Why do we have two mayors? What is the difference between city and county government? What are the key issues facing Hamilton County today? We discuss all these questions and more in this interview with Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. Get 10% off Relaxed Tax by Sagan Financial Group! Just go to RelaxedTax.com and use coupon code CIVICS in the Ta…

There is a lot of excitement in the Parks and Outdoors Department. The first Parks and Outdoors Plan in 25 years, a new Parks Advisory Committee, and the potential to become the first National Park City in the US. View the Parks and Outdoors Plan: https://chattanoogaparksandoutdoorsplan.com/ Learn about Chattanooga's efforts to become a National Pa…

Chattanooga Civics is branching out in 2024! After 3 years of focusing solely on the City of Chattanooga, this is one of what I hope will be many episodes related to our smaller neighboring municipalities and to Hamilton County government, interspersed with my usual Chattanooga focused content. Get 10% off Relaxed Tax by Sagan Financial Group! Just…

Chattanooga Civics is branching out in 2024! After 3 years of focusing solely on the City of Chattanooga, this is the first of what I hope will be many episodes related to our smaller neighboring municipalities and to Hamilton County government, interspersed with my usual Chattanooga focused content. Get 10% off Relaxed Tax by Sagan Financial Group…

Why does downtown stink? Why are sewer bills so high? What is the EPA consent decree? We answer these questions and more. You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civics Newsletter at buttondown.email/ChattanoogaCivics For more civic resources visit ChattanoogaCivics.com To support the show go to patreon.com/ChattCivics Chattanooga Civics is a member of…

It's no secret that Chattanooga is growing. How do we ensure that our city is equipped to handle this growth? The Regional Planning Agency is in the process of updating its area plans to help answer that question. Find our more by visiting https://planchattanooga.org/ and https://planhamilton.org/ You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civics Newslett…

The mission of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is to "Champion our member businesses and promote regional economic growth." I sat down with CEO Charles Wood to talk about how the Chamber accomplishes this mission and what healthy economic growth might look like for Chattanooga. Find out more about the Chamber at https://chattanoogachamber.…

Nicole Heyman is Chattanooga's first chief housing officer, a role created by Mayor Tim Kelly to bring a unified vision and strategy to the city's various affordable housing programs. In this episode we discuss what governments mean when they say "affordable housing", the programs that Chattanooga is using to promote affordability, and other factor…

The City of Chattanooga’s Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (OHSH) works to both prevent homelessness as well as rapidly house residents experiencing homelessness through street outreach services, community partnerships, a rapid re-housing program, as well as provide emergency services when needed. https://chattanooga.gov/ohsh You can s…

In an age when people are feeling increasingly disconnected from their government, neighborhood associations provide a fantastic opportunity to renew engagement and trust. Find out more about Neighborhood Associations here: https://chattanooga.gov/community-development/neighborhood-services/neighborhood-associations2 Follow the Department of Commun…

Mayor Kelly is half way through his term. We sat down to get an update on how things our going and what the future holds. You can view the proposed budget here: https://budget.chattanooga.gov/#!/year/default You can view the city paving schedule here: https://chattanooga.gov/public-works/transportation/transportation-resources/special-events-a-stre…

The Chattanooga Public Library is an incredible resource to the people of Chattanooga. They have way more than just books! Visit the library website here: https://chattlibrary.org/ You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civics Newsletter at buttondown.email/ChattanoogaCivics For more civic resources visit ChattanoogaCivics.com To support the show go t…

I do a deep dive into the Chattanooga Climate Action plan with Erik Schmidt. The city council will vote on the plan on Tuesday, March 28. Find out more about the plan here: https://chattanooga.gov/city-planning/chattanooga-climate-action-plan/what-s-in-the-climate-action-plan You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civics Newsletter at buttondown.email…

Councilwoman Coonrod joined the show to talk about her new criminal justice reform and consulting initiative, Re-Wake, which seeks to provide "a holistic approach to improving lives and strengthening communities". We also spoke about some of her recent legislative initiatives and her plans for the future. Find out more about Concilwoman Coonord at …

City Boards are a great way to get involved in city government. The city has over fifty boards ranging from technical review , to oversight, to public input. View all city boards as well as current and upcoming vacancies at http://cha.city/boards You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civics Newsletter at buttondown.email/ChattanoogaCivics For more ci…

Tamara Steward is the city's first ever Chief Equity Officer. I sat down with her to discuss the importance of equity and how her departments helps to promote equity both within the city government and in the broader Chattanooga community. Learn more here: https://chattanooga.gov/equity-community-engagement You can sign up for the Chattanooga Civic…

Chattanoogans in Action for Love Equality and Benevolence, or CALEB, is a public action collation that brings together various groups from across the city to enhance quality of life for all. With the announcement of the South Broad Stadium project, CALEB is working towards the formation of a Community Benefits Agreement to ensure the development br…

It is unfortunately common for people to feel alienated from their government, to feel as though the problems they experience in their neighborhoods are not the problems that officials are talking about at city hall. This feeling of alienation can lead to a lack of engagement, which can lead to a further feeling of alienation, and on and on in a vi…

Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga are proposing a plan to revitalize the South Broad District, including the long empty US Pipe and Wheland Foundry site. The centerpiece of this plan is the construction of a new, publicly owned baseball stadium, using a combination of private investment and public tax incentives. This plan will be put to …

The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, more commonly known as CARTA, is the public transit system in Chattanooga, TN, serving the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the surrounding areas. In this episode we learn more about how CARTA operates and how they lead in transit technology. Find out more at https://www.gocarta.org/ T…

Public Works is, in many ways, the cornerstone of city government. Infrastructure and sanitation are among the core services that's define a city. In this episode I spoke with Chattanooga's new director of Public Works, Tom Hutka. We talk trash, sewage, and of course, potholes. This episode is sponsored by Juicy Rhino. Listen here: https://open.spo…

Cities of all sizes use tax incentives to draw business and promote growth. Helen Burns Sharp founded Accountability for Taxpayer Money to better track an analyze the use of tax incentives in Chattanooga to ensure that these packages are balanced and effective. In this episode we discuss the most common types of tax incentives and how they are used…

For the first time in over a decade the City of Chattanooga is taking a comprehensive look at it's parks system. I spoke with Scott Martin, the new director of Parks and Outdoors, to discuss the impact parks have on our city and what this new comprehensive plan might look like. Find out more at https://www.chattanoogaparksandoutdoorsplan.com/ This …

I branched out a bit for this episode. While I don’t have the time to cover any of our small neighboring municipalities (Red Bank, East Ridge, etc.), I was able to make some time to speak with Bridgett Raper of the Small Cities Coalition. Seven of our neighboring municipalities formed this coalition to better coordinate their positions on state and…

Mayor Kelly has been in office for one year! I sat down with him to discuss his goals, successes, and challenges. You can download the One Chattanooga Strategic Plan here (PDF): https://pbb.chattanooga.gov/one-chattanooga-strategic-plan/ You can read the CALEB Community Land Trust study here: https://www.calebcha.org/cltstudy.html You can read the …

Zoning regulations have far reaching implications for housing affordability, transportation and economic development. In Chattanooga our entire downtown core has it's own unique section in the zoning code. I sat down with Sarah Robbins, the Form Based Code Development Review Planner, to learn more. Chattanooga Civics is now on Patreon! Go to Patreo…

The Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is non profit founded to help families navigate the homebuying process and become successful, lifelong homeowners. CNE is involved in many different aspects of the Chattanooga housing market, including education, lending, and development. I sat down with Martina Guilfoil, the president of CNE, to discuss thei…

Mayor Tim Kelly recently announced his appointment for Chattanooga Chief of Police, Atlanta Deputy Chief of Police Celeste Murphy, pending confirmation by the city council. I sat down with a brief conversation to discuss her background and her thoughts on where she will take the CPD. Chattanooga Civics is now on Patreon! Go to Patreon.com/ChattCivi…

The city of Chattanooga has a rich architectural history. This episode is an interview with two people trying got preserve that history, Todd Morgan, Executive Director of the historic preservation organization Cornerstones, and Melisa Mortimer, the Development Review Planner for the City of Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission. Chattanooga Civic…

I recently sat down Brian Bush, who is running against incumbent Sherry Paty for the position of City court Judge. Find out more at Electbrianbush.com This episode is sponsored by Gowin Law. Go to GowinLaw.com Chattanooga Civics is now on Patreon! Go to Patreon.com/ChattCivics For more civic resources visit ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loop…

The city of Chattanooga is kicking off its budget writing process for the 2023 fiscal year. I sat down with Brent Goldberg, Chief Financial Officer for the city, to discuss the process the city uses to write it's budget, how that process has changed over time, and how citizens can give our input. This episode is sponsored by Juicy Rhino. Listen her…

The Regional Planning Agency plays a key role in the City of Chattanooga zoning process. This is the second episode in a series on zoning. Explore the RPA area plans here: https://chcrpa.org/planning-projects/land-use-plans/area-plans/ For more civic resources visit ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incomp…

Councilman Darrin Ledford joins the show to explain the basics of the zoning process. This will be the first of several episodes dedicated to zoning. For more civic resources visit ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/…

What is redistricting? Why is it important? How can you get involved? Contact your commissioner to provide feedback: https://www.hamiltontn.gov/CountyCommission_Committees.aspx#commissioners The current 11 district proposal: https://davesredistricting.org/join/0edd7717-9f24-4f16-a0c4-159d9348dbc4 The Comptroller's 2021 guide to local redistricting:…

The Chattanooga Design Studio is non-profit group seeking to enhance Chattanooga’s quality of life by educating the community about, advocating for, and facilitating excellent urban design. Find out more about he Chattanooga Design Studio at https://www.chattanoogastudio.com/ Find more Civic Resources at ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loopste…

The Trust for Public Land, or TPL, is a conservation group that regularly works with the City of Chattanooga to bring the benefits of parks and nature to the places, people, and communities that need them most. Find out more for The Trust for Public Land at https://www.tpl.org/our-work/tennessee Find more civic resources at ChattanoogaCivics.com Mu…

How is the city using data to improve performance, transparency, and accountability? View the City's open data platform here: https://www.chattadata.org/ Learn how to use the open data platform here: https://www.chattadata.org/videos Submit a project proposal to Chattalytics: https://connect.chattanooga.gov/opmod/chattalytics/ Apply for a job with …

I spoke with Joda Thongnopnua, Chief of Policy, to learn more about Mayor's 2022 budget proposal. See the budget at budget.chattanooga.gov Find more civic resources at ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Funk Gam…

What ever happened with Tim Kelly's 100 Day Plan? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot! View the First 100 Day Action Tracker Find more civic resources at ChattanoogaCivics.com Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Funk Game Loop by Kevin…

Worried about traffic? It's no secret that transportation is one of the most pressing issues in Chattanooga. I sat down with Melissa Taylor and Caroline Daigle, representatives of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County/North Georgia Transportation Planning Organization to find out more about their work on the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. View the RT…

Let's get back to the basics. How does local government work in Chattanooga? To find out more about local government visit ChattanoogaCivics.com and click "Civic Resources" Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Funk Game Loop by Kevin M…

It's been too long. Let's get back to it.By Nathan Bird

I sat down once again with Tim Kelly to take a deeper dive into his policies as he runs against Kim White for the mayor's seat. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ChattCivics Email me at chattanoogacivics@gmail.com Support the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NathanBirdCHA Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://inc…

An interview with Isiah Hester, candidate for city council, district 5. You can find out more about his campaign by visiting https://www.isiahhester.com/ Find out more about the other mayoral and city council candidates by visiting http://www.chattanoogacivics.com Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ChattCivics Email me at chattanoogaci…

I sat down once again with Kim White to take a deeper dive into her policies as she runs against Tim Kelly for the mayor's seat. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ChattCivics Email me at chattanoogacivics@gmail.com Support the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NathanBirdCHA Music credits: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://in…

First, if you haven't done so already, go vote on March 2! Second, where should Chattanooga Civics go from here?By Nathan Bird

An interview with Demetrus Coonrod, candidate for reelection to city council, district 9. You can find out more about her campaign by visiting https://www.demetruscoonrod.com/ Find out more about the other mayoral and city council candidates by visiting http://www.chattanoogacivics.com Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ChattCivics Ema…

An interview with Wade Hinton, former City Attorney, Deputy General Counsel at Volkswagen, and Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity at Unum, and candidate for mayor. You can learn more about his campaign by visiting https://wadehinton.com/ Find out more about the other mayoral and city council candidates by visiting http://www.chattanoogacivic…

An interview with Rachael Torrence, candidate for city council, district 3. You can find out more about her campaign by visiting https://www.rachaeltdistrict3.com/ Find out more about the other mayoral and city council candidates by visiting http://www.chattanoogacivics.com Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @ChattCivics Email me at cha…

An interview with Andrew McLaren, US Marine veteran, private security specialist, and candidate for mayor. You can learn more about his campaign by visiting https://www.mclarenformayor.com/ Find out more about the other mayoral and city council candidates by visiting http://www.chattanoogacivics.com Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @C…