[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6183597,"mediaKeyId","5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a","parentId",5096605,"title","Votes at a glance: Key actions taken by Knoxville City Council on July 1, 2025","audioSeconds",6564,"startMs",935000,"endMs",7499000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a&start=935&end=7499","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a/thumbnail_935000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183597/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Key-actions-taken-by-Knoxville-City-Council-on-July-1-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183597-16749a331e3399fecfed336217ef9e49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155199&Signature=Pu7yBaPL0aZ5~nuIQAAaHDTVQ9gC~51fzNtrEexYUZjbx~sh4u9X5JMUcIGEhUOfNUwnvNiifHcmckttGp5c2pPbm3hicWHLmUFM74ckHl7jOswGapuVBD6Nt0FtSeFSrtaOofmaruKzWkwFAcRaaYvfMZWgS4ZLsJZQ2-IyumJWdT8lLZv4Dn7I2fVx2u3TmDw~nASnkhip2oCfeb3BPJ7~ldU964yBgRbttIlt~AhZB6UeN-AFjH-zpzQggG5PCskh8HmEeTVhlRn4Cwr6ey2Jt82bV-m02FfCjmeEk4oZpOHaTUXfXB2YfwZ3QbtBxuHeI91nXvH3OaAOYIBvsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Knoxville, TN","date","2025-06-27T15:55:34Z","article","The Knoxville City Council took the following formal actions at its July 1 meeting. Tally details are included where the transcript records them; if the transcript did not report a roll-call tally the item outcome is given as recorded.

- 8b: Resolution confirming the reappointment of Jared Warsham and appointing Lisa Serb and Sarah Martin to the Design Review Board — Motion carried.

- 9d: Ordinance to levy an additional one-half of one percent local-option sales tax and place the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot — Motion carried (see full article).

- 9e: Ordinance exempting retail sale of food and food ingredients from the local-option sales tax increase — Motion carried unanimously.

- 11p: Resolution expressing accountability for implementation of the Neighborhood Infrastructure Five-Year Investment Plan, should voters approve the tax — Motion carried (transcript records 7-1).

- 11q: Agreement with Vision Lehi LLC for social-emotional learning workshops, not to exceed $35,000 — Approved (transcript records passed with abstentions).

- 11r: Agreement with Covenant Counseling for counseling services for victims of gun violence, not to exceed $60,000 — Approved (transcript records 6-0-2 in favor/abstentions).

- 11s: Agreement with Health Alliance for Violence Intervention for hospital-linked training and technical assistance, not to exceed $31,050 — Approved (transcript records passed with abstentions).

- 11t: MOU with Knox County to accept $22,505,100 as a subrecipient of the federal homeland security grant — Approved.

- 11u & 11v: Two voluntary annexation resolutions for parcels on Dresser Road and North Gallagher View Road (first readings) — Motions carried.

- 11w: Amendment to Gresham Smith contract for Gay Street signal pole replacement (+$28,935) — Approved.

- 11x: Agreement with Stansell Electric Co. for Gay Street signal pole replacement, not to exceed $889,604.90 — Approved.

- 11y: Agreement with Knoxville Community Media to operate public educational and governmental cable channels — Approved; contract funding share increased to approximately $300,000 (city share raised to 30%).

- 11z: Application and potential acceptance of FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grant up to $525,924.75 with a 5% city match — Approved.

- 11aa: Amendment and first renewal option for Iams Nature Center contract increasing annual amount by $50,000 to $197,750 — Approved (Vice Mayor disclosed affiliation and abstention not recorded).

- 11ab: Agreement with River Sports Outfitters, Inc. for services at Augusta Quarry (annual amount not to exceed $168,200) — Approved (transcript records the motion carried: \"Motion carries, 7 0 1\").

- 11ac / 11ad / 11a / 11af: A suite of U.S. Department of Justice Community Policing Development grants and micro-grants for de-escalation/crisis response, violent crime prevention and recruitment/hiring/retention and opioid/drug market interruption (totaling multiple awards at $175,000 or $500,000 each per agenda) — Motions carried as presented.

- 12ah: Ordinance amending supplemental plan provisions of the city employee pension system (housekeeping and Internal Revenue Code compliance) — Approved.

- 12ai / 12aj / 12ak: A consolidated set of rezoning requests related to a Ball Camp Pike property (rezoning from low-density to medium-density residential; developer committed to an 8-foot privacy fence and sidewalk frontage improvements) — Approved after consolidation and public discussion.

- 12al: Emergency ordinance appropriating community improvement funds to various community agencies. The council amended the ordinance on the floor twice; the final amendments increased the total appropriation to $49,470 and the motion carried as amended.

Notes: Many items were routine contract awards and grant applications. The transcript records vote tallies for some items and records only \"motion carries\" for others; where roll-call details are not printed in the meeting record provided here, the outcome is recorded as passed per the transcript. Readers seeking exact roll-call tallies should consult the official minutes or the city clerk’s certified vote record.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council R 265 250624","oneSentenceSummary","A compact list of ordinances, resolutions and contracts approved or amended at the July 1 council meeting, with outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings, Knoxville City, Knox County, Tennessee","taxId",69361,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6183602,"Council authorizes Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management to accept $22.5 million in homeland security grant funding",93,4205000,4298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a&start=4205&end=4298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a/thumbnail_4205000.jpg","/articles/6183602/Tennessee/Council-authorizes-Knoxville-Knox-County-Emergency-Management-to-accept-225-million-in-homeland-security-grant-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183602-15079a8165eb760b3620d2da688b5886/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155199&Signature=PUtqzxUqz3j14WIga6J5-c3W7VjXjC034Q8u57xgQphOAoJOygPmeBdsGW5WGk02tUSX9W0jjuJ5XGSvCkBkvhgJzGbDV5egxvRSUThDpjbTF~wXeFcJfb0RgHQmhHP0uvlcGVxqtspL16akqGZ9UO5fKFIosVsGZdm3fKKyaLStB9jI4FGXJd7EZVUSJhaZvS6Tpz2u5i-5muyEKzMHU1vOUkVRIvUC4MjeLbZejWa1h6wSXsUIM4d8Nyrql0h8BNHtGnFW2M6gFleZEUKEp-wOWwkTMT5oi9QhOCW0DFvuQPlOd1YJGBPUhLSKntjf7zI-8bkZI8t2~7ADhtmQiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knoxville City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Knox County that authorizes the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency to accept $22,505,100 in federal homeland security grant funding as a subrecipient.

The funds are intended for equipment and software to support the mobile command post and the city’s emergency operations center. The action was described as a required administrative step to accept the federal funds through the county and to permit procurement and deployment of technology and equipment intended to strengthen regional emergency response capacity.

Council took the item without extended debate; the motion carried.

Clarifying details: The MOU was described as enabling the city’s emergency management agency to serve as a subrecipient under the grant; staff did not provide a detailed line-item breakdown of how the $22.5 million will be allocated in the council meeting record.

What happens next: The city and county will execute the MOU and proceed with procurement steps required under the homeland security grant terms.","Knoxville City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with Knox County allowing the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency to receive $22,505,100 as a subrecipient under a federal homeland security grant for equipment and software for the mobile command post and emergency operations center.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6183608,"Council approves River Sports Outfitters contract for Augusta Quarry; members set safety-first rules on floats and rentals",2870,4810000,7680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a&start=4810&end=7680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a/thumbnail_4810000.jpg","/articles/6183608/Tennessee/Council-approves-River-Sports-Outfitters-contract-for-Augusta-Quarry-members-set-safety-first-rules-on-floats-and-rentals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183608-da8221bff43e1cde55422a1559381634/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155199&Signature=Io0xKSPicSf5j3oqxqE4xgnB~FELBh64pbFeDjM5ylJGxi06n9T0hw4n1Oj-higoQwNI4CLqpW~rWPmoL0~W2TQE92oAhqSfs0wDRmRdE8Th-Y8R5rHj6Sf1Q98M3k3E9z5WKUUJHD56thHnPA0tS-zAy6tsnilHTdrNbSviBv-szZDTqj5nqNh9Pj~9PpdPakqzn1M4TnkRArNrzquhyPL8Owrot6RC-o8hdg~kKj0ZwTmR~QiVlW3Ag3wAA7tn85Yt09SY~bGuDGIBRKZIjw1nGqPAZMXFG-ZXVallH-~mDbRmg0u8puP7jHSqpCwILH~QW1MoomckioUsT2qHbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knoxville City Council approved an annual contract with River Sports Outfitters Inc. to provide professional services at Augusta Quarry for up to $168,200 and discussed operational rules aimed at safety and litter reduction as the quarry prepares to open.

City staff said capital improvements underwritten by partners — including new restrooms, changing areas and other site upgrades funded through philanthropy and capital investments — will allow the quarry to open to the public during the Fourth of July weekend. The administration also announced that Ben Epperson will serve as site coordinator.

Council and staff described the policy decisions that will guide the quarry’s first season: access will remain free; life jackets (personal flotation devices) will be provided at no cost; visitors may bring personal kayaks and paddleboards; City-contracted rentals will include paddle boards, inflatable tubes and other approved devices; and the city will prohibit single-use, low-quality inflatable toys (examples supplied by staff: thin ‘‘party’’ inflatables and foam noodles) because those items are prone to damage, are frequently abandoned and create litter and safety problems.

Council members pressed the administration on fairness and enforcement. Council member Parker asked whether the prohibition on certain floatables might be unevenly enforced; staff said the first-year rules are focused on safety and litter prevention, that the city will publish clear guidance on allowed items, and that rules may be revisited after the inaugural season. Vice Mayor Smith confirmed the quarry will remain free and said free life jackets and lower-cost rentals will reduce economic barriers.

Votes and outcome: Council approved the River Sports Outfitters contract and the operational approach for the quarry. The meeting record shows the motion carried (transcript recorded \"Motion carries, 7 0 1\" for the quarry item); two council members said they would monitor implementation closely.

Clarifying details: Staff reported that Iams Nature Center and partners led site work and that the contract includes management of rentals, safety monitoring and facility operations. The city emphasized the safety rationale for restricting single-use inflatables and said the list of allowed and disallowed items will be posted online and at the site.

What happens next: The administration will finalize signage and web guidance on allowed equipment, track operations during opening season and report back to council with any recommended adjustments.","The council authorized a contract with River Sports Outfitters to operate Augusta Quarry amenities and approved a set of safety and rental rules (free life jackets, allowed/disallowed floatables) as the city prepares to open the site to the public.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6183613,"City approves contracts for community violence intervention and trauma services; council asks for data-sharing safeguards",0,4389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a&start=4389&end=4389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a/thumbnail_4389000.jpg","/articles/6183613/Tennessee/City-approves-contracts-for-community-violence-intervention-and-trauma-services-council-asks-for-data-sharing-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183613-6bb431e79ea79d994c9d1727f40d0b8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155199&Signature=kriZxWl8r5LCWBBe59vUtKU7cJZMrJgviBABPKtA45UaJf2uVnM5I0kvN-Gj2KEC84dGtb6TvScENScYLezgOag0uAuvEmqYJmtea1JbZVljuff~dCVlyt0fSsObTfGyLmTS1PQPspzXaa16GPAirHaIuHjWXtxXU0G7uJBU5na-Scqw2JRfEwePYS30GCEupmz7xKf7q4Iaw7skUfsrSkY7py1EP7n74WG~-J2SL-KnDe28F8-n~mWyndq6RRKCkQ11VrL1PrxZaC1lwF64UAxl8CJIxOZZFZXAeWjkgQ3munHlMnCDs4FGLrAxTvfJ042RTPv52W7COcHGM5h4IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Knoxville City Council authorized three separate agreements intended to expand nonpolice responses and trauma-informed services in neighborhoods experiencing higher levels of violence.

The council approved a contract with VisionLEd (listed in the agenda as Vision Lehi LLC) for social-emotional learning workshops in Project TLC areas for up to $35,000 (item 11q); a $60,000 agreement with Covenant Counseling and Consultative Services to deliver individual and group counseling for victims of gun violence and their families (item 11r); and a $31,050 contract with the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention to provide training and technical assistance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and the city on hospital-linked violence intervention programs (item 11s).

The items were presented as part of a broader community safety strategy that pairs enforcement with prevention and support. Staff described the three contracts as complementary: VisionLEd’s workshops and training are aimed at residents and frontline providers; Covenant Counseling will provide therapeutic services and referrals; and the Health Alliance contract will help develop hospital-based rapid intervention points to connect victims to services at the teachable moment immediately after hospital care.

Council member Parker asked for more detail about existing mental-health and community-based programs the city has supported previously; staff said that some programs remain active and that new agreements will report on participation and referrals while respecting clinical confidentiality. Staff described planned data-sharing as aggregate and de-identified reporting (demographics, referral patterns, program completion) rather than individual clinical records. The administration said it is procuring software and provider agreements to enable consistent, appropriate information sharing among network partners.

Votes and outcome: The VisionLEd contract passed with two abstentions (recorded as passed with abstentions); both the Covenant Counseling and Health Alliance items passed with the same recorded tally (passed; transcript recorded 6 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions on one item and similar for the others). Council members who asked for further reporting or who abstained said they wanted clearer data-sharing agreements and more information about continuity with existing programs.

Clarifying details: Covenant Counseling’s services will be therapeutic and will have confidentiality limits; planned reporting will focus on aggregate participant counts, referral sources and service flow rather than client-level therapy notes. Staff said the Health Alliance work will focus on program design and training for hospital staff to enable effective hospital-linked violence intervention.

What happens next: Contracts are to be executed and the Office of Community Safety and Empowerment will coordinate reporting and a provider network to standardize data-sharing agreements and performance reporting to council.","Council approved three agreements to expand social-emotional learning, victim counseling and hospital-linked violence intervention work in Project TLC neighborhoods, with two council members abstaining on one item and officials describing planned data-sharing limits.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6183617,"Knoxville council votes to send 1/2% local-option sales tax to voters, carves out groceries and adopts accountability resolution",1457,972000,2429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a&start=972&end=2429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5096605-56ed410982167280e7bfd61ea433173a/thumbnail_972000.jpg","/articles/6183617/Tennessee/Knoxville-council-votes-to-send-12-local-option-sales-tax-to-voters-carves-out-groceries-and-adopts-accountability-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183617-42901a31d4625d4543cc05c74579ca4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155199&Signature=SHWOYVqfSdx7oUqDSyYlY4l~GCmcJAzqaIQ~NNQl0KIXHb9HvSHZrwKEd7twV~PYwybI0ocoavsJwTx~QJgT21w4e5F3KOKPj9JvGEkARgNuWztgOcxSA4iBfmicM0GJPBHHy7aMqgoGjq0p1a~nZvwvB3I7doq-iQEVHWg2o~pe-yBeMhvsUcWmjZEFJwsSWPyaVjtx-RznNyA9sRL3MVJoiU3zwL9cDETiYLBeoqKDqjhIRYAuB2CSUXsw3u6-GOvYVNwdi3jOqBBa6CPNH-~GvBID0qlaOaBv3uCiBUnTMrTvP4qS5MfOPRUyQRVg8fSN08MEND56uKTKvzxxZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knoxville City Council voted to place a proposed one-half of one percent local-option sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot and approved a companion ordinance exempting the retail sale of food and food ingredients.

The council followed public testimony from neighborhood and transportation advocates and several residents before approving the tax measure and a separate “grocery carve-out” that would exempt groceries from the increase if voters approve it. The council also approved a related resolution expressing the council’s expectation that revenue, should voters approve the measure, will be spent according to the five-year neighborhood investment plan and directing enhanced public reporting and transparency on how the funds are used.

Why it matters: Proponents said the tax would generate new local revenue to accelerate sidewalks, greenways, neighborhood traffic-calming projects and affordable-housing investments. Opponents and some council members said the council should take a clearer stand now on how the city will protect the funding from being repurposed in future budgets and asked for more detail about personnel cost pressures that are not part of the plan.

Supporters stressed the measure’s neighborhood focus. Zoe Scott, advocacy director for Bike Walk Knoxville, said the plan prioritizes sidewalks “within one mile of elementary schools and one and a half miles of middle and high schools” and includes maintenance and extensions of greenways.

Dustin Durham, speaking for Yes Knoxville, said the proposal would let nonresidents who visit the city help pay for infrastructure and estimated the extra cost to a household near median income as “about $7 more a month.” He urged council to let voters decide. Eddie DeBusk, a longtime Knoxville resident, also urged the council to “let the citizens of Knoxville vote” on the proposal.

Council debate focused on two consistent concerns: (1) whether the revenue could be diverted by a future council or mayor and (2) how a countywide adoption by Knox County would alter the city’s share. Council members and staff clarified that if Knox County places the same tax on the county ballot and county voters approve it, the city’s net revenue from this mechanism would be reduced because part of the taxes collected in the city would be distributed through the county arrangement.

Council member Roberto said he supported forwarding the measure to the ballot and flagged that if the county joins, “50% of all sales tax collected in the city would go to Knox County Schools,” reducing the city’s estimated take. Council member Parker opposed putting the measure on the ballot, citing unanswered questions about growing personnel costs and whether the plan’s commitments would be honored in future budgets.

On council’s efforts to lock spending promises to voters, Vice Mayor Smith introduced a resolution to document the city’s intent and reporting expectations should voters approve the tax. Legal counsel explained the limits of what the council can bind future legislatures to do — a principle called “legislative entrenchment” — and noted that only a charter amendment, constitutional provision, treaty or certain long-term contracts can create permanent obligations that bind successors. Council members said the resolution is the strongest form of public commitment they can make now and that continued transparency, a public tracker and civic oversight would be needed to hold future leaders to the plan.

Votes and outcome: The council approved the ordinance to place the half-percent local-option sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot and passed the grocery exemption ordinance and the accountability resolution.

Clarifying details: The neighborhood investment plan includes a dedicated allocation for neighborhood traffic calming of $12,500,000 over five years and prioritizes sidewalks in defined school “parental responsibility zones.” The exact projected revenue amount referenced during the meeting was not specified in the public record provided to the council during final vote discussion. Council and staff said a countywide adoption would materially reduce the city’s estimated share (described in council remarks as roughly halving the city’s take in the event the county adopts the same measure).

What happens next: Because the council approved the ordinances, the measure will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot for Knoxville voters to decide. If voters approve it, the administration said it will implement public reporting and tracking of project spending tied to the five-year plan and will return to council for budget decisions required under the normal budget process.

","After public testimony and debate, the City Council approved placing a half-cent local-option sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot, approved an exemption for groceries and adopted a resolution spelling out how the city intends to track spending if voters approve the measure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Key actions taken by Knoxville City Council on July 1, 2025

Council authorizes Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management to accept $22.5 million in homeland security grant funding

Council approves River Sports Outfitters contract for Augusta Quarry; members set safety-first rules on floats and rentals

City approves contracts for community violence intervention and trauma services; council asks for data-sharing safeguards

Knoxville council votes to send 1/2% local-option sales tax to voters, carves out groceries and adopts accountability resolution