Knoxville City Council Meeting - June 10, 2026

The Knoxville City Council met on June 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. to conduct routine business, consider resolutions, and hold the first reading of the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. The meeting included a mayor's report, committee announcements, public comments, and votes on multiple agenda items. Note: The transcript references dates (May 7, May 26) that are inconsistent with the June 10 meeting date provided by the instruction; this summary uses the required date but notes the discrepancy.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the April 14, 2026 meeting approved unanimously.
• Item 12W (a police grant) withdrawn per Vice Mayor Fugit.
• Items 12V and 12X removed from consent due to a public speaker signing up to speak against them.
• The consent agenda, as adjusted, passed unanimously.
• Councilmember Honeycutt recused from Item G (historic overlay of amphitheater) due to a conflict of interest.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Drew Harper (1205 Kenyon Street) spoke in favor of Habitat for Humanity project (Item 12K), supporting the use of Affordable Housing Trust Fund funds, noting the project is infill, not displacement, and provides homeownership. He countered concerns about school overcrowding by stating Belmore School has lost nearly 200 students in 40 years.
• Rick Roach (Knoxville, no address given) spoke against Items 12U and 12X, calling for deeper oversight of grant funds and questioning the mixing of private foundation and government money.
• Vivian Scheip (3615 MLK, Knoxville 37914) spoke against the budget ordinance (13AA), criticizing insufficient funding for cooling centers, Office of Housing Stability staffing, mental health and opioid programs, and affordable housing. She also demanded an update on the violence training program funded last year.
• Patty Thomas (no address given) during public forum requested the city inspect and address tree root damage on her property, claiming a decade of inaction.

Discussion Items

Mayor's Report

• Mayor Kincannon thanked attendees for the State of the City and budget luncheon, announced the first reading of the FY 2026-2027 budget, and highlighted upcoming events: ribbon-cutting for the Pines affordable apartments (152 units, $510,000 city support), plaque unveiling at Covenant Health Park, and groundbreaking for the next phase of Transforming Western (over $200 million investment, $26.5 million city commitment over six years). She also reminded attendees of decorum rules.

Committee Reports

• Councilmember Parker: Reported that the American Broadband Deployment Act was pulled from consideration, which protects local media franchise fees. Announced Knoxville Community Media's 50th anniversary and a free festival June 5-6.
• Councilmember DeBardelaben: Announced an architecture First Friday event (May 8? but date not specified) and the One Knox soccer team traveling to Columbus.
• Councilmember Adams: Praised the What's Next Knoxville listening sessions and announced Vestival on May 9 at the Sustainable Future Center.
• Councilmember Thomas: Announced Project TLC (gun violence prevention) expanding to Lonsdale, crediting community input and the late Tyrone Fine.
• Councilmember Honeycutt: Promoted What's Next Knoxville events and the KPSHA annual meeting on May 8? (Thursday).
• Councilmember Parker: Requested data on Project TLC outcomes; expressed concern over lack of community-reported benefits and KPD incidents; announced a casual council gathering on May 8? at Ola Southern Cuisine.

Budget Process Debate

• Councilmember Parker explained her annual vote against the budget on first reading to highlight the need for public input and a robust process. She noted the charter requires the budget to pass first reading, but urged public participation at the May 7 hearing (noted as past relative to June 10). She moved to postpone second reading to May 26 (four weeks).
• Vice Mayor Fugit clarified the procedural move to delay second reading for four weeks, consistent with recent practice.
• Councilmember Grant urged urgency for public works compensation, noting uniformed staff (police, fire) received 2.5% + 1.7% increases, while general government got 1.5% scale adjustments.

Key Outcomes

• Resolutions Approved:
  • Appointments to Golf Course Advisory Committee for Districts 4, 3, and 6 (Jack Coker, Garrett Howe, Curtis Brown).
  • Agreement with Kimley Horn for Chapman Highway improvements design ($565,300; Vision Zero project with 80% federal funding).
  • Acceptance of $440,000 donation from United Way for Affordable Housing Fund.
  • Award of $440,000 from Affordable Rental Housing Fund to Habitat for Humanity for 22 townhome units at 4325 Pinehurst Drive (fourth district).
  • Amendment to agreements with Knoxville CDC for Austin Homes redevelopment.
  • Purchase of 314 Union Avenue ($450,000) and lease assumption.
  • Collaboration agreement ($150,000) and trademark lease with Legacy Parks Foundation; lease for water access at Bicentennial Park ($1,000/month).
  • Support agreement with Lakeshore Park Conservancy ($50,000/year).
  • Historic preservation awards: $60,000 to Blount Mansion, $125,958 to 3517 Sutherland LLC.
  • Tax incentive (PILOT) for 100 West Depot Investors LLC (mixed-use with 27 workforce housing units and 7,000 sq ft retail).
  • Resolution to add internal auditor to waste/fraud/abuse reporting process (Item 12U) – approved unanimously.
  • Justice Assistance Grant application ($156,082) for police radio consoles, firearm optics, and Knox County sub-award.
  • Grant award acceptance ($50,000) from UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice for opioid overdose analysis (police-led innovation pilot).
• Budget and Tax Ordinances (First Reading):
  • Ordinance 13AA (annual appropriations for FY 2026-2027) approved with 1 aye and 1 nay (Councilmember Parker voted no); second reading postponed to May 26, 2026 (note: this date is before June 10, indicating a discrepancy with the recorded meeting date).
  • Ordinance 13AB (property tax levy) approved; second reading postponed to May 26, 2026.
  • Ordinance 13AC (compensation and classification plan adjustments) approved; second reading postponed to May 26, 2026. The compensation increases include 1.5% scale adjustments for general government and 2.5% + 1.7% step increases for uniformed staff.
• Challenge Grant Awards (Ordinance 13AD): Appropriated $21,513.29 from parks budget for completed projects; approved.

Notes

• Public speaker Rick Roach reserved comments on Item 12V (JAG grant) for a later item; no further discussion on 12V beyond Chief Noel's description.
• The mayor and council expressed support for adding the internal auditor (Item 12U) as a step toward stronger oversight, with multiple councilmembers suggesting future codification via ordinance.
• Councilmember Parker noted that workforce housing requirements in PILOT agreements do not guarantee long-term affordability if the project is sold.