Eleanor Liu, presenting the quarterly finance reports, told the board that the Southeast Tennessee Development District returned $358,000 from a pandemic bridge loan and that the city appropriated $1.3 million to the Renewing Chattanooga Fund, leaving roughly $3.8 million available for board-directed spending. She also reported about $8,000 in TIF collections related to a Northgate Mall application and stated TIF cash on hand at roughly $153,000
56,000 in the packet.

Mark Heinser, administrator for the Wastewater Department, updated the board on the Class A power design-build project. Heinser said the basis of design report is due Jan. 30 and that the project will progress into 30% to 60% design phases with a 60% design and construction cost estimate expected in August. "We have our basis of design report that is due on January 30," Heinser said.

Under other business, board member Melody raised transparency concerns after being contacted by residents who could not access PowerPoint presentations used in the meetings without filing a records request. "They can't get the information other than sitting and listening," Melody said, urging staff to post presentations and attachments after meetings and to make live-stream views more legible. Staff said IT and the economic-development platform under review will include a public-facing interface to host live screens, agendas and attachments and that they will follow up with Purchasing about an earlier software contract and present staffing-research findings at the February meeting.

The board asked staff to return with improved public access to presentations, a follow-up on procurement questions, and a staffing review at the next meeting.