Knoxville City Council Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Knoxville City Council convened at 6:00 PM on January 20, 2026, with all members present. The meeting included an invocation, pledge of allegiance, approval of previous minutes, agenda modifications, a consent agenda, the mayor’s report, committee reports, council announcements, and votes on several resolutions and an ordinance. Key actions included approval of a $9.4 million Axon contract (8-1), postponement of the Empower Knox youth mental health grants for two weeks, and denial of a sector plan amendment for 1137 Simpson Street (7-2).

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved after removing item 12O (a grant to be given out, not received). Routine approvals and unanimous actions were included in the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Drew Harper (1205 Kenyon Street, Vice President of Yes Knoxville) spoke in favor of the sector plan amendment for 1137 Simpson Street (Item 13R). He argued that infill density supports walkability, reduces sprawl, and strengthens city finances, and urged council to approve the change.

Discussion Items

• Mayor’s Report: Mayor Andy Canter reported on the successful reopening of the Gay Street Bridge (about 150 attendees), the upcoming Lumen Flats ribbon cutting (18 supportive housing apartments for youth aging out of foster care, at 1585 Coleman Road on January 21 at 11 AM), and a proclamation recognizing that the Knoxville Police Department is fully staffed for the first time since 2014. The proclamation was presented to KPD leadership and training staff.
• Council Announcements: Councilmember Adams noted that Legacy Parks and Gulf and Ohio have begun removing rails and ties for the South Knoxville art trail (from Kerns to Ijams Nature Center), expected to take 4–5 weeks. Councilmember Honeycutt acknowledged the passing of Natalie Haslum, a prominent District 2 resident, and thanked Tyler Mott and a group of parents for advocating for a safer walking path to West Hills Elementary, which will be installed this spring.
• Item 12K – Axon Enterprise Contract Amendment: A resolution authorizing a $9,407,699 amendment to the existing Axon contract for additional goods and services, including body cameras, tasers, drones (Drone as First Responder program), license plate readers, and a real-time information center. Councilmember Parker raised concerns about insufficient public education, ongoing costs, and the need for clearer policies. Chief Noel answered questions about the public-facing drone flight dashboard, compliance with Tennessee state law (TCA 39‑13‑609), 15‑day video retention limits, and that drones do not use facial recognition. The motion carried 8‑1.
• Item 12O – Empower Knox Youth Mental Health Grants: A resolution to award $60,000 total (six grants of $10,000 each) to community-based organizations for youth mental health programming. Councilmember Grant questioned the competitive review process, the lack of named committee members, the equal funding for organizations with vastly different scales (e.g., a multi-million-dollar nonprofit vs. a grassroots group), and the inclusion of a Florida-based organization (VerbCon). After debate, a motion to postpone for two weeks was made, seconded, and carried. The item will be revisited at the next meeting.
• Item 13R – South City Sector Plan Amendment: An ordinance to amend the sector plan from Low Density Residential to South Waterfront Mixed Use District Type 2 for 1137 Simpson Street. Councilmember Adams moved to deny, citing concerns about a “slippery slope” of upzoning a neighborhood currently zoned RN2, potential loss of neighborhood character, and the fact that the zoning change would remain with the land even if the applicant’s project (townhomes) did not proceed. The applicant, Matthew Thompson, explained his proposal for four townhomes at 35 feet (consistent with adjacent code) and argued that the change aligns with waterfront infrastructure investments. After discussion, the motion to deny carried 7–2.

Key Outcomes

• Item 11H (Leland Hume in West Hills community) was postponed for two weeks.
• Consent agenda approved.
• Item 12I (2026 Curb Cuts Project, $397,241.50) approved unanimously.
• Item 12J (High Street IT solutions, $1,050,000 amendment) approved 8–1.
• Item 12K (Axon Enterprise contract, $9,407,699) approved 8–1.
• Items 12L, 12M (flagging and traffic control, $42,500 each) approved unanimously.
• Item 12N (Pelissipi State Community College donation, $15,123.65) approved unanimously.
• Item 12O (Empower Knox youth mental health grants) postponed for two weeks.
• Item 13R (sector plan amendment) denied 7–2.
• Item 13S (rezoning related to 13R) was rendered moot and not considered.
• The meeting adjourned without objection after no public forum speakers.