Votes at a glance: Chattanooga council passes audit, planning and spending items

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the Chattanooga City Council moved through a packed agenda, approving amendments to audit and whistleblower provisions, acting on multiple planning cases, and authorizing resolutions and purchases across parks, public works and procurement.

Key formal actions included:
• Audit and whistleblower code: Council approved ordinances amending part 2, chapter 2 of the Chattanooga City Code related to audit committee communications and whistleblower protections following recent charter changes (motion passed).
• Deannexation (item A): Council denied a deannexation ordinance for property owned by Versailles Land and Development Company LLC (Chick‑fil‑A at 8883 Old Lee Highway) after the city attorney recommended a boundary adjustment with Collegedale in lieu of deannexation (motion to deny passed).
• Planning package (items c–i): Several zoning ordinance amendments were read and approved as a package on final reading (rezones and amendments to zoning code listed on the agenda were approved).
• Individual planning actions: Case 20250119 (5813 Lee Highway) was deferred to Jan. 20, 2026; case 20250151 (1305 Anderson Ave) was denied after neighborhood concerns; case 20250169 (4272 Bonnie Oaks Drive) was approved on first reading with conditions (one recorded nay).
• Parks/resolutions: Council authorized acceptance of $1,740,000 from the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation and local Parks Acquisition Fund for purchase of the Mountain Creek Quarry for park use; it also authorized payment up to $150,000 to the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance for 2026 services.
• Public Works and purchases: Change orders for concession‑stand ventilation ($55,678.95 increase) and Watkins Building abatement ($23,400 increase) were authorized. The council approved five purchases, including a four‑year blanket agreement for security guard services with Collins Protective Services (not to exceed $1,000,000 annually), a sole‑source Mercedes fire hose purchase ($61,058), and contract renewals with cost increases for wastewater and fire services.

Most motions on the consent and agenda items passed with recorded 'Aye' votes; where specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript, the minutes indicated whether motions passed or failed. Items requiring additional hearings or second readings will return to the council as scheduled.