City of Knoxville · City Council
On November 14, 2023, the City of Knoxville, TN City Council recorded 36 published decisions. Each links to its place in the official minutes.
Official minutes (PDF) →Our summary — not the record
The City Council met to discuss and approve several resolutions and ordinances. Key decisions included awarding grant money for youth programs and community building, extending a contract for golf course management, and approving agreements for waste hauling and climate initiatives. The council also advanced several zoning and land use changes, including amendments to sector plans and changes to base zoning classifications.
From the minutes
“Speaking in favor of the resolution:”
“Speaking in opposition to the resolution:”
“Speaking in favor of the ordinance:”
“Speaking in opposition to the ordinance:”
Quotes are copied word-for-word from the official minutes linked on this page.
Absent: Charles Thomas (all 17 recorded votes)· Lynne Fugate (9 of 17 recorded votes)
approve the minutes of the October 31, 2023 Regular Meeting of City Council
Motion to approve the minutes of the October 31, 2023 Regular Meeting of City Council
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →postponed Ordinances 12-k, 12-l, and 12-m for two weeks
Motion to postpone Ordinances 12-k, 12-l, and 12-m for two weeks
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →An Ordinance approving the request of Amy Sherrill for an amendment to the North City Sector Plan from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential/Office for property located at 114 Sylvia Drive. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-A-23-SP) (Council District 5)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Motion to postpone Ordinances 12-k, 12-l, and 12-m for two weeks
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →Moved by unrecorded
An Ordinance approving the request of Amy Sherrill for a One Year Plan amendment from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential/Office for property located at 114 Sylvia Drive. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-A-23-PA) (Council District 5)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Motion to postpone Ordinances 12-k, 12-l, and 12-m for two weeks
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →Moved by unrecorded
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification for property located at 114 Sylvia Drive from RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District to RN-5 (General Residential Neighborhood) District, Amy Sherrill, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-A-23-RZ) (Council District 5)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Motion to postpone Ordinances 12-k, 12-l, and 12-m for two weeks
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →Moved by unrecorded
postpone Resolution 11-a for four weeks
Motion to postpone Resolution 11-a for four weeks
Moved by Janet Testerman · seconded by Lynne Fugate
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution honoring the memory of Larry G. Cox, and to express Council's condolences to his family upon the occasion of his passing.(Requested by Council)
Motion to postpone Resolution 11-a for four weeks
Moved by Janet Testerman · seconded by Lynne Fugate
Follow & discuss this decision →Moved by unrecorded
postpone Ordinance 12-h for two weeks
Motion to postpone Ordinance 12-h for two weeks
Moved by Lauren Rider · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification for property located at 707 Delapp Drive from RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District to RN-2 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District, Jim Fox, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-M-23-RZ) (Council District 5)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Motion to postpone Ordinance 12-h for two weeks
Moved by Lauren Rider · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →Moved by unrecorded
approve the consent item
Motion to approve the consent item
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Gwen McKenzie
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution approving the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance to Om Liquor, Inc. relative to its application to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) for a license to operate a liquor store in the City.(Requested by Finance Department)
Motion to approve the consent item
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Gwen McKenzie
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution expressing support for the Mayor’s reappointment of Alanna McKissack, Brent Waugh, and Philip Hipps, and appointment of Lily Seabolt, TaShawn Ransome, and Erin Hatfield to the Neighborhood Advisory Council and expressing appreciation to Greg Easterly, Breyauna Holloway, and Emma Ellis-Cosigua for their years of service on the Neighborhood Advisory Board.(Requested by Mayor Kincannon)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution approving the annual budget of the Central Business Improvement District, more currently known as Downtown Knoxville Alliance, for Fiscal Year 2023-2024(Requested by Administration)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents necessary to award a total amount not to exceed $72,000.00 in Empower Knox grants to provide support and programming for youth and young adults to 10 community-based organizations in the City.(Requested by Office of Community Safety and Empowerment)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →A resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents necessary to award a total amount not to exceed $6,700.00 in Neighborhood Small Grants Program grants to support of community-building activities planned by three neighborhood organizations in the City.(Requested by Office of Community Safety and Empowerment)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →A resolution authorizing the Mayor to utilize and strengthen existing tools to increase the affordable and attainable housing supply in Knoxville.(Requested by Housing and Neighborhood Development Department)
Moved by Tommy Smith · seconded by Lauren Rider
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a one year extension to agreement C-08-0141 with Indigo Sports, LLC FKA Billy Casper Golf, LLC, to provide golf management services at Whittle Springs Golf Course and Knoxville Municipal Golf Course, for an annual amount not to exceed $182,872.56.(Requested by Department of Parks and Recreation)
Moved by Lauren Rider · seconded by Andrew Roberto
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a subrecipient agreement with the Oak Ridge Police Department to award an amount not to exceed $25,000.00, pursuant to a grant from the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs under the Violent Crime Intervention Fund Collaboration, to be used to fund intensive forensic training for two investigators and to purchase cameras, lenses and accessories to be used to document crime scenes, as part of their Violent Crime Intervention Strategies.(Requested by Knoxville Police Department)
Moved by Janet Testerman · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement between the City of Knoxville and Waste Connections of Tennessee, Inc. for the hauling and disposal of municipal solid waste and construction demolition debris and for installation of a compactor for an estimated amount of $1,472,600.00 annually.(Requested by Public Service Department)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an Agreement with Knoxville-Knox County Planning to support the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency in an amount not to exceed $350,000.00.(Requested by Office of Sustainability)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Seema Singh
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution respectfully requesting Knoxville Knox County Planning to consider and make a recommendation to City Council regarding the inclusion of RN-1 zoned districts as part of the Missing Middle Housing Proposal.(Requested by Councilmembers Smith and Singh)
Motion to approve the resolution
Moved by Tommy Smith · seconded by Seema Singh
Follow & discuss this decision →Motion to amend the resolution by inserting the words 'within the TDR area' after the word 'districts' in Section 1, and by inserting the word 'a' after the second 'as' in Section 1.
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Tommy Smith
Follow & discuss this decision →A Resolution respectfully requesting Knoxville Knox County Planning to consider and make a recommendation to City Council regarding the possible amendment of short term rental permits to include rental properties located within residentially zoned districts.(Requested by Councilmembers Smith and Singh)
Motion to approve the resolution
Moved by Tommy Smith · seconded by Seema Singh
An Ordinance of the Council of the City of Knoxville to amend Chapter 2, Article III, Division 22, Sections 2-450 of the Knoxville City Code to adjust the classification and compensation plans.(Requested by Human Resources Department)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Follow & discuss this decision →An Ordinance of the Council of the City of Knoxville to amend Chapter 2, Articles I, II, VIII, and X and Chapter 15, Article II of the Knoxville City Code relating to the administration and enforcement of the City's antidiscrimination ordinances and program.(Requested by Human Resources Department)
Motion to approve the ordinance
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Lauren Rider
Motion to postpone the ordinance for four weeks
Moved by Amelia Parker · seconded by Seema Singh
Follow & discuss this decision →An Ordinance appropriating the sum of $3,000.00 from the Parks and Recreation Department's operating budget and donating same toward the sponsorship of Appalachian Mountain Bike Club's annual AMBC Fall Festival.(Requested by Department of Parks and Recreation)
Moved by Andrew Roberto · seconded by Gwen McKenzie
An Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. O-107-2019, known and cited as The City of Knoxville Zoning Code, Appendix B, Article 7, “Form Based Code Districts," to correct the article and section references pertaining to “City of Knoxville Board of Zoning Appeals” and “Variances,” to limit the percentage of ground floor transparency variances and permitted deviations for minimum interior and rear setbacks for stand-alone parking lots, and to provide standards for stand-alone surface parking lots in the South Waterfront Districts. City of Knoxville, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-A-23-OA) (All Districts)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Tommy Smith · seconded by Andrew Roberto
An Ordinance to close an unnamed alley from Wilson Avenue to the southwest corner of parcel 082 KP 016, and authorizing the mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to the adjacent property owners, Eric Forrestall, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-A-23-AC) (Council District 6)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Tommy Smith
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification for property located at 2031 and 2033 Piney Grove Church Road from RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District to AG (Agricultural) District, Gabriel W. Ratcliffe, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 11-A-22-RZ) (Council District 3)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Seema Singh · seconded by Lauren Rider
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification for property located at 121 Union Avenue and 0 State Street from DK-G (Downtown Knoxville District, Grid Subdistrict) to DK-B (Downtown Knoxville District, Boulevards Subdistrict), Smee + Busby Architects, P.C., Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 6-4) (File No. 9-G-23-RZ) (Council District 6)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
The minutes do not clearly record the outcome.
An Ordinance approving the request of Maple Lane Homes LLC for an amendment to the Northwest City Sector Plan from Civic and Institutional to Low Density Residential for property located at 0 Westridge Drive. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0) (File No. 10-E-23-SP) (Council District 2)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
The minutes do not clearly record the outcome.
An Ordinance approving the request of Maple Lane Homes LLC for a One Year Plan amendment from Civic and Institutional to Low Density Residential for property located at 0 Westridge Drive. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0) (File No. 10-E-23-PA) (Council District 2)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
The minutes do not clearly record the outcome.
An Ordinance approving the request of Juan Hernandez for an amendment to the North City Sector Plan from Mixed Use-Regional Center to Low Density Residential for property located at 4600 Ernestine Drive, leaving any special purpose land use classifications unchanged. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-C-23-SP) (Council District 4)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
The minutes do not clearly record the outcome.
An Ordinance approving the request of Juan Hernandez for a One Year Plan amendment from Mixed Use-Regional Center to Low Density Residential for property located at 4600 Ernestine Drive, leaving any special purpose land use classifications unchanged. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-C-23-PA) (Council District 4)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Lauren Rider · seconded by Gwen McKenzie
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 4600 Ernestine Drive from RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District to RN-2 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) District, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Juan Hernandez, Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-D-23-RZ) (Council District 4)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Lauren Rider · seconded by Gwen McKenzie
An Ordinance approving the request of Matt W. Brazille, P.E. for an amendment to the Central City Sector Plan from Medium Density Residential to Mixed Use-Neighborhood Center for property located at 1500 Fort Promise Drive, and at 1203 and 1331 West Oldham Avenue, leaving any special purpose land use classifications unchanged. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-D-23-SP) (Council District 6)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Lauren Rider
An Ordinance approving the request of Matt W. Brazille, P.E. for a One Year Plan amendment from Medium Density Residential to Mixed Use-Neighborhood Center for property located at 1500 Fort Promise Drive, and at 1203 and 1331 West Oldham Avenue, leaving any special purpose land use classifications unchanged. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-D-23-PA) (Council District 6)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Lauren Rider
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 1500 Fort Promise Drive and at 1203 and 1331 West Oldham Avenue from RN-5 (General Residential Neighborhood) District to C-N (Neighborhood Commercial) District, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Matt W. Brazille, P.E., Applicant. (Planning Commission Approved 10-0 Consent) (File No. 10-H-23-RZ) (Council District 6)(Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission)
Moved by Gwen McKenzie · seconded by Tommy Smith
Motion to suspend the rules to allow all those signed up to speak for up to three minutes each.
Motion to suspend the rules to allow all those signed up to speak for up to three minutes each.
Moved by Andrew Roberto
Follow & discuss this decision →