Incentivizing flights to Houston, $3M skate park contribution

United Airlines is scheduled to begin two daily non-stop flights from the Chattanooga airport to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on March 29, 2026. (Photo/William Newlin)

See the full Jan. 27 meeting agenda here

Incentives for Houston flights

Council approved providing the airport $150,000 in Economic Development funds to support a non-stop United Airlines route to Houston.

According to the Chattanooga airport’s website, two daily flights to Houston will begin March 29.

The funds add to a $750,000 federal grant received in 2023 for a “minimum revenue guarantee” to incentivize an agreement with United. Along with $150,000 from Hamilton County and some private funds, the revenue guarantee totals about $1.1 million.

United will receive the money if revenue is below agreed-upon targets. The guarantee period is two years or until the funds run out.

Other incentives from the airport include waived fees and route marketing valued around $280,000.

$3M skate park donation

Parks & Outdoors was approved to accept an up-to-$3-million contribution from a “private non-profit entity” for the new combined skate and dog park currently under construction.

Parks spokesman Brian Smith said the offer will “propose additional areas for investment” but said he could not discuss the source of the funds.

The city already has about $4.5 million committed to the project, including a $500,000 state grant.

Water quality contract

Public Works received approval to sign a three-year, $192,000 contract with WaterWays. The nonprofit manages the RainSmart Yards program, which offers homeowners savings to reduce water runoff, and Adopt-A-Waterway program.

The county partners on the programs as well, which you can learn more about here.

Justice center records

Adding the Family Justice Center to the city’s records retention policy was approved.

Updated last October, the policy sets rules for each city department on how long to save different types of records. The document follows a template from the state’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service.

Request public records with a valid state ID here.

City contract management

An approved resolution will allow the city to use a “construction manager at-risk” (CMAR) model for certain wastewater and public works contracts.

Outlined in state law, a CMAR chosen through competitive bidding sets a maximum project cost and covers cost overruns. The manager also oversees the bidding process for subcontractors