Knoxville City Council Meeting – May 5, 2026

The City Council met on May 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included an invocation by Councilmember DeBarteley (reading a poem by Nikki Giovanni), approval of the April 14 minutes, withdrawal of item 12W (a police grant), and adoption of the consent agenda (with items V and X removed for public comment). The mayor presented her report, and council members gave committee reports. The council approved numerous resolutions, held a first reading of the FY 2026-2027 budget, postponed the second reading to May 26, and heard public comments on several items.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from April 14, 2026.
• Withdrawn item 12W (police grant) on motion by Vice Mayor.
• Consent agenda approved (items in red, excluding V and X). Councilmember Honeycutt recused from item G (historic overlay of amphitheater) due to a conflict of interest.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 12K (Habitat for Humanity development): Drew Harper (1205 Kenyon Street) spoke in favor, stating the project is "tailor-made" to address housing needs, preserves a church, provides homeownership, and is infill development. He noted the adjacent school (Belmoris) has lost students and needs new families.
• Item 12U (waste fraud abuse reporting): Rick Roach (Report Knoxville) questioned why the internal auditor was not included from the beginning and urged the council to move toward an ordinance.
• Item 12X (UVA grant): Rick Roach spoke against, expressing concern about oversight of private foundation funds and the mingling of monies.
• Item 13A (budget): Vivian Scheip (3615 MLK) opposed, asking for more funding for cooling centers, the Office of Housing Stability, mental health services, affordable housing, and transparency on a violence training program funded last year.
• Public Forum: Patty Thomas requested the city inspect tree roots on her property that she said are damaging her home, stating she has been waiting over ten years for a response.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Report: Reviewed the State of the City event, budget luncheon, and upcoming events: ribbon cutting at The Pines (affordable housing, 152 units, $510k city support) on May 6 at 10 AM; plaque unveiling at Covenant Health Park at 11 AM; and groundbreaking for Transforming Western Phase at 1:30 PM (over $200M investment, city committing $26.5M over six years).
• Committee Reports: Councilmember Parker reported on Knoxville Community Media and the American Broadband Deployment Act (pulled from consideration). Councilmember DeBarteley promoted a UT architecture First Friday event and the One Knox soccer match. Councilmember Adams highlighted the What's Next Knoxville listening sessions. Councilmember Thomas announced Project TLC expansion to Lonsdale, crediting community input. Councilmember Honeycutt encouraged participation in What's Next Knoxville and announced the KPSHA meeting. Councilmember Parker invited the public to a casual gathering at Ola Southern Cuisine on May 6.
• Item 12I (Chapman Highway Improvements): Engineering Director Tom Clabo explained the Vision Zero initiative, using 80% federal funds to redesign a five-lane corridor into an urban boulevard with sidewalks and a shared-use path. The project addresses eight serious/fatal crashes (five involving pedestrians) over five years. Councilmember Honeycutt noted the significant federal leverage.
• Item 12K (Habitat for Humanity): Councilmembers Parker and Thomas noted this is the first Habitat project in city limits in about ten years, with improved design that fits the neighborhood. No opposition was voiced.
• Item 12T (PILOT for 100 West Depot): Councilmember Grant visited the site and noted 27 workforce housing units plus 7,000 sq ft of retail. Councilmember Parker noted the parking included but cautioned that workforce housing is not long-term affordable if sold.
• Item 12U (waste fraud abuse reporting): Councilmember Parker and Vice Mayor discussed the audit committee's recommendation to include the internal auditor. Councilmember DeBarteley and Grant supported exploring an ordinance to codify the process. The mayor stated she has no objection.
• Item 12V (JAG grant): Chief Noel detailed the proposal: $40,000 for mobile radio consoles, $48,000 for red dot sites and holsters, and $42,000 sub-award to Knox County.
• Item 12X (UVA grant): Chief Noel said the $50,000 grant would fund an analytical pilot to address overdoses using social network analysis. Councilmember Parker expressed concern about relying on KPD for opioid issues, preferring a public health approach led by the Office of Community Safety and Empowerment. The mayor noted the grant is law enforcement-specific and small.
• Item 13A (budget first reading): The mayor described the budget as leaner, with a low tax rate (lowest since 1974), focus on public safety, affordable housing, and parks ($7M for parks master plan). Councilmember Parker voted against first reading (as in prior years) to emphasize the need for public engagement and a longer process. Vice Mayor moved to postpone the second reading to May 26, which passed.
• Item 13AC (compensation plan): HR Director Betsy Cunningham explained the 1.5% increase in pay scales for general government employees (as required by the compensation study) and the 2.5% + 1.7% for uniformed staff. Councilmember Parker clarified that this adjusts pay rates, not individual salaries.

Key Outcomes

• Approved all appointments: Jack Coker (4th District Golf Course Advisory Committee), Garrett Howe (3rd District), Curtis Brown (6th District) – all terms expiring December 18, 2029.
• Approved resolution 12I (Chapman Highway design services, $565,300) – motion carried.
• Approved resolution 12J (United Way donation, $440,000 for affordable housing fund) – carried.
• Approved resolution 12K (Habitat for Humanity, $440,000 for 22 units at 4325 Pinehurst Drive) – carried.
• Approved resolutions 12L through 12S (Austin Homes, Union Avenue purchase, Legacy Parks agreements, historic preservation grants) – all carried.
• Approved resolution 12T (PILOT for 100 West Depot) – carried.
• Approved resolution 12U (modify executive order to include internal auditor) – carried.
• Approved resolutions 12V and 12X (JAG grant and UVA grant) – both carried.
• First reading of budget ordinance (13A) passed, with second reading postponed to May 26, 2026.
• First reading of tax levy ordinance (13AB) passed, second reading postponed to May 26.
• First reading of compensation plan amendment (13AC) passed, second reading postponed to May 26.
• Approved resolution 13AD (challenge grant awards, $21,513.29) – carried.
• Public forum: No formal action taken on Patty Thomas’s tree complaint.

Next Steps: The legislative budget hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The second reading of the budget and related ordinances will occur on May 26, 2026.