A new City Council takes office, small business grants, and Shallowford Road widening
New and returning City Council members elected in this year’s Chattanooga elections will hold the first meeting of their four-year terms. On the April 15 docket — changes to a small business grant program and more.
Watch the full April 15 City Council meeting here
**UPDATE, APRIL 21: This article has been updated to include how Council members voted on their April 15 agenda items.
New Council
Following their inauguration Monday morning, Council members elected on March 4 and in the April 8 runoffs held the first meeting of their four-year terms. Council members began the meeting by choosing Jenny Hill, District 2, as chair and Marvene Noel, District 8, as vice-chair.
See the current City Council representatives here.
Small business grants
Council voted to amend the requirements for a business to qualify for the city’s small business incentive grant program. The change extends the time for a business to create five new full-time jobs from 12 months to 18 months.
Businesses with fewer than 100 employees can receive up to $10,000 per year from the program based on total job creation and average employee pay.
Chattanooga’s Industrial Development Board manages the grant funds.
Road widening contract
A $473,000 increase to a contract for widening Shallowford Road between Airport Road and Jersey Pike was approved. Federal grant funds will cover about 80% of the increase, and the amended contract totals $1.8 million.
Rezoning requests
Scenic City Home Builders’ request to rezone 4281 Webb Road to build a single-family subdivision was deferred to April 29. Opposed by outgoing Council member Ken Smith, the request was withdrawn in December and previously deferred April 1 to better align building plans with the surrounding neighborhoods.
New Council member Dennis Clark, District 5, moved for the latest deferral.
Before Council for the fourth time this year, MiKen Development’s request to rezone 3854 Bonny Oaks Drive for a 78-unit development was tabled. Council members did not set a date to reconsider the request.
Council deferred to April 29 a request to rezone 1500 E. 14th St. to build a stacked duplex.
Attend next week’s meeting
When: Tuesday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: City Council Building, 1000 Lindsay Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Or: Watch the meeting live on YouTube @chattanoogacitycouncil8743
Chattanooga City Council is open to the public.
Contact William at william@chattamatters.com
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