Councilwoman Carol Berz

On Wednesday, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly announced the launch of the new city website.The launch marks the end of a three-year long development process and is the city’s first website redesign since 2011. “Updating the city website has been a priority of mine since my first day in  office,” said Mayor Kelly. "A city’s website is often the first impression people have of city government, and it's critical that it reflects the innovation and collaboration that is defining Chattanooga’s growth."The previous version of the city’s website, which launched in 2011, became outdated and made it difficult for residents to access common government documents, pay their bills, and conduct city business.Recognizing the need for a more modern and user-friendly design, the Kelly administration embarked on a comprehensive redevelopment effort. After years of user analysis, cross-departmental collaboration, and the establishment of a visual brand identity, the city’s new website now reflects the city’s commitment ...

Assistant Chief John Chambers has been selected to serve as Chattanooga’s next Chief of Police.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has announced the next Chief of Police. John Chambers is a veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, and his appointment caps a two-month-long selection process.City officials say Chambers has been serving as assistant chief.A city spokesperson said, following interviews with the two finalists on Thursday, Chambers emerged as the clear choice.Chambers said, in part, quote, “I’m honored and humbled to assume this new position and excited to continue serving alongside the men and women of CPD as we carry out our commitment to partner with the community, to keep all of our residents safe, and to serve.”Chambers’ selection must still be approved by the Chattanooga City Council.

Eureka Foundry site The City Council on Tuesday, without discussion, voted to approve rezoning to allow three 20-story buildings next to U.S. 27 at the Eureka Foundry site. The rezoning also gave approval for an eight-story building closer to Reggie White Boulevard. At the Planning Commission, only architect Matthew Lyle spoke against allowing the three towers. He said after he earlier took the same position there was "a rather large outpouring" from the public in agreement. Mr. Lyle said the 20-story towers could mar Chattanooga's scenic views. He said the backdrop of Lookout Mountain, the Tennessee River and Moccasin Bend "is what makes Chattanooga special." Mr. Lyle said he was recently in Washington, D.C., and remarked how the vistas surrounding the Capitol and other historic buildings had been preserved. He said Mayor Tim Kelly often refers to the city's scenic beauty as "our secret sauce." Mr. Lyle, who is president of the ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga fans of the city that never sleeps may lose some sleep over this news. This October, Delta Airlines will once again offer non-stop flights from the Scenic City to New York City.The flights to LaGuardia Airport will be available starting October 7th.This route was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.A release from Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly says "this has been a priority" for the mayor since taking office.The release points out that in addition to increasing tourism dollars for both cities, ..the flight is a key economic tool, allowing Chattanooga businesses to recruit investment and forge partnerships with the businesses and lenders in the New York area.The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority operates independently of city government but the release explains it is governed by a board appointed by the mayor of Chattanooga and confirmed by the city council. Current Airport Metropolitan Airport Authority President & CEO April ...

Here is the upcoming City Council agenda for Tuesday: I. Call to Order by Chairman Henderson.II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilwoman Noel).III. Special Presentations. Proclamation Recognizing Older Adults Month By Anthony “Tony” Sammons (Chief Equity Officer)IV. Minute Approval.V. Discussion of Agenda.? Next Week’s Proposed Agenda Items? Purchasing Questions? Future Considerations (3 Week Look Ahead)VI. Committee or Department Reports:? Parks and Public Works? Planning and ZoningRECESSOrder of Business for City CouncilPUBLIC HEARING - Form-Based Code Appeal FBC-24-4 1846 Market Street         VII. Ordinances – Final Reading: PARKS & PUBLIC WORKS Public Worksa. 2024-0128 BNTR SFOWNER, LLC c/o Travis Allen (Abandonment). An ordinance closing and abandoning the unopened right-of-way in the west side row of the 1700 block of Joiner Road, as detailed on the attached maps, subject to certain conditions. (Alternate Version) (Added with permission of Chairman Henderson) (Revised)PLANNINGb. 2024-0127 BNTR SFOWNER, LLC c/o Travis Allen (Lift and Amend ...

Chattanooga Housing Authority’s One Westside, formerly known as Westside Evolves, confirmed today they are one of six programs across the nation selected for the highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).The $50M grant will support Westside’s Transformation Plan which will redevelop Chattanooga’s oldest public housing community. The Chattanooga Housing Authority was joined in the planning effort by the City of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Design Studio.Planning efforts began four years ago in the midst of the pandemic leading the planning team to deploy unusual tactics to engage residents in planning the future for their community. More than 82% of the residents in the Westside participated in the initial planning process with a second round of survey work occurring last fall. Throughout the planning process, more than 60 resident meetings occurred to provide updates and gather information. One of the first priorities for ...

EDGE networking: Chattanooga City Council Member Carol Berz discusses local issues at Chamber's Midtown Council ...  Chattanooga Times Free Press

The Chattanooga City Council approved a resolution to apply for a grant to fund a passenger rail study on Tuesday night.The resolution allows the council to accept a $500,000 grant if awarded from the US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Corridor Identification and Development Program.The Corridor Identification and Development Program is a comprehensive intercity passenger rail planning and development program that will study rail services between Atlanta and Savannah and from Atlanta to Nashville and Memphis through Chattanooga.It’s unclear how long it will take to finish the study.Any funds left over from the grant will be used toward future phases of the rail project.Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this story.

Imagine navigating a labyrinth of bureaucratic procedures, each turn revealing another layer of complexity, only to find the exit leads to another maze. For many business owners in Chattanooga, this Kafkaesque scenario was a reality when dealing with the city's sign ordinance. That is, until now. In a decisive move, the Chattanooga City Council, guided by Mayor Tim Kelly's vision, has voted to streamline the process, promising a new era of efficiency and business-friendliness. From Labyrinth to Expressway At the heart of the reform is the ordinance change which shifts all appeals of sign ordinance violations directly to the Board of Zoning Appeals, effectively dissolving the Board of Sign Appeals. This move is not merely administrative; it's symbolic. Mayor Kelly, drawing from his own experiences as a businessman, recognized the undue burden placed on entrepreneurs. "The goal is simplicity," Kelly remarked, emphasizing the need to reduce red tape and make ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UPDATE (Monday 1/29):The lead-up to this final deal was anything but easy."It's possible that there are some, you know, genuine and honest misunderstandings about how this actually works. I'm fully confident with my background experience that this is a great deal for for all parties. And I'm 100% confident," Mayor Tim Kelly said.It’s been months of back and fourth regarding the Lookouts Stadium project and price increase.The city of Chattanooga says the project is expected to be the most expensive in Minor League Baseball history."We've been in many, many minor league ballparks and many throughout the southeastern United States of America, Fort Wayne, Durham, Birmingham, Huntsville, all these ballparks and all these developments. It's amazing what they've done in those cities to bring development down to blighted areas of their towns," Rich Mozingo, the President of the Chattanooga Lookouts said.While the cost is nearly 40-million dollars higher ...

Opinion: Low-income housing in city is needed but projects shouldn’t skirt City Council  Chattanooga Times Free Press

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga City Council has delayed action on a proposal in skating on the roads citywide. Council members believe skating on streets will cause accidents and slow down traffic. Over the past two years, police have issued three citations for skaters.  Council Chair Jenny Hill says the ordinance that was passed earlier this year was due to skateboarders damaging public property. “In my district, I have tons of places that do not have sidewalks and yet, there would be a place that I would expect to see a child and my neighborhood riding in the road,” said Council Vice Chair Jenny Hill. “I would expect to see a pedestrian walking in the road to traverse that neighborhood.” Council Chair Hill suggested the council hold a work session on the issue in January. 

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The City Council meeting room was packed Tuesday afternoon with families waiting to speak to the council in outrage after the Frazier Avenue wreck on Saturday afternoon that killed two pedestrians and critically injured a third. Local advocate Jon Jon Wesolowski was the first to describe “the Walnut Sreet Bridge dumping pedestrians onto that meatgrinder.” “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when,” he said. Others said that the pace of Frazier Avenue is incompatible what Chattanoogans have lately built everywhere else in North Chattanooga and downtown. “I am devastated that we have had a loss of life that will be the catalyst of change,” said Vice Chairwoman Jenny Hill. “In this moment I think it’s important that we get every idea on the table.” Councilman Chip Henderson recalled a short traffic study in 2016 that cut Frazier Avenue down to two travel lanes to slow ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UPDATE:Chattanooga City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to remove the light pillars on the city's pier by the Riverfront after safety concerns were raised.EARLIER:The City of Chattanooga says pillars of light on the city's pier by the Riverfront could pose a safety hazard.The lights have been in place for close to 20 years, and are part of an art project on Ross's Landing that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to build.But the wind recently damaged one of the pillars.Now, the city is faced with the choice of repairing the lights or replacing them. Back in 2005, the pillars were erected at a cost of $650,000. Most of that money came from foundations, and not taxpayers.City officials told us repairing the pillars would cost $250,000. That cost includes bringing them up to new wind codes.Brian Smith of the Chattanooga Parks Department told us tourists who visit the ...

Warriors Set Free Director Steve Prince, left, and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly celebrate the launch of a national pilot program offering all-inclusive services for homeless veterans, called Freedom Homestead photo by Hannah Campbell The Freedom Homestead national pilot program for homeless veterans celebrated a joint kickoff and homecoming in Chattanooga Friday. Freedom Homestead is the newest arm of Frontline Response, an Atlanta non-profit that helps people exit homelessness and sex trafficking. Chattanooga was announced as the host city of the all-inclusive care pilot at Frontline’s 20th anniversary celebration in Atlanta in October, beating Atlanta, Houston and Sacramento, Calif. The Freedom Homestead model’s through-line consolidation of both care and funding will make it effective and sustainable where other veteran services fall short, officials said. “We all come together to do what is considered impossible,” said state Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D-28). “It’s what has come to be known as ‘The Chattanooga Way.’” ...

The City Council on Tuesday reluctantly approved a new version of the Police Advisory Review Committee. Jenny Hill and Carol Berz voted against the resolution, which became necessary after the Legislature made drastic changes in the police review panels. The new law sets seven-member boards. The council said that leaves out two of the nine districts. It requires open meetings. Council members said that discussions of sensitive issues involving charges against officers sometimes needs to be private. The law says the committee reviews decisions by the police chief involving charges against officers after the fact. The council said the current PARC had been working closely with the police chief and having helpful input on her decisions. The new setup includes a new city employee - an executive director who will oversee police complaints. The executive director will not be a voting member of the board.

Mayor Tim Kelly, on behalf of the City of Chattanooga, is thrilled to share a major investment that will contribute significantly to supporting a vulnerable population of our community: Veterans experiencing homelessness.Frontline Response International, a faith-based non-profit organization based in Atlanta, will supply $12.5 million over three years to build a “Freedom Homestead” in Chattanooga, a 90-100 acre campus for veterans experiencing homelessness. The amount is expected to be maximized to $25 million over that period. Frontline Response chose Chattanooga over Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; and Sacramento, California due to the city’s favorable economic factors, proximity to its headquarters, and level of support given to the organization by the veterans in the community along with the  City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The announcement was made at the 20th anniversary celebration of the non-profit which raised $3.1 million last Thursday evening in Atlanta. “For more than a year, we have been having ...

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — City leaders in Chattanooga say they want to fix a decline in affordable housing across our area.Back in August, Mayor Tim Kelly said he wanted to commit $100-million to add new homes and policies over the next 5 years.Tuesday council members talked about putting that plan into action, with some sharing concerns.Tuesday we dug deeper into what the changes could mean for our community in the coming months.Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly says a recent market analysis shows that if nothing is done, Chattanooga could see a deficit of 7,000 affordable housing units by 2030.That sentiment was reiterated at Tuesday's council work session where chief housing officer Nicole Heyman says we're dealing with a housing crisis in Chattanooga.The housing action plan lays out a series of policy recommendations to guide the city of Chattanooga in the creation and preservation of affordable housing units.As part of the affordable housing ...

The Kelly administration and its partners today announced a nearly 40 percent reduction in the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton County during 2022, marking record-breaking progress in the city’s work to end homelessness in Chattanooga. The point in time count for homelessness, conducted by the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition in January each year, showed a 39.8 percent reduction in the number of unsheltered people in the county from 2022 to 2023 — with an overall reduction (including temporarily sheltered people) of 31 percent. “Chattanooga was in the midst of a homelessness crisis when I took office, and with support from local and federal partners, we took bold and decisive steps to start solving it. The record-breaking progress we’ve made is a direct result of that work and a testament to what we can achieve when we work together,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.“As Mayor, I’m incredibly grateful for our ...