Photo: City of Knoxville (official portrait, used for identification)
Matthew DeBardelaben has cast 431 published votes on the City of Knoxville, TN City Council, attending 99.8% of recorded roll calls, with 24 motions made and 6 dissents (a “no” on an adopted item).
On the issues
-
License-plate readers & surveillance cameras · voted on 1 decision · 1 split
- Aug 4, 2026 Aye Apply for Downtown Knoxville Alliance funding for cameras — adopted 8-1-0-0
-
Data centers · voted on 1 decision · none split
- Jul 7, 2026 Aye Emergency ordinance enacting moratorium on large data centers — adopted 7-0-0-2
-
Property taxes & reappraisal · voted on 1 decision · none split
- Sep 15, 2026 Aye Set certified property tax rate at $1.3956 per $100 assessed value — adopted 7-0-0-2
-
Developer tax breaks (PILOTs) · voted on 2 decisions · 1 split
- Aug 18, 2026 Aye Authorize IDB to negotiate PILOT payments for Patton/Georgia streets — adopted 7-1-0-1
-
Homelessness & shelters · voted on 8 decisions · none split
- Jun 23, 2026 Aye Authorize agreement with Community Mediation Center for mediation services — adopted 8-0-0-1
-
Middle housing in Knoxville · voted on 2 decisions · 1 split
- Sep 15, 2026 Aye Overturn Planning Commission denial for housing at 1415 W Fifth Avenue — adopted 6-1-0-2
-
Chilhowee Park · voted on 1 decision · 1 split
- May 26, 2026 Aye Approve contract with Taylor's Lawn Service for Chilhowee Park — adopted 7-1-0-1
Attendance
430 of 431
recorded votes he or she was present for
present means neither absent nor recused
1
recorded votes marked absent or recused
Counted from roll calls, not a sign-in sheet — a member who was present but recorded no vote is indistinguishable here from one who was absent.
When the board disagrees
43 contested decisions · how these are counted
43
contested decisions he or she cast a yes or no on
a decision is contested when at least one member voted the other way
6
of those, voted no on something adopted anyway
24 / 30
motions moved / seconded
Recaps: First 100 days · 2026 in review · 2025 in review
Patterns
How these are computed ↓Deterministic breakdowns of Matthew DeBardelaben’s published record — not a score or a rating. Raw counts are always shown; a percentage appears only once there are at least 10 votes. As of the meeting of September 29, 2026 — the newest published record.
Votes by topic
| Topic | Votes | Aye | No | Abstain | Body median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning & land use | 95 | 92 (97%) | 2 (2%) | 0 | 9–0 | See votes → |
| Budget & taxes | 24 | 24 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 8–0 | See votes → |
| Contracts & purchasing | 53 | 52 (98%) | 1 (2%) | 0 | 8–0 | See votes → |
| Personnel & appointments | 40 | 40 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 9–0 | See votes → |
| Public safety | 31 | 31 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 8–0 | See votes → |
| Roads & infrastructure | 51 | 51 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 8–0 | See votes → |
| Parks & community | 25 | 25 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 9–0 | See votes → |
| Intergovernmental & resolutions | 33 | 33 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 | 8–0 | See votes → |
| Surveillance & privacy technology | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8–1 | See votes → |
Attendance & dissent over time
Attendance rate
Dissents (no on adopted)
| Year | Votes | Present | Attendance | Dissents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 3 of 3 | 0 | See votes → |
| 2026 | 428 | 427 | 100% | 6 | See votes → |
Agreement with other members
Computed over contested votes only — the 43 non-unanimous (split) votes Matthew DeBardelaben cast, where the room recorded at least one Aye and at least one No. Unanimous votes are excluded because they carry no signal.
| Member | Voted the same | Shared split votes |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Helsley | 38 of 43 (88%) | 43 |
| Karyn Adams | 35 of 42 (83%) | 42 |
| Nathan Honeycutt | 31 of 39 (79%) | 39 |
| Charles Thomas | 31 of 41 (76%) | 41 |
| Lynne Fugate | 30 of 40 (75%) | 40 |
| Doug Lloyd | 30 of 43 (70%) | 43 |
| Denzel Grant | 26 of 38 (68%) | 38 |
| Amelia Parker | 11 of 42 (26%) | 42 |
Motions made & seconded, by topic
| Topic | Made | Seconded | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning & land use | 8 | 8 | See votes → |
| Budget & taxes | 3 | 3 | See votes → |
| Contracts & purchasing | 1 | 3 | See votes → |
| Personnel & appointments | 2 | 1 | See votes → |
| Public safety | 0 | 3 | See votes → |
| Roads & infrastructure | 5 | 3 | See votes → |
| Parks & community | 0 | 1 | See votes → |
| Intergovernmental & resolutions | 1 | 0 | See votes → |
How these breakdowns are computed
Every figure on this page is a deterministic computation over Matthew DeBardelaben’s published roll-call votes on City of Knoxville, TN City Council — the same record set behind the vote table below. Nothing is a composite score, a grade, or a ranking. The general pipeline (sources, extraction, gates, review) is described on the methodology page.
- Votes by topic. Each published motion is attributed to every distinct neutral topic its agenda items carry — the primary subject and any secondary tags alike, so an item counts under every topic it’s about (and a consent-calendar motion covering several items counts under each); procedural items are excluded, as in the default vote browser. Aye/No/Abstain are counts of Matthew DeBardelaben’s own vote. A percentage is shown only when the topic has at least 10 votes. Body median is the median of the Aye and No tallies across the same motion set — the typical room split on that topic.
- Attendance & dissent over time. Bucketed by the calendar year of each meeting. Attendance = votes where Matthew DeBardelaben was recorded present (not absent or recused) ÷ total votes that year; the percentage is shown only when the year has at least 10 votes. Dissents = “No” votes on motions the body adopted anyway. The denominators for every year are in the table above.
- Term timeline & election markers. The two trend strips plot the yearly attendance and dissent figures above on a single time axis spanning Matthew DeBardelaben’s full term (Dec 20, 2025–present). The vertical lines mark public election-calendar dates — candidate-filing deadlines, primaries, and general elections — that fall within that span, each labeled with its date and type. Those dates are a matter of public record ; the timeline itself makes no claim about them. It marks the dates and draws the line; any pattern near an election is the reader’s to notice, not ours to assert.
- Agreement with other members. Computed over contested votes only — motions where the roll call recorded at least one Aye and at least one No. For each colleague, the record set is the split motions where both cast an Aye or No (their seated overlap); “voted the same” counts the motions they cast the identical value on. A percentage is shown only when that shared set reaches 10 votes. Unanimous votes are excluded on purpose: they would launder everyone into near-total agreement.
- Motions made & seconded. Straight counts of published motions where Matthew DeBardelaben is recorded as the mover or the seconder in the minutes, grouped by the motion’s neutral topic(s).
Disclosed interests
Reprinted from Matthew DeBardelaben’s annual Statement of Interests (Form SS-8005) — a public record filed with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. Entity names and categories exactly as filed, for the official and spouse; the form states no dollar amounts, and neither do we. Each filing links to its source.
Voting record
| Meeting | Agenda item | Vote | Badges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2026 |
O-9-2026
Add PD zoning designation for 406 Willow Avenue
An Ordinance to amend the zoning map to add the PD (Planned Development) designation for property located at 406 Willow Avenue, Brad Salsbury, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-A-25-PD) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 20, 2026 |
O-8-2026
Close a portion of Reed Street and authorize quitclaim deeds to adjacent owners
An Ordinance to close a portion of Reed Street adjacent to City Blocks 21163 and 21164, running south from W Baxter Ave and terminating at the north side of an unnamed alley, and authorizing the Mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to the adjacent property owners. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 20, 2026 |
Approval of the January 6, 2026 regular meeting minutes
Minutes of the January 6, 2026 Regular Meeting
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
12-O-25-RZ
Change zoning at 1921 Old Callahan Dr from C-H-2 to RN-1
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 1921 Old Callahan Drive from C-H-2 (Highway Commercial) district to RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) district, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Susan Hancock, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-O-25-RZ) (Council District 3) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
12-M-25-RZ
Change zoning at 4407-4411 Tippins Dr from I-G to RN-2
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of a portion of property located at 4407 and 4411 Tippins Drive from I-G (General Industrial) district to RN-2 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) district, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Joshua Schmitt, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-M-25-RZ) (Council District 1) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
12-L-25-RZ
Change zoning at 250 Patton St from I-MU to DK-W
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 250 Patton Street from I-MU (Industrial Mixed-Use) district to DK-W (Downtown Knoxville Warehouse Subdistrict) district, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Alpha Residential, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-L-25-RZ) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
12-H-25-RZ
Change zoning at 0 Western Ave from C-G-1 to C-G-3
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 0 Western Avenue from C-G-1 (General Commercial) district to C-G-3 (General Commercial) district, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Eric Forrestall, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-H-25-RZ) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
12-A-25-PD
Add PD designation for property at 406 Willow Avenue
An Ordinance to amend the zoning map to add the PD (Planned Development) designation for property located at 406 Willow Avenue, Brad Salsbury, Applicant. (Planning staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 12-A-25-PD) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
Close portion of Reed Street and authorize quitclaim deeds
An Ordinance to close a portion of Reed Street adjacent to City Blocks 21163 and 21164, running south from W Baxter Ave and terminating at the north side of an unnamed alley, and authorizing the Mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to the adjacent property owners. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-10-2026
Grant pensions to certain individuals
A Resolution granting pensions in certain amounts per month to certain individuals, employees of the City of Knoxville as set forth in the exhibit attached hereto. (Requested by Pension Board)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-9-2026
Apply for and accept grant from DOJ for ICAC Task Force
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute any and all documents necessary to apply for and accept a grant award of $631,577.00, with no local match, from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, for continued funding of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. (Requested by Police Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-8-2026
Contract with Event Approvals, Inc. for E-Permitting Software System
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Event Approvals, Inc. to provide the City with an E-Permitting Software System to facilitate the issuance of special event permits for a period of three years, with a total annual cost not to exceed $50,000.00. (Requested by Office of Special Events)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-7-2026
Authorize agreement with PFM Financial Advisors LLC as city financial advisor
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with PFM Financial Advisors LLC to serve as the City's financial advisor to develop and assist with implementation of the City's financial strategies to meet its current and long-term operations, financial obligations and financing needs, and to render assistance concerning potential debt transactions, in an amount not to exceed $375,000.00 for a three-year term with two optional one-year extensions. (Requested by Finance Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-6-2026
Authorize agreement with Henley Roofing Co. for L.T. Ross Building Reroof
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Henley Roofing Company, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $779,200.00 for the L.T. Ross Building Reroof Project. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-5-2026
Amend agreement with Progression Electric for traffic signal maintenance
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to amend the agreement with Progression Electric, LLC for the Citywide Traffic Signal Maintenance project, increasing the annual amount by $25,000.00 for a new total annual amount of $150,000.00. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-4-2026
Authorize agreement with LinkLive, Inc. for VOIP services for 311/211
A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with LinkLive, Inc. to provide VOIP communication services for the Center for Service Innovation 311/211, at an initial cost of $31,000.00, and an ongoing annual cost of $24,000.00. (Requested by 311/211 Center for Service Innovation)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-7-2026
Change zoning at 0 Global Way from OP to C-G-3
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of a portion of property located at 0 Global Way from OP (Office Park) district to C-G-3 (General Commercial) district, leaving all special purpose overlay districts unchanged, Pellissippi Dutchtown General Partnership, Applicant. (Planning Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 11-L-25-RZ) (Council District 2) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-6-2026
Change zoning at 100 W. Depot Ave from I-G to DK-W
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 100 W. Depot Avenue from I-G (General Industrial) district to DK-W (Downtown Knoxville Warehouse Subdistrict) district, 100 W. Depot Investors, LLC, Applicant. (Planning Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 11-F-25-RZ) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-5-2026
Change zoning at 0 W. Depot Ave from N/A to DK-W
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification for property located at 0 W. Depot Avenue from N/A (No zone) to DK-W (Downtown Knoxville Warehouse Subdistrict) district, 100 W. Depot Investors, LLC, Applicant. (Planning Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 11-E-25-RZ) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-4-2026
Change zoning at 207 Hidell Rd from C-H-2 to RN-2
An Ordinance to change the base zoning classification of property located at 207 Hidell Road from C-H-2 (Highway Commercial) district to RN-2 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) district, leaving all special purpose and overlay districts unchanged, Sean Olu, Applicant. (Planning Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 11-C-25-RZ) (Council District 6) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-3-2026
Amend Zoning Code to remove planned district designation at 4900 Buffat Mill Rd
An Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. O-107-2019, known and cited as The City of Knoxville Zoning Code, to remove a previously approved planned district (C) designation from property located at 4900 Buffat Mill Road, Joel & Pam Poteat, Applicant. (Planning Staff recommended approval; Planning Commission Approved 13-0 Consent) (File No. 11-A-25-SU) (Council District 4) (Requested by Knoxville-Knox County Planning)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-2-2026
Close portion of Fort Dickerson Road and authorize quitclaim deeds
An Ordinance to close a portion of Fort Dickerson Road adjacent to City Block 25310, lying immediately west of Tax I.D. 109HA026, and authorizing the Mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to the adjacent property owners. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
O-1-2026
Close portion of Eleanor Street and authorize quitclaim deeds
An Ordinance to close a portion of Eleanor Street adjacent to City Block 11662, lying immediately east of properties 911 and 917 Eleanor Street, 081ML009 and 081ML007, and authorizing the Mayor to execute quitclaim deeds to the adjacent property owners. (Requested by Engineering Department)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-3-2026
Confirm appointment of Lisa Sorensen to Design Review Board
A Resolution confirming the appointment of Lisa Sorensen to the Design Review Board. (Requested by Mayor Kincannon)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-2-2026
Confirm appointment of Jackie Robinson to Police Advisory and Review Committee
A Resolution confirming the appointment of Jackie Robinson to the Police Advisory and Review Committee. (Requested by Mayor Kincannon)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
R-1-2026
Confirm reappointment of Luis Urrea to Board of Zoning Appeals
A Resolution confirming the reappointment of Luis Urrea to serve as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals. (Requested by Mayor Kincannon)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
Approve minutes of the December 20, 2025 Special Meeting
Minutes of the December 20, 2025 Special Meeting
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Jan 6, 2026 |
Approve minutes of the December 9, 2025 Regular Meeting
Minutes of the December 9, 2025 Regular Meeting
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Dec 20, 2025 |
Elect Vice-Mayor
Election of Vice-Mayor
|
Aye |
|
| Dec 20, 2025 |
Elect City Council Representative to KTA
Election of City Council Representative to the Knoxville Transportation Authority (KTA)
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|
| Dec 20, 2025 |
Elect Beer Board Chair
Election of Beer Board Chair
|
Aye |
Unanimous
|