A $34.6 million capital budget was presented to the City Council at a budget session on Tuesday morning.
The city also plans $45.1 million in spending on sewer, solid waste and water quality projects.
The session started with a summary of questions remaining from earlier discussions about agencies or departments that have requested funding from the city’s fiscal year 2016-2017 operating budget.
At the previous budget meeting, the council agreed to give notice of any objections or amendments to the budget as proposed, so the other members will be prepared when the budget is presented to the public Tuesday at the 6 p.m. meeting.
Among the questions that remained unanswered were the amount of recycling that Orange Grove processes in order to measure the success of the city’s recycling program. Commissoner Chris Anderson asked to see the revenue generated from the hotel / motel tax, not just the number of rooms that are rented, which is the only information that was provided by the visitors and convention bureau. These things are not equal, he said. Another question under discussion was the amount of revenue generated by the city courts. The answer was a loss of $300,000. Mr. Anderson, acknowledged profit is not the only reason for a department to exist, but asked if there is a way to operate the city courts to be revenue neutral. Under consideration would be reduction in the number of courts, and the process for doing this.
The one item discussed that several members were unhappy with was the $2.3 million that has been allotted to employment and training. Councilman Jerry Mitchell and Larry Grohn feel the amount is inadequate. The hope is that the mayor will take advantage of other programs as they become available, to help with workforce development. Councilman Chip Henderson said while more money could be devoted to this category, $2.3 million for workforce development is still a lot of money.
During the second portion of the meeting Chattanooga Capital Planner Jenny Park presented the first draft of the Capital Budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, including a five-year plan. The first year plan is fiscally constrained. The following four years serve as a framework for future planning, and helps the departments consider their priorities, within the funds that are available.
The portion of the general fund which totals $34,616,000 that is devoted to economic development is $9,191,500 and includes:
· 8th Street shared space in the amount of $700,000
· Chattanooga Green at Ross’s Landing in the amount of $350,000
· Enterprise South Industrial Park in the amount of $100,000
· Finley Stadium Donation in the amount of $125,000
· Hawkins Ridge Preservation in the amount of $120,000 over two years
· MLK Corridor improvements project in the amount of $1,270,000
· Parks asphalt management in the amount of $75,000
· Parks Capital Equipment in the amount of $65,000
· Public Art in the amount of $50,000
· Street Improvements in the amount of $3,576,000
· The Tivoli Theatre Foundation in the amount of $250,000
· Transit Signal Prioritization in the amount of $1,250,000
· Walnut Street Bridge Rehabilitation in the amount of $1,000,000
· Zoo entrance improvements in the amount of $250,000
Proposed future projects in the five year plan that concern economic development:
· 3rd and 4th street improvement gateway projects
· Bessie Smith Lawn Improvement
· Central Avenue extension
· Chattanooga Zoo Africa Expansion
· Ferdinand Piech Way
· Godwin Road extension
· Midtown Pathway, a multi-use path down Brainerd Road.
· North Chickamauga Creek Greenway Phase I
· Public Space Improvements
· South Chickamauga Greenway Cromwell Connector
· Riverwalk Extension from U.S. 27 to Moccasin Bend
· Riverwalk Phase IV, Middle Street to the Incline
· Shepherd Road Enhancements
· South Chickamauga Creek Greenway-Faith Road
· Tennessee and Broad Street intersection
The portion of the capital budget titled High Performing Government for 2017, totals $1,075,000 and includes:
· The city network rebuild in the amount of $700,000
· Paul Clark Facility bathroom renovations, used by the public works department for $75,000
· Service Station Relocation in the amount of $300,000
Proposed future projects in the five year plan in this category:
· Building and lighting upgrades at the Development Review Committee (DRC)
· Youth and Family Development(YFD)center energy efficiency improvements
Projects proposed under the heading of Safer Streets for 2017 with the total amount being $14,499,622 includes:
· Apparatus replacement plan in the amount of $1,000,000
· Body-worn cameras for the police department in the amount of $141,000
· City wide radio equipment lease program in the amount of $5,977,735
· Protected bicycle lanes Phase 2 in the amount of $170,300
· Conductive electronic weapons (TASERS) in the amount of $173,187
· Family Justice Center completions in the amount of $600,000
· Fleet leasing program, an on-going project, in the amount of $4,000,000
· In-Car cameras for the police department in the amount of $ 386,000
· In-Car laptops for the police department in the amount of $400,000
· Lakeside Safe Roads to school in the amount of $243,222
· Neighborhood Traffic Management Program in the amount of $75,000
· Real Time Intelligence Center which will be in the police services building and will be used to reduce crime, in the amount of $702,414
· Roadway failure is money to supplement other road work funds, in the amount of $150,000
· SWAT protective equipment in the amount of $104,350
· Traffic engineering capital equipment in the amount of $100,000
· Traffic signal equipment for $89,000
· Woodmore safe routes to school for $197,214
Future proposals for Safe Streets in the five year plan includes:
· Assistance to firefighters grant
· Bridge replacement
· Chattanooga Police Department annex restoration
· Fire training tower improvements
· Quick response vehicles addition (QRV)
· Updated fire research management software
Smarter Students Stronger Families portion of the budget totals $7,250,000 and for the 2017 budget, includes:
· Chambliss Early Childhood Expansion for $500,000
· Downtown Library HVAC remediation and lighting for $450,000
· New Avondale YFD Center so it can expand its reach for the amount of $6,000,000