my intention is to actually send those this week. Okay. Uh but I need to create a summary to send them to you tomorrow after this meeting is over tonight.

And let me commend you on this. We Councilman uh Harvey, Councilwoman Birds, and I'm sure other council members have expressed it's like you were psyched. We you've you've expressed interest in this, and many of these historic sites are in our districts, and mine in particular, it's a shaven house. And so we have been having conversations especially with all the demolition of historic sites and how the council can work to preserve those through ordinance. And so I'm really excited about this to be able to review the guidelines uh prior to your uh presentation.

Well, thank you. We had a dedicated team work on this for about a year and it's complex because you have Department of Interior federal regulations mixed in with local regulations and also local opinions about it. But but the goal was to try and simplify to where there aren't four sets of rules for four historic districts, but rather one good document that tells people plainly and simply how to renovate their homes, how to add things to their basically it's a how-to manual for existing in those districts. Thank you, Mr. Anderson.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm excited to say that um Lepin City is one of the very first planned communities in all of the United States and it's in district 2 and that neighborhood association started work um a few months back and they are considering entering into the historic neighborhood program. So pretty exciting when you see neighbors coming together to do big things. Um that ends our agenda session. I will now hand the uh gavvel over to the chairman of our economic development committee.

Take it away. Take it away. All right. Welcome to our economic development committee. Can I have a motion on the minutes? Second. Oh, it's been properly moved and seconded. council and visitors. We are joined today by our friends from uh Chattanooga tourism to give us a presentation about their work, who they are. You know, this is a still largely new council. Um yeah. Are you okay? Okay. Do you need water or something?

Okay, we got one. All right. Um, so, um, not to hear from me, but I'm going let you take it away. Please introduce yourself.

Thank you so much, Councilman Elliot. My name is Susan Harris. I'm the interim CEO for the Chattanooga Tourism Company. And today, I am here to tell you a little bit about our organization, who we are, and what we do. We do have some of our staff members and board members here with us. Um, and I am grateful for their support as well as for your support. So, the Chattanooga Tourism Company has as our mission to promote and develop visitor experiences for our community's social and economic prosperity. Oh my gosh, what does that mean? We are a destination marketing organization. We are working to have visitors come to our city to experience all that we have to offer and as our commissioner of tourism at the state level says to leave their money here um and impact us from an economic perspective which is why we're here in this uh committee today. We uh in 2024 had 11.1 million visitors that come came to visit Hamilton County. And those visitors on average, that's that's both day visitors and overnight visitors, but it amounts to about 12,000 people per night staying in our hotels in our short-term rentals.

Oh, that included overall record-breaking economic impact of 1.8 8 billion dollar being left in our county. And that spending supports our local economy. That spending generates we we know hotel motel lodging. That's what everybody thinks about when they think about our industry. But these folks are eating in our restaurants. They're shopping in our stores. They're visiting our attractions. They are paying parking and parking tickets. Um unfortunately we do participate in that quarterly parking meeting. Um, these folks are impacting our local economy by being here with us, our visitors are. And what we think one of our key issues, not just the visitors, but we employ 30,000 people in Hamilton County in the hospitality industry, and those are folks I live in in Chairwoman Hills district. Those folks live in your districts, right? And the hospitality industry more than many other industries is a career pipeline and pathway. The amount of stories of folks who start as housekeepers and move up to general managers of hotels who start as dishwashers and move up to be chefs or restaurant owners or restaurant managers. Folks who work part-time at attractions and then find their career path maybe in marketing, maybe in accounting in some other way that they benefit our community. Our industry does that better than most other industries. And we also support small businesses. Right? When we think about what attracts visitors to Chattanooga is the authenticity of our community. And that comes from our small businesses. Those visitors when they're here with us, they're spending money. Again, five categories. I mentioned them earlier, but food and beverage is the largest. So, our restaurant tours are the ones who see the biggest gain from our visitors when they come. Accommodations,

transportation, retail, and then also recreation. $73 million in local taxes is what our visitors left with us in 2024. And that translates to over $1,200 saved for every Hamilton County homeowner because of those visitor taxes. So again, real economic benefit for our residents uh as that comes together. So what is our team doing? We have a robust marketing organization that is trying to get folks to choose Chattanooga. our internal team. We have digital advertising. You see on your screen some examples of some of our most recent uh web and social media advertising. We do traditional advertising as well. And then we focus a good bit on public relations. We focus on getting journalists to visit and to amplify our stories of what makes our community special. Some of the most recent PR hits that we have had, you might have seen Southern Living, which just came out the other day. Um, we had a fabulous feature from NPR on Skillet curling down at the uh uh at Ice on the Landing uh at the end of the winter. And then we've also had a recent feature in National Geographic. So again, these are largecale respected publications that our stories stories of Chattanooans are being told. One of our biggest partners is the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. And you may have heard a little bit of one of our great uh investments with them, which was through our Michelin Guide for the American South. Four of our local restaurants received recognition internationally in the Michelin Guide. And that is something people don't think about, but there's an investment, a partnership with our organization, with the Tennessee Department of Tourist

Development, with an organization in our industry called Travel South. And when we made our decision to embark in that project, we actually pulled together 50 of our restaurant tours and sat and listened and talked to them and heard their feedback to understand really how this type of publicity, this type of opportunity could could benefit them. And so we're very very proud of that and our ability to work with those restaurant tours. Sometimes people say, "Oh, if you're marketing Chadnik, I never see your commercials." Well, you don't because we don't advertise Chattanooga in Chattanooga. We advertise Chattanooga outside of Chattanooga, right? So, a visitor is somebody who's coming from 50 to 70 miles away. And so, you see our map here where we talk about some of the specific areas that we target. We definitely do some targeting to those kind of drive market radius, right, where folks are coming on school vacations, family vacations, those types of things. But then I also want to call your attention to some of those faroff dots. Those are strategic places where we know through our research we need to do some things. And then as you all have heard uh Mayor Kelly say and have participated in some of the work at the airport, right? Air service development is economic development. Tourism is economic development. We've had recent flights coming out of Florida, Central Florida, South Florida. We have recent flight announcements coming out of Denver, coming out of Chicago. Those are all places where we've been able to invest our marketing dollars to support our partners at the Chattanooga Airborne. The other place that we really work besides marketing is in recruiting events. So, we have a group sales team that their focus is to get folks to come here for meetings, events, conventions, and they're doing that by building relationships, by participating in trade

shows for maybe associations or or different areas, and then also hosting site visits for the meeting planners. Every occupation in the world has an association and most of those have annual meetings and we'd like for those folks to choose Chattanooga for their annual meeting and so our meetings and sales team works to recruit those events here. Last year we had 271 events that our team participated in hosting here. Again, meetings, conventions, festivals, and sporting events. And this year, you might have seen some of those. We've had student groups that have been record-breaking this year. If you've been out and about over the last four weeks or so downtown, we had DECA, we've had Skills, we've had HOSA, we've had a number of those student groups, we've had Iron Man in our community for more than a decade. We're very excited about that. But our team also for next year and beyond have secured over 300 future events. So events for 27, 28, and 29. And those future bookings are important because we're competing against other cities. We're competing against Greenville and Asheville and and even Nashville at some times on trying to get those uh events and meetings to choose us. Big win that we had last year. Hopefully you were able to participate with the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass. That is a three-year uh investment. So they'll be back with us. Last year they were in September. This year they'll be in October. It'll be a little cooler. Maybe you'll enjoy it a little bit more if you get to come out and experience some of that uh music. We also have a couple of of pretty large scale events uh coming up on the runway right now. We have the women in travel summit which is 500 female journalists focused on travel and tourism from across the world and they will be here in Chattanooga and uh

experiencing all that our city has to offer. It's really hard to quantify the potential media exposure that can come from an event like that. And that's happening in May. And then I know you were very well aware of our community's opportunity to be the base camp for uh Spain's national football team and we're very excited about that partnership. We appreciate um your partnership and obviously the work with Baylor School, Envision Hospitality, with Hamilton County um and the Sports and Events Corporation. So when we think about what's next, our goal is to continue the momentum of the things that we've just shared. And we're looking at doing that by attracting more vis visitors, strengthening our partnerships, and again continuing to drive that economic growth. And some of those partnerships, I've already mentioned the airport. Another one is with the Chattanooga Convention Center. Both of those things are key gateways that introduce visitors to our community. It is critical that we remain competitive in order for folks to continue to choose our destination. Um, we have done some work to help our stakeholders in the industry and and in in uh uh the community understand what some of our opportunities are. We've done some uh actually using uh money that was made available to us from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. We've done a music venue study. We've done a convention center uh future studies that the Carter Street Corporation has updated as they're kind of thinking through their work. And then we are just finishing a sports tourism facility study. And all of these things let us know what our customers need and actually what our competitors offer so we can understand kind of that landscape. The last thing that I just want to share with you before I share a video is that that this is what our mission this is our work. We have a talented team that

is excited about continuing to build these community partners, not just with you guys, with the county, with even the other municipalities, but with hotel years, with attractions, with restaurant tours, with small business owners, with our arts partners. We have a lively collaboration that goes on in our community that impacts all of us as residents and business owners. Be happy to take uh any questions that you have. First, I'm going to let you enjoy our brand video.

There's a city not so glitzy as New York or LA, but no less steeped in history. An essential part of the American tapestry with a personality distinctly its own. A city a stride a river nestled among mountains lush with forests, streams and falls. There's a city at the center of invention and industry. Bursting with vitality, incandescent with innovation, celebrated in song, chronicled in history, noted for its first, foremost, and only made years. There's a city, a getaway from it all for adventurous spirits. Kaleidoscopic with options. So much to see, do, and savor. Adorned with public art, abounding with cuisine and culture, known for crafted and curated and absolutely authentic. There is a city honest as heck,

known for grit and gumption, aggressively welcoming with a one of the family kind of attitude where pretention is checked at the door. Authenticity decorates the room and hospitality sets the table but never oversteps. There is a city we call home. A city we love and love to share. A city called Chattanooga. Let's go.

I don't know how many of you recognize the voice of your narrator. But that is one of those folks who started in tourism and has changed and grown. Uh, and we're very excited to He works with Yeah. works with you guys in public works. How about that? Again, when we we spoke uh with Councilman Elliot and and really just wanted to share with you the impact that our industry has here in the community. And again, I'm happy to answer any questions if anyone has any. All right, council. Look like we have a couple folks on the board. Councilwoman Dolly.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for having this uh committee. Um that was a great presentation. As someone who started in travel and tourism in high school, we had a whole travel and tourism academy and I worked at the Southern Veil, the Choo Choo, and when I got through college, I actually worked in tourism until I actually got a, you know, another kind of job. But uh definitely a fan have always been because that's just that got me out of my neighborhood to downtown and that's why I love downtown so much now because of those type of programs that offer that type of internship for

for good old burner high school student. Um so I did have and also I've seen uh influencers on like Tik Tok and things come to Chattanooga do and I'm always just like oh my god they're in Chattanooga. So y'all are doing a great job. I mean to me I was like oh look at us on on Tik Tok.

Um so it's exciting but I did want to ask the hard question which is you know seen in the news where some of that funding from the county will be taken away. Um my concern is always relationships. Um you know you all have spent years building out these relationships especially in the sports arena. Um how will that impact your relation? I know you've already booked a few things you know over the next couple of years. Uh but how will that impact your work uh moving forward? You know, are you still going to be working with those um those larger sports deals that have been coming in, you know, for for years now?

Yeah, sure. Thank you so much for the question and for recognizing that history of work that we have. Um we are working with the uh the folks from the the sports and events corporation. point T-C is um the way it kind of rolls off my tongue quickly in in that but I have meetings with their principal very regularly our team members are communicating with them we have a shared commitment across both our organizations that our clients will not know that we are working on transition right okay so that's the key is that when those folks from TWSSAA or a softball tournament or whomever that is right that they will experience the Chattanooga that they have come to know and love. And so we are working through that with the county. We're having those really difficult conversations. I pointed out we had some of our board members here. They are doing good hard work with asking questions and listening. Listening is a big part of that communication. But in terms of the transition kind of boots on the ground for events that are happening, our partners will see that Chattanooga is the welcoming place. It is the place that provides that experience and we have a shared commitment toward that. We've done it really well so far with the work on the Spain national football team and including have worked with some folks from your events team and from the parks and recck team with Hamilton County as we think about community activation while Spain is here and we'll just continue doing that work.

Okay. Thank you so much. I really appreciate the the clarity there. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Chair,

thank you Susan. Thanks for coming today and for the presentation. Um, one thing that I that I noticed, um, as you were talking was about the the PR work that the tourism company does and and that's that's the work we don't see happening, we see the results of. And for example, the Michelin Guide for American South, I had no idea that didn't just fall out of the air, you know, um, you know, we all I see Top Chef or what fill in the blank and you just, oh well, somebody somebody from Michelin like called them up and said, I don't know, but to know that that was a a very thoughtful long-term process is fascinating to me. And can you tell us just a in a a little bit more detail about the lead time or like for example the the soccer thing, you know, um we had an email come from Councilman Clark shortly um maybe six or eight weeks ago and he said, you know, it'd be really great if we could have something to do with the World Cup.

And then a week later, you guys announced uh this World Cup thing. And so um my hypothesis is that didn't just happen because we happened to send an email eight weeks beforehand. Perhaps you were correct. Yeah. So can you tell us a little bit about the um the the process and the the amount the timeline for um for a new festival for um the this women in travel? Sure.

Did they call last Tuesday and they're coming in May? They did not they did not in fact call last Tuesday. Our sales team would have died had they called last Tuesday to say they were coming in May. So this is a great question and it really reveals one of those things and that's one of the reasons why we're here and why I appreciate the opportunity is to continue that education. So when we think about these larger scale events, they are years in the planning. Right. So the first conversations with FIFA took place in 23 and early in 24.

Wow. and continued that work, right? And and then even with um the sports and events corporations forming that work, like last fall, we were collaborating before anything ever hit the news about a new sports organization because we were working with this client and trying to make sure that our community could have the benefit of this work. um typical meetings and conventions and our VP of sales is here and he'll correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm gonna say three to five years is our typical Yep. Okay, good. Got a thumbs up on that. Three to five years is our typical work on a a large scale meetings and convention. I know that we worked with the International Bluegrass Music Association for well over 10 years before they chose us and they chose us a year before their final year in Raleigh. So we right so we think through those things and same thing with the women and travel uh summit we were at their summit two years ago when we were in the bid process we were there last year when it was announced that we would be this year's host and we're doing a lot of work within that and honestly there are there are investments that we're making with these events so that so that they will choose Chattanooga because again the impact when we have folks staying in our hotels eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores, all of those things benefit all of us as residents and as a community.

Um, those numbers are astounding. I mean, 2023, you all were already thinking about the World Cup. Is it happening in 2026? 26. Yeah. This sports ball kind of g within 120 days. Three years in advance. Wow. Councilwoman Dotley, your point about relationships. It's it's important. Well, it is important.

Um, okay. So, so two two questions. Um, so first first a serious one and then a creative one. Um, with regard to the county deciding to pull funding, I I don't I don't know what the strategy is at the county for expanding government the the way they're choosing to, you know, do their own planning agency, start their do their own tourism, interesting choice. um when they when they uh decided to sever that agreement and you all, you know, head back to the count your conference room and and have that um post-mortem, what are the things that you see that you want to improve upon to ensure that the touris Chattanooga tourism company is functioning at the highest caliber so that you maintain good relationships with bodies like ours. Sure. I think that's a that's a great question. And as our board asked me to step into this interim role, one of the things that I talked with our executive committee about is really understanding that I think there's three main things that are right here in front of us. Um, one of those is kind of our organizational structure. What does it look like? How are we positioned? If there's a separate sports organization in our community, then how do we double down on our focus on marketing and sales and continuing to do that work and also be cooperative within our community? Because again, that is our number one priority is to continue to advance our industry for the benefit of residents and visitors here in our community. That's our number one. Okay. The second one is obviously figuring out the budget and what does that look like? Um, and and the third thing is thinking about what that transition is and what it looks like. And so that that really I mean I I have the the ability to sit down with anybody who wants to look at the last 12 to 18 months and I can give you my opinion and

I can point out lots of things and facts along the way that I think maybe would point to how we got where we were. Most of that actually is not helpful at this point because we are in fact where we are. And so what our team is focused on is how do we leverage the talented professionals that we have? How do we advocate on behalf of the important members of our community and our industry? Again, the hotel years, the restaurant tours, the small business owners, the arts partners. So we really, Councilwoman are in a a a vein of kind of being that solutionoriented looking forward. Um you know, a part of that obviously is relationships. It's having opportunities like these with you guys as well as with the commission um and continuing to share information. I think you know that is one thing um and my team has heard me say if they've heard me say it once they've heard me say it a hundred times in the absence of facts people will make up their own

right so from a leadership perspective one of our desires is to make sure that all of the appropriate stakeholders have information okay and so that's a part of our engagement strategy is to continue to focus on communication and sharing information in a really transparent way okay cool Okay. And then um the creative question I had watching the video when we when there's that quick cut to the Tennessee flag. I think the Tennessee flag is beautiful. I think the Chattanooga flag is really ugly. And uh I don't think I'm alone in that. And I know that Chris Anderson has one of the original City of Chattanooga flags in his office. The last one.

The the last one, not the original, the pri prior version. Um, I think it's cool when I go to DC and I see their DC flag places or when I go to Chicago and I see that if if we had a better flag, could that be something that could be used as a marketing differentiator for us? I think with the right creative people, anything can be used as a marketing differentiator. Um, and so I'm I'm not I'm kind of answering a little bit tongue and cheek, but I think particularly and uh and councilwoman Dotley spoke to it, right? The the prevalence of social media and the way that comes. Yeah.

So I think ideas and thoughtfulness around how to spark somebody's interest, how to get them to engage, how to get them to talk about Chattanooga and for some people that might be flags and that might be different pieces. So I think I think those kind of ideas I will just say our marketing team again not all of them are here. We have a fabulous marketing team. Um, and the level of creativity and and just really their opportunities is is amazing. And so, yeah, we're happy to hear what whatever you've got for that council. Just put that in like a push pin in your brain about maybe might we think about getting rid of this bad flag. Thanks. That's all.

I don't know. I don't know that we employ any flag designers per se, but we're I have I have so many files about these about flags and there are bad flag awards and I think ours would be close to being able to bad flag award award from the flag people. Well, that's all Mr. Chair. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Council, that is all we have on the board. Do we have any other questions? All right. Thank you'all so much for having me. Thank you, council, for having us and and just for your support and partnership in our community. We appreciate you,

Susan. and the rest of your team. Thank you guys so much for being here to educate us. Um, that is all. Madam Chair, when would you like for us to return? 5:45. Fine.

Right, we are back in session. Madame clerk, please read item 7A.

An ordinance closing and abandoning a public sewer ease been located in the 1200 block of North Moore Road. Tax map number 147 KC045 beginning 14 ft southeast of MH number S147 N205. Then southeast approximately 98 ft to a point approximately 359 ft from MH number 147 N005 is detailed on the attached maps. Thank you. Council, can I get a motion? Oh, uh motion. I'm sorry. Motion to approve.

Second. Thank you, council. We have a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second. Do have any questions or comments? All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Uh, ordinance has under first reading item 8A, please. An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code Part 2, chapter 38 zoning ordinance so as to reszone property located at 3886 Aella Drive from RN16 residential neighborhood zone to RN3 residential neighborhood zone subject to certain conditions.

Thank you. This is uh this is planning case number 2025 0190. Is the applicant present? Thank you. Do we have any opposition present? Thank you. Um so what we will do is uh we have um we will have seven minutes for the opposition to share their perspective on the case or excuse me for the applicant to share their perspective on the case and then um opposition will have up to nine minutes that will be shared amongst all u opposition and then we will give the applicant two minutes uh to to respond to the criticism. So, you'd like to come on up, sir.

Well, good evening, council. My name is Alan Jones with Stone Creek Consulting. Uh, LA or two weeks ago, I gave a pretty lengthy uh kind of overview of of this reszone request. I'll just kind of touch on a few highlights. Um I think two weeks ago there were five conditions that that were uh recommended from planning commission and also from RPA. Um after talking uh since this last meeting after talking with council councilman uh Dennis and also with uh with one of the neighbors uh immediately to the north of of this property. Um, we are I am asking and recommending that we add an additional condition which states that we provide a fi a seven foot privacy fence and a 10 10- foot landscape buffer along the northern property line which is adjacent to parcel 147 CD00001. I think this would uh go a long ways to uh helping protect that uh the immediate uh single family residence as to the north. Um but also note that uh my client also actually sold a small portion of his property uh to the property to the north to give him additional space as well. Um so this is kind of you know trying to go above and beyond to help out the adjacent neighbor um to provide that additional u kind of buffering from from this town home development. Um but just a reminder that the conditions um is to have a maximum of two street cuts along Agawala Drive. No more than four attached units per each mass building. And the purpose for that is to have a town home style uh development. Um and that way we're not going to have, you know, seven or eight town homes stacked up together. It helps break up the the rhythm of of of the development. Uh no more than 67 units. Uh the previous request was, I think, 79 units. Um but um working with the community and with the council member, we're we're reducing that that number. Uh no parking will be allowed between the buildings in Aguella Drive and the northern property line. And this is uh to create a nicer streetscape along Aguila Drive. um only having those two two driveway inches into the property and then having a maximum building height of 35 ft. Uh

since this would technically fall under uh multi-unit um we want to make sure that we cap that 35 ft height which is uh the established height for all residential districts in Chattanooga. So with that I'll open up for any questions you may have.

Looks like we're good for now. Let's go ahead and let the uh opposition speak. We'll have seven minutes on the or nine minutes on the clock. Good afternoon. My name is Shelley Stevens and we were very uh interested in the 7 foot privacy fence condition that's been added. So that's fantastic. Um, we just wanted to reiterate the lack of a turn signal onto Shalifford Road to turn left and re uh, I guess lay out our concerns again about the blind 90 degree curve coming into and out of the neighborhood, especially with proposed construction and landfill equipment.

Thank you. Um, would the applicant like to add anything? You have two minutes.

Sure. I'll let Councilman uh Dennis Clark respond to the traffic center. I think he's already reached out to public works regarding that. Um as far as the the kind of the 90 degree turn within Agawala, we'll be with through the land disturbance permitting process. We'll be working with the transportation department of public works just to confirm that we have the safe, you know, distances from any any hard turns and things like that and just making sure that it'll be a safe uh safe environment. You know, from a from a zoning perspective, this is really looking at is this an appropriate use? Um, and then when we get into the nitty-gritty details of storm water, transportation, landscaping, and those requirements, we'll be working with LDO staff, uh, to make sure that it's an appropriate design. Okay. Thank you very much. Uh, Councilman Clark.

Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, to address the concerns of the community, and I know, Michelle, you've been communicating with Karen Ren regarding some of the permitting issues with storm water and flooding, and I see that she got back with you on that email. So, that's good. Um when we started the community input process and I thank Councilman um Henderson and Elliot and Davis for attending uh we began having individual conversations with some of the residents including Dennis Lancaster who we spoke with cuz he's the only residential property that abuts this other than the uh Eastwood Manor uh senior community. Um and we put in um the landscape buffering at his request. We raised the gate if we were to go he wanted 8ft but if we went over 8t it would have caused a different uh zoning and construction thing and he agreed to that. Uh but in addition, there was concerns about the traffic about being able to turn left or right um off of Aguila. Even with the addition of the 67 homes um with Aguila or Indian Hills has 52. This will be still one of the smaller communities in my district. Uh my community has 180 homes. Um and but this community will have a red light. um even being one of the smaller communities where we are working with public works. I don't see Jay here today, but we've been working on this and allocating um funds for this because we're also doing a light at Jersey Pike and shallow um in addition to the light edition um to a Agawa and this will be done before construction started. we were going to do this regardless of if they built it in there or not. But this will help ease some of the concerns of the neighbors regarding the traffic um and being able to make a left turn out of Aguilera. So that is in the works by public works and

has been appropriated in our budget. Um and last there was an issue with the U-turns of the board cannon families who are coming in from East Brainer. Um, and what they do, they come down to a, well, not quite down to Aguila, but right there in front of the old Walmart, and they make a U-turn, uh, which again is causing issues for some of the Aguila or Indian Hills residents to make a left turn without hitting, um, a Buchanan parent making a U-turn. Ironically, the neighbor who's is the only resident who abuts his property, his children go to board canon, so he makes that left turn every morning. So, we're working with him and CPD to stop illegal U-turns there. U, so we're putting in the traffic provisions to make it easy not to overwhelm um the residents of Indian Hills and we hope to have that installed uh here shortly.

Okay. Um would you like to make a motion, Councilman? Yes, I'd like to make a motion to approve with conditions. And do we need to read that in or is that So because we're late on getting the conditions on the agenda, let's go ahead and make a motion to approve this item and then we can amend it there. There are five on the agenda on the motion, the current one with conditions. Okay. The last one, the sixth one needs to be read into the record on a motion to amend. Oh, okay. So we're only adding one. Adding one additional. Okay. So we can just We don't need to do an amendment on that, do we? No. Well, you need to do a motion to amend to include one. We do. We do need to do that. Okay. All right. So, we still get That's okay. We still get to do

Yeah, that was a late addition. My apologies on that. Okay. Um, so if I can get a motion on the floor again with a little bit more clarity this time. I'm sorry, Councilman. Say that again. Okay. I'd like to make a motion to add the No, no. Or to amend. Motion to approve. Motion to approve subject to certain conditions. I'd like to make make a motion for approval certain to subject to certain conditions. Thank you. Can I get a second? Council, do we have any questions or comments about that? Okay. All in favor? We have a We have had that condition. Yes. Thank you. Um, would you like to make a motion to amend now? Yes.

Yes. Motion to amend and state what the amendment includes. Okay. I'm trying to Sorry, I'm trying to pull it up. Thank you. Would you like the Madam Chair? I would like to make a motion to amend subject to certain conditions such as just one. Well, I'm briefly I'm reading the the language. Yeah. Okay. Such as uh provide a 7 foot privacy fence and a 10ft landscape buffer along the northern borderline adjacent to parcel 147C D001. Thank you. Sorry about that. Thank you.

Can I get a second on that? Uh thank you. We have a motion on the floor to amend with a proper second. Do we have any questions or comments? All in favor of the amendment. I opposed. The motion to amend has passed. Can I get a motion to approve as amended, please? I'd like to make make a motion to approve as amended. Second. Thank you. We have a motion on the floor to approve as amended with a proper second. Do I have any questions or comments? All in favor to approve as amended? I

opposed. Motion to approve as amended passes. Thank you. Resolutions, madame clerk, item uh let's take items A and B as a package, please. Is do we wait, do we have any opposition to reading items A and B as a package, council? Seeing none, go ahead, please. Item A, a resolution authorizing the administrator of economic development to enter into a license agreement with the state of Tennessee and substantially the form attached to use a portion along Interstate 24 and mile marker 13.71 to mile marker 14.31 for the contin maintenance of the brain levy and flood wall for a term of 10 years at no cost to the city. Item B, a resolution authorizing the mayor is as need to jointly with Hamilton County enter into a contract for sale and purchase with the Cherokee Area Council, Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America and substantially the form attached for the joint acquisition of approximately 19.6 6 acre track identified as tax map number 13003 located adjacent to I75 and Volkswagen Drive for the sum of $525,000 with closing expenses not to exceed $5,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $530,000 with the city responsible responsibility being 1/2 of the total acquisition expense and said transaction recommended by planning commission MR 2026.0024.

Thank you. Second. Thank you, council. We have a motion on the floor to approve these two items with a proper second. Do we have any questions or comments? All in favor?

Opposed? Motion passes. Item C, please. a resolution authorizing the deputy chief human resources officer to execute the one two-year renewal of a health services agreement between the city of Chattanooga and onetoone health LLC for preventative wellness disease management health consultation occupational health and or primary care services for the term beginning on December 26 2026 and ending on December 26 2028 second thank Thank you, council. We have a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second. Do I have any questions or comments? All in favor?

Opposed? Motion passes. Madame clerk, let's take items D through G as a package, please.

Item D, a resolution confirm Kelly's appointment of Jeff Beasley to the board of mechanical examiners for a term beginning on March 25, 2026 and ending on March 24th, 2030. Item E, a resolution confirming Mayor Kelly's appointment of Buck Rider to the Board of Mechanical Examiners for a term beginning on March 25, 2026 and ending on March 24, 2030. Item F, a resolution confirming May Kelly's appointment of Gabby Thomas to to the Tree Commission for a term beginning on March 25, 2026 and ending on March 24, 2030. Item G, a resolution confirming Mary Kelly's reappoint of Paul McInness to the Board of Plumbing Examiners for a term beginning on September 29, 2025 and ending on September 28, 2027.

Second. Thank you, council. We have a motion on the floor to approve these items with the proper second. Do have any questions or comments? All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Item H,

a resolution authorizing the administrator of parks and outdoors if awarded to accept a grant in the amount of 1,790 to1,790,915 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Local Parks and Recreation Fund for the development of new and improved infrastructure along the Tennessee River on the north and the infrastructure enhancement of the existing greenway at the Briner levy. The required 100% match will be provided through an artise grant of 1,196,68 if awarded and a city commitment of $594,847 for a total project cost of $3,581,830. Move to approve second.

Thank you. We have a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second. Do I have any questions or comments? All in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Let's take items I through L as a package. Please, Madam Clerk.

Item I, a resolution authorizing the administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve change order number two, final for contract number F230004201, fire training tower construction with JRE Constructors, Inc. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana for an increased amount of $56,17610 for a final contract amount of $1,516,2867 and to execute a 4-year limited warrant warranty regarding elevated slab concrete work at the fire training tower with subcontract subcontractor Yerby Contract Construction LLC starting after the March 14, 2025 substantial completion date. Item J, a resolution amending resolution number 32769 as follows. A resolution authorizing administrator for the Department of Public Works to enter into a 4-year contract contract for the development and creation of a storm water asset management plan swamp contract number S2500910 with Bars Design Solutions Inc. for professional services for for a term for a total amount not to exceed $4,230,000 annually. Item K, a resolution authorizing the administrative for the Department of Public Works to execute a con consent of assignment of all purchase orders and all purchase agreements for vendor number 865550 Reagan Smith Associates LLC to PAPE Dawson Consulting Engineers LLC relative to the following purchase orders. Number 160324 at skate park construction services contractor coordination number 156979 Main Street Ripping Design number 151886 Hickory Valley Road bridge repair

and dock widening number 116862 Central Avenue Roadway Extension number 11365538 street detention pond RPR and relative to the following purchase agreements number one81A on call design and plan production services number one 0258 professional services surveying and number one778 professional services RPR. Item L, a resolution authorizing payment to Hamilton County Geospatial Technology for addressing services during fiscal year 2026 according to the addressing memorandum of understanding between the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County dated May 19th 2006 in the amount of $68,348.

Thank you very much. Thank you. All right, council. We have a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second. Do I have any questions or comments? All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Uh, planning item M, please. A resolution authorizing the administrator of planning regional planning agency to enter into an agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. to develop a 30% design and preliminary engineering plan for reconnecting Westside for $2,64,150 with a contingency in the amount of $26,415 for a total amount not to exceed $2,270,565.

Second. Thank you. We have a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second. Council can do we have any questions or comments? All in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Items N and O, please, madam clerk, as a package.

Item N, a resolution authorizing the appointment of James Stewart as a special commission commission police officer unarmed for McCain animal services to perform duties expressly limit to the performance of his duties and the position of animal protection officer. Item O, a resolution authorizing the appointment of Jillian Crook as a special commission police officer unarmed for McCain animal services to perform duties especially limited to the performance of her duties in the position of animal protection officer. Mot. Thank you. We've got a motion on the floor to approve with a proper second. Council, do we have any questions or comments? All in favor?

Opposed? Motion passes. Let's take a look at our purchases, please. Good evening, council. Hello.

I have uh six purchases recommended for your approval this evening. The first one is for public works. This is year three renewal. Southeastern materials is requesting a 2.1% increase due to the increased cost of material. There will be no increase to the uh annual amount limit. Public works approved the increase. Number two is for public works. This is year four renewal. Vulcan is requesting a 2.4% increase due to the increased cost of raw material. There will be no increase to the annual amount limit. Public works approved this increase. Number three is for wastewater. This is a new agreement for painting services. This will be a 4-year agreement with an annual limit of $500,000. The award will go to quality mechanical group as the best bid. Number five is or number four is for community health. Community health is requesting an increase of $45,000 to agreement PA1000813 through June 30th of 2026 to cover f current and future invoices. The new annual spend limit will be $95,000. Number five is for fire department. This is a one-time purchase of fire hose for the fire department. This soul source purchase from Tennessee Fire Equipment will be in the amount of $60,266. Number six is for risk management. This is a new agreement for third-party injury on duty. This will be a two-year agreement with three one-year options to renew with an annual limit of $3,200,000. The award will go to Johnson Johnston and Associates as the best proposal.

Thank you very much. Second. Thank you. We've got a motion on the floor to approve with the proper second. Do we have any questions or comments about these purchases, council? Seeing none, all in favor? I opposed. Motion passes. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay, council, we're going to go around the horn for committee reports. Councilman Henderson, no. Councilman Davis, no report. Councilman Harvey, no report. Councilman Clark, no report. Councilman Elliot,

yes, chair, we have a um economic development uh meeting coming up on April 7th. Uh we have a committee meeting and we're going to hear from Urban Story Ventures and folks with the Bend to give us an update on how that project is going. Thank you very much, Councilman. Councilwoman Dotley.

Um thank you so much, Madam Chair. Uh we will have our budget work session next Tuesday starting at 9:00 a.m. We will uh talk about we will discuss our finance policies that we probably discussed maybe like maybe a month ago. So we'll talk about those and then um the remainder of the time we'll be discussing the research uh from Dr. Auff and the updates that he has made. So I'll be sending out the policies to you all uh and thank you to Weston who has been so fantastic in that. So I'll be sending those out with y'all to you all with some of the updates and then uh also the updates from Dr. Akuff prior to the meeting. So that is that. Thank you very much. Thank you so much Madam Chair. Councilwoman Bur, no report.

Vice Chairwoman Null, no report. Okay, I have um three short announcements. The first is when you head out of the council chambers today, turn to your right and take a look. We have a really neat Liberty Bell sculpture um on the front lawn of our building. And it is one of about 50 that are going to be installed all over our city and county um in recognition of the 250th birthday of America. There is a there's a committee a party planning committee that has been um it's not it's not and it's on too scared me.

Quack. Um, but there's been there's a a group of community members that have been uh planning all the festivities and this was something that they actually worked out with Sis and Steel and apparently Sisk and Steel was immediately um so happy to participate and actually donated all 50 of these Liberty Bells to um the committee. So many thanks to Ciskin Steel. Also, thank you to the folks who have been appointed tonight. We appreciate your service to our community. Um, next announcement on the 14th of April, um, the new Lookout Stadium is going to be opening and so we will have our meeting early that day. We will start our meeting at 2 instead of at our typical 3:30 time.

Also, um, on the 14th of April, we will have our election of uh, officers for the city council. Um, that is all the announcements for tonight. Um, if you are here and you would like to address the council, we're glad you're here. We ask you to go ahead and line up behind the podium and listen while our attorney reads the rules. Yes, ma'am. 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 can only be recognized at the microphone up front for that purpose. Can't have more than three minutes to speak. And you can address the council only upon matters within their legislative and quaazi 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 your comments to the council as a whole, not towards individual council members. 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 a meeting by physical action or verbal utterance with the intent to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting or gathering. Having stated those rules, please go ahead, ma'am, and state your name and your district if you could.

Okay.

Good evening, counselors. My name is Melissa Ray. I live at 4006 Dearmont Court and I'm here on behalf of the grassroots nonprofit Save Enterprise South Nature Park. Uh, as we all know, the county's land swap and industrialization plans at the nature park were withdrawn back in January um after what became a pretty moving wave of public opposition and a coalescence of local and regional um groups including the unity group uh the local Sierra Club and the Southern Environmental Law Center. Uh we are so thankful that the county listened to the desires and the values of our community and withdrew the land swap proposal and our group is now transitioning to more of a park partners model. Um but we are still taking our advocacy role very seriously. So today the city council um voted to acquire the 19 acre tract of forested land owned by the Boy Scouts of America. This parcel is currently zoned or was currently zoned for heavy industry. Now I've heard it's M1 which also does allow for light industry from my understanding. Um but it is in a natural state and it is landlocked by permanently protected Enterprise South Nature Park land. Any development would directly impact protected parkland and access to that parcel would require going through permanently protected parkland raising concerns around future land swaps. So the deed for the parkland makes it very clear that any development with the boundaries of that parcel of the park even access roads must be for recreational purposes only not industry. Um, we are asking the city to please follow the recommendations of the regional planning commission. Um, and reszone the Boy Scouts parcel as OS, open space for recreation and and green space after acquisition or maybe investigate other um, protection mechanisms and layers that could be

added to that property. Um, it seems like a pretty lowhanging fruit of an opportunity to expand the park and to honor the wishes of our community to keep ESNP protected. Um, I also do want to iterate reiterate why maintaining protections at this particular park is so important. Aside from just we like the park and wildlife and trees are good, which are true. Um, because of how this land was acquired from the federal government, the deed restrictions are held by the Department of Interior. Um, and the deed states that it has been set aside for the public in perpetuity forever. Um, three times it says forever. So, these are some of the most robust protections an area of land can have. So, what does it mean to start chipping away at that for access to industry? Um, think about what it would mean if the federal government began selling off chunks of Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Yellowstone. You know, we we trust that these places were set aside forever um for our children, for their children.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you for your time. Appreciate it. How you doing? My name is Dylan Bryan. I represent Rise and Thrive. I'm here on behalf of high-risisk kids that's out here in the city. Um I'm currently working with over about 50 kids as of now. Um I'm current I'm a hands-on boot on ground in the community, whatever you may. Uh I'm out here doing the work when pretty much get my hands dirty. I'm I'm in the trenches as they say. Um, I'm gonna give you a quick story. This is just a quick story. Um, this child right here. I worked with him back in uh 2023, Deshawn Evans, and he was murdered. He was murdered. That's how long it's been. He's been murdered. Um, I was currently at the Tiner Alumni, and I was hands on in that. Um, I ran through the crowd. How can I say? I'm trying to make this real quick. I ran through the crowd. I address pretty much solid issues that need to be addressed. One girl had got shot in the back. I administered pressure to her back as the ambulance came. This is the outcome of her. She's doing fine now. Um, how I got started with Rise and Thrive. I was 17 years old. I was a high-risisk kid. I basically did 14 and 1/2 years incarceration. I got out and now I'm doing my due diligence when it comes to these kids. I'm picking up what others have left off at. So, I heard him say earlier when they spoke on the city and as far as just the visitors and stuff like that, um, if if we don't make an impact with these kids, visitors aren't going to want to come. The the the money that's being spent, they're not going to spend it. We have to be hands on in the community and and and and if we don't dig our hands in the community and and I don't get people in to be boots on the ground with me, it's not going to go anywhere. Um, it was a beautiful video. I like the video. lady that show it show

peace, but all that could be taken away by change. Change of violence that's ruining the city and everything else. What I'm here for is not monetary. I'm here for resources. I'm here for clothes, things that you would wear, not rags. That's what these kids need. I have a whole bunch of kids that couch surf. I'm looking for housing. I have kids that couch surf on the daily. Um places, spaces, safe places for high-risisk kids, my high-risisk kids. I'm looking for that. I'm looking for drug treatment. I'm looking for jobs, safe jobs because like I say, my kids are high risk. So they have to work they have to work in in shielded shielded warehouses and stuff like that where there's no outside people coming in. Um gyms that are no longer in use. I could use them I could use them for my kids to play basketball and do all kind of activities and stuff like that where they can pretty much be away and isolated from all the stuff that's going on. Um basketball of course they're no longer in use. I have a use for them. I have a use form. Vans. I need vans to transport my kids here here and there. But like I say, I have my pamphlets right here. I'm rise and thrive. I what we do, we do e-client therapy with the kids. We get them out in nature and such. But yeah, that's all I can say. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Thank you very much for for what you do in our community. It looks like we've got um some council person that would would like to say something. Um and after that, I think if you'd like to meet up with Kevin Roy. Kevin, will you wave your hand please back there? Um Kevin is the chief of staff for the city and he can introduce you to our uh chief medical officer for the city. We um do make a lot of investments in um in stopping violence and working with youth and there may be a way for you to plug in with him. Um Councilwoman Dotley. Oh, I pushed next and you were already lit up. I'm sorry. I pushed it again. Oh no, that was from earlier.

Oh, it was from earlier. Oh, okay. Well, then just get with Kevin and he will uh get you introduced um to our chief physician. Thank you. Oh, you've got a B. Okay, there you go, Councilman Harvey. Okay, thank you. Yes, sir. Um, do you How many of those pamphlets do you have? You have more than one? Yes, sir. I have three of them now. Would you like one? Okay. Yeah, if you don't mind, if you want to pass it to to Ron there so we can get your information. We appreciate you being here. Thank you for what you do for the community. Thanks so much. Yeah, we we'll be we'll reach out. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hey, council. My name is Jeff Suggs. Some you will know me as Jack's grandfather who sits up here. So, um Oh, there he is.

Yeah, there he is. Um the question on Carter and the parking downtown. We all know we all live here, so we know what that impact is. Here's a personal experience. Put in a situation. We wanted to go down to we were downtown. We go to eat. Went to Puckets downtown. Had a choice. I have a big truck. Parking on the street is difficult. So, we parked in a lot. There were three cars in the lot. It cost me more money to park my truck to go in to eat and there's nothing in the parking lot. I don't mind paying for lots. I don't mind paying to have a place where I can park my truck where I don't have to worry about it being dinged or anything else. But when it cost me $30 to park my truck so I can go in it to eat,

my next choice is I'm not coming downtown to eat. Yep, that's right. I'm not, you know, there's other options for me. And I hate that because we do like to come downtown, park, be able to eat, walk, and explore. I love Chattanooga. I love it so much. I bring my grandson here every week.

Thank you. and all, but when my city makes it difficult for me to enjoy the things that Chhattanooga offers, that becomes an issue. And I think it's something that as citizens, we all need to consider, great, we're reaching out to out, you know, advertising in other cities. But when it becomes a choice between, okay, I'll just stay out in Nudwa or I'll just go here and not put my money, my money is just as important as the people you're trying to bring in.

You know, that needs to be considered on from the council and the businesses down here who are making money and there's no reason it should cost that much on a week week night to come down and enjoy the city. I appreciate your time. Yeah, thank you for sharing that. It's a great example of one of those private lots where instead of $30, it would be three under this new ordinance. He's my grandfather, by the way. Thank you. Thanks, John.

Uh, good evening, council. My name is Avery Shadwick. I live out in Apison, but I currently attend CSLA, Chad New School for the Liberal Arts. I'm here to talk about the change that could make a meaningful difference in our community. Establishing easily accessible recycling programs in our schools um specifically public schools. In the 1970s, Chattanooga was considered one of the most dirty cities in America, but now it is America's first national park city. It might just sound like a fancy title, but it represents the natural beauty of our city and community. We owe it to our city to ensure that Adanooa remains clean and it possibly could get even cleaner. To do this, we must take recycling. We must make recycling available to everyone, especially in our public schools. Every day, thousands of students and teachers use paper, clipboard, cardboard, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans, all of which end up in the trash. In fact, the average resident of Tennessee produces about six pounds of trash per day. This trash then ends up in landfills or even worse, disposed of in our beautiful environment. However, most of these items could be recycled. By introducing recycling in our schools, we have the opportunity to reduce waste, protect our environment, and teach the next generation about responsibility and ethics. Schools are not just places where students learn about math and history, but they also learn lifelong habits and expectations as residents of Chattanooga. These small actions could build habits that last for decades to the point of where they are teaching the generations to come. In my school, second graders advocated for plastic trays in our cafeteria, and they got them instated. It didn't last very long, but in that spring, we were able to reduce hundreds of bags of trash that we produced every day. Introducing recycling programs can lower the amount of waste our schools send to landfills and can keep the areas surrounding our schools clean. Additionally, it can show surrounding cities that Chattanooga is committed to sustainability and preparing students for a future where environmental stewardship matters more than ever. I'm proposing that Chattanooga set aside funds for recycling programs citywide to encourage schools to house recycling programs and gear towards sustainable practices regarding waste management. Today, I ask the city of Chattanooga to support this

endeavor. By taking this step, we can reduce waste, educate students, and build a culture that benefits our both our community and our planet. Thank you for your time. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else here who would like to address the council? Council, I don't see anybody else who would like to address the council. Second. We have a motion on the floor to adjoin adjourn council with a proper second. Any questions or comment? All in favor of adjourning? All right, we are adjourned. Thank you.