Votes at a glance: council approves zoning, purchases, flood relief permit fee waiver and other items

At its Sept. 16 meeting the Chattanooga City Council approved a series of zoning and administrative measures, five procurement items, and two resolutions related to flood relief and administrative restructuring. Several items passed by voice vote and several by roll call; items that require additional vetting or were postponed were noted on the council’s two‑week agenda.

Key outcomes
- Final‑reading zoning ordinances (items a–f): Council read and approved six zoning amendments and related code changes on final reading. The measures included rezonings and amendments to the city’s form‑based code and definitions (including adding a use definition and parking requirements for crematoriums). The ordinances were approved by voice vote; the ordinance numbers were read into the record during final reading.
- Ordinance to amend city code (first reading): Council approved on first reading an ordinance repealing Article 12 and amending Article 16 of Chapter 2 and further amending Chapter 16 and Chapter 31 to comply with Public Chapter PC 494 and Public Chapter PC 458. That item passed a roll call with recorded yes votes by council members present.
- Budget amendment (first reading): Council approved a first‑reading budget amendment to reallocate appropriations tied to the statutory dismantling of DEI departments (see separate article); that amendment later passed on roll call (8–1) when considered elsewhere on the agenda.
- Flood‑damage permit fee waiver (resolution, alternate version 4): The council approved a resolution waiving residential modification permit fees and prioritizing green grant funding for properties directly damaged by the Aug. 12, 2025 flood. The resolution takes effect on adoption and, per the resolution text, expires within nine months (on or before May 12, 2026). Councilwoman Burrows moved the alternate version; the motion passed by voice vote.
- Procurement approvals: Council approved five recommended purchases: (1) a year‑three 2 percent contract increase to Fleet (Ford of Dalton) raising estimated annual spend to $3.1 million; (2) an extension of Motorola Solutions contract through 03/14/2026 for Fire (no additional funds); (3) a one‑time Komatsu loader purchase ($209,000) for water quality via sourcewell contract; (4) a sole‑source purchase of two Angaflow pumps ($272,024) for Wastewater; and (5) a one‑time Inspire flight drone purchase ($226,356) for Technology Services. These purchases were approved by motion and voice vote.

Other actions
- The council accepted multiple committee reports and scheduled the Affordable Housing pilot at 702 Manufacturers Road for full‑council consideration in two weeks.
- A wastewater resolution was announced as intended to be withdrawn and reworked for a future agenda after bids came in over budget.

Votes and recorded roll calls appear in the council record for specific items; where roll calls were read into the record the clerk recorded individual yes/no responses. Items passed by voice vote were announced as passed during the meeting.