OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Knoxville City Council Meeting - March 31, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 31, 2026
BodyKnoxville, Tennessee
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 31, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:17:53

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay.

0:00

Good evening, everybody.

0:02

It's six o'clock, and I'd like to call this meeting to order.

0:07

We'll start with an invocation led by Councilmember Adams, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Helsley.

0:16

Please rise as you're able.

0:23

In a season of such immense beauty, when we see the re-greening of our city, when we celebrate native blooms and global songs, let us come together to receive ideas and perspectives with open minds, to weigh opportunities and their potentials for people and for place, to consider ways we can be ever better.

0:48

Let us bring our best selves and earnestness to be thoughtful, to be wise, and to be together in community.

0:59

Please place the fly.

1:01

A pledge of allegiance.

1:20

Mr.

1:21

Johnson, would you please call roll?

1:22

Councilman Adams.

1:24

Here.

1:24

Councilman Debartal?

1:26

Here.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Councilman Grant.

1:29

Here.

1:29

Councilman Helsley.

1:30

Councilman Honeycott.

1:32

Councilman Lloyd.

1:33

Here.

1:33

Councilman Parker.

1:35

And Councilman Thomas.

1:36

Eight members present, Mayor.

1:38

Thank you.

1:39

Is there a motion on the minutes from our March 17th meeting?

1:44

Second.

1:44

Motion made to approve and seconded.

1:46

Any questions or discussion?

1:48

Councilmember Grant, you're did you have a no?

1:51

Okay.

1:51

Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

1:54

Any opposed?

1:55

Motion carries.

1:58

Are there any items to be withdrawn from tonight's agenda?

2:02

Are there any items to be postponed?

2:04

Can uh council member Adams?

2:06

Yes, Mayor, um, I'd like to request to postpone item 10 D until May 26th per applicant's request.

2:15

Okay, is there a second to this motion to postpone?

2:20

Okay.

2:20

Uh motion's been made to postpone item 10 D as in dog to May.

2:27

May 27?

2:29

May 26th.

2:30

Um seconded.

2:32

Any questions or discussion?

2:33

Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

2:36

Any opposed?

2:37

Motion carries.

2:38

Okay.

2:39

Any other items to be postponed.

2:43

Are there any items to be added by motion?

2:47

No, no, memorials.

2:49

Okay.

2:49

Uh the consent agenda.

2:52

Are there any changes to the consent agenda?

2:54

Vice Mayor Fugit.

2:55

Thank you, Mayor.

2:56

Um, I would like to make um a motion that we move uh 13Y to the consent agenda.

3:04

It's um another 202 fund.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety████████████████████████████████████████40%
Mental Health Awareness██████████████14%
Procedural█████████████13%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Public Transit████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Community Engagement███3%
Environmental Protection█1%
Youth Programs█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Knoxville City Council Meeting - March 31, 2026

The Knoxville City Council met on March 31, 2026, at 6:00 PM with eight members present. The meeting included approval of minutes, several agenda postponements, and a consent agenda amendment. Key discussions centered on a microtransit design study and a resolution endorsing an alternative response program, which failed on a tie vote. Multiple public comments were heard on housing, transit, and public safety.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the March 17, 2026 meeting.
  • Moved item 13Y to the consent agenda (202 fund).
  • Removed items 10G, 10H, 10I (due to signed speakers) and 12T (by councilmember request) from the consent agenda.
  • Consent agenda approved as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 10G (sector plan amendment for 2802 North Broadway): Jack Coker (Belmores Neighborhood president) and Drew Harper (Yes Knoxville) argued for RN6 zoning to add needed housing near transit, while Ellen Zaviska (Edgewood Park neighbor) supported a compromise at RN5. Opponents Rebecca Tucker, former councilmember Lauren Ryder, and Hayden Chappelle requested RN5 to preserve neighborhood character and privacy, noting that the current zoning already allows development.
  • Item 12Q (microtransit study): Three speakers from Justice Knox (Mary Alice Richardson, Margaret Bickley, Jake Studley) emphasized transportation gaps, especially for seniors, low-income households, and people with disabilities, and urged approval of the study.
  • Item 12R (alternative response resolution): Elizabeth Rowland (Knoxville Heart), Ally Cohn (HART), and Hope Dunn (NAMI Knoxville) spoke in favor, citing safety and success in Cookville, TN. Rick Roach, signed as opposition but spoke in favor, criticized delays; he was called out of order for not following rules.
  • Public Forum: Melissa Maddox raised concerns about a dilapidated house at 3115 Shields Avenue posing safety risks. Isaiah Green expressed support for progressive agenda items like mixed-use zoning, transit, and alternative response. Rick Roach again criticized the council's failure to pass the alternative response resolution.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor's Report: Mayor Kincannon reminded that Earth Month starts April 1, highlighted the Knox Breathe initiative and regional climate action plan, announced the State of the City luncheon on April 24 at Urban Wilderness Gateway Park, and noted the Dogwood Trails kickoff on April 1 at 3725 Maloney Road.
  • Councilmember Announcements: Councilmember Adams reported on the first Rules Committee meeting, congratulated the South Doyle High School Robotics team for winning the Smoky Mountain Regional Competition, invited the public to a Sky Youth Aviation breakfast on April 4 at Island Home Airport, and announced community input sessions on the Corbella Temple site on April 1 and 2.
  • Item 12Q (Microtransit Study): Director Isaac Thorne explained the study will examine transit gaps and commingle with ADA paratransit. Councilmember Parker raised concerns about CAT driver worries and union impacts, but the resolution passed unanimously.
  • Item 12R (Alternative Response Resolution): Councilmember Parker presented the resolution endorsing a phased community responder program. Councilmember DeBartolome, Grant, and Thomas spoke in favor, citing the need to free police resources and provide appropriate crisis response. Councilmember Adams questioned the need given the existing co‑responder program, which Chief Noel said is effective but needs expansion to 12 teams. Councilmember Helsley and Lloyd expressed skepticism about safety, cost, and buy‑in from 911. After a motion to call the question passed 7‑1, a substitute motion to postpone to April 28 failed for lack of a second. The original resolution failed on a 4‑4 tie vote: Parker, Thomas, DeBartolome, Grant in favor; Adams, Fugit, Helsley, Lloyd opposed.
  • Item 12T (Opioid Abatement Grant): Councilmember Parker voiced concerns about lack of transparency regarding the co‑response program and requested the grant application. The resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for up to $1,600,000 was approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved as amended.
  • Item 10C (10D) postponed to May 26, 2026 per applicant request.
  • Items 10G, 10H, 10I postponed for two weeks (to April 14, 2026).
  • Items 12J (APAC paving), 12K (Chris Hagard Plumbing), 12L (Stooksbury Construction), 12M (Southeastern Construction), 12N (KUB in‑lieu payments), 12O (Tartan Oil fuel), 12P (SPATCO fuel islands amendment), 12Q (microtransit study), and 12T (opioid abatement grant) all approved.
  • Resolution 12R (alternative response) failed 4‑4.
  • Public forum concluded; meeting adjourned at approximately 8:18 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Good evening, everybody. It's six o'clock, and I'd like to call this meeting to order. We'll start with an invocation led by Councilmember Adams, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilmember Helsley. Please rise as you're able. In a season of such immense beauty, when we see the re-greening of our city, when we celebrate native blooms and global songs, let us come together to receive ideas and perspectives with open minds, to weigh opportunities and their potentials for people and for place, to consider ways we can be ever better. Let us bring our best selves and earnestness to be thoughtful, to be wise, and to be together in community. Please place the fly. A pledge of allegiance. Mr. Johnson, would you please call roll? Councilman Adams. Here. Councilman Debartal? Here. Here. Councilman Grant. Here. Councilman Helsley. Councilman Honeycott. Councilman Lloyd. Here. Councilman Parker. And Councilman Thomas. Eight members present, Mayor. Thank you. Is there a motion on the minutes from our March 17th meeting? Second. Motion made to approve and seconded. Any questions or discussion? Councilmember Grant, you're did you have a no? Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Are there any items to be withdrawn from tonight's agenda? Are there any items to be postponed? Can uh council member Adams? Yes, Mayor, um, I'd like to request to postpone item 10 D until May 26th per applicant's request. Okay, is there a second to this motion to postpone? Okay. Uh motion's been made to postpone item 10 D as in dog to May. May 27? May 26th. Um seconded. Any questions or discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay.

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