Uh good evening, everybody.

It's six o'clock.

I'd like to call this meeting to order.

We'll start with an invocation led by Councilmember Honeycutt followed by the pledge led by Councilmember Parker.

Please rise as you're able.

Let us take a moment to pause and pray.

We give thanks for the opportunity to serve this community and for the trust placed in us by the people of Knoxville.

Grant us wisdom in our decisions, patience in our discussions, and humility in our leadership.

Help us to listen with open minds, to speak with clarity and respect, and to seek solutions that reflect the best interest of all of our neighbors.

May we be guided by spirit of collaboration, a commitment to fairness, and shared vision for a stronger and more commit connected city.

Amen.

Please face the flag.

One nation.

It's okay.

Mr.

Johnson, would you please call roll?

Councilwoman Adams.

Here.

Councilman DeBarta Laban.

Here.

Voss Mayor Feugood.

Here.

Councilman Grant.

Here.

Councilman Helsley.

Councilman Honeycooks?

Here.

Councilman Boyd.

Here.

Councilman Parker.

And Councilman Thomas.

Eight members present, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Is there a motion on the minutes from March 26 workshop?

Is there a motion to approve?

Second.

Okay.

All right.

Any questions or comments?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Is there a motion on the March 31st meeting?

Second.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Councilmember Honeycutt, your lights on.

Do you want to any questions or discussions?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Moving on to tonight's agenda.

Are there any items to be withdrawn?

I am making a motion to withdraw items 10 C, 10 D, and 10E.

This is at the applicant's request.

Okay.

Motion made to withdraw items 10 C, D, and E has been made and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor.

Oh, sorry, Mr.

Thomas.

Yeah, I just had a brief comment.

Um I've been following this agenda item and went back to the MPC.

And this really got off on the wrong track, to be honest about it at the very beginning when the applicant didn't reach out to the uh constituents.

Uh the planning commission strongly recognition staff, I'm sorry.

The planning staff uh strongly recommends that an applicant reach out to the uh surrounding area and anybody who might be affected before the vote on the planning commission, and that wasn't done.

So a lot of the constituents felt blindsided, they got into the process early.

So the procedures were flogged from the very beginning, and I don't think it ever got back on track.

So I'm hoping if this property, and it does have potential there, but in the future, I'm hoping that I assembly that a better process will be followed.

Thank you.

Any further questions or comments?

Seeing none, all those in favor of this withdrawal, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion to withdraw carries.

Any other items to be withdrawn?

Any items to be postponed?

Any items to be added by motion.

Okay.

And we don't have any consent agenda.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, we do?

Oh, okay.

Oh, mine's in black and white.

I got to get a color printer here.

Okay, no, that's fine.

Um, is there a motion on the consent agenda?

Make a motion to approve.

Okay.

You guys haven't had your coffee yet or something.

Okay.

Um, the motion on has been made on consent agenda.

It's been made and seconded.

Any questions or discussions?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Okay.

Uh, time now for my mayor's report.

Um, I want to start tonight by sharing some really incredible news, something that I'm very grateful for.

Helps me sleep easier at night, and I'm sure it helps you sleep easier too.

I've been asking people um how this question, and interested to hear their responses.

How many murders do you think we've had in the city of Knoxville since the beginning of this calendar year?

And I know you all know this, but I never um always happy that we've been able to say so far this year that we've had zero murders in the city of Knoxville.

Uh because we haven't always had that.

Uh and uh, you know, zero is a really low number.

Um I'm just really grateful because you know, for the all of us were here um five, six years ago when we had a lot more violence in our city.

Um so getting to zero homicides is an incredible incredible news for our city because it's not just those lives that have been spared, you know, that you're not going to funerals and you know, trying to answer questions from bereaved family members.

Instead, we're going to their birthday parties and their graduations and weddings and just celebrations and and as communities less traumatized.

So, you know, public safety is job one, and zero homicides is a remarkable um accomplishment.

So we've also had a you know big drops in other sources of you know violent crime, 82% drop in non-fatal shootings.

Uh we haven't had numbers like this um in more than half a century.

So this I recognize that crime goes up and crime goes down, and there's a reduction in crime across the country, but our reduction has been considerably greater than average by a lot.

And I want to just publicly thank council for your support.

Whether you were here when we started our Office of Community Safety and our group violence reduction strategies and our partnerships with the community, or whether you were here or are here now supporting our efforts to you know strengthen our law enforcement and the trust in police.

Um, council support has made a huge difference in this regard.

And I want to also just publicly thank uh our Knoxville Police Department, the Office of Community Safety and Empowerment, our partners, and all the many community members who've been part of our project TLC and and other efforts.

So if you would just take a moment and let's give them a round of applause.

Appreciate it.

And when we have such a relatively peaceful time in our city, it gives us much more bandwidth to focus on the comprehensive plan update, uh, which is also important.

And um really excited that uh in collaboration with Knoxville Planning, uh, we released the dates of the first round of public listening session for the comprehensive plan.

And we're calling it what's next, Knoxville.

It's a question because we don't know the answer.

We need to listen to the community and hear what their answers are.

This is a long-range visiting document that will help guide our city's development and manage the huge growth that we're experiencing.

Knoxville's not an undiscovered gem anymore.

People are moving here.

That's not a problem, but a challenge and an opportunity to how to channel that growth in healthy ways that protects our quality of life and addresses our need for abundant housing and mobility.

So we want to hear from you and council members.

I I really want to ask you all to reach out to your constituencies, uh, wherever and whoever they are and encourage them to attend.

The first ones are in two weeks, Sunday, April 26th.

Um, we have one in each district of the city, and and um, you know, some more beyond that too.

There's different times of day.

There's one at one o'clock uh on a Sunday afternoon at the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park.

There's one at 3:30 that day at the Christenberry Community Center.

Um, and you can find the full list at what's next Knoxville.com.

So it's uh an important occasion.

Sometimes it's hard to get people to come out to things like that.

So that's why I'm asking for your help in getting people to come out because it's not a time to be against things, it's a time to be for shaping the future of our city.

So another uh fun event to invite you all to is this Thursday.

Uh, you're all invited to the unveiling of the new statues around Covenant Health Park.

This will be at 4 p.m.

at 500 East Jackson Avenue.

And these statues will be honoring some really epic people who are from Knoxville who give our city um you know such a positive reputation throughout the country and around around the world.

First is the artist Buford Delaney, and then the poet Nikki Giovanni.

And there'll be others uh who will be celebrated who have all played an important role in shaping Knoxville.

Everyone's invited.

That's this Thursday, 4 p.m.

Um this past weekend we had many events, chalk walk and marathon and orange and white games.

So thank you to all the city crews uh who helped manage those event.

I see some of our public service uh employees here.

You all do a great job for that and many other events every day of the year.

We appreciate you and our police and fire employees.

This weekend, it's it's festival season, uh, and it's Rossini Fest.

So this Italian street fair will be both Saturday and Sunday in and around Market Square.

It's food, music, and activities for all agents.

And this fun kicks off at 10 a.m.

Saturday.

Please come on out and enjoy the fun.

Finally, our rules of decorum.

We are here to do the city's official business.

Those who wish to speak, either to a specific agenda item or during public forum, need to sign up with the city recorder before 4 p.m.

Do not use profanity.

And when speaking to specific agenda items, you must stay on topic.

Remarks must be germane to the question ahead of the assembly.

That is statements must have bearing on whether the pending motion should be adopted.

Those who fail to adhere to these rules will be ruled out of order.

For those who are listening, please note if you disrupt a public meeting, you will be asked to leave or escorted out.

Thank you in advance for respecting these rules.

And that does it for my mayor's report.

Are there reports of committee members or council members serving on boards?

Okay, uh Councilmember Grant.

Yeah, just want um everyone to uh know that we have our audit committee meeting tomorrow at 3 p.m.

It's open to the public.

Um it's gonna be at room 461 tomorrow, if you guys want to drop in.

Um other announcements, but I do want to give credit where it's due.

Um we had an issue uh regarding the streetscape a couple days ago uh in just terms of communication and blocking off the roads.

And um I just want to give a shout out to Ellie Moore, who is the uh downtown coordinator along with East Knoxville, she was a huge help.

Um grant.

Um thank you.

Uh you know, I called uh Nelly got it done.

Ellie was, you know, she was able to make sure the roads were blocked.

Um there was a lot of issues in terms of traffic.

Um you guys answered that call immediately.

And so I appreciate it, and the public appreciates it.

So I just want to say thank you publicly for that.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um, any other reports of committees or council members serving on boards or committees?

Okay, any other general council member announcements?

Uh Councilmember Adams.

Yes, thank you.

Um this week I have the honor of being shadowed by Virginia Blum.

She is a student from Nature's Way Montessori School, uh, the adolescent community there.

And every spring, the eighth grade students choose a field they would like to learn more about and arrange an internship or a shadowing experience.

And Virginia is interested in government and policy and how cities work.

And she's starting her shadowing tonight.

So thank you for being part of the next generation of leaders.

Virginia, can you please stand?

Thank you so much.

I'm really looking forward to sharing city council activities with you the rest of this week.

Um also in District 1, there are a couple of other events.

I was gonna talk about the um urban wilderness uh comprehensive plan listing session.

I'm really glad that you already mentioned that.

Um Keep Knoxville Beautiful is hosting a South Knoxville cleanup on Saturday, April 18th, from 9 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

And this is the 10th annual South Knoxville cleanup, and they're gonna cover a lot of ground uh meeting up at Chapman Square Kroger parking lot, and they're also doing a cleanup at the South Knoxville Community Center as well as the community unity park in Montgomery Village.

All you have to do is go to the Keep Knoxville Beautiful website to sign up.

And also uh Tree Fest.

It is a festival on April 24th at Baker Creek from 4 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

If you want a tree for your yard, there are going to be tree giveaways, uh, music, games, beverages, vendors, and it's right beside the urban wilderness.

So come out and joy the trails.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Parker.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Uh City Council members will continue this month to host uh a casual gathering for the community to come and uh uh get to know your city council representatives a bit more.

Uh we've been calling them Coffee with Council, but this one's in the evening, so I've come up with the name Casual Talks with City Council.

And the next one will be happening April 29th.

That is a Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

at Ola Southern Cuisine.

That's on Chapman Highway, 7220, Chapman Highway.

And the restaurant does close at 7, so it will promptly end at 7.

But everyone is welcome, and we hope to see you Wednesday, April 29th, 5:30 to 7 at Ola Southern Cuisine.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Honeycutt.

Yeah, thank you.

Um first, I'd like to take a moment to thank the city, everyone from public works to the police for the incredible marathon we had uh last weekend and all the events surrounding the marathon.

Uh it's an incredible sort of act of logistics uh to pull off, but we had uh I just got such good feedback from the community.

It brought so many people together, and so thank you all uh to both the community and everyone at the city for for doing such a great job helping helping put together an incredible event and weekend for our city.

A couple of quick announcements.

There's a lot of exciting things obviously going on in Knoxville, but some things happening in West Knoxville.

Uh upcoming the Beard and History Fair is uh hosted by the Knoxville History Project is this Saturday uh from 10 to 2 at the Beardon Branch Library.

So any history buffs, people that are uh passionate.

I I know Doug Lloyd, you're passionate about history.

Please feel free to come down this Saturday and learn more about West Knoxville.

Uh the West Hills Neighborhood Spring Celebration is also this Saturday.

It's part of the Dogwood Arts Festival.

It's uh held one to five in West Hills Park, kind of down near the pickleball courts usually.

Uh it's a great family fun day, face painting, food trucks, uh bring the kids.

Uh it's always a lot of fun, and and they do a great job in West Hills hosting that event.

And then last but not least, the KPSHA uh annual meeting, which that's the Kingston Pike Sequoia Hills Association, uh is meeting Thursday, April 30th at 6 p.m.

in the Baron Hall of the Sequoia Hills Presbyterian Church.

So uh if you're interested, live in the area and you're interested in and getting engaged in that neighborhood association, please come out and learn more.

Uh and then last but not least, uh I'm also excited about the comprehensive plan starting and these listening sessions uh are going to be an incredible beginning to uh a lot of community engagement and community input to set a vision for our city.

So I'm excited to get those started and spread the word.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember De Barde Laban.

Um yes, I just wanted to make one final announcement for an event.

Uh April's a busy time.

Uh but next Thursday, City Council, we are having a workshop uh led by the city learning about the grant process.

Many of these are community grants.

So if you're interested in sitting in and watching that and learning more about that process Thursday, 6 p.m.

room 461 in this building.

In here.

In here.

Workshops are in here.

So they can be recorded.

Okay.

Any other announcements?

Okay.

Seeing none, we'll move on to uh the rest of the agenda.

12F is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Volunteer Highway Supply Company Incorporated for the 2026 pavement marking on call project in an annual amount not to exceed 250,000 dollars.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve.

Second.

Seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12G is the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Edison Electric LLC for the citywide street lighting and high mast maintenance project in an annual amount not to exceed 1,450,000.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve.

Seconded, any questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12H is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Progression Electric LLC for the citywide street lighting and high mass maintenance project in an annual amounts not to exceed 200,000.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and second it.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12 eyes resolution authorizing the mayor to amend the contract with Whalley Construction LLC for the old city streetscapes phase two project, increasing the contract amount by $51,307.25 cents for the for a new total contract amount not to exceed $672,940, $0.35, 6th district.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and second, Mr.

Grant.

I do have a question.

Is there a cap in terms of percentage when we do see change orders?

I see this one is a little under 10%.

Do we have a cap for change orders?

Is that Mr.

Clabo?

We don't.

And it's it's not uncommon.

Most of our contracts are unit process contracts.

Okay.

So that it's it's really uh it's fair for us and the contractor because we're paying them for whatever they install.

But as we run into issues in the field, it does give us room to adjust.

We have a goal of being under 10 percent total for each contract, but there's there's no cap.

Okay, thank you.

Any further questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12J is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a professional service agreement with Bonnets Incorporated to provide new gymnasium basketball goals at 12 community centers locations for an amount not to exceed 416,184.21 cents.

Second.

Motion made to approve and seconded, Mr.

Grant.

Oh, just okay.

Any for any questions or discussions?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12K is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute under green rule agreement with Edison Electric LLC to provide on call electrical repair service, installation and upgrades at various city owned facilities on an as needed basis for an annual estimated cost of up to 150,000.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12 L is resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with three phase power LLC to provide on call electrical repair service installation and upgrades at various city owned facilities on an as needed basis for an annual estimated cost contract in the amount of up to $50,000.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and second it.

Any questions or discussions?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

13 M is an ordinance amending chapter 7.5 of the Knoxville City Code Article 3 Section 7.563.

Article 2.

No, I misspoke.

There you go.

I'll move to approve.

That's all.

Okay, is there a motion?

Okay.

Is there a second?

Second.

Okay, motion made and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Okay.

Oh, yeah.

I don't have this in red.

That's a problem.

Okay.

Sorry, I don't have a color uh coded agenda, so I was a little I thought we had three more items.

Uh but we will move to public forum.

We have three people signed up to speak at public forum, and each one will have up to three minutes to address counsel.

The first person is Matt Rock.

Matt Rock, uh please come to the podium.

You uh should turn the microphone on and then state your name and address for the record, and you'll have up to three minutes to address counsel.

Uh clock's not working, so we'll do it manually.

We'll let you know when time's close to done.

Um I'm Matthew Rock.

Um, I'm at Geyer Hall in Tennessee.

Um, I was just wondering what like the plan is for like next winter, like about like I like the snow and stuff.

Is there anything better for like because we miss a lot of school?

Thank you for your comments.

Okay.

Yeah, we'll we'll have someone speak to you after if you stick around.

Someone from my staff can speak to you about that.

Next person is Maddie Thomas.

Maddie Thomas, are you present?

Okay.

Oh, Patty.

Okay.

Someone wrote it with an M.

I apologize.

Pat Patty Thomas.

Um please um thank you for being here.

And if you could state your name correctly, uh uh sorry for our mistake, and um and your address, and then you'll have up to three minutes to address council.

Oh, you'll need to turn the mic on.

I'm sorry, someone there's a little button and the red light will go on.

There you got it.

Okay, okay.

Uh my name is Patty Thomas.

Uh my address is 113 South Van Gilder Street.

And uh actually I'm here today to talk about the trees on the city property and on my property.

Um, so I'm here to formally raise a concern regarding the city owned trees located and adjusting to my property that are causing ongoing structure damage to my home.

I want to be clear that I appreciate the city commitment to maintain a healthy urban tree canopy, but my concern is not with the trees themselves, but with the lack of action when city maintained trees cause damage to private property.

The roots from the trees have extended beneath my property and impacted critical structure element, including my foundation, driveway, retaining walls, plumbing.

And I have had professional evaluation performed, and the finding confirmed that the damage is its exiting progresses and likely to worsen if not addressed.

This situation placed a significant financial and safety burden on me as a homeowner for the damage caused by the public and facts and factual structure issue.

And it's not cosmetic.

I'm sorry, negatively affect property value.

I have made numerous complaints, numerous complaints.

Go back maybe 10, 15 years.

And I have not been provided a clear resolution on a long-term plan.

That's why I'm bringing this matter before council.

Implementing root migration barriers, pruning or tree removal were necessary to prevent further damage, in which I have called arbitrers, and they will not come out.

They said they cannot kill the tree.

I've called tree service.

They said they cannot come out to do the trees.

They're sending me back to the city.

So I'm not seeking conflict or special consideration.

I'm seeking accountability, communication, and a reasonable solution.

Let me see what else do I have.

Thank you for the time and service.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Council members, just uh it's my understanding she has a is working through a formal process with our risk and department.

So we'll continue working with her through that process.

Next and final person signed up to speak with public forum is Megan Gadston.

Megan Gadston, are you present?

Anyone see Megan Gadsden?

Okay, I think she's not here.

And that means public farm is concluded and without objection, this meeting is adjourned.