Good evening, everybody.

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

Um, we'll begin with the invocation led by Councilmember Honeycutt followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Councilmember Grant.

Please rise as you're able.

Let us bow our heads.

Tonight, we give thanks for the opportunity to serve Knoxville and all who call it home.

May we listen with patience, work in good faith, and seek the common ground, uh, common good with wisdom, humility, and care.

Amen.

The United States of America, to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

Okay, Mr.

Johnson, would you please call roll?

Councilman Adams, Councilman DeBartelaven here.

Consumer Fugit.

Here.

Councilman Grant.

Councilman Helsley.

Councilman Honeycutt.

Councilman Lloyd.

Here.

Councilman Parker.

Councilman Thomas.

Seven members present, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Um, is there a motion on the minutes from the June 23rd meeting?

Motion to approved.

Motion made and seconded.

Any questions or discussions?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

On to tonight's agenda.

Are there any items to be withdrawn?

Are there any items to be postponed?

Any items to be added by motion.

Uh there's no there are no memorials or honorary resolutions.

Is there a motion on the consent agenda?

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussions?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Okay.

Um time now for my mayor's report.

I want to start by thanking everyone who came out to enjoy a very special festival on the 4th.

As you know, it was our country's 250th birthday.

I had the pleasure of reading the Declaration of Independence along with some other elected officials.

While the symphony was playing music behind us, I found it very stirring, and I think the uh 10,000 plus people uh who were there to enjoy the festival and the fireworks and the food and other music seemed to all be having a really good time.

It's as you know, a free family-friendly event.

Um, and I think it might have been a record turnout, and it's hard to believe, but the weather was a little cooler on Saturday than it had been earlier in the week.

So that was a lucky break as well.

Um, even though this is a free event to the visitors and residents who enjoy it, we all know that uh wouldn't be possible without the hardworking city employees who pull it off.

So special thanks to all our first responders, public service crews, and special events folks who worked really long hard hours all that day to organize, keep everyone safe, uh set things up, clean things up afterwards, and um just make sure it was a wonderful evening to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.

Um not long after the uh people we had Sunday off and uh Monday was uh regular work day, but after uh the evening of Monday, we had another special occasion, which was also um made successful by our special events teams, first responders, public service crews.

We partnered with One Knox Soccer Club to pull off.

I thought it was the best watch party on Gay Street.

Uh best watch party in the city on Gay Street.

We closed down the 400 block of Gay Street.

Um, and the watch party was super fun.

Uh really great crowd.

Uh the only thing that didn't go well was the play of the team USA, which did not quite go as most we were rooting for them.

But anyhow, we'll get them in four years.

Uh but anyhow, it was a great sense of community fun.

And as you know, this is the summer of soccer in Knoxville, and it's great to see so many people out there enjoying a nice evening.

This week we are celebrating another milestone in Transforming Western tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

Everyone is invited to help break the ground on some of the neighborhood amenities that are going to help strengthen the sense of community.

We will be breaking ground on a new connections building, a destination park, and the expansion of the Beaumont Youth Center.

I am super excited to get these projects underway, as I know you all are too.

So if you have time, come on out tomorrow, 10 a.m.

Uh groundbreaking will happen along West Oak Hill Drive.

Rain or shine.

Thursday, we have another happy occasion.

The Knoxville Police Department is having a promotional ceremony where 13 veteran officers will be moving into advanced leadership roles.

The ceremony is at 4 o'clock at Severe Heights Church off Maloney Road.

Hope to see you all there.

And before we move on, I want to also take a moment to recognize our summer in the city interns who are here with us tonight.

These students, some in high school, some in college, are spending eight weeks of their summer working alongside city departments.

They're placed in different departments across the city from policy to the fire department to communications.

These students are also really seeing what it looks like to work for the people of Knoxville.

Many of them also devote their Wednesdays to kiterific events where they get to engage with the public in uh whole new way.

And I really appreciate that their dedication and hope that they're having a great summer.

Will you guys please raise your hands to be recognized?

Thank you.

And finally, a quick reminder about 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.

Thanks in advance for everyone's respect for these rules.

All right.

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

Okay.

Are there any general council member announcements?

Councilmember Grant.

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

Want to bring to everyone's attention the League of Women Voters, Knox and Knox County are hosting a voter Palooza.

Saturday, July 18th from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at Dr.

Walter Hardy Park on MLK.

There's going to be food trucks, games, just the opportunity to engage the community and you know get individuals excited about voting.

And so I wanted to invite everyone out to come out to that.

Just kind of want to mention some of the some of the things last week, July 1st, Parks and Rec officially took over Shahawi Park.

I want to give a shout out to our Parks and Rec department.

I think they did an amazing job.

Despite the heat conditions, they did an amazing job just making sure everyone was hydrated, making sure everyone was engaged.

A lot of people bought their children.

So it was a great site to see, and I look forward to more opportunities.

So I definitely want to give a shout out to Parks and Rec.

Prior to that, our CPAG meeting, the Chihuahua Park Advisory Group hosted their third meeting, the Tuesday prior.

And that's making great progress.

I just wanted to update the community on the CPAG.

We're taking tremendous strides in terms of engaging the community and making sure that we're keeping the community engaged in the process.

And so if you go on CPAG's website on the city website, there's two surveys that I'm encouraging not only ourselves but other residents in Knoxville to please stay engaged, fill out the survey.

But I definitely wanted to give a shout out to our urban and design department as well.

Danielle, she's done a great job.

Her and been facilitating the process.

Next meeting is going to be August 11th at the Jacobs Building at 5 30.

So I'm encouraging all residents to attend.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Vice Mayor Fugit.

Thank you.

In keeping with council tradition, I would like to uh recognize that Councilwoman Parker has a birthday tomorrow.

She's not here, so we don't have to sing to her.

But if you see her tomorrow, please tell her that she was recognized and wish her a happy birthday.

Thank you.

Okay, seeing no other announcements, we'll move on to the next item.

Is the resolution approving an appeal by Scott Albrick of the denial of the Board of Zoning Appeals of variants to decrease the minimum required corner side setback for a detached garage and an R in one zoning district from 15 feet to 10 feet per article 10.3 point P.3 for property located at 1503 Southgate Road 2nd District.

Okay, thank you.

Um is the appellant present, Mr.

Albrecht or someone representing?

Okay.

Uh you you can come to the podium, you and or your representatives.

You have up to 15 minutes to present your case.

You can use that all uh yourself, or you can share that among other speakers.

You do not have to use the whole 15 minutes, but you have up to 15 minutes, and Mr.

Johnson will start the clock um shortly.

And if you could start by stating your name and address for the record.

And I'll uh actually first start by turning on the microphone.

There's a little button.

Um it should turn red, uh, but not the button, but up by the microphone.

Mr.

Claybo, could you help them?

There we got it.

You got it.

Uh Jonathan Miller and uh 5405 Holston Hills Road.

I'm the architect that's been assisting the all breaks with the project, and we thought it was uh worthy to uh appeal the ruling.

I believe it's a two-four vote, um, that did not uh grant the variance.

We felt like that the property configuration did represent an exceptionally irregular configuration that was prohibiting the owner from being able to do a very small single car garage.

We felt like it was sensitive to the neighborhood, the scale of the neighborhood.

It was at the right position.

Uh this is not a this is not a large house.

It's uh and very much in keeping with the character of that area of Sequoia Hills.

Um so we thought that this did represent an exceptional irregularity uh that was prohibiting the owner from from adding this uh small structure on um right adjacent to the property.

Uh its zone is R in one.

Adjacent zonings are in two on either side of the property.

Um if we would have been in that zone, we'd only be asking for a two-foot variance.

Um I think the total covered area that's sitting over the setback line would be about 60 square feet.

It's on an 18,000 square foot uh parcel property.

So it's a pretty pretty small um uh request.

Um the uh we did speak with the neighborhood association um and and met with them after the uh the previous board of zoning appeals meeting.

Um we wanted to make sure they were comfortable with the request, and so we did get some correspondence from them uh stating that uh they determined that the variance of this property that we're requesting was consistent with the zoning regulations and would not appear out of place for the neighborhood or be otherwise problematic for this uh neighborhood association.

Um so we thought it was worth uh coming back and uh asking for an appeal and a reconsideration.

Uh happy to answer any questions you all might have.

Okay, thank thank you.

We um we'll move to unless there's unless you want to say anything else.

If if council has questions, I'll do that during their time.

Did you did you want to use any more of your 15 minutes?

Yeah, I just will uh in addition to this.

I spoke about the small amount of coverage we were requesting.

Uh, the zoning.

Um we also were doing a reduction in a pervious area area area on the site.

Um there's currently a single car garage that sits kind of in the middle of the back of the parcel.

Um, the owner would like to tear that down, remove the paving surface and do a much smaller paved area.

Um, so that that too is a positive thing, I felt like for the overall use of the site.

It's gonna keep that corner very green.

Um, and uh yeah, and that would that was it.

So, okay, thank you.

If they have questions, we'll call you back up.

Thank you.

Now, now is there anyone here uh who opposes this appeal?

And the appellee.

Anyone here to speak in opposition to this appeal?

Okay.

Then there's no need for rebuttal.

So now, council, you may deliberate on this item, and including asking questions of the people who are present for this.

Mr.

Honeycutt.

Yes, um, I guess I'd like to start with asking uh counsel Rob Frost to define for everyone the criteria for a variance, please.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Honeycutt.

Variances are found in uh section 16.3 of the zoning code uh briefly.

The purpose of the variance process is to provide a narrowly circumscribed means by which relief may be granted from unforeseen applications of the zoning regulations of this code that create practical difficulties or particular hardships.

And then you turn over to part E of 16.

And there's a discussion of the standards.

Variants uh may be offered from the strict application of the code to relieve such difficulties or hardship only in accordance with all of the following uh criteria.

Then there's a listing of the five criteria.

Uh briefly, um variances will only be granted where special circumstances or conditions such as exceptional narrowness, topography, or siding uh is described in the minutes, do not apply generally to the district.

Variances will not be granted to allow a use otherwise excluded from the particular district in which this is requested.

I don't think that one applies to this situation.

Uh third one uh for the reasons fully set forth in the findings, uh the circumstances are such that the strict application of the code would deprive the applicant, in this case the property owner, of any reasonable use of his or her land, mere loss in value does not justify a variance.

There must be deprivation of beneficial use of the land.

Uh, fourth, any variants granted under the provisions of this section must meet the minimum adjustment necessary for the reasonable use of the land.

And finally, the granting of any variants is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this code and will not be injurious to the neighborhood, detrimental to the public welfare, or in conflict with the general plan uh for uh the development.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh I guess this question is for Mr.

Miller.

If you come back.

So I I've, you know, obviously a couple quick sort of clerical notes.

One is just for everyone in the audience too to understand city council's role during an appeal.

Uh we have to during this kind of process, we have to act in a quasi-judicial role, like it's a very black and white, you know, following the law kind of role.

So uh it's it's we have to remove all subjectivity about do we like the design, do we think it's appropriate, that kind of stuff, and just literally look at you know the variance requirements and and act in that way.

So uh I think it's it's it's different than any other vote that we take take-day, take sort of that comes before us.

And I agree with you, you know, in looking back at the record and looking back at the BZA and and your statement tonight that you know you do meet a lot of those in terms of it's not a detriment, you know, to the neighborhood.

It's it's the scale is appropriate.

There was one question.

I think the one criteria is uh that and you have to meet all of them, is the hardship.

And that was the one that came up at the BZA, and and the architect on the board at the time asked the question about you know, is there another location on the property that this garage would work?

And they mentioned sort of turning it, moving it to the back.

You didn't really at the time your representative didn't really have an answer to that in terms of uh addressing the hardship issue and being able to check that box.

Do you, you know, uh wondered if you could give a little update on that and why you feel like this is the only location for the garage and and what about the site creates that hardship.

Yeah, I think uh I think that's a good good um uh point of discussion.

We looked at multiple options.

I think in the end, what it was gonna require of the owner would be to ultimately pave across the back of the yard in order to position that structure on the side of the yard where the garage doors wouldn't be opening straight onto the street from that corner position.

And keep in mind that the property line, the irregularity that's creating the hardship, is that that line is tapering across the back.

So essentially that garage almost have to sit directly in the backyard of the home.

We felt like that was inconsistent with the neighborhood, and just wasn't appropriate for the scale and uh and also the way the owner was wanting to to kind of reclaim their backyard.

Um so we felt like that was a reasonable take.

We looked at obviously a front yard condition, motor court concept.

We looked at um trying to pull the garage farther forward to the front yard, but that was really pushing pavement out into the front of the property that we were trying to eliminate.

So in the end, we felt like this was just the most appropriate location.

I will mention that the front of this garage is inside of the setback, right?

So where that where we're proposing the garage, what's street facing, if this would have parallel lot lines, there would be no issue.

And I think that also would be a fair point to state that had this been a teardown.

If the owner elected to tear down the house, I don't think this hardship would exist, right?

Because we're trying to keep the house and preserve the scale of that existing structure.

Um, so in that event, that's where I feel pretty strongly that based on those conditions that this was something that I would have.

I think the zoning references this as exceptionally irregular.

That exceptional regularity is based on the existing structure being there and simply what we had to work with.

Okay, thank you very much.

I know I'm out of time, so I'll let others uh speak or ask questions that they have in before I come back and um and talk further.

So thank you.

Any other comments or questions?

Mr.

Honeycutt, can you there's a um lead, thank you.

Uh so you know, uh looked at this, uh, did talk with the neighborhood association.

Um, I think in this case, I believe the applicant has shown enough to meet the standard.

The lot is irregularly shaped, the home already exists in its current location, and the requested setback reduction is limited.

I also do not see evidence that this would harm the neighborhood or public welfare.

Because of that, I believe the variant standard has been met, and I will be voting yes on the appeal.

So I'd like to make a motion to approve the appeal.

Second.

Motion's been made to approve the appeal, it's been made and seconded.

Um, any further discussion?

Uh Councilmember Thomas.

Uh yeah, this actually is a pretty close case, and as we heard the um the uh reading of the law, uh I think though I agree uh with um my colleague in the second district.

If you kind of put everything together here, it is kind of an odd situation here, and so even though it's close and we do scrutinize these criteria.

I think on this one, I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt here to the applicant.

So I'll be voting in favor of the motion.

Okay, uh, Mr.

Honeycutt, your light's still on.

Did you okay?

Any uh Mr.

Thomas, your light is now off.

Any other questions or discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Okay, moving right along.

12 F is the resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the state of Tennessee Department of Transportation to participate in the pedestrian road safety initiative for pedestrian improvements on Sutherland Avenue between Longview Road and Hollywood Road for an estimated project cost of 300,000 dollars with the city funding 30,000.

Districts two and six.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12G is a resolution authorizing the mayor to amend the contract with Gresham Smith to provide design services for the South Knoxville Bridge Greenway project, increasing the contract amount by $35,460 for a new total contract amounts not to exceed $275,000, districts one and six.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12th H is a resolution authorizing the mayor to amend the contract with Adams Contracting LLC for the North Cherry Street Stormwater Improvements Project, increasing the contract amount by $95,842.40 for a new total contract amounts not to exceed $2,941,689.31 cents funded with the American Rescue Plan Act Grant District 4.

Motion to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12 I is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute any and all documents necessary to effectuate an amendment to agreements number C-22-0552 with Sam Sarah Incorporated to extend the term for 10 months for the continued provision of telematics hardware services and accessories for automatic vehicle location tracking and of assets managed by the Department of Fleet Services for an amounts not to exceed 177,633.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any 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 an agreement with Knoxville's Community Development Corporation for Phase 5 infrastructure improvements at Western Heights in an amount not to exceed $4,500,000 district six.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Council members, for those of you who have been on council, you know that this is um an ongoing project and ongoing investment to transforming Western.

And if you haven't been up to Western Heights recently, the word transforming is very appropriate.

That whole neighborhood is being transformed in a really really positive way.

This $4.5 million will be invested in infrastructure and construction.

And over six years, the city's total commitment to this KCDC-led project is a combined $26.5 million.

And like so many other investments that we invest in, this leverages over many more dollars than we put in.

We're putting in 26.5 million, which leveraged a 40 million dollar federal rule grant and a total of over 200 million in private and public dollars to transform that community, and um it's been very rewarding to watch this project come to life.

So I appreciate council's um continual support for this.

Councilmember Thomas.

Yeah, for those of us watched this development over a long period of time.

This is really a success story in my view, and I want to uh hats off to KCDC for bringing this along.

Um 40 million dollar federal grant was obtained that was very competitive.

It took some real finesse by the city to get that money and it's um being put into very very good use.

I look at this as kind of a model development.

I take a little bit of special interest in it because this used to be in the fifth district and it still borders the fifth district.

So um I'm really pleased to see this uh taking place.

Thank you.

Councilmember Honeycutt.

I agree and just want to second those same sentiments.

Um, it's uh a great example of uh city money, federal money, and private money all coming together uh to transform our community.

And so while uh it is a significant amount of city dollars, it is leveraging a much larger uh investment in our community, and it it sets a great precedent, and I've uh fully support it.

Thank you.

Any further questions or discussion?

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

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries, 12k is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a subgrantee agreement with Southeastern Housing Foundation 2 Incorporated.

Not to exceed $90,000, $775 in community development block grant funding to support its permanent supportive housing case management program district three.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

Council Member Honeycutt.

Just real quick, uh, and I believe just for clarification.

Uh basically items K, the next four items, uh, which are all part of the community development block grant is also another example of using federal funding.

Is that correct?

Mr.

DeBose?

Yeah, Kevin DeBoes, housing and neighborhood development, that is correct.

Correct.

Yeah, each item um comes from our, we're an entitlement city.

Uh we receive these federal funds, and we try to use them in a manner that keeps people housed, and um it's for the benefit of low and moderate income persons.

Great, thank you.

And and I'll just add that uh Callahan Flats is another um housing development that we should be very proud of.

The city did put uh, I think about four million dollars of local dollars towards the capital construction of that, and um it's a pleasure to see how many people are um affordably housed in places that um in ways that they might not have otherwise had that opportunity, and this gives them that case management support for those who need that.

So um any other questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12L is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a subgrantee agreement with East Tennessee Community Design Center to provide an amounts not to exceed $25,000 in community development block grant funding for conceptual design and technical assistance service for approximately seven community projects.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Any questions or discussion?

Council member healthly.

Yes, I have a question.

It says seven projects, but these are these to be decided, or what does that look like?

Mr.

DeBose, Mr.

DeBose, or somebody who helped me here.

And I see my good friend Perry Childress uh from the design center uh here and grateful for his work in part partnership.

Usually uh non-profits approach the design center with good ideas, and the beauty of this is you know, they can get some assistance there at no cost, and our department is contacted when those projects are identified so that we make sure that it's consistent with our consolidated plan and meets the other objectives, but they're usually identified, you know, as we go along.

Gotcha.

Okay, thank you so much.

Any further questions or discussion?

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

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

12 M is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with legal aid of East Tennessee to provide an amounts not to exceed 125,000 in community development block grant funding for the provision of legal service services to low-income individuals facing wrongful evictions and other critical housing issues.

Move to approve.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Um any questions or discussion?

Seeing none, all the oh, Councilmember Thomas.

Yes, just briefly, Mayor.

This uh actually follows a more recent uh allocation of money that we made for mediation between landlords and tenants, and it's just a continuing uh positive thing that people on council and administration is trying to do to aid people who are um challenged by this housing market, and the least we can do is actually provide them legal services so that what rights they do have are uh enforced.

So um obviously all for this and hope we see more of it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll just add that uh this these funds that are you're voting on tonight uh complement uh community agency grant that uh you all approved out of this year's budget, which is an additional 100,000 thousand dollars.

Um so yeah, we're we're trying to tackle the housing shortage in many different ways, and keeping people housed is a is a big one.

So we appreciate those who are helping people with eviction uh prevention.

Thank you uh to Deb House and your team.

Any further questions or discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor please say aye.

Aye any opposed motion carries 12 and is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a subgrantee agreement with ywca knoxville and the Tennessee Valley to provide an amounts not to exceed 30 thousand dollars in community development block grant funding for the provision of transitional housing through the keys of hope program to approve second motion made to approve and seconded any questions or discussion seeing none all those in favor please say aye any opposed motion carries 120 is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with elite petroleum incorporated to decommission two underground storage tanks conduct repairs and perform environmental sampling at Knoxville area transit magnolia facility in an amount not to exceed 86,926 dollars move to approve second motion made to approve and seconded any questions or discussion seeing none all those in favor please say aye.

Any opposed motion carries 12 P is a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the boys and girls club boys and girls clubs of the Tennessee Valley to provide an amount not to exceed 2600 to support programs which engage Knoxville youth in life enriching programming and early workforce readiness activities.

Motion made and seconded motion to approve has been made and seconded any questions or discussion seeing none all those in favor please say aye any opposed motion carries um I see Bart McFadden is here from Boys and Girls Club thanks for all you do to um support the children of Knoxville we appreciate it.

12 Q is a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with train U.S.

Incorporated to complete engine to complete engineering assessments and design protocols or excuse me proposals for five solar photo photovitalic installations of the city of Knoxville facilities for a cost not to exceed 11,195 dollars districts three, five and six motion made to approve and seconded uh council members this is an item that I mentioned in my budget address back in April and this will allow us to move forward uh with the process of installing five more solar voltaic installations on city facilities uh and the five facilities are the fleet services heavy shop the downtown fire department headquarters station the new fire station number six in Burlington and the public safety complex and CATS Knoxville station and so when these are up and running they will provide 250 kilowatts of powers nearly doubling the existing capacity at the city's existing solar assets so really pleased with our progress slow and steady and um patience melnik our director of sustainability is here if you have any technical questions all I can I can pronounce photovoltaic and that uh my expertise ends there.

Um any what any further questions or discussion seeing none all those in favor please say aye.

Any opposed motion carries 12R is a resolution requesting Knoxville's community development corporation to create a redevelopment plan for an area to be titled the North Waterfront Redevelopment Plan district six and one.

Move to approve okay motion made to approve and seconded um as you know I know many of you have been involved in discussions about this this will allow us to create a redevelopment plan on the north bank of the Tennessee River from the Henley Bridge to Third Creek stretching from World's Fair Park through Maplehurst to Nealand Drive and the hope is to establish this development plan to encourage revitalization and reuse of vacant or underutilized property properties while also improving connectivity between UT Downtown World's Fair Park and the riverfront.

Council member Grant.

Yeah, just for the record, I you know, I just want to say that I proudly support this.

Um I've had uh constituents reach out just in terms of the information, right?

But getting them to understand that this is just a plan, right?

It's a plan that the community is going to be involved in.

Um, us as council members will be involved in this process.

Um, and so I definitely look forward to it.

Um I got calls about the historic preservation uh potentially.

Um I think you know, I know KCDC has done a good job in making sure that history is preserved when it comes to these type of development plans.

So I just want the community to know, you know, to trust that and trust this process.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Honeycutt.

Yes, I uh agree.

I'm also honored to co-sponsor this resolution, and I just wanted to uh give uh Ben Bentley, since he's here today to uh maybe an opportunity to talk about uh what the public process might look like on this because again, this resolution just begins uh the conversation.

It just asks KCDC to start the process.

It's not it's not the end, it is this is just the beginning, and just want to give uh you an opportunity to talk about talk about uh what we're what we're embarking on here and where we're headed.

Just the beginning.

Well said, uh Ben Bentley, 901 North Broadway.

Uh Councilman Grant, thank you for the confidence that you have put in our organization and uh the process partnering with the city on these types of uh planning processes.

It's important to lay that groundwork first, and then it's easy to get it right.

With that said, uh the future process would be us creating a draft based on you all asking us to do that for the area that would include a boundary map.

We notify through mailers every property owner within the redevelopment area.

We also post in Knox News Sentinel three consecutive weeks for a public hearing.

We make that draft available online and physical hard copy in KCDC's office for the so the community can get to know the draft plan, come to the public hearing, hear a little bit more about it, but also specifically provide feedback in terms of what the plan says and what might need to be adjusted.

One thing it's really important to point out the word plan is so ambiguous and can mean so many things.

This the way I would think of this is a framework plan.

So it is really putting some tools in place under state law that allow us to finance major infrastructure.

Um councilman Grant's district, we just put one of these in place on the Magnolia Avenue corridor.

So it's not granular in the sense of this is about a specific project, but it's much more holistic.

How do we make infrastructure connectivity investments across this whole area?

Does that make sense?

No, absolutely, and thank you for that.

That's I mean, I think we all recognize that our North Waterfront is an incredible opportunity to connect, you know, the university to World's Fair Park to Maplehurst to downtown, uh, and that this is an opportunity for us to and the community to come together and set a unified vision for that, and and then and then to be the one sort of driving that process uh versus the process driving us.

So uh and I'm excited to begin this and and for you all to lead that effort on the community's behalf.

And I should say at the tail end, um, after the public comments have been um incorporated, digested, we would come back to you all.

So there is an approval of the plan at City Council, at County Commission, and at KCDC's board level.

Absolutely.

And and to your point, Councilman Grant, the just reassuring the public that this is the beginning of the process.

There's plenty of opportunity to talk about historic preservation, to talk about connectivity to the river, to talk about what's important to us and develop that as part of this process, right?

Absolutely.

Great.

Thank you.

Vice Mayor Fugit.

Thank you.

I I don't often pile on to comments that are made that I agree with, but I will say I think the important thing to remember about this is every good thing that's happened in our city, like downtown, South Not South Waterfront, they all started with a city council asking KCDC to do a redevelopment district.

Those of you that look around understand that those some of those requests were 20 years ago.

This is not an overnight thing, so I'm trying to manage expectations because I think that is where we can get caught up in thinking something has failed.

Downtown didn't look the way it looked overnight.

It's been a 20 to 25-year process, but it started with council people who aren't sitting here who so this is planting a seed for our future that we won't sit around when it comes to fruition.

But if I'm still kicking and there's a ribbon to cut, please invite me.

Because I really do think that we forget about that that people who came before us, a mayor and a council started these things, and then we see it to fruition.

So this is just the first step, and I think it is the kind of project that needs this kind of planning, which is why we all agreed to do it.

So I agree with all you're saying.

I'm just trying to also contextualize the it's gonna be a while before you see a lot of dirt and things coming sometimes.

Yes, you might not be around for all of it, Ben.

Well, that's rude.

I'm just stating facts, you know.

We're not spring chickens anymore.

What?

I'm way older than Ben.

Thank you, Debbie.

Okay, all right.

Um any further questions or comments?

Seeing none.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Thank you, Mr.

Bentley.

And uh thank you, Miss Justice, also for your work on this.

Uh, so far.

And the work will is just beginning.

Next item, please.

13U is an emergency ordinance enacting a one-year moratorium on the permitting construction or development of large data centers requiring 10 megawatts or more of power in the city of Knoxville.

Motion made to approve and seconded.

Uh council members, as promised.

This next item is asking you to approve a one-year moratorium on the permitting or construction of new data centers that require large amounts of electricity and water to operate.

We've all seen in some other communities the quality of life diminish in communities that have not taken the time to regulate and closely study the impacts of these centers.

Our clean air, our clean water are not for sale.

It is our duty to protect these precious resources and to protect Knoxville's quality of life.

On June 8th, I formally requested Knoxville Knox County planning and city staff to develop recommended zoning code changes and other safeguards related to data centers, which currently are not specifically defined in the city's existing codes.

This moratorium gives us time to develop these important guardrails.

I appreciate and advance your support for this.

Any questions or discussion?

Councilman, Vice Mayor Fugit.

Thank you.

A little bit about how the moratorium is one thing, but a little bit of explanation about then what kind of process will you undertake as Planning Commission begins to look at this for zoning and other issues.

Your microphone isn't working.

Also, Patience Melmick, Director of Sustainability can also add even more than Ms.

Brooks was available to me.

Amy Brooks, Knox Knox County Planning.

Um, Councilmember, if you get we are already uh you might recall that Knox County has also asked us to look at this, and we are working on a comprehensive code update for the county, and it is already on our agenda to look at data centers.

So we'll we'll approach this like we do all ordinance amendments and work closely with city staff and the development of those and bring them forward.

Um, probably, you know, I can't give you a timeline right now.

Um, but in terms of the exact process, it would follow the same process of working closely with with um city staff, take it before planning commission for consideration, allow opportunity for public review and input, and then bring it forward to you all after planning commission has made a recommendation.

Okay.

I would just ask that if there's an opportunity for public input from city, please.

A lot of people are concerned about these, so I'd really think as um as much education as we can do as we look at data centers, what they really impact, what do they really do?

Um, I think that will help people feel better when something finally comes to someone to vote on it.

That would be my request.

Good idea.

Councilmember Grant.

Yeah, and thank you, Vice Mayor.

You pretty much asked the question that I was going to ask, and thank you, Amy Brooks as well.

But also thank you to you, Mayor, for just taking the initiative.

You didn't have to do that, right?

Um, so uh to me it shows that you're listening.

Um, and we want to make sure that you know this process is a streamlined process that you know the community is well notified on, and there's not too much misinformation that's being put out there, so just thank you for that.

Thank you.

Councilmember Thomas.

Yes, I would just like to underline something that our colleagues have said is I am getting a lot of public input about this.

Uh members of the public are really really concerned about the effects of these have the whole thing, energy usage, water usage, noise, quality of life.

So this will be uh, I'm sure under a lot of scrutiny about what these guidelines are.

So thank you.

Councilmember Debartelevin.

Um I appreciate and support this uh moratorium.

Um I do want to remind us that we've had data centers in Knox County for a long time, U.S.

cellular is one that has served us well, um, the data that they help us transport between each other, even what I'm doing here, um, but agree that the pressure now of AI uh mining, the amount of power used.

Uh I know that KUB's top power user is a data mining company uh in the forks of the river park.

And um I I think it's gonna be really important in this process not just to think about where, but to think about ordinance issues like sound.

So right now that data center meets the sound ordinance for the city of Knoxville, but that sound ordinance was designed for nightclubs and for bars and for your neighbor.

It wasn't designed for a low hum 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

That said, there are two data centers that are about three megawatts in our downtown area, one next to the baseball stadium, um, one in summer place.

No one knows they're there, you can't hear them, and so really thinking about what are the policies that we put in place uh about renewable energy, um, because we need these, we need some form of these data centers about recyclable water and recycling water in the issue, and then especially sound as it involves our ecology.

And I think of that one that sits right there on the French Broad River, and I think about every fish that lives in that river, every bug on that bank, um, the night skies, and just think that uh we could do this right.

So look forward to the year of doing this.

Thank you.

Um, just some important things to consider is that uh we do have the benefit of not being the first to go through this, and so we can learn from communities that are cautionary tales and you know have some really negative impacts and maybe some that have I've done it right.

That's what this moratorium buys us time to study that, get community ideas.

The one um large data center not that's uh that you mentioned is outside the city limits.

Um, but I I do appreciate that um this is a community-wide issue, and water and air and and KUB are not confined to city limits.

So um I uh anticipate that the planning guidelines will be something that Knox County and the city of Knoxville can um and you know work on together because it's uh what's good for the city is good for the county, and we are Knox County residents and taxpayers as well.

So um we appreciate Knoxville Knox County's planning uh expertise and and work on this.

So um, but yeah, we will keep the community um involved and engaged and uh walk hand in hand uh together on all this.

All those in favor please say aye.

Any opposed motion carries okay.

Time now for public forum.

Uh first is Vivian Scheipe.

Ms.

Scheip, please come to the podium.

You'll have up to three minutes to address council.

Vivian Scheibe, 36 15 MLK Knoxville, 37914.

Tonight I come before you with two areas of community concern.

The first is the need to immediately fill all 21 positions on the disability council.

The pause of the work for the council for the last two years and the shuttering of the disability office and removal of access to a certified coordinator did not end the suffering and the need for information and services in the disability community.

It is imperative that all those seats be filled by representatives from all nine districts, for they have the lived experiences to be the voice that has been silenced with a directive to call 311 or the HR department.

The second issue concerns the Chihuahua Park Advisory Group.

The information placed on the website concerning the park reveals a problem.

There are people on the group that did not know they were even selected.

Some of those selected have not been attending meetings, and there are those on this group who were for the sale of that public land who should never have been placed on this group in the first place.

These choices have now manifested into the eighth principle presented on the website that states vision of the park should be one that includes a hotel, housing, and entertainment centers.

This is not what the people want to see in Chihuahua Park.

As of July 1st, there is now two million dollars of the promised 10 million dollars available to immediately see something positive on that land.

How hard is it to go by some picnic tables, shelters, and gazebos?

Right now, people could be holding summer reunions, weddings, church picnics, and how about some splash pads?

How about some swing sets?

We could be doing that now.

Long term.

How about digging up all that asphalt and planting some grass?

That's what the people want.

Put hotels on Magnolia if you want to develop an area.

That is not the work of the CPAG.

The community did not go away, and we are not going away.

We are the watchman on the wall, and we want transparency.

We want true action, not empty promises or bait and switch techniques.

It's time to walk the talk made at the budget reveal and make Chihuahua Park a place for the people.

Mr.

Hopewell.

Okay, come to the podium.

Please state your name and address for the record.

You'll have up to three minutes to address council.

Yeah, Mr.

Johnson will come get them and distribute them for you.

Okay, thank you so much.

He's gonna start the clock and then he'll come together.

So he didn't want to start leave this place.

Uh good evening.

Um, on behalf of the Hope Well Foundation, uh my name is Rico Hopewell.

I reside at 5024 Landbrook Drive, Nossal, Tennessee, 37921.

Um, I just want to say good evening.

On behalf of the Hope Foundation, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mayor India Kincanan, um, to the City of Knoxville, the City Council, and the African-American Equity Restoration Task Force for your continued investment in entrepreneurship economic development in the future of our community.

This year, the second time that the Hopewell Foundation has been honored to receive the African American Equity Restoration Task Fork grant.

Receiving this 10,000 dollar grant was much more than financial support.

It was an investment in people, purpose, and possibility.

Because of your investment, we've successfully hosted our entrepreneurship 101 from idea to action workshop on May the 8th, 2026 from 8:30 a.m.

to 330 p.m.

at the day gaining practical tools, building relationships, and developing strategies to launch and grow successful businesses.

The quality of leadership represented at this workshop was extraordinary.

Participants learned from leaders from the University of Tennessee, Havlem College of Business, representatives from um Knox County government, experienced business strategists, successful local entrepreneurs, banking professionals, and respected faith um leaders.

Their willingness to invest their knowledge and experience made a lasting impact on everyone in attendance.

What made this event even more special was the incredible support from our community.

More than 50 local businesses and community partners joined this initiative by donating outstanding raffle prize, including a brand new set of tires.

We raised enough funds to give away an Apple iMac monitor, iPads, and Apple laptops, gift cards, professional service, and many other valuable resources.

It was a true demonstration of what happens when the entire community rallies around entrepreneurship and on and opportunity.

I also wanted to share another blessing that reflects the heart of this work and why I love my city and why I love it it's growing and I've been here my entire life and I love to see the growth in our city.

Um but I was able, through my efforts of being entrepreneurship here in Knoxville, was able to give seven Austin East High School students a thousand dollars apiece towards their college education, and for that I'm truly truly grateful to be able to do that.

I also want to recognize and thank the members of the African American Equity Restoration Task Force who have faithfully served our city, and your leadership has opened doors for organizations like ours to make a measurable difference as this important work continues.

I look forward to partnering with the city council member, uh Councilman Danzel Grant, and the Nassau City Council to create even more opportunities for individuals, families, and small businesses across our city.

Together, we are proving that when government nonprofits, businesses, okay, there we go.

I'm gone.

I was gone.

I was gone.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hope.

All right.

Council members, that concludes public forum.

And without objection, no, I just want to say thank you because it's not too often that grant recipients make the time to come back and say thank you.

So thank you, Rico.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Without objection, this meeting is adjourned.