Knoxville City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

The Knoxville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Main Assembly Room, 400 W Main Street. After the invocation, pledge, and roll call (Councilmember Grant was absent), council approved the previous minutes and agenda. Voice votes were used throughout; no numerical tallies were recorded.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the August 4, 2026 regular meeting minutes and adopted the consent agenda after removing items 12P and 13X for separate consideration.
• Approved the remaining consent items, including the FY26/27 operating and capital budget amendment, Planning-related resolutions and ordinances, the Knoxville Area Transit grant application for $4,556,250 with a required city match of up to $455,625, and a $200,000 U.S. Department of Justice COPS grant with no local match.
• Items 12P and 13X were later approved individually.

Reports and Announcements

• Mayor Kincannon thanked KPD Chief David Powell and officers, announced the next recruit graduation Thursday evening, and promoted a community resource event on Saturday, August 29 at the World's Fair Park Exhibition Hall.
• Councilmember Thomas announced the opening of the Sioux Clancy Greenway extension, a mile-long missing link connecting Ayork Park with areas north of I-640 and Broadway to neighborhoods south of Sharps Ridge.
• Councilmember Honeycutt announced a stormwater public meeting on Thursday, August 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dean Hill Rec Center and a KPSHA Labor Day picnic on Monday, September 7.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On 10D, Eddie DeBusque supported putting the majority-vote/runoff question to voters but asked for simpler ballot language. Lindsay Jaremko opposed, saying a 50%-plus-one standard would make primaries more expensive and hurt grassroots candidates; she cited her own $5,000 primary campaign that came within 24 votes and Councilmember Honeycutt's campaign of nearly $73,000, about $3 for every dollar his opponent raised.
• On 10E, Eddie DeBusque repeated his request that charter amendment language be simplified before voters decide.
• On 12N, Roger Ramsey and Mac Hodges, owners at 1004 Game Day Way, said they were not opposed to the North Waterfront plan but wanted explicit protections against acquisition, displacement, or eminent domain in the later Maplehurst master plan. They asked KCDC to continue working with them on mutually agreeable language.
• During public forum, Keith Britt urged the Mayor to fire the police chief, called for outside review of KPD personnel records, and asked council to create accountability rules, citing an August 6 incident he described as a police chief openly interfering in an internal investigation.

Discussion Items

• 9B - Mayor's Maker Council: Approved the resolution supporting the reappointments and new appointments to the Mayor's Maker Council.
• 10D - Charter amendment to align council elections with the mayor's majority-vote/runoff standard: Approved. Supporters including Vice Mayor Fugate and Councilmember Honeycutt said it would align council elections with the mayor and municipal judge and increase voter participation. Opponents including Councilmember Parker said grassroots candidates and voters would have less time to raise funds and learn about candidates. The ordinance will be submitted to Knoxville voters.
• 10E - Charter amendment on district-only primary voting and advancing candidates with the two highest vote totals: Failed on a voice vote. Councilmember Parker said the language had been vetted since 2022, but Councilmembers Thomas and Honeycutt opposed it over plurality-winner concerns and deviation from state law. Councilmember DeBardelaben said she was still considering a runoff approach.
• 12F - Magnolia Avenue Streetscapes Phase 3: Approved an agreement with Adams Contracting, LLC for up to $2,807,530.50. The Mayor said the project extends the streetscape another half mile between North Bertrand and North Kyle Streets.
• 12G - Construction engineering inspection for Magnolia Avenue Phase 3: Approved an agreement with Gresham Smith for up to $338,800. Councilmember Parker asked about federal funding and DBE goals; Engineering Director Tom Cleveland said the project is 80% federal and 20% local match.
• 12H - Fire hose and ground ladder testing: Approved an agreement with FireCatt, LLC for $29,850 annually.
• 12I - Homemakers Program property: Approved a quitclaim deed to East Tennessee Housing Development Corporation for 210 S. Elmwood Street for $7,000.
• 12J - Volunteer Ministry Center: Approved funding for case management and social services at Minvilla Manor, the Resource Center, and Bush Family Refuge for up to $54,500 per the agenda; the transcript read $54,000.
• 12K - Southeastern Housing Foundation II: Approved $75,000 for case management and property management at Flenniken Landing. Councilmembers praised the permanent supportive housing model.
• 12L - Appalachian Mountain Bike Club: Approved an annual MOU of up to $200,000 for natural surface trail maintenance. Councilmember Parker questioned the amount and lack of a detailed budget; AMBC Executive Director Matthew Kellogg said the funds support three full-time staff and an AmeriCorps member and leverage about 3,500 volunteer hours. Other members cited AMBC's record on Sharps Ridge.
• 12M - Sports Authority golf course MOU: Approved an MOU among the City, Knox County, and the Knoxville/Knox County Sports Authority to explore modernizing the Knoxville Municipal Golf Course site. Councilmember Parker had raised transparency concerns just before this item but did not resume discussion.
• 12N - North Waterfront Redevelopment Plan: Approved the plan prepared by Knoxville's Community Development Corporation. KCDC CEO Ben Bentley committed to a six-month Maplehurst planning process, including initial stakeholder meetings and a broader community meeting in January, and said the plan already names 1004 Game Day Way and disclaims eminent domain use on owner-occupied residential properties. UT Chief of Staff Matthew Scoggins committed to public engagement similar to UT's South Waterfront process.
• 12O - WP South Acquisitions PILOT: Approved authorization for the Industrial Development Board to negotiate and accept payments in lieu of taxes for properties at 222 Patton Street, 0 Patton Street, 410 Georgia Street, and 400 Georgia Street. Councilmember Parker asked about stadium TIFF district finances; KCDC's Bentley said existing increment covers the city's infrastructure debt, while this PILOT would delay repayment of a $20 million personal note and increase revenue in years 11 through 20.
• 12P - Jonathan's Grille: Approved a resolution approving a major modification to a previously approved final plan in a Planned Development District at 406 Willow Avenue, subject to six conditions.
• 13S - Classification and compensation plans: Approved on first reading.
• 13T - Department name change: Approved on first reading to rename Information Systems to Innovation and Technology.
• 13U - Monkeys per household: Approved on first reading an ordinance limiting the number of monkeys per household without a kennel permit. The Mayor noted an affected resident was present; the ordinance will return for second reading in two weeks.
• 13V - Alley closure at 116 Heins Street: Approved on first reading.
• 13X - 1900 Hoitt Avenue zoning: Approved on first reading changing base zoning from RN-2 to I-MU.

Key Outcomes

• Charter amendment 10D passed and will be submitted to city voters for approval.
• Charter amendment 10E failed and will not advance.
• All consent and listed contract, grant, planning, and ordinance items were approved. Items 13S, 13T, 13U, 13V, and 13X were approved on first reading and will return for second reading.
• KCDC agreed to publish the Maplehurst planning process schedule on its website, notify council of future meetings, and continue working with Game Day Way owners on protective language.
• The meeting adjourned after public forum.