It's six 11:00 p.m. And I'd
like to call this meeting to
order.
we'll begin with an invocation
led by council member parker
followed by the pledge
of allegiance led by council
member fugit.
please rise as your able
tonight.
may we open our ears and eyes,
our hearts and our minds so
that we may make decisions for
the residents of the city
of knoxville pledge allegiance
ok, thank you very much to our
veterans and to honor our folks
who've helped run those on our
air flights for the last
twenty years.
to the safe which one nation
it's been amazing.
next item is our consent
agenda.
indivisible with liberty and
is there a motion on the
consent agenda, mayor?
I would like to remove one item
justice for all mr. Johnson,
twelve q item twelve.
would you please call wrong
councilman adams here
q and I'll go ahead and move to
approve the consent agenda
councilman bart leyburn here
asked me if you could hear
minus twelve.
councilman grant here,
councilman housley here,
q is there a second to that
councilman honeycut your
councilman lloyd here,
councilman parker here in
councilman thomas all members
motion anyone second.
present.
ok so the motion is to approve
mayor, thank you.
the consent agenda um we're
is there a motion on the
minutes from the february
twenty six workshop voted for a
adding twelfth oh I don't
second something right well no
motion made to approve second
seconded any questions or
but she made the motion to
approve the consent as as
discussions?
I see a lot of lights on the
adjusted that's ok.
that for questions or
so much has been made and
discussion.
no, mr. Grant, your light is on
now.
seconded any questions are
discussions going on?
ok, all right.
thing no questions or
all those in favor say any
discussion all those in favor
oppose the consent agenda
please say I any opposed motion
carries are there is there a
is approved.
all right.
motion on the minutes of the
march 3rd regular meeting
we'll move along to the mayor's
report first I want to wish
motion to approve a motion to
approve and seconded any
everyone happy st. Patrick's
questions are discussion saying
day to all who celebrate I sort
of feel like with the orange
and the green we have an irish
flag thing going here in the
audience so I hope appreciate
all the folks who came out for
the various parades and so
none of those in favor please
say any oppose motion carries
on to our agenda for tonight.
are there any items to be
withdrawn?
are there any items to be
postponed?
are there any items to be added
by motion?
>> ok and under item five d has
been suggested that we do the
commemorative resolution for
honor er at this item our
forth over the weekend.
motion to move that item to
we we also had a very busy
weekend.
it was the home opener for one
knox soccer.
there were thousands of people
five I'll make a motion that we
here for the bassmaster classic
which we had a winner from
tennessee very exciting.
the ice breakers had a home
game.
there was a five k there is a
move that to item five the
jerry seinfeld show is a very,
second motion made and seconded
very busy weekend and that's a
lot of fun for residents and
visitors.
but it's also a testament to
does everyone understand motion
our public service crews, our
before them.
transportation engineers are
any questions are discussions
police and fire people who pick
up the trash who keep
everything running smoothly
when you have a busy weekend
being done all those in favor
like that and you don't hear
anything bad happening, that
please say I any opposed motion
means the city employees did
carry so let's go ahead and
their job.
here that resolution please.
twelve years resolution
so I want to thank all the city
expressing gratitude and
folks who make those fun
activities stay safe and stay
appreciation to honor er
knoxville for its many years
fun.
of service to the veteran
with that said, we have another
big weekend around coming up
around the corner big ears
festival runs from march
community of east tennessee
twenty six to twenty ninth.
this festival attracts people
from all over the world and
most emotion to approve motion
made and seconded council
there's another great
opportunity for us to showcase
our beautiful city.
member honeycut thank you
colleagues and fellow community
there are lots of ticketed
events but there's also lots
members.
of free events that are open to
thank you all for being here
tonight.
the general public.
I invite you all to check it
out.
tonight we have the privilege
of presenting a resolution
it's filled with fun and
surprises and I always enjoy
recognizing honor er knoxville
for their extraordinary service
to the veterans of east
the music that they share.
on a sadder note, I want to
tennessee since 2007 honor er
has flown more than four
take a moment to publicly send
our condolences to the friends
thousand seven hundred local
veterans to washington dc
and family of wanita usher
ca on.
giving them the opportunity to
visit memorials built in their
mccannon died at the age of 86
.
she was a long time educator in
honor of service.
these are veterans from our own
neighborhoods men and women who
knoxville and served 18 years
as a d.c. Board member.
so please keep her family and
served during world war two,
friends in your thoughts and
the korean war and vietnam.
>> for many of them this is the
first time standing before
prayers.
these memorials seeing their
I want to remind everybody
about our rules of decorum.
we are here to do the city's
official business those who
service remembered reflecting
wish to speak either to a
on their sacrifice and knowing
that their community
specific agenda item or during
a public forum need to sign up
is grateful.
>> if we have any veterans with
with the city recorder.
mr. Johnson before four p.m. Do
us tonight I think we'd all on
city council like to pause for
not use profanity and in
speaking to specific agenda
a moment to just simply say
thank you.
thank you for your service.
items you must stay on topic
remarks must be germane to the
question ahead of the assembly
thank you for your sacrifice.
thank you for the freedoms we
that is statements must have
bearing on whether the pending
enjoy because of you.
honor represents the very best
motion should be adopted.
those who fail to adhere to
of east tennessee neighbors
stepping up, volunteers giving
these rules will be ruled out
of order.
for those who are listening
their time and communities
please note if you disrupt a
coming together with their 30th
public meeting you will be
asked to leave or escorted out.
and final flight unfortunately
thank you in advance for
everyone's respect for these
rules.
scheduled for april 8th.
that concludes my mayor's
it's especially fitting that
report now are there any
reports of committees or
that we on the city council and
the city of knoxville pause
tonight as a community to
council members serving on
recognize this extraordinary
committees or boards?
>> council member honeycut I'll
legacy for me personally and I
think for all of us it reminds
just report that I attended the
recent pension board and
us of something important that
honoring our veterans is not
investment committee meetings.
just something that happens in
washington, d.c. But something
that we do here at home and
both were routine in nature.
the board approved standard
items like new enrollments,
it's more important to do here
at home.
retirements and invoices, all
of which passed unanimously.
so overall the system remains
please join me and city council
in thanking honor knoxville for
stable and is performing well.
nearly two decades of service
so thank you.
to our east tennessee veterans.
>> let's give them a round
thank you.
any other reports from council
members?
how about announcements from
council members?
>> council member atom's thank
you.
of applause so at this time I
know eddie manase who is the
agreed the weekend that just
passed was fantastic.
founder and chair of honor
couldn't be here tonight but he
then it got cold but the
has sent joe sutter and a group
of veterans and people from the
weekend ahead also looks
promising and there were three
events that I wanted to just
honor team to to be recognized
this evening.
bring to focus attention.
so I'll join you guys as you
the first one is evms river
rescue.
guys to come to the stage for a
it's an annual event that works
photo op with city council and
to clean up our rivers and it's
administration.
if you'll come up right here on
a great thing to volunteer
with.
you can find more information
the on the stage and should we
do the vote first just as a
about that at at ion's and sign
up to volunteer.
matter of fact I have a feeling
it's going to pass.
>> that's on saturday the
we should do the vote.
oh, and there's a few council
twenty first also on saturday
members who'd like to come in
and speak and then we'll do
that.
the 21st is equinox that is a
special celebration that's
we'll invite you up on the
happening in the old severe
stage to receive your
neighborhood in south knoxville
proclamation.
and it will be a free all day
vice mayor, if you get thank
you.
I would not be a very good
event with lots of activities
going on including community
military wife if I did not ask
those veterans in the audience
bike ride chi down by the river
to please stand so that we can
and a fun run and many, many
other things including vendor
market.
so if you're looking for fun
stuff to do on saturday, that'd
be a great place to go and one
other event that I wanted to to
thank you and acknowledge and
councilman grant, you didn't
make note of is on sunday in
the south haven neighborhood by
stand or you said I know ok
the maynard glen baseball field
there is a community tree
planting and free tree
adoption.
that tree's knoxville
is putting on its on mcclung
avenue and the tree planting
voice you need to stand ok.
thank you.
is from two to four and tree
adoption which that means you
can get a free tree is from
council member parker thank you
mayor.
four to five pm.
generally when we bring
resolutions like this forward
>> thank you vice mayor if you
get thank you.
it is supported by the full
council and I'm sure that the
I just want to announce that
full council supports this
resolution.
but just to be clear, I wanted
next year that march twenty six
that thursday we will be having
to make sure and add my name as
a co-sponsor.
city council will have a
thank ok.
workshop and get an update on
are there any council members
who do not want their names to
our of our affordable housing
be added?
or our housing programs and the
ok, let's make sure all the
names are on there please.
for the record the unanimous
work that the city is doing
support and I'll just say I had
with homelessness and so that
the honor and privilege to be a
is that will be at six pm in
this room and we'll also be
volunteer on one of the flights
a couple of years ago and it
was just such a privilege to be
live streamed.
with those veterans as they
>> thank you.
visited the memorials in our
thank you.
nation's capital that are in
council member.
our honor and some were able
thank you.
just two quick things.
one I would like sort
bodied and some were in
of piggyback on what a great
wheelchairs and and they were
weekend we had with the
bassmaster classic last
weekend.
all just so moved by the whole
experience.
I don't know if anyone out
there actually was able to
and I know a highlight for many
attend but tens of thousands
was the letters that they
of people came in to knoxville,
you know, great for local
received and got to read on the
businesses, great for our
ride home because sometimes our
community.
veterans are very modest and
it was fantastic and a thank
humble about their service and
you to visit knoxville, qed,
all the city staff that made it
possible.
so to be recognized in that way
the logistics behind it
was incredibly meaningful also
is incredible and for it to go
to all the many volunteers over
the many 20 some years that
off as well as it did for our
this has been happening to
city to be represented as well
as it is is testament to all
eddie manna's who has been a
of their hard work behind the
scenes.
so thank you.
leader of this group and to the
second, a quick announcement
the people are going to be
receiving this resolution on
recess is over.
this friday, march 20th at noon
behalf of on our the city
at camp honey coffee we are
of knoxville thanks to the city
we're going to resume our
meeting if everyone could
doing coffee with city council
council we're very, very
members so as many of us as
grateful and we look forward to
one last off and welcome home
possible not all of us can be
on april 8th.
there because of schedules will
will be there friday just to
have an informal meet and greet
so any further questions or
and conversations with people.
so campinas, your lakeshore
comments all in favor please
park for those that don't know
please take their seats.
if you can't make it there will
be future opportunities.
say any opposed by acclamation
it passes if we can have the
ok, mr johnson, if you could
individuals who are
proceed with item twelve f
so stay tuned for us.
but hopefully hopefully some
representing on record please
people can come out and join us
come just to come to the stage
if you wanted to say anything
just so you're aware we can't
before we take pictures would
talk about agenda items because
of the sunshine law but we
welcome a few comments from we
can't talk about the city as a
whole.
we really appreciate all that
so please join us and and we
you've done well thank you
look forward to it.
thank you.
mayor and city council on
behalf of any man as our
moving right along.
twelve f is the resolution
founder and chairman a great
>> um, next item please.
authorizing the mayor to
amount of support made this
execute any all documents
necessary to award a total
amounts not to exceed two
eleven dukes resolution of the
hundred thirteen thousand four
happen from the east tennessee
council the city of knoxville
hundred ninety nine dollars
seventy one cents in
community knoxville and many,
opportunity youth program
grants to thirteen community
based organizations to support
approving an appeal filed by
programing for youth and young
david hamilton for the norwood
adults in the city.
many, many volunteers touched
you said over four thousand
ok motion made to approve
is there and seconded.
homeowners group, humberto
there are several people who
signed up to speak on this
rodriguez for h and in clinton
item.
veterans the volunteers, their
we'll start with the three who
family members and the
signed up to speak in favor
highway llc morris shiso for
community at large.
first as matthew zang matthew
if you were ever at a welcome
saying if you could come to the
home at the national airport,
podium, state your name and
clinton tennessee llc and jason
address for the record and
surrell for knoxville
it's pretty moving and on
behalf of all of us and
you'll have up to three minutes
to address council.
combatives llc thereby
overturning the decision of the
certainly mannus, thank you so
much.
hi my name is matthew sing one
knoxville knox county planning
one eight south central street
commission to grant a special
use application filed by
>> thank you.
knoxville, tennessee.
>> let's welcome them up on the
thank you for having us here
today.
clearcuts for a social service
provider in this s.h. One
stage for a quick photo and if
mayor council members I am
there's any veterans or
district four probably located
audience that would like to
at fifty two hundred clinton
matthew thing has already said
come up and attend and be and
I am the co-founder and
be presented as well, please
highway 5th district.
executive director of two
bikes.
we are one of the proposed
nonprofit recipients for the
>> ok, thank you mr. Johnson.
I would like the appellant to
opportunity youth grant and I'm
please approach the podium.
here to speak in favor of our
thank you.
you're already there just
organization and specifically
our bike school program since
before you start I want to just
make sure council understands
its inception in 2022 the bike
what the rules that you have
are that I'm going to be
enforcing here.
the appellant will have up to
school has has provided paid
internships for over 70 nox
15 minutes to present their
case.
join us.
they can use as many or as few
wow.
area teenagers for a total
of 6200 hours of workforce
training.
speakers as they wish.
I would ask that each time
there's someone taller than
there's a change in speaker
we help young people build job
skills, independence and
they say their name and address
relationships that lost last
long after they leave the
for the record once that
fifteen minutes is up I will
program are dedicated to
instructors.
instructors teach our interns
how to work on bikes of course
call upon the apelt e and they
, but it goes deeper than that
will have up to fifteen minutes
at two bikes.
we've always believed that
to state their case with as
bicycles are more than just a
many as few speakers as they
means of exercise or
transportation.
they're a tool for exploration
wish and then the ones that
, for change and for community.
fifteen minutes has finished
they have the power to open up
the original party will have up
the world and our bike school
to two minutes for rebuttal
denzel and
program reflects that belief
then at the conclusion of the
when we teach a kid how to
steps council will deliberate
and make a decision.
change a flat tire or just a
brake or give them the
confidence to speak to
ok any questions seeing none
will have the appellant go
ahead and start.
customers or uplifting them in
ways that echo beyond our shop
if you could start by saying
doors one of the truest
your name and address for the
unexpected lessons of working
record and mr. Johnson is going
to run the fifteen minute clock
with your hands is realizing
.
thank you.
that you are more capable
my name is david hamilton.
of taking care of yourself than
I'm an attorney.
you think you are and that you
I'm at eighteen ten merchant
have the skill set to tackle
drive knoxville, tennessee
whatever problems arise.
within about approximately a
our students come from
different corners of the city,
different schools, different
half mile of this facility that
walks of life and they each
bring different perspectives to
the program.
is seeking change that we are
appealing.
they learn from us but they
also learn from each other to
I've been directed to do the
that knoxville is a city
of diverse voices and we work
presentation and I wanted to
hard to foster that
collaboration and a sense
of stewardship in our students
say thank you before I begin to
and we are constantly pushing
mr. Swanson, mr. Swanson sent
them to engage in participate
me an email this morning
in our community during the
course of the program students
refurbished bicycles which are
addressing an issue and his his
then donated to folks in need
action helped to avoid
some of them in this room and
demonstrating that even the
unnecessary friction and he
smallest act can have a
deserved the commendation and I
profound impact on the lives
of our neighbors.
so again, I thank you for
having me here.
I'm very proud of the work
we've done it who bikes?
don't give those away for this
>> I'm grateful for the city's
support in the past and I'm
appreciative of the
is a difficult application
consideration for this grant
of both law and virtue I think
and regardless of the decision
is an example of the corruption
tonight I'd like to extend an
invitation to each and one
of you to come down to our
of virtue.
shop, visit our students and
see the hard work that we've
done.
and let me go through why this
thank you.
body should reverse the
thank you.
next person signed up to speak
in favor of item twelve
planning commission knoxville
ordinance.
>> it was hard fought and
is khaleel white khaleel white
come to the podium please state
your name and address for the
recently installed to replace
record and you'll have up to
three minutes to address
mark let's say less flexible
council.
zoning opportunity for the city
to grow.
hi my name is khelil white or
three forty east magnolia
but it didn't stop the
avenue and I oh speaking on
behalf of the bottom we are
responsibility of this body or
black from a bookstore and
the planning commission from
community art space both in
considering the different
aspects of that hard fought
east knoxville and we are one
of the nonprofits that applied
for the opportunity use grant
for our solar cell a program
that has been a program that we
ordinance as of as of the
have been running for the past
beginning issue under article
seven years now providing youth
sixteen one b page three
in our community what
opportunities to take their
creative avenues into
seventy to the ordinance which
businesses so we provide them
is different from the pdf
version if you're using the pdf
with resources, sewing machines
, sewing kit and opportunity to
paging system because the pages
connect with creatives business
leaders to understand how they
can be the next business
are individually numbered.
leaders in that community with
>> clearcuts is not an owner
this program we've been we've
seen over 50 students have come
through this space that have
taken their their dreams and
their ideas and turn them into
products off the sewing
machines and it's something
that we want to continue to do
in our space.
>> thank you.
thank you.
>> the third person signed up
of the property.
to speak in favor of item
they did not provide a lease.
they were not properly a bore
twelve is carry canon carry
before the planning commission
to seek either special use or
any zoning mandatory
consideration of the commercial
site design is set out in
article five one a three page
canon when you get to the
fifty six and that the site
podium if you could please
must be design I'm quoting now
state your name and address was
sites must be designed to
the record and you'll have up
to three minutes to address
ensure safe pedestrian access
council friends.
in the public right away and
my name is kerry canon smitti
safe pedestrian circulation
24/7 western avenue knoxville.
within the development
I'm with the community action
of article five table five dash
committee and we are at western
heights.
um I'd like to briefly
to page sixty two this project
fails.
highlight the impact of the
opportunity youth engagement
grant and we're continuing
there are no sidewalk, there
funding for programs like this
are no crosswalks.
pathways grant is so important
for young people in our inner
city communities through this
grant the ac last year provided
this is a arterial commercial
road clinton highway.
two cohorts of fifteen hours
of career readiness and
most of you are familiar with
workforce development
programing to the youth in the
western heights neighborhood
this and for this facility
over the course of several
sessions twenty students
which is pedestrian centric at
completed that program and
graduated with new skills
a highway auto centric location
confidence and a clear vision
inappropriate sufficient on
for their future.
participants were introduced to
college and trade schools
workforce opportunities through
site parking had to be
partnerships with organizations
here in knoxville and local
established this is required
employers and they learned how
under various applications
to build resumes or practice
interviews, develop
professional skills that
of article eleven one a one and
prepare them for real job
opportunities.
the funding also helped remove
also eleven for one table
eleven does too.
barriers by providing meals
during sessions, professional
I that's kind of technical but
interview attire, mentorship
completion stipend.
it drives home the point this
those supports ensure that
site fails.
students from underserved
neighborhoods can participate
it only has six parking slots
fully and feel confident
now they're going to respond
pursuing education and
that they have this extra lease
employment for programing for
twenty twenty six we're going
area except the law requires
to build on what we've already
done for the twenty twenty four
hour programing and we're going
to with the introduction
that the the appellant or the
of trades and colleges in
twenty twenty six will further
the agenda on trade specifics
petitioner provide a copy
of the lease so that it would
like what can one do with an
electrician lessons.
what can you do with a welding
be reviewed by the city law
certificate.
what can you do with a
department and approved that
is article eleven point eight
cosmetology license and so we
will we want to career to
at page twenty five and was not
create career sustainability
and to bring entrepreneurs and
complied with.
businesses back to knoxville
especially in the urban areas
by helping children become
so this this entity is left and
passionate about their work
the underlying entity is left
because we know when there's
with an application of six
passion in your work or you
don't really go to work every
day.
parking slots available and
I'm very passionate about my
work and I love going to work
every single day.
ignored the requirement for
having city law department
um, we want these kids to come
back and work in the areas two
to to create sustainability and
review the lease and approve it
.
longevity in the workforce.
most importantly this program
the spot zoning is an illegal
helps young people see what
is possible for their future
whether that's college or a
skilled trade entrepreneurship
or entering the workforce.
use of zoning to the owner's
and this next cohort will teach
them how to make their ideas a
benefit but it's very antifa
of planned zoning.
reality continued investment in
an excuse me continued
this is an exception to create
investment in programs like the
pathways program helps us build
a stronger workforce and safer
a pedestrian centric location
communities and broader future
for knoxville's youth.
thank you for your support.
thank you.
in an auto centric area because
there's one person signed up to
it's virtuous carrycot.
speak in opposition to item
I've met with some of those
twelve of matthew robinson.
individuals.
mr. Robinson, if you could come
I have certain questions about
to the podium state your name
some of it I would say that
and address for the record and
you'll have up to three minutes
to address council.
they are very honest in their
>> hello my name is matthew
robinson.
concern for the the persons
that they want to provide this
I am executive director knox.
service to.
my address is forty eight
however that virtuous approach
twenty fountain view wait three
seven nine one eight and to
start I really didn't know I
is not address the safety
signed up to speak in
opposition so apologies but I
concerns of pedestrians
would like to start off by
is going across the street
saying I don't have any
where there are no sidewalks,
objections to these
organizations getting this
no sod, no other protective
grant.
I just want to know if there's
a system that can be
implemented to better notify
services that are available to
nonprofits that have already
contributed and are currently
pedestrians.
contributing to violence
interruption and they have
>> I was driving on merchants
proven track records and
success in this line of work.
drive a week ago and had a
I understand that these things
gentleman step out in front
are posted on the city's
website but there's also no
of me at the end of the
sidewalk because the right hand
indication to my knowledge when
that is until it happens.
side merchants drive does not
I also know that not too long
ago there was tensions between
going north does not is not a
continuous sidewalk.
or previous executive director
you never looked left.
you never looked right.
you just stepped right in front
and although we we appreciate
of my car.
his efforts and contributions
I had to stop and wait for the
to turn up knocks, we are under
new management so he no longer
traffic go around him and me
has any involvement with our
endeavors.
before I could proceed around
we also know that there are
certain nonprofit that gets a
him just a few feet
heads up when the grant process
opens and we just wanted to
of difference and I would have
hit this guy.
this is what we're talking
know we just wanted to know if
the organizations that are
about.
still active and we are known
in this kind of work in
particular could be included
the staff report relied upon
when that happens.
thank you.
imu see redevelopment of vacant
thank you council members that
concludes people who have
or largely vacant shopping
centers within two hundred feet
signed up to speak to this
council member.
adams, thank you.
of this building as a brand new
firestone that was constructed
I want to say a special thanks
to the folks who came to speak.
for obviously several million
um, I've had direct experience
dollars.
with the two bikes program um
several use that I know have
gone through that and it truly
is a changing changing force to
this is not a dying shopping
provide that kind of confidence
center and mr. Morrison in his
in all the ways that perfusing
spoke to I see the
transformation that happens
appeal laid out that he did not
there and it's a group that I
think that does excellent work
appreciate that his clinton
with that support money I also
want to say thank you to the
plaza was designated as a
bottom.
you've got the best newsletter
out there.
vacant are largely vacant
you you do really amazing
shopping center.
things with the bookshop and
I'm I'm really excited about
it's vibrant, it's healthy but
it does have problems
what you can do with these
funds.
created in part by the
um, there's so many good
organizations here.
individual who are willing to
um, I get to enjoy the drums up
go into the food city and steal
guns down most recently at the
to such an extent.
they have an officer there
ymca ywca race against racism,
you know, bringing all these
people who just run a race back
to their feet and really
bringing community together.
every evening under the code,
there's so many good things
the special the evidence
here and I want to say thank
you to all the organizations
presented they were supposed to
doing this work to try to help
youth and show youth different
evaluate actual evidence.
none of that is attached to any
of this application.
ways and would like to make a
there is no development consett
operation and this is the
virtual signaling that I'm
talking about the application
for a special service center.
>> the application for the
special service center
is telling us that it's
motion to approve second, ok,
we did have that already and
now we have it again.
thank you council member
thomas.
supposed to be consistent with
>> yes.
adopted plans.
I want you to give a shout out
to my friends at two bikes as
well.
I'm a frequenter of office down
in the old city.
it's been a place or any time
I'm downtown and my tires need
well, not inure to any ah
everything up a little bit
there they will do it just
distract from the environment
right to the tee and also they
even given me a good venue for
spare parts like occasionally I
run in tyvi circles that aren't
used.
congestion weather impacts.
I had about four at one time I
all of this is set out in
article sixteen dash to dash f
donated two of them to the two
dash to f page 370 six and more
bikes for parks and they do a
really good service and one
important underline how this
thing I've tried to think once
is maybe the best invention
of humankind and it would hard
to it'd be hard to think that a
is the the corruption of virtue
basic goal is not it would
definitely be in the running
is that there were application
ins for permits that have been
you think about a bicycle, it's
all good.
reviewed and approved already
you know, low cost
in violation of section sixteen
transportation exercise claim
for the environment and two
twelve b six there was and
bikes is doing all that stuff
and they're training people to
work on their bikes.
of the activa appeal there were
no permits that are authorized
they're giving low cost bikes
to people.
so I just wanted to give them a
to be reached be issued out and
shout out and let them know
that they were really
appreciated.
the city has done it.
ceo was issued on 30th
thank you.
of january.
council member grant.
that's a certificate
of occupancy is not allowed
thank you, mayor.
under the provisions of this
I think I will be myself if I
didn't speak to some things
that I feel like a few of us up
code in chapter sixteen there
here thinking I want to start
is no doubt that they might be
doing right but there's also no
by saying last thursday I had
doubt that every single part
an opportunity to meet with
crosslin who is the audit
of the ordinance designed to
protect the public in the
pedestrian traffic of that
committee that the city has
facility are ignored for
entrusted to to do the city's
audit.
virtuous reasons.
our first audit committee
meeting was february 18th and
this body needs to revoke and
there were some findings
obviously some findings and
return it back to the planning
commission.
some things that we need to fix
.
but after having that
they were humbled and desire to
conversation with mr. Hunter
do good but in the doing
of good you can destroy the law
last thursday, I have to be
and the law was developed to
protect the people that are
honest the fact that we're
sitting here today and we are
actually supposed to be served.
trying to prove another round
when asked what are these
people going to do when the
building closes?
of grants after auditor said
well they go back to wherever
that you know and I'm quoting
they are at.
in other words they filter
right that money awarded to
through my residential
organizations did not meet one
or more established eligibility
community to wherever they
requirements due to
insufficient verification and
might have been drawn from and
according to their own analysis
documentation review procedures
.
they were also quoted saying
they're looking at eighty
that there was a gatekeeper
people on sundays.
right.
with both our grant and
procurement process.
and we do not know what the
traffic is going to be but the
>> I don't have much time only
point being that all of it
have about three minutes.
>> but I want to encourage the
is auto centric.
gary is going to be pedestrian
public to go to knoxville
community meetings, youtube and
centric with no transport.
watch the section of the
february 17th meeting.
I would like to reserve the
remainder of my time to be able
thirty seven minutes and thirty
eight seconds to fifty seven
minutes and two seconds and
to respond to anything from
it's about fifteen minute
window but it tells you
that might be raised that I'm
everything you need to know
about the base of my argument
mr. Hamilton, you can use the
rest of your time now but at
the rebuttal it'll just be two
minutes.
here tonight during that
meeting with councilwoman adams
and amelia parker they raise
very serious and valid concerns
thank you.
about the grant process.
this body has a responsibility
it was also stated by miss
buuck and also interpreted that
to uphold the law it enacted.
we wouldn't see grant in front
>> you start making excel to
of us until november I believe
karen adams you know you raised
the degree that I've laid out
you mentioned making sure that
we can support these
then your ordinance has no real
value as long as we have a
organizations now due to the
time constraint and it was I
virtuous reason this body
was under the impression that
we were having to november to
fix our grant process when we
is not going to be picking up
the people that might be hit on
that road in the middle of the
actually look at the
applications before us today
night because they're hanging
they're dated for november in
out around a place where they
december of last year.
>> when we go back to that
can't there is no sidewalks.
they're going to be on the
february 17th meeting aks
ourselves, why wasn't it
street there are no crosswalks.
>> this city's not paying for a
mentioned that in thirty more
new crosswalk at that location.
days we would have another
round of grant grant in front
>> where's the where's the
petition for one hundred
thousand dollars and that's a
of us by why wasn't that
low estimate for the cost of an
mentioned during that time?
>> nobody up here mentioned it
right.
active sidewalk.
the busses don't help either.
I know a lot of us we didn't
know that would have been the
why they're more than a block
perfect time to say hey by the
way, we are going to have
another round of grants in
front of you guys in thirty
days that wasn't mentioned.
>> we can't ask questions about
things if we don't know they're
coming.
we can ask questions about
things because we don't get
these things into the wednesday
before.
away from this building there
right.
are two bus stops.
we're not included in the grant
the sidewalks go up to merchant
drive.
they do not go towards the
intersection which is present
process until after the fact
and oftentimes it feels like
when asked who did they talk
to, kirkup said they spoke with
mr. Mundy and he objected.
these things were bundled up
because two bikes amazing.
morris, who is an appellant in
this project or in this matter
but I'm amazed and I can agree
with all all the organizations
was not discussed with the
but not every organization.
all here is great and I have
checkmark on the form that they
intended to talk to people was
personal experience.
the community has experience
fulfilled by simply speaking to
and often times there's these
these silent private
conversations that we want to
one property owner next door.
we're talking about the I
have behind the scenes.
>> but when we get on front
street we don't want to have
believe system that they could
right in order for things to
change the same conversations
ignore communication with the
neighborhood they wanted to
and more conversations that
we're having, we need to be
communicate after they had
able to have them in front
of the community and that's
going to that's going to create
already had this heard.
some type of uncomfort at
times.
but we have to understand that
this is a kind of conduct that
we have to have these
conversations if you're
none of you should support.
this is the kind of conduct
thinking about the long term
impact and engaging with the
that causes neighborhoods to
believe that there are winners
youth and engaging with high
risk youth.
right.
and losers and they are the
we have to do this the right
way.
losers.
we've been here the last
council has been and instead
it is this body's obligation,
of sitting everybody down not
attending the different
this body's obligation to
organizations against each
other and creating a real
refuse to allow for all
process that includes all the
great organization that are out
of these misconduct events.
here doing the work, we
there is no way there's
continue to pick and choose.
we continue to isolate the
certificate of occupancy can be
issued without somebody in the
different organizations and not
include them in the process.
whole system knowing and I'm
not even talking about the
I was given the grant committee
which I definitely appreciate
effort to return the fees that
were paid.
receiving that today in just
four members who make the
it was always signed off by
several different individuals
decision.
ginny patterson who's with
knoxville utility board former
director of the education and
youth services with the
in a proper sequence that is so
national urban league michael
johnson who's with you
disrespectful of the ability
foundation ramia miller
university of tennessee student
for us to go to to this body
and samantha riddick who is the
executive assistant for the
office community and.
and yet it was done.
these are the four individuals
who sit on the grant committee
thank you.
now I'd like to invite
for grant.
I'm going to move on to one
of your colleagues and you can
representative from the
appellee to please approach the
return to your comments after I
podium and as you come to the
podium and start speaking,
think your time is up.
>> I think council vice mayor
please state your name and
address for the record.
if you get my next thank you.
and just to respond to what
just wait till we get the clock
councilman grant said, yes,
there were findings and yes,
there are things that have to
be dealt with and I appreciate
the fact that you are speaking
restarted.
there we go.
ok, please proceed.
to to that tonight.
I will say that tonight and you
thanks mary catherine wormsley
did not say you don't want to
one twenty eight north north
shore drive knoxville,
approve these but I will say
tennessee.
I'm a current advisory board
that tonight all these people
member of haircut's in the
have been in the grant process
previous board president and I
before the findings came out
also serve as a ceo and broker
of the company who owns fifty
two hundred clinton highway.
and before the audit committee
heard them and there is a
I'm here respectfully
requesting counsel deny the
process in place to address
appeal to overturn a unanimous
decision made by knoxville knox
those issues and the audit
committee will audit the new
county planning to grain
especially use application for
processes as we go forward the
haircut's to operate as a
social service provider on
klint highway.
next round.
but I do plan to support the
thank you mayor and city
council members for allowing me
ones tonight because those
folks were following the
to speak and thank you to the
attendees who are here in
respect to this agenda item.
process whether we agree with
the process or not, these
I want to address the comments
by our opposition that this
nonprofits are following the
process that the city had in
location is not suitable for
this use based on concerns for
place and I appreciate the
vehicular and pedestrian
safety.
this location is approximately
concern about making more
effort for everybody to know
one hundred steps from a bus
about them.
I also run a nonprofit, you
stop on top of its proximity to
public transportation.
know, unless we check a lot
we serve a transient population
of places we don't know what
who know how to navigate the
grants are being offered.
situation.
>> our intention is to serve
those who are already in this
so I understand that concern
area the people who regularly
but I just was going to say
that I intend to support these
walk up and down these streets
through and around this
because these are worthwhile
property and who are receiving
limited to no help from this
organizations as are others who
did not get grants or did not
apply.
community.
I also want to briefly speak on
but I don't want us to somehow
how capex will operate out this
building.
I hear continuous concerns and
not feel comfortable doing
statements that this will be a
homeless shelter or will turn
these findings.
is that somebody some of it
into a homeless camp.
this is not a correct
is a paperwork tom thing and it
should not happen.
description of this faith based
nonprofit.
this is a day center that
it should not happen.
but I don't want to punish
provides resources to help
clients move forward from their
these people tonight for doing
current situation.
the process that the city laid
this facility will receive
out before it and it went
through the current grant
clients during the day on
process.
tuesdays, fridays and sundays
we may or may not like the
people that sit on the grant
and as staff primarily by
review committee but city
volunteers between four and
eight people in two full time
council has never had a part in
staff members we estimate a
maximum amount of twenty eight
being on knowing who the
evaluators were.
people inside the building at
any given time.
that's up for discussion as
well, mr. Grant, if you want to
have that.
no individuals will stay the
night in the past ten years
but tonight I just plan to go
ahead and support these as per
kiritsis evolved and we will
continue to evolve.
the just as a point
of information.
we are moving from william
street located in the mission
we are not waiting that future
grant cycles to take corrective
action.
district to clinton highway to
not only taylor services but to
we've already taken corrective
action and these grantees have
serve the large population
of the corrective action has
of the house already in that
community.
been done they qualify or meet
our intention clinton highway
the criteria for the state or
is to act as a hub to reduce
the new block and all the
things so we're not waiting to
homelessness, not to promote or
take corrective action.
we've already done that and
to add to it haircut's staff,
volunteers, board of directors
also we are very committed to
having an open transparent
process and this was publicly
have spent a decade of learning
what works.
noticed these dollars were
approved in the current fiscal
this facility is modeled after
the day center in johnson city
year and you we also are going
which is operated by executes
college of nursing and has been
to be at your suggestion having
in existence since 1980.
a workshop all about grants on
one care cuts assist clients
april twenty I believe and
with obtaining tennessee state
ids birth certificates both in
and out of state.
welcome your input on how we
we act as a safe and secure
can streamline I agree I'd
mailing address for our clients
rather have all the grants you
haircuts, clean clothing and
are not spread out necessarily.
I think there's a lot
of suggestions that we can hear
laundry facilities are offered
to those in need.
from you all that can help us
improve the process.
we refer to numerous community
I do hope you approve us
providers and partners who
tonight because our processes
insist with who assist with
may need improvements and
housing, mental health and
tweaking but you know these
substance abuse programs.
people have followed the rules
church services, bible studies
as we set forth and happened
and prayer services are held on
before many of you became, you
site and we offer a computer
know, joint council.
lab and phone services during
and so we want to hear your
the day along with a variety
of other ways to serve our own
house.
neighbors I would like to
mention these services would be
allowed in the zoning without a
special use permit if we were
offering the same service to
people that were not labeled as
an housed place.
thoughts on how to keep
improving them on april
>> consider this for a moment.
twenty third and you know
before that as well.
>> if I were to open an office
but I'll turn it back over to
council member health council
for someone to come apply for a
member parker thank you mayor.
birth certificate it would be
I did want to echo, um, some
allowed if I was to open a
issues raised by councilman
grant because I was also at
laundromat for someone to do
that audit committee meeting
their laundry it would be
and not only concerned about
the findings in the audit but
allowed if I was to open a hair
the discussion around the type
salon it would be allowed.
I am here today because by
of culture that we need to
definition a social service
center explicitly defines
build in our city to address
people transitioning from
homelessness and therefore
triggers special use review
these issues and it wasn't just
sound.
about having new policies in
this definition comes with a
certain stigma attached to it
place but about the willingness
if that is not a pure form
to truly be transparent about
of discrimination I do not know
those policies and even in that
what is.
the people we serve in our
meeting, you know, when we were
community are often in the
throes of the loneliest,
discussing, um, you know, the
hardest points in their life.
city's current policies around
some struggle with addiction,
grants for nonprofits and
some struggle with mental
illness.
some may have missed a paycheck
and lost their place to live
whether you know, the cash app
but these are human beings.
could be used as a payment,
the reality is homelessness
those policies are not, you
doesn't just exist within a one
know, given over immediately
block radius of salvation army
or other service providers.
and that was raised as a
concern of the auditors.
the reality is that it affects
every part of our community
including clinton highway.
we must get to a point to
none of our opposition denied
that there was a large
councilman grant's point where
population one house already in
we can discuss these issues
that area limiting resources
and outlying areas because of a
openly and transparent and have
a clear understanding of what
not in my backyard mindset
is illogical.
the only way to help this
policies we have in place for
these, uh, grants and how
situation is to meet those
experiencing the struggle where
they are both in location and
different organizations are
learning about them or how much
by creating trust.
>> this opposition is built on
notice are they given is at the
fear, fear of the attraction
same time of year every year
and increasing the already
that the grants are made
existing problem doing nothing
available?
because we are fearful is not
I still have questions around
those and uh I believe those
the right approach limiting
outreach efforts will result in
are concerns but that should be
addressed.
watching the existing situation
multiply as a community we
>> I also had another question
about how the funds can be used
should not fear adding humane
thing by taking care of our
and this is a question raised
at the budget retreat but I
underserved and unhealthy
neighbors especially when those
still have not had answer to
it.
caring for them have decade
of experience.
but I'm concerned about this uh
a multitude of community
, identifier for opportunity
support and partnership and
countless success stories
behind them.
youth that uh says must must be
I will not ask my friends to
a member of or associated with
stand out of privacy that are
here today but I have many here
an active crew group or gang.
and support that clearcuts has
helped move forward from
and for me that can mean so
homelessness while so many see
many things.
fear let's change our mindset
I'm hoping to get a clarity
from the city on how you are
to see opportunity.
>> let's change our actions to
defining an active group or
alter the course of another
human being's life.
gang member buuck yeah.
thank you for your time
attention.
I respectfully request that you
and I think law enforcement
partners can give a little more
deny this appeal and hold
knoxville knox county's
definition around the
definition of the firm
definition of a crew for gang
but I want to clarify that that
unanimous decision of support
is not a requirement for
identification as an
opportunity you have there are
greeting.
I'm chuck sarnie.
several indicators that can be
I'm a knox county general
indicators for opportunity
youth.
sessions judge on the
recovery court judge in knox
one of them is associate with
their car with a crew group or
county.
I started the veterans
gang in some folks self
treatment court and I recently
started with the help of other
identify that way another
is disconnection from school or
stakeholders our mental health
court in knox county.
work having been a crime victim
let me take a second to say
howdy to so many friends that I
or I'm a family friend and so
it's only one indicator but
have known on this and say how
even to the folks who are
I'll pass off to thank you to
just because I have limited
opposing mr. Hamilton's been a
time chief.
good friend for a long time.
he's a nice fellow but I think
well could you speak to how law
enforcement defines those
things if or I apologize could
he's wrong.
you repeat the question how do
you define an active crew group
you know, the people that mr.
hamilton might potentially
or gang so how we define a gang
rotten over with his car.
as a group of people that are
operate together to commit to
commit crimes or engage in
they're out there already.
criminal activity and what's an
there are unannounced neighbors
.
active group, a group of people
who collectively work together
they're there to be honest with
you.
a crew, a crew gang it's always
the same thing.
I might run over one of them
it's a group of people who
and I had to my house and I'm
collectively work together to
commit a criminal act criminal
really sorry about that but I
don't think we're going to be
activity so that the the group
able to chase these folks by
doing something at coney island
are gang what have been found
criminally connected to a crime
that actual gang will be
connected to a crime in our
city.
for what purpose?
I don't understand what you're
asking for the purpose of this
grant program but also for a
project see we are p.l.c. Has
and punitive to force them to
relocate to somewhere else the
way to help folks who are
nothing to do with gang
experiencing homelessness is to
take one human being who has
dignity and worth and help them
not be homeless.
and once you do that then you
activity for I will follow up
have the opportunity to try and
with you with the budget
repeat the experiment.
I don't want to admit this but
retreat conversation that's
when this first came up was
I guess I have to I don't think
I have the compassion to
around discussion of project
actually interact with a human
being who might scare me a
zones and the um discussion
little bit, who might be
suffering from homelessness or
of uh how these opportunity
addiction or mental illness.
youth were being identified and
in our grant packet we have
but I know who has that kind
this definition of a member
of compassion and who has done
of our associate it with an
it multiple times martillo
active crew group or gang tlc.
the tlc is a place we play
rubeo, the leader of care cuts
space strategy b may be able to
confuse with some of the
and I know that those wonderful
nomenclature here but tlc is a
volunteers that care cuts have
place based strategy.
helped lots of people not be
it is nothing to do with
individual gangs or conduct an
individual gang members to
homeless any longer, including
but not limited to helping them
crimes.
ok, thank you miss parker.
we'll go to some of your
get cleaned up haircut, helping
them get their driver's
colleagues.
lights are on and can come back
to you.
licenses and birth certificates
yeah my my time is up but I
so they can get jobs so they
just need an answer to the
can get housing the way we need
question um and it doesn't have
to happen at this time if it
is simply a group
to help this problem is help
of individuals engaged in
criminal activity.
one person who has dignity and
we're and then repeat that
my next question would be
is how do you know they're
experiment.
engaged in criminal activity?
they've been convicted of a
crime.
thank you.
>> the folks at haircuts have
thank you, miss parker.
done some wonderful things in
the past and they're going to
and just as of just a point
of information, as miss
do wonderful things for this
community with your support,
middlebrook said, that is not
marty baker is one of the most
unselfish and compassionate
the only factor in how they
decide how to which is the item
persons I have ever had.
she has the support of law
enforcement in this community
before the grants to help these
youth.
as a chief and she has the
ok, so I think council member
support of many other
housley was next.
nonprofits and agencies across
this city.
did you council member adams
I'm proud to say that our
mental health court which I
thanks.
started has worked with
uh, I wanted to speak to
councilman grant's um comments
haircuts and some of our folks
mainly about the idea that we
are doing so out there even
volunteering a care cuts to
help homeless participants in
expected not to see any more
the mental health court.
grants come before us until a
listen, don't make this
much later date which we were
decision based on the fact that
told at that february meeting.
um, seeing what has happened
already such a sweetheart do
this because allowed care cuts
since then to now I think there
have been this is the third
to use this facility in the way
round of grants that we've seen
.
so I'm left to assume that my
that they're planning because
care cuts will help the un has
question and comment at that
to find housing.
they'll help the unemployed to
point was about that specific I
cannot remember the name of it
get jobs and care cuts will
at this point but that specific
opportunity and not the
make this area safer, better,
more compassionate for
successive ones I'm agreeing
with you in the sense that
there are multiple
everybody in the community.
opportunities that it gets very
confusing in terms of how much
it's the right thing to do.
money has an allocated to a
particular entity.
thank you for listening to me.
when are the opportunities,
thank you.
when will there be future
ben mallon's 550 west rain
opportunities?
street.
I represent carrycot.
there's no procedural defects
in this.
and I think that I would like
the owner on the application
the planning staff requires
to make a request now for our
april twenty third workshop
owners on every application he
that is focused on grants if it
so he started the design center
is at all possible to have a
of table five point to design
standards that he cited apply
calendar that tells us or a
little bit of course all of the
to a different zone.
opportunities that become
they apply to the two zoni
available to help us navigate
which is different this one
zoning there's different design
standards that's that was just
this I feel like that that
would be a good tool to have
inaccurate quote there's been a
one other thing and this
lot of talk about this not
is because of what mr. Robinson
being you.
it's been auto centric area and
said who spoke not against but
a person of industry, an area
when this new zoning ordinance
was adopted in twenty twenty
there are only two zones was
allowed in the social services
and that is to help alert the
the non-profits and the
s.h. One an institutional from
so from the very beginning it
agencies that can be eligible
for these opportunities.
was allowed for specifically
called for in the highway
there are probably many easy
ways like a quick text alert
commercial zone but beside the
fact I said some pictures today
like this coming in if you are
this is one hundred and seventy
an interested entity to be on
feet away from where the
sidewalk currently ends.
that list, you get your your
phone in there and it's an
it's there at the bus station.
we are leasing that space from
alert not just an email but you
have to go but a push
technology that is sending
bob monday there are
twenty parking spaces that
something there so people are
more aware.
I think those are the kinds
of things that we do have the
lease was submitted you know
through peter errands to the
law department.
opportunity for.
I just wanted to speak to your
that's not part of the special
use application but we do have
concern council member adams.
I've got good news.
the parking that's required
the grant calendar is already
there and I understand I spoke
on our website right now.
you can google city
to director brooks this morning
of knoxville grant
that there is contemplated
future sidewalks in this area
opportunities.
it lists all the grants through
all the different departments
so that meets the the
and we do our best to get these
requirements to make it talked
out.
there's a lot of channels, a
lot of noise, a lot of slop out
about those vacant shopping
center and what staff was
there and sometimes just gets
lost in the shuffle.
really saying is this this
but council members could be
is an infill location because
this bank has been
great, you know, to amplify
underutilized for years and now
it can be put to good use
those messages.
instead of a greenfield
development.
we get them to you and then you
and that was what was called
get them out and that's nine
more ways to hear those voices
heard.
out in policy eight point one
but we do have a calendar it
of the general plan.
>> I know this is the boring
is on also on our website we'll
stuff but I need to get out in
the record, make sure that that
send we also send news releases
to the media and anyone who
you we make it clear that
gets our news releases is aware
planning staff did this right.
of every grant opportunity in
time for you know, when the
applications are due, when
they met they demonstrate how
it meets all the applications.
this is not zoning.
there's opportunities to meet
with staff to understand how to
this isn't even a zoning
application.
zoning is a legislative action
apply what the criteria are.
and just so you know, at one
where you're changing zoning.
this is one we're not changing.
point we had all the grants in
you want a special use
is allowed in that zone.
one one you know, the community
it just has to go through the
agency grants is the main thing
extra process which we've
and that was all one time
of year.
already pointed out is a bit
unfair because the only reason
but one of the reasons that at
the time it seemed like a good
idea to have more opportunities
we're going through the extra
process is because the people
people would come up in march
we serve are housed everybody
or july and be like hey, we we
have this great program to help
engage kids during the summer.
else getting these services who
have a home who are not
but we didn't we didn't reply
back in january.
suffering from some type
we didn't know about it because
of disability or addiction can
we're new or fledgling or
get these services at this
whatever and they we had no
location permitted, go get the
permit.
and speaking of getting the
grant programs that were
available in those mid middle
permit that was done because
there was a permit issued
you know, besides that one
annual calendar.
conditional upon the appeal
process to the board.
so it's a it's a classic like
is there any appeals because
today's solutions can be
the law department and the
director of zoning determined
tomorrow's not sure problems
just sort of areas
that this was actually exempt
of confusion.
from zoning because of the
so we we we want to keep
religious freedom act
improving and getting the word
out and maybe consolidating
of tennessee and rluipa of the
that some would be better.
federal counterpart that's not
I'm not sure if consolidating
before us today that just went
is the right thing if it's
through the bca earlier today
imperfect then it may be all
the bca upheld the planning
of the above.
directors or the zoning
but I I recognize that there
directors decision on that.
are people who are not getting
it may be before you in the
future but we can't do anything
the word that need to get the
until this whole process
word and that there is some
is concluded so there's not
anything nefarious or
blurriness around all the
underhanded.
different opportunities.
I didn't know about that
we follow the rules every step
of the way.
staff laid out in detail why
this meets all the requirements
of the special use application.
I expounded upon that in my
letter that sent you all and
I'm and I do appreciate the
opportunity to meet with the
neighbors.
we met with them for about two
hours and I think that there
particular list so whoever can
text it to me immediately I'll
get it.
were some things that were
addressed that that were
we'll send out to all council
members on an email but I would
beneficial and the biggest
like that to be part of our
part of our workshop just some
thing is with regard to the
education there in terms
of what those opportunities
are.
it is probably going to send
you guys the link.
thank you.
safety safety is our number one
priority.
I don't know who was next mr.
we care about these people more
thomas or mr. Grant.
than anybody.
mr. Thomas, you haven't spoken
yet on this item back to you.
simply a great news about the
calendar.
haircut's cares about these
people more.
it's good and I simply wanted
they want to keep them safe.
to say that councilperson
grant's got a lot of experience
they know how they were.
in the nonprofit world and his
points are well taken and I
they are they know they help
think we will have a really
good opportunity at this
provide them rides when needed.
workshop which we did a poll
among the council people and
they help make sure they get
there safely and they have a
this one got a priority of of
tremendous track record in
action.
their current location which
is right across from one of the
so I'm hoping that we can
most popular pizza restaurants
really get a lot of these
in town and hasn't affected
their business one bit.
issues discussed and addressed
at that workshop.
it's not going to affect these
but I just want to say I
businesses one bit.
appreciate your your bringing
this to our attention and you
mr. Hamilton's anecdotes only
make some really good points
go to show that these people
and we look forward to kind
of digging into this.
thank you, council member
grant.
that need this help are already
in the area and we're willing
yeah, I mean I just want to
to help them and we're willing
take note I mean when you look
to help them within the
confines of the law and we've
at the 13 grants ten of them
are in my district.
met use special use
of application staff laid out
you can rely on staff
I want us to be mindful that
recommendation as material
ten of these organizations are
evidence to support your
decision.
in district six and so you
there's case law on that.
so I'd ask that you uphold this
decision.
thank you.
mr. Marlen's mr. Hamilton, you
know, I'm not up here, you
know, making statements just
based off my own accord.
right.
there's community members who
can come back to a podium.
have these concerns, this
community members who don't
you may have up to two minutes
have the voices or the platform
or or maybe even tired
for rebuttal.
of showing up to council if
they feel like it's going to be
passed anyway.
the question of fear there was
those the unspoken truths that
a person killed on avenue
aren't said and so we have to
do better.
unless the couple of months ago
I know I mean we keep saying
I was connected to a homeless
you know, we know we got to fix
this.
person stabbing motel six just
we know we got to fix this and
a couple of weeks ago right
I know we do got to fix this
but it's not fair to the
there merchants drive again
organizations who are on this
you know, on these applications
another homeless, a takeover
who are receiving the funding
of waffle house where the
to have to feel like they're
police had come and clear the
being criticized because our
processes aren't what they need
area, take it back from one the
to be.
so to say, you know, they
homeless people.
expect it.
>> there is an epidemic
I mean that's another thing
that I'm confused.
it's like well we need to prove
of crime.
this because they're expecting
it.
how are they expecting it as
council members?
we haven't voted on it.
we have to deal with that.
what are we up here for if we
don't have our own opinions and
it is this claim that there's
we can't take the feedback from
going to be a twenty eight
our constituents and bring it
here, we have to do better.
people a day and how they're
going to park well, we know
I mean I'm not opposing them.
there's six parking spots.
I've counted it and I don't
I just want to make no that we
understand that we have to do
better and I would like to ask
right now on the record are
count twenty.
there any grants coming before
this issue of fear is real.
us before april one either miss
middlebrook, I think this
it's not helpful when a city
is the last from your
department for this season.
refuses to follow its own rules
can you clarify so to clarify,
I believe in the february
doesn't change the analysis.
meeting the question was about
our grant making process and
no ceo should have been issued
because no permit should have
whether or not there was
been accepted according to
another application period
being opened and the answer to
that was no, not until next
sixteen twelve b six which
year because as has been noted,
quote no building permits
should be issued until city
the application for these came
in between november and
council acted on the appeal.
december which was the block
time period for those
how are we supposed to trust
applications.
the review process is staggered
any of the system if the system
because we have multiple
is not paying attention to its
committees reviewing different
own rules?
applications and so was based
on when those can meet and then
also considering other items on
thank you for the opportunity.
ok, thank you council members.
the agenda and it is best to
bring items and so all of these
applications across our the
that concludes the first part
o.s.s. Grant program were
of this hearing now you may
opened and closed at the same
discuss it as us council member
thomas yes, if I understand
time in terms of other items
that may be coming before
attorney frost right.
council, the only things that
remain that currently to my
our charge today is to apply
knowledge remain open are the
the special use standards to
grants that the empower knot's
initiative does which are
this application and I've gone
similar to our micro grant
through the packet as best I
programs for other programs
that folks can apply for on a
rolling basis.
could and I will say clearcuts
is there a vincent if council
does not want to see those
does great work and I've been a
grants at this time we can go
ahead and close that
supporter of them for a long
application for the event grant
so that we don't bring anything
time.
else.
I've attended their side and
but in terms of our larger
williams I've attended their
grants this is the last one but
luncheons.
they are open and closed at the
if my memory serves me well
same time and were received at
the same time.
well, mr. Grant, I mean I think
it's easy unless there's some
unless someone on my staff can
tell me that there's a pending
grant that's time sensitive
between now and april.
twenty third I think we can say
that there's not going to be
any more between now and april.
twenty come into council for
I've dispersed some city funds
your review and approval and
to them when I had an
opportunity.
let me know now if that's mayor
that's not yes.
so this is not about the good
work that that haircut does and
I know a lot of them on first
basis first name basis.
the issue here is whether or
not this particular site meets
the criteria of a special use
we do have I believe challenge
grant park neighborhood
and I've gone through I've read
challenge grant neighborhood I
everything in the packet I've
tried to analyze the lawyers
think our I'm sorry ibrahim um
from parks and recreation.
agreements as best as possible
ok, coming before us on march
and looking at the six criteria
under sixteen point to have to
the thirty first.
ok so there will be the
there's four that really give
neighborhood parks and rec
challenge grants come in for
your review.
me pause and huge questions
those are again those have been
around a long time and they're
about whether or not they are
actually met.
pretty small dollar amounts and
the first one is whether the
the total is is if I believe
use is consistent with the
I'm correct I think it's less
than twenty five thousand
adopted plans and policies
including the general and the
dollars in total across a
number of organizations.
any others that I know of off
the top of your head?
I don't think so.
one year plan and the that
certification is to promote
ok, but again, you know, there
redevelopment of vacant or
sometimes we stretch them out
largely vacant shopping centers
just to uh you know, have
shorter agendas but maybe
and this is not a vacant or
largely vacant shopping center.
that's not a good idea anyhow.
we want to hear more about how
it has ongoing businesses.
we can improve on april
twenty third and also continue
so under section one which
would be trying to promote
the conversation tonight as you
want counts vice if you get
redevelopment of a vacant
shopping center or largely
thank I would just respectfully
vacant this should not apply so
request that if you find after
you get in your offices
tomorrow and what you did not
that criteria was not met
know off the top of your head
tonight you find that there
whether it has the use in
harmony with general purpose
is another one coming to us
before april.
and intent of the zoning
please let us know otherwise I
code says the one district
look forward to a very robust
is intended to accommodate high
workshop on april twenty third
intensity commercial uses of a
because this is new to it's a
lot lot of grants.
predominantly auto orien it
the city gives away a lot
character and that is the
situation there on merchants
of community grant money and so
look forward to discussing all
road and me being someone who
promotes pedestrianism and
our processes and oh ok.
no other lights on the motion
loves pedestrianism, the use
on the floor to approve this
item.
of this would be primarily
twelve f all those in favor
please say ay ay yi opposed
opposed motion carries eight
pedestrian and so as much as I
wish that wasn't the case,
that's what the the
code requires.
the code talks about is about
one next item please 12 g is a
an auto centric auto oriented
resolution authorizing the
mayor to execute an agreement
with connect ministries to
provide individual case
management, wraparound social
services and emergency
character in so the fact that
the proposed use here is not an
relocation support to
individuals at high risk for
auto centric proposal does not
being involved in community
based violence for an annual
amounts not to exceed one
get no.
two either.
hundred eighty six thousand one
no for the use will not
hundred dollars council.
there's a couple of people
significantly injure the value
signed up to speak item twelve
g.
of adjacent property owners
we'll start with those in favor
first monica read this re thank
etc. And the the planning staff
you.
if you could say your name and
just issued one sentence on
address for the record and
their findings.
you'll have up to three minutes
it says the proposal is not
expected to significantly
monica read thirty six fifteen
injure the value of any
martin luther king jr. Avenue
connect ministries connect
ministries has been in e
adjacent properties.
knoxville for nearly
that was their total findings.
twenty years.
it had no substance to it.
we have reviewed the proposed
contract for the office from
it had no evaluation about why
the office of community safety
just a blanket statement.
in a power missler kenya has
it's not expected significantly
the canek has the capacity to
injure the value of adjacent
execute the terms of the
properties like a council.
proposed contact tracked in the
I've got a packet of eighty
scope of work connected
community based resource where
over 80 comments and I think
people come to find some hope.
we are excited about the
only two were in support
of this location for its
possibility of being a part
of this team violence reduction
intended use and I read every
in an effort to stabilize the
streets here in knoxville
knowing that the participants
one of those comments and the
theme that runs through them
that are enrolling are those
who have voluntarily come to
is we're not against clearcuts
, we're concerned with the
say that I want to change my
life and the promise for a
safety but these were well
written.
better life for me and my
family probers.
it wasn't form submissions and
twenty three and seven say as
many of them were by business
far as a man thinks in his
heart, so is he.
owners along that corridor and
we want to provide a space for
participants to think for a
they have valid concerns and
this is not just some
unspectacular speculation
change destabilizing streets
program and partnerships formed
of fear.
they have valid concerns about
with various organizations
how this will impact their
business.
including the manabu center and
others to make this program
one of the comments was from a
successful.
thanks to the structure laid
former volunteer of crosscuts
out by mr. Mccain, miss
middlebrook and her office
designed to allow participants
sorry clearcuts on williams
to change their thinking in
avenue and they talked about
order to change our lives, the
the impact that it had on
life and the lives of their
businesses.
families any programs that are
>> mr thomas said your time
going to be successful must
is up.
ok, I will yield to my
colleagues.
ok, I'll come back.
have dollars allocated for
thank you mayor.
support services necessary for
other comments or questions or
the petition and their families
to include intense case
motions from other council
members.
management, intense case
council member parker in our
rules we can also request
management and with a lot
of walking alongside and a lot
additional time.
I would really like to hear
of handholding through every
phase of this program that they
your full arguments if you
don't mind continuing doesn't
seem like anybody else is ready
enter for a new life the new
way of life.
to speak.
and I just want to say that
I'll second that mr thomas will
commitment ministry is doing
this in the city and we are
go back to you if you put the
trusted messengers.
clock back at another three
five minutes.
one of the trusted messengers
of the city.
and I just think that the
structure that's laid out for
the weekly reporting and the
ok so I can so you know I
talked about how the this would
weekly gatherings have all
of the partners come together
injure the businesses and the
property values that's
to share what's happening, to
substantiating the record and
share participants work that we
these are people who are
do every department needs case
management because you can
observers of that area and they
manage for connect.
own businesses there and
you can't do my case
management.
they're talking about how this
I have to do my role and so
is going to impact about how
every entity that's a part
of this have to have all the
pieces in their organization to
hand walk these people through
this process.
already it is and based glee
and so we just thank you for
the situation we're in I was a
the opportunity connect to be a
council member when all this
part of it and come to speak
happened and I could see it
today in favor of this
contract.
thank you.
before my eyes but it was when
thank you.
black stock the housing area
next person signed up to speak
and around black stock was they
in favor of this item is jan
kominski.
did a sweep and it forced all
miss kominski, if you could
come to the podium, state your
name and address for the record
the homeless out of black stop
and you'll have up to three
because of complaints from
neighbors there.
and so where did they go?
they went north and so that's
when I started hearing
minutes to address council.
complaints about these issues
>> hey, my name is jean
kaminsky.
that have been spoken from from
the podium and I hear them
consistently, you know, and
this happened after the the
black stock camp was cleaned
out.
and so what I'm concerned about
is we're going to start another
mission this district in
merchants road where people
I live at five four or one
three seven eight four nine.
will be going there even more
I'm the executive director
of community mediation center
here in knoxville and we work
with courts, families and
community partners to help
people resolve conflict in a
constructive and accessible
where the services aren't
way.
centralized.
and we've been doing so since
so I don't need it.
nineteen ninety four but I'm
not here tonight to speak about
my organization and I'm here to
speak in support of connect
I don't think it meets the
ministries.
I've gotten to know their work
through my involvement in the
violence reduction provider
network where organizations
meet weekly to brainstorm ways
criteria of not significantly
to provide wraparound services
injuring the value of adjacent
to individuals and families who
properties based on what the
are facing serious challenges.
people and business owners in
and week after week I see
that area have said.
number six, the nature
connect ministries showing up
in very real and in practical
of development is round here.
ways.
it's not such as to pose a
they're not just talking about
solutions.
they're actively helping people
potential hazard and we've
navigate housing instability,
find employment and rebuild
heard about how there's a lack
their lives post incarceration.
of infrastructure there.
they really do meet people
this is a pedestrian community
where they are and provide
that will be using the space
support that seems really
grounded and really responsive
.
and that is a very auto centric
and so what has really stood
out to me is the way that their
area and we don't have the
infrastructure there to
team approaches this work,
they're a thoughtful, creative
accommodate this type of foot
problem solvers and they're
traffic and it's going to be
willing to step into complex
dangerous for the people who
situations and help people move
forward.
are using this facility and a
they're doing the kinds
lot of the comments that are in
of hands-on relationship based
work that makes a real
our packet was people who are
talking about this.
difference even when it's not
>> they were talking about the
always easy to measure.
care of the the the users
they seem to understand the
real barriers that people are
facing as well as understanding
of this facility and how
the systems that people need to
dangerous this is going to be
navigate and are willing to
walk with people through that.
and we're going to allow this
so from my perspective there
use there without us taking
are strong and reliable partner
care of the under lying
infrastructure that would need
in this community and their
work contributes directly to
to be put in place there.
stability, safety and better
long term outcomes for people
here in our community.
so based upon that I am going
so I just wanted to take this
moment to show up in support
of their work and to share what
to move to approve the appeal
which is one of the tough ones
I've seen firsthand from them.
so I hope they're able to
I've had to do.
secure this funding so that
they can continue to expand the
but my analysis anyway of this
particular situation, the
good work that they do.
thank you for your time.
criteria for special use
thank you, counsel.
there's one person who signed
is that the criteria are not
granted are not met.
up to speak against us.
that's what is categorized on
my sheet.
mr. Robinson.
thank you.
>> ok, motion has been made to
matthew robinson, you're not
grant the appeals are second to
speaking in us, ok?
this motion hearing none.
that concludes people who have
the motion fails for lack of a
signed up to speak to this item
second.
.
is there motion to deny the
appeal?
council member graham thank
you.
>> I would like to make a
motion to deny that has been a
motion made and second to deny
the appeal.
any questions are discussion.
>> mayor deja vu.
I'd like to make a short please
there's a few council members
I know I would like to begin
that planning you made this
up here who was in this very
position last year when the
this was what they recommended
city decided to move forward
to to a planning commission and
it passed planning permission
nine zero went back and watched
within ikeja.
the meeting and I feel like
they they read through these
you know, in ikeja has done
good things.
you know, I won't take away the
five merrett and so that was my
credit from that but now I'm
starting point and then I read
finding ourself in the same
through the five minutes myself
and begin to understand some
position where we're not
creating a process that's
things and looking at many
of the things that councilman
instrumental to the community.
thomas just outlined I see
I can't take away anything from
janeck ministries in terms
differently I see that a
of the effort they do more than
sidewalk ends at arby's which
is on the same block as this
what they just say.
>> I never see them turn
place is just to the north west
around, turn around anybody at
of that.
so it's it's on the same block.
it just hasn't been continued
the door on but that doesn't
but it's literally less than
one hundred feet away.
I also feel that with the bus
mean that what we have in place
has been added to the community
stop nearby it makes sense for
in terms of providing case
people to be coming and going.
management to hire this
I think of work haircuts
currently is right now and I'm
in commercial real estate.
the value of that property
individual again, I think the
because of all the businesses
process needs to be better.
there the back building sold
I think we can do a much better
for over two hundred fifty
job in terms of creating an
dollars square foot which
ecosystem where you have
is the same amount it's right
different violence prevention
there on that block so I do not
organizations, where you have
see their property things go
different wraparound services
down and then as a track record
at the table and controlling
thinking about whether this
would bring harm to the
neighborhood, I feel like
that table for the matter I
william street and what the
don't know.
business that is there right
I think it's very disappointing
now, the services they provide
actually make it part of the
safest part of that district
for us to try to implement a
and I have the confidence that
you know, the kaseman and the
property values will not drop
wraparound services emergency
relocation.
and it will increase the safety
of what is already a problem up
these are things that I can
there.
recall at that at the meeting
>> so thank you council member
last may that the current
parker.
organization that we're
contracted with is supposed to
thank you, mayor.
be on there hasn't been any
conversation about that
organization.
>> right.
>> um, and I also want to share
a few of my thoughts ahead
of the vote.
so here it is again.
it's almost like we're making a
double investment in services
at the same time we're saying
crime is and violence is going
down.
yet it seems like we're just
trying to disperse funds
rapidly.
it feels like to be able to
>> I appreciate the thoughts
address the issue when I can
shared by council member thomas
speak firsthand that you can't
and and also by the appellant's
the attorney.
>> I think there are definitely
throw money at the problem.
some compelling arguments being
made.
you know, when you talk about
however, for me the arguments
violence prevention work and
applied more to the commercial
community based violence, I've
highway zoning rather than the
been able to do it on a street
standards for evaluating the
level.
I've been able to do it on an
administrative level and I've
had the fortunate opportunity
to be elected by my
constituents to be up here on
special use.
council to try to shape the
>> the comments that have been
different policy that we need
so we can move forward with a
provided about this location
better process.
that conversation needs to be
have been very thoughtful and I
had.
it needs to be it needs to be
believe they are deserving
of consideration but for me
had very, very soon.
if not we will have a problem
on our hands and so we have to
they were not convincing enough
for me to move in that
stop putting bandaids on guns.
direction to council member
>> a 15 year old just shot a
self about thirty minutes ago I
thomas's point there is a
growing mission district in
got a text message stop and go.
this area and is not one that
fifty road shootings, violence
has happened on accident.
>> it's an area that has been
in our community to me I think
it's important it's important
that we address it the right
that was previously used or
maybe continues to be used by
way and I just don't feel like
the county for, you know,
the way the city is going about
hotels, motels, space for those
it is the right way.
>> but I just wanted to get
that on record.
recovering from, you know,
infectious diseases and it was
we have to do better.
we have to stop putting a
certainly used during the
band-aid on the process and if
not it's going to be
pandemic and that's why we have
this growing population
detrimental to us as a city.
we will see violence go back up
of folks in the area that
weren't there previously or at
if we don't continue to do it
better.
thank you.
least one of the reasons why.
and so it is something that we
>> council member parker.
have to acknowledge as a city
if if if we have leaned on the
thank you, mayor.
hotel motel services in that
area to service a certain
we we are learning more about
community that we know need
other services, it is our
these grant processes than we
responsibility to ensure that
have previously and I
appreciate the additional
those services are then
information.
provided and care cuts is one
of those services in my opinion
like the other speakers have
one aspect of the program that
was just described though the
raise some concerns for me.
said, I don't believe this
service with lower property
um, the weekly meetings and the
values in the area or the
neighborhood but would only
bring a much needed service
that hopefully would help to
support and the conversations
it depends on what these
improve the area, help to
conversations look like.
you know, I've done a lot
provide some structure and a
of work around education,
place for folks to go so that
justice and around school
they're not lingering in that
discipline issues and one
situation but they're actually
of the concerns when it comes
moving forward towards housing
.
that's the purpose of a service
to school discipline is um,
like haircut's is provide those
wanting to avoid creating a
needed services but also help
move folks forward in life
stigma around the child so one
forward towards housing forward
teacher may have an experience,
may have some disciplinary
um, so I'm in support of this.
issues with the child.
I am also devastated to see
clearcuts leave downtown the
absolute devastated um you will
um, well what we want to avoid
is a situation where that
serve a new population that
teacher been in the third grade
teacher now they're gossiping
needs you but I know there were
with the fourth grade teacher.
going to be people sad to see
you go as well.
now when that child goes off to
we need you in both places
is how I feel.
fourth grade, that teacher
but I do believe that this
needs the standards for a
is expecting certain behavior
special use.
and it almost creates this the
but I think that these issues
stigma or you know, the student
of how we're using our highway
commercials should be
gets labeled and potentially
doesn't get that fair chance
considered, you know, in the
future discussions because
and I'm worried about that
these services do make more
happening in this situation
sense in these walkable
with how we're defining the
youth.
communities that we are
developing throughout the city
um, and what kind
and we don't want to only zone
them for highway, commercial,
of confidentiality and privacy
regional commercial five acre
are we adhering to as they are
given access to, you know,
large institutional plots like
that is our responsibility to
various services and forms
of therapy?
to relook at our zoning code.
um, I think these are much
we're going to be going through
it soon and take into
needed but I am a little
concerned about how a more
consideration what is best for
these services moving forward.
collective approach might give
and I do believe they need to
be in walkable communities.
but for this issue today I do
believe that it does meet the
great support to the adults who
are leading these efforts.
standards plan to vote in
favor.
thank you.
but I worry about the the
private kissi concerns for that
council member thomas.
yes, thank you.
child, the stigma that can
surround that child especially
council member for your
thoughtful comments.
in uh, a small community like
knoxville.
I appreciate that one general
comment and I will be very
um, so if you wouldn't mind
brief one general comment
is that there's kind of two
sharing more about that aspect
of the work, I'd love hearing
it.
yeah.
schools of thought about where
the un house should be located
so for clarity with regards to
this service contract and the
and how they should be
nets that you hear, they are
administered to and helped and
contracts for for direct
services as is most of us know
the city doesn't do a lot
one of them is to disperse the
of direct services and so we
connect with organizations who
different helping agencies into
are doing that work in our
different parts of the city and
community primarily the
that's that's a valid school.
participant in these services
I thought there another school
are not young people.
of thought is that you keep it
most of them are young adults,
middle adults, older adults
kind of where they have access
sometimes.
so it is not specific to young
to services and the services
are in such a proximity that
people all the providers that
are currently in our provider
they can actually serve each
network and it is a growing
other better because you have
cities that's kind of what
ecosystem of providers who can
we've had I think up on
engage and effectively support
broadway.
the populations that we are
so you would have calm you have
looking to serve.
salvation army etc. So those
are two valid schools
of thought.
all of them are in agreement
what's happening here
with our confidentiality
is because of the closing
policies where the discussions
of black stock as I mentioned
that happen in the coordination
is that population went from
downtown north to merchants
meetings are for the group and
do not extend beyond that and
road in my district and the
neighbors and the businesses up
as individuals enroll in
there have been confronted with
participation with different
this situation that they
weren't used to and there's
providers they each provider
has their own releases
of information that allowed
them to coordinate services or
lots of valid concerns so I
just wanted to kind of make
care among other providers that
they may be working with.
that general statement about
how there are two schools
and so we are very thoughtful
of thought and both of them
to adhering to the privacy
concerns for individuals that
have legitimate say about you
know, you want to disperse
are participating but it allows
an opportunity for folks who
may be serving these
services throughout the city
where things will be fair and
no particular neighborhood will
have to bear the brunt of a
large on house population and
the other one is have more
central locations where you can
actually provide these services
more effectively.
individuals to identify gaps in
services and coordinate with
>> what is happening here
other providers to ensure that
care is coordinated, that we
are not missing opportunities
to serve or sometimes even
double serving in places and
is that merchants road and the
then leaving gaps and others
and so a lot of the folks who
these organizations are
engaging with are actually
adults who can make those
fifth district my district has
determinations and sign those
releases for themselves and
been taking the brunt of this
they can talk more.
the organizations are here.
they can talk more about what
their processes are for sure
and confidentiality and privacy
relocation of un housed people
for their clients.
and then as a follow up
and what I want to ask my
question, none of the
colleagues to do for my
individuals who receive these
services and end up being
district this is your this
is not your district.
clients of connect ministries,
I get that.
none of that information
but I I'm really going to need
your help.
I can't do it myself and this
is shared with kapiti correct?
my district is bearing the
correct.
brunt of this this movement
their their private information
is retained as private
information by the organization
is shared with provider
networks.
the law enforcement does not
of un housed individuals and to
the extent of any other
participate in a service
provider network.
it's solely for service
district and so it's not fair
providers in city of knoxville
.
that's perfect.
thank you.
to allow this situation to
ok, thank you.
happen in one particular
just a just a little context
for those of you who are newer
district without offering as
much help as you can.
to council is you know when we
had a surge in violence in
twenty twenty in twenty twenty
so if this passes I'm going to
encourage my colleagues to do
one we at the time had limited
tools mostly law enforcement
whatever they can to have that
understanding even if it's not
and we realized that we needed
community based interventions
in your district, you know we
are going to need help from law
not just law enforcement to
reduce the violence in our
city.
so we started the office
enforcement, from social
of community safety later that
was consolidated with the
office of community safety and
services, from the the homeless
empowerment and then we worked
on the various group violence
entities, aaron reed, everybody
reduction strategies, street
anybody we can because this
violence and eruption teams and
community based services the
is happening up there and the
neighbors can see it and they
project tlc but but the one
thing that has been, you know,
taken some time to develop and
can see the the the ambiance
mature is the you know, the
sticks are the easy part.
you know, we catch you we
and circumstances and I guess
prosecute, put you in jail if
you if guilty of a crime, you
know.
the nature of their communities
and their business is changing
so when we bring when we know
identify people who are at risk
because of a larger influx
of committing violence or being
a victim of violence, we want
of very needy citizens.
them to not just have a stick
but carrot and these item
so I just want to I guess put
that on the record that since
twelve g and h are those
carrots so we can say you want
the fifth district is now going
to start has been taking the
to get out of a life of crime
but you need a safe place to go
brunt of of this situation, I'm
going to be asking for
because you feel vulnerable in
your current house or maybe
everybody's help and you know,
your own house can you know
this provider can help you with
that you're you've been
I'll just make some personal
notes here.
involved illegal activities
I just because different people
because you're short on money
up here share different things
connected to maybe get you
house you know, help with rent,
you know, I worked in guatemala
help with the job training to
city for over two years and the
you know, those sorts
of things.
garbage dump and these were
so it's it's not just like stop
people who were making their
doing this or else you know,
you're either going to you
living out of the garbage dump
and I saw people who were
know, face criminal
prosecution.
we wanted to offer those
carrots so the item twelve
is the connect ministry case
searching for food in the midst
of buzzard's there was hundreds
case manager to help people
with these wraparound social
of people and hundreds
of buzzards actually trash
services and then the next item
is help with, you know,
cognitive behavioral therapy
picking and competing to live.
and other things and they're
so I don't want anybody to
both contracts that are
invoiced and you know, they're
think that I was born on city
up to the amount that you're
approving tonight.
so it's not like we just hand
council or born as a lawyer.
but I know this community, you
them over the money.
they'll receive referrals and
know, so anything I'm
advocating is not at all
then build a city based on the
amount of money available per
carlist I totally get it.
these agreements that you're
considering tonight.
what I'm trying to do is do
something fair for the
council member grant got a
question on a couple
community and also lessen the
of statements for director
impact on on healthy
middlebrook.
can you define case management
communities and help businesses
which is unfairly being levied.
for me and then we can you
thank council member housley.
define life coaching and can
thank you mayor.
you distinguish the difference
I just like to say I don't know
between the two?
how we know where homeless
people came from.
>> so life coaching involves
they if they came from I
direct services that could
thought maybe they did um but I
think all parts of town have
mirror in some regards case
management but it's much more
issues with homeless people
live in south nashville and
there's a lot of homeless
broad so your life coaches are
typically engaging with
individuals multiple times a
people on south knoxville.
>> um, I think in the meantime
week having at least one
I think the criteria has been
in-person contact with them and
met for this appeal.
they are helping to connect
however, I feel like as a city
them to resources and services
we just have to do something.
that they may need.
it's not just in one part
of town.
so they do have the mission
but sometimes it is not even
district downtown which does
connecting to resources and
services.
sometimes it's just being a
listening ear.
serve people but the ones in
it's being a safe place.
the other parts don't have
it's being somewhere that they
can build a relationship and
connection in a meaningful way
that helps them feel more
comfortable engaging services
in a lot of times the life
coaches actually walk alongside
them to engage with other
service providers.
so one example that I can give
is that life coaches for not
service in are still there.
I mean for god's sakes,
cokesbury methodist church down
soapies this has been mentioned
there I mean they're way down
earlier have actually taken
deep west in the county and
there's homeless people all
over down there.
so I just think we have a
individuals to ministries to
problem we need to rectify at
some point.
engage in services that connect
but I don't think any part
of town is exempt and I will
wholeheartedly support
ministries may have because
haircut's the motion before a
they know that those
council is to deny this appeal.
individuals may not necessarily
council member thomas yeah.
very quickly in response to
walk through the door on their
miss clb, I know that there's a
own.
homeless problem all over the
city.
>> the case managers really
help to assess what the needs
I get that.
are, identify kind of a
but what we're seeing in this
holistic approach to their
particular area and I know it
was when I know when it started
needs and then can help them
engage the services that they
may need.
happening it's when we cleaned
out the camps under blackstock.
so it may be employment
services, it may be housing, et
cetera.
anybody in merchants road can
and so the two things work
tell you and I don't think
together and then as I
there's any other part of the
mentioned the third piece that
will come before you in just a
few minutes also works with
city that is taking as many
unannounced individuals and as
that in allowing in
opportunities for individuals
to engage the therapeutic
a need for the city to help the
situation.
mental health services that
then there is in north
knoxville.
>> thank you.
they may need to be supported
and effective in participating
ok, any further questions or
discussion saying none just as
in some of the other services.
and so the life coaches kind
of walk alongside them in all
a reminder a yes vote is to
deny the people all those in
favor.
of those aspects where as the
case managers through connect
please say and he opposed the
would be hyper focused on
meeting some of those needs
that identified that their
motion to deny his council
members.
there's been a couple
of requests for a brief recess
services can address.
so that's pretty much the same
so we'll reconvene at seven
thirty five and those of you
thing a case manager and a life
coach when you're talking about
who are leaving please take
this opportunity to leave
working with individuals is the
same thing.
quietly and stay if you're
the point I'm making is we
already have funding out here
for life coaches that are
working with high risk
individuals who are already
doing the work and so here it
is we're looking to duplicate
the same thing.
right.
I don't know if we're just
looking to disperse the funds
for whatever reason but this
is just not making sense for us
to duplicate services when I'm
looking at the contract and I
see j.r. And we have 200
twenty five thousand dollars
out there already for five life
welcome to stay if you wish
coaches earn enough high risk
individuals out there.
there is and so it's not making
sense and I hope you know, I
don't want to be the one to you
know, come off as you know,
trying to say that connect
ministries isn't doing the
work.
like I said, I don't think
there's anything you can say
about the program but just be
careful.
be careful.
connect ministries it's
difficult work is challenging
when you're working with high
risk individuals you do have to
walk that fine line.
you know, when it when it comes
to the safety of these
individuals providing certain
information to law enforcement
or to the city can be
detrimental for those
individuals.
so as you're doing the work and
you're working with these five
individuals, just be mindful
of that.
but we have to do a better job
of dispersing spending our
funds.
I mean if you get I think miss
parker had her line on first
council member parker sure.
to things.
the reason I'm asking this
question is because both in
terms of who were identifying
for, uh, financial support but
then also who we are uh
targeting for what the mayor
described as the stick, not the
carrot.
um, it just sounds like
predictive policing.
so I'm trying to get a sense
of are we doing predictive
policing and how are we um you
know, identifying people who
could potentially be a victim
of a crime or who could
potentially, um, commit a
crime.
and so that's why I keep asking
those questions.
council member grant just
stated that there are not that
many high risk individuals in
our community but when we have
such broad definitions, a lot
of people can fit into that
definition of who might be
considered a high risk
individual and then what stigma
then is attached not only to
the individual but to a
community?
um, for the knoxville peace
group was was brought up in and
I see j.r. Contract and I
wanted to ask I thought that
was a short six month contract.
was it a year long contract?
is that contract not expired?
and so you contract so it has a
few more months on the contract
now.
uh, yes.
do do we have any idea what
comes next?
because my understanding was
that knoxville peace I believe
and I see as they as we asked
them is coming to offer
training to anyone who's
willing to get more training.
I can't like be what's the name
of it anyhow to other entities
again we're trying to have an
ecosystem of community
supportive services to to stop
people from being violent and
let's say we serve someone who
instead of a ninety nine
percent likely to commit
violence or a ninety five
percent that would still be
helpful.
maybe someone gets access to
job training to mental health
services or housing and then
they're less risk of being a
victim of committing violence.
I think that's it's a good
problem to have that we are a
less violent city today than we
were five years ago and I think
that's a credit to the office
of community safety and all
many people have been part
of developing this ecosystem
of community services.
I think for every dollar we
invest in community
organizations like connect
ministry and some of the grants
that you all proved last agenda
item helps us be a safer city.
I think you can look at our
crime statistics.
I think that's credit to credit
but I also think it's credit to
these community based
organizations that we don't
just have an absence
of violence, we have a presence
of peace and that's that's what
this is about.
well, my assessing what um the
outcomes of these efforts
should be an ongoing process
and I do not believe we've
talked about the data really
since a lot of these programs
and efforts began and since
then I've heard, you know, the
uh we're starting to see
different victims of gun
violence in our community
rather than than than the
demographics that we were
largely seeing five years ago.
and so that tells me, you know,
uh, that it's time to reassess
and to see where the needs are
currently.
but if we simply just keep
doing the same thing and we
just assume certain
neighborhoods are where the
violence is going to happen and
certain people are going to be
the people who commit the
violence even though we're
seeing those numbers shift and
we're seeing other demographics
committing the violence, that's
where we start to see a biased
form and we start to see the
you know, racial profiling and
then we start to see the stigma
forming.
and so that's why I'm asking
these questions.
if we see data shifting, we see
violence is down.
we the other demographics in
the violence and needing those
supports as well.
it's you know, it's time to
have a conversation about where
we're focusing our efforts.
vice mayor, if you're good,
thank you.
I move that we approve their
second motion to approve has
been made and seconded.
did you have any further
discussion, vice mayor?
ok, no lights are on all those
important oh well I actual
individual roll call for this
particular line item please.
ok roll call votes been
requested if you could please
uh do the roll call vote usmani
if you could yes.
councilman grant no councilman
housley councilman honeycut yes
.
councilman lloyd no kathleen
parker yes.
councilman thomas abstained on
this one.
councilman adams councilman
adams yes.
councilman demar laykoon.
yes.
where the vote is six and favor
two opposed with one abstention
motion carries next item please
eleven hs resolution
authorizing the mayor to
execute an agreement with the
and russ macnab center inc. To
provide individual and group
therapy to individuals
identified as being at high
risk for involvement in
community based violence and
enrolled in outreach and or
life coaching for annual
amounts not to exceed one
hundred twenty one thousand
dollars.
can I council we have two
people signed up one in favor,
one against.
I will start with persons lined
up in favor of item twelve
which candice allen miss miss
allen uh she could approach the
podium state your name address
the record and you'll have up
to three minutes to address
councilman candice allen um
address two hundred tech center
drive knoxville, tennessee.
um, I'm here tonight to support
um the um uh project that is in
front of you.
um, we are involved initially
with the training in two
thousand and twenty two that
was provided to us through the
violence reduction center and
during that time it was very
apparent to us that one of the
things that they had carved out
that was very one of the
components of the model was
that individuals needed
individual and group therapy
and not only did they recommend
that they also cited cbt, which
is cognitive behavioral therapy
and as the most successful
model that they had, you know,
that they had experienced in
all their success with their
other models that they'd put in
different cities.
>> so just to give you a brief
idea of what that entails, cbt
as it is called is a evidence
based structured therapy model
.
it is provided specifically for
individuals that have a pattern
of negative thinking which
turns into negative behaviors
in this helps in to identify
and to move forward in and you
know, experience some positive
goals.
and so this really is is
pertinent towards a group
therapy kind of model.
for example, it could be
something that they attend
several weeks that would
involve making better decisions
, identifying purpose, working
through trauma and time because
we know that the majority
of the individuals that we come
across there refer to this
initiative.
they have a lot of trauma in
the finally it would be a the
final week might be life skills
and financial literacy.
>> so that's just one example
that the master's level person
, the therapist would also be
providing individual therapy to
the participants in this would
be a wide range of evidence
based modalities of treatment
that they're specifically
trained in.
so in summary, I'm here to
support that a dedicated
therapy must be assigned to be
able to conduct these type
of group and individual
sessions for individuals.
what we know is is that
individuals need a whole stick
approach and mental health
is paramount in helping them
establish a foundation and
maintain that foundation so
they can make positive changes
in their lives.
thank you for your time and
attention.
appreciate it.
thank you.
next person signed up to speak
to this item, signed up against
it maybe inadvertently mr.
robinson.
ok, well please come to the
podium said your name and
address for the record you'll
have up to three minutes to
address council.
>> yes ma'am.
my name is matthew robinson,
executive director of up knocks
in my address is forty eight
2014 if you wait three seven
nine one eight if I'm not
mistaken helen ross mcnabb
already gets millions and
millions of funding in to my
knowledge they've been around
for decades and not really had
any specific interest in
violence interruptions
specifically I may be wrong but
I understand understand I'm not
opposed to anybody doing this
work.
we we need all the help we can
get.
but I've also said before
understanding that taking these
job descriptions and positions
in and putting them
systematically in a process
takes away the personal aspect
of all situations pertaining
and will likely adopt the wish
that already exists between
professionals in that world the
people in the real world
dealing with the real life
issues creating these new job
descriptions and positions in
companies that have already
been around forever also
negates opportunities for other
organizations and new violence
reduction models to receive
appropriate funding because if
the city puts x amount
of dollars in this line of work
already then why would it want
to keep investing more
especially more specifically
after it's reached its cap?
I also personally think that
that this specific line gives
premise to a perception that
the city's current model is not
working and is successful is is
as successful as was promised
because if so why would they
feel the need to implement
these new different job
positions in these companies
that have already been around
for decades?
again, part of the reasons that
certain organizations are
successful in this line of work
is because they come from and
most still live in the same
environments that the work
is needed and being done in.
and believe it or not, there
are still many qualified
individuals in those areas
waiting for a chance to make a
difference in the places that
they grew up in and currently
live.
>> thank you.
thank you council members that
concludes people have signed up
to speak to item twelve h
council member grant and then
vice mayor fugo oh.
I mean I have to echo some
of the things that mr. Robinson
said.
you know, some of some of these
things were tried.
there were attempts to
implement these things.
you know, while I was doing the
work in the community and again
can't say nothing about helen
ross mad miss candice I've had
opportunity just working
alongside her the vrc meetings
just being able to engage with
her and her staff and they have
made the commitment to you
know, to show up to these
things.
but that doesn't take away the
truth on and to me it's
understanding that the
president that we're setting
when I look at the the agenda,
the documents that came with
this resolution and I look at
the hundred and twenty one
thousand dollar breakdown
eighty six thousand is for
salary benefits and taxes
eighty six thousand is going to
be going towards hiring an
employee for helen rostami
supplies twenty nine hundred
travel conferences and meetings
four telephone a thousand I can
see including equipment rental
maintenance software licenses,
five thousand insurance
professional general
unemployment a thousand sixty
one dollars and then you have
an approved federal indirect
cost of twenty eight point
sixty five percent.
apply it to the salaries and
benefits that's over a hundred
and ten thousand dollars
is just going towards the
person not the services that
they're going to be running.
the person who's funding this
next year.
right or voting today are we
making a commitment to continue
this position?
what if it works right?
is helen ross mcnab taking on
the the accountability after
the first year or will the city
we obligated to fill this void
we were creating another
position for an organization
that's highly funded already.
it it makes sense.
it's another band-aid.
and so a year from now whether
it works or doesn't work as a
council we're going to have to
make a decision.
do we want to commit another
hundred and twenty one dollars
to keep this position field?
it's not a smart investment.
it doesn't take away the work
that helen ross mcnab does but
it doesn't make sense to make
this investment at this time.
thank you, vice mayor.
if you get thank you I make a
motion to approve because we
aren't supposed to enter into
debate on items until there's a
motion on the floor.
>> I'll make a motion to
approve.
is there a second second motion
has been made and seconded.
thanks man.
thank you.
I would just say that at
understand your concerns I
would just say that if the if
the service is therapy then the
therapy is the service so that
would be my understanding
of the rationale that ross
mcnab would bring on a
different staff member because
they probably already have
existing staff.
I can't speak to exactly their
application.
I see it not from you but it
would be a different therapist
with a master's level social
worker to do this work.
so that is I understand that
and I understand that you that
that's the that's the cost if
it's a people business to help
people a therapist is the
service.
so I intend to support this
council member parker and then
debartolo in.
thank you.
um, previously we had funded
mental health services provided
by organizations in the
targeted communities.
um but it seems like we haven't
invited those groups to apply
for additional funding.
how was this um uh grant
agreement developed?
they apply for an open grant
process or miss if it's not
it's not a grant it's an
agreement.
so miss middlebrook, could you
speak to that please?
yes.
so for this particular contract
for service for director
services, mental health
services as excuse me miss
allen mentioned in her remarks
, helen ross mcnab has been a
partner with us in his work and
has kind of walked through the
the development of a plan and
understanding the initiatives
and has worked alongside
existing partners in the space
for quite some time.
and so that was the determining
factor that they were already
in the space and existing and
working well with partners in
the space and had the capacity
to manage the contract and
provide the supports and
services surrounding the
individual that would be needed
to effectively serve them our
other some of our other
providers.
so council approved a little
while ago a provider that was
providing mental health
services.
but those services are specific
to victims and their families
and so this provides us a more
expansive resource to provide
directed mental health services
both individual and kandice.
I mentioned the cognitive
behavioral therapy sessions for
individuals who are
participating in life coaching
that we don't currently have
the capacity for.
>> well, one thing that stood
out to me in this agreement
is that the individual hired um
must understand the culture
of the targeted community and I
don't believe that's enough
honestly especially for
cognitive behavioral therapy.
um, not and I'm not saying I'm
I'm an expert but just what was
described to me aveng
of visuals who are expert in
same challenges in life will
state it that way and to we're
already talking about who who
the target community is in
these grants.
we don't say it but we know who
the targeted community is and
now the fair he is working with
individuals with a um negative
outlook on life.
how can we shift that to a more
positive and productive I would
tell you without being an
expert in this um, you will
have much more success with
someone who is a part of the
targeted community, not just
someone who understands the
culture of the targeted
community.
I'll let you speak.
what would you like go ahead
with your time then I can I
don't want cut into your time.
ok, um so that was one concern
that I had because several
years ago now uh there was a
almost like pitch competition
that was held by the city to
bring forward community
organizations who are offering
mental health services to
compete for funding from the
city at present on their
various services.
and I don't know if all
of those have continued
especially without support but
I do know some of them have
continued and so we have those
mental health services within
the community and I imagine
especially for a contract like
this where we are fully paying
for an additional staff member,
many of these other
organizations that are also
engaged in mental health
support that are already
located in the targeted
community, they don't have to
understand the culture of their
already in the community.
those are the ones who should
be getting these funds to
provide these services in my
council member of our living,
mr robinson for his comments
and also councilman grant, I
think that community work done
by people within the community
is invaluable.
it's irreplaceable.
it's important.
but I also think that therapy
is very important changed my
own life, saved my friend's
life.
it is it is health work, mental
health work of a different
sort.
and I think the fact that we
just had these grant stuff come
before us which we're
struggling with some process on
for community groups and then
had this for this type
of master's level professional
group demonstrates that it's
not an either or but that we
are trying to serve both ways
and so I fully support having a
professional therapist active
in our community.
>> thank you.
thank you.
council member honeycut and
then grant, I want commissioner
grant to understand and
appreciate that I'm in full
support of his efforts over the
next year to uh, evaluate our
grant process, evaluate the
office of community safety and
empowerment and how these funds
are distributed in terms
of violence interruption.
I think you've started an
important conversation and I'm
totally on board and excited to
be part of that over the next
year and so that this time next
year we hopefully have an
alternative structure or
something an alternative plan
that that everyone can buy into
and be on board with.
I do think that similar to the
last thing and to to councilman
baldwin's point, you know,
until there is an alternative
in place, it feels like that
you know, these processes were
started months ago and these
organizations are already
working in the space and so
supporting them tonight doesn't
in my mind take away from the
fact that the community the
conversation that we have
started because of you and that
we are committed to.
and so it's not an either or
situation to me and and I'm
appreciative of the
conversation that's happening
tonight and I look forward to
how this is going to evolve so
that next november when these
grants are applied for and
whatever process that takes it,
it does look different and it
is more transparent and it
is part of a new process but
that doesn't deter from the
process that these people have
gone through and the work
they're doing currently.
and so I don't think it's an
either or situation and I've
sort plan to vote that way.
council member grant.
yeah, I mean and I and I
appreciate the feedback.
I'm always open to just kind
of want to address some some
of the things that vice mayor
said in terms of the spending
and actually hiring this person
.
mental health definitely plays
a role when you're working high
risk individuals mental
is definitely important being a
military veteran, being a
person who's been shot himself.
>> right.
I've gone through it and so to
councilman parker's point to mr
roberson's point, it's
different.
it's different and I'm I
understand I've been in it.
I've lived it.
I understand this work and so
you know, when you look at the
one hundred and twenty one
thousand there's not one
hundred and twenty one thousand
dollars worth of mental health
services needed for these high
risk individuals.
there is and I'll go on record
and say that because you
already have organizations out
here building the relationships
with these high risk
individuals and you have your
east tennessee mental health
right.
you have therapists who you
know in my previous profession
I was able to build a
relationship and say hey, can
you sit down and work with this
individual sixty seventy
dollars a session write as best
as an organization we had that
type of service within our
budget to create a whole nother
position and to dish out one
hundred twenty one thousand
dollars in twelve months.
what we're saying is is there
ten thousand dollars a month
worth of mental health services
is going to be put out there?
no there isn't.
>> and so I just want to be
mindful of how we spend right
to councilman honeycut point.
we're going to be right back
here a year from now.
ross mcnab is going to come
back and say hey, this worked
or didn't or whatever it may be
and we can say we can face that
battle when we get there.
but what position are we
putting them in?
right?
are we are we already
committing to a yearly
commitment of one hundred and
twenty one thousand if this
position works or is helen ross
going to have to fit the bill
to keep this going and again,
band aid on a gun wound is what
I feel like.
I'll stand on that and I
appreciate the open mind
is moving forward and I hope we
can apply that while we're
making decisions up here and
support comes with votes.
right.
I hope we all understand that.
I appreciate everything that
we're doing up here but support
comes with votes and votes or
what create the change that we
need to move forward so we can
have better process.
>> thank you.
thank you.
council member parker than vice
mayor fukin.
thank you, mayor.
I just had to respond to what
was raised earlier because I
asked about the process for um
, developing this agreement
because I wanted to highlight
that this is not a grant.
right.
so we have had concerns about
grants that came before us and
and uh have essentially decided
well we'll wait for the next
grant cycle to address these or
or make sure these issues are
addressed.
this is an agreement that the
city reached out one on one
with an entity and decided you
are the one I want to provide
this service in these
situations we can provide a lot
more scrutiny in my opinion.
um, because it's not a whole
six month process that has to
be redone.
but we can ask questions about
other organizations that might
have been considered.
I don't think that council
member artillerymen wanted in
this way but it kind of sounded
like, um, there was some
comfort with mcnabb receiving
these services because it would
be professional mental health
services.
and I just wanted to highlight
that we have these
professionals working at
non-profits within the
community.
um, um at the shaw foundation
which has a location on mlk
they're working with dr bush
who provides mental health
services there through their
pathways um mental health
clinic I think it is and it's
not just for you but for the
whole family.
so they provide those services
for the whole family.
I don't know if they have
capacity to bring on a new
position if if asked but it
certainly would ask because
again they're located in the
community.
they're building those
relationships already with
individuals in the community
and they aren't getting the
millions upon millions that
other entities are having and
this would allow us to help
grow these services.
um outside of the much needed
services provided by mcnabb.
so that's another reason why
I'm pushing, um for for us to,
uh, partner with those entities
within our community who have
been a part of our grant making
programs for years.
they're not new organizations.
sure.
foundations well respected long
, long been in the community.
they've been a part of these
various programs that the city
has started.
um, so we have the the ability
to bring services into our
community and have individuals
from the community provide the
services to help transition
individuals out out of whatever
crisis or whatever state that
they're in.
>> um, what else did I want to
highlight?
um um but yeah no I just wanted
to raise those those two points
that this isn't a grant so you
know not not a six month
process will be messing up and
that we do have these
professionals in our community
uh but we need more and these
small nonprofits who are doing
all they can to provide these
services need that support to
grow their services so ok thing
no further lights on all those
in favor please say I and your
post ok six three motion
carries ok uh next item please
.
>> twelve hours resolution
authorizing the mayor to
execute any more documents
necessary to accept proposals
to provide access liability
insurance coverage vehicle and
equipment damage insurance
coverage and inland marine
insurance coverage for mobile
equipment all as part of the
city's and k transmen inc. Self
insurance liability program for
an estimated annual premium
of seven hundred seventy two
thousand one ninety two dollars
to make improvements asking
that any questions or
discussions seeing none all
those in favor please say I
opposed the motion 12
resolution authorizing the
mayor to amend the contract
with the design and
construction services inc. For
the knoxville urban wilderness
gateway park.
james pavilion project
increasing the contract amount
by nineteen thousand eight
twenty one dollars 13 cents for
a new total contract amounts
not to exceed four million
seven hundred seventy nine
thousand twenty two dollars
sixty seven cents to three
motion major improvements I and
seconded any questions are
discussion seeing that all
those in favor please say I
indya post motion case twelve
case resolution provides the
mayor to execute an agreement
with alta planning design inc.
to provide professional
consulting services for the
twenty twenty six vision zero
action plan update in an amount
not to exceed one hundred fifty
eight thousand five hundred
ninety six dollars motion to
improve and seconded any
questions or discussion seeing
none all those in favor please
say I any oppose motion carries
twelve ls the resolution
authorizing the mayor to
execute an agreement with canon
and canon and cannot and canon
llc to provide professional
design services for the
tazewell park and beverley road
intersection improvements
project in an amount not to
exceed one hundred fifty three
thousand two hundred forty
dollars motion to prove motion
may to approve and seconded.
we have one person signed up to
speak on this item in
opposition mary and garner.
if you would come to the podium
state your name and address for
the record you'll have up to
three minutes to address
council.
yes, thank you.
councilman marion garner down
to five cherokee boulevard.
obviously I am not against
safety and state tazewell park
is a state road and beverley
road is a city road safety on
any road city, county, state or
federal is what we all want.
however I'm opposed to approve
this resolution tonight as I
have spoken with the director
of t dot and the region that
includes notts county and she
has not been approached about
the state helping with this
project.
I oppose one hundred and fifty
eight thousand one hundred
fifty three thousand being
spent for a study that has
until december 31st
twenty seventeen twenty twenty
seven to be completed when this
obviously has been a problem
according to everybody I've
spoken with including matthew
and nathan for over
twenty years, I really don't
see that urgency and having
this study started when state
county, city feds sit down
together and go over this at
and as far this isn't part
of this but as far as the grant
money goes and all these other
projects germane to the item
before you're supposed to sign
up you only speak to the item
on the agenda.
you can speak to that at public
forum.
I saw you signed at that time.
well, thank you, mayor.
you're welcome.
ok, that concludes a public
forum on this.
I mean does concludes the
people who signed up to speak
on this item um, there's a
motion on the floor council
member parker, can we get a
quick overview of this project
, mr. Claybon?
sure.
I'd be happy to talk to that
tom claiborne's director.
so this project it's a contract
for a design for a traffic
signal at tesla park beverley
road that intersection the city
when we receive requests for
new traffic signals we have a
traffic signal index that we
look at.
so we've got to keep man not
every intersection meets the
criteria for a traffic signal
so it's got to meet certain
criteria or standards out there
that that's got to meet.
but if you just meet those we
annazette for crash data and
for traffic volumes and then we
have a system in place where we
prioritize those based on those
the lowest currently has thirty
three different signalized
intersections on it.
this intersections the number
five on that list it is one
of the higher crash rates over
the last three years fifteen
thousand eighty one crashes
that could be prevented our
traffic signal.
so what we're seeing is with
the volume on track on tazewell
there's not a lot
of opportunity for gaps coming
off the road.
so what this signal will do
is allow for gaps for those
folks coming out probably it
will also help with brackley
which is also near there as
well with gaps so and could you
speak to the amount of time
given for the study to be
carried out so the the the
design itself we're looking at
what's the best way to
implement the project?
so the immediate need is the
traffic signal.
we've done some preliminary
analysis and long term there
needs to be a turn lanes on
beverley and tazewell much
bigger project that we don't
have funding for for
construction but we feel like
it's really more of a vision
zero quick build initiative if
we can get a signal and now we
can prevent some of these
accidents long term.
we've got a corridor study on
central park that we're going
to be working with tpo on.
we will be talking to tehran
about those opportunities and
long term that intersection
will need turn lanes at some
point.
so the signal we're putting in
we're going to try to do that
such a way is we don't have to
rip it out and rebuild it.
but the signal and a location
where the road is wide and it's
important to future those polls
are in good condition to where
we don't have to remove them so
but for the sake just the
signal that you think it'll
take a year and a half for
planning it.
well, that includes and we
don't know right now there's a
lot of utilities we've got to
work with.
there could be some rodway if
we have to set the poles wider
than the existing roadways will
be acquiring possibly.
right.
we don't know yet.
we're going to get into that.
but this timing allows for that
whole process.
>> ok, thank council member
thomas.
yes, I'm aware of problems in
that then intersection for
quite a long time and so I
would defer to director labor's
expertize on it and I know that
some improvements been needed.
so I see this is just a step in
that direction.
thank you.
any further comments or
questions seeing none of those
in favor please I and he
opposed motion carries twelve
erm as the resolution
authorizing the mayor to
approve and adopt the city
of knoxville's parks and
recreation master plan as
prepared by perez planning and
design ok council members we
have several people signed up
to speak on this item just
we'll start with those signed
up to speak in favor first as
jean fits you mr you can come
to the podium said your name
and address for the record and
you'll have up to three minutes
to address council.
my name jean fitzhugh.
I live at two to one each point
.
I'm really looking forward to
walking home tonight over our
beautiful pedestrian bridge.
it's almost my bedtime.
I'm a retired professor at the
university of tennessee in
kinesiology, recreation and
sport studies and over the past
twenty five years a team
of faculty and students we've
been engaged within the park
system to study how people how
physically active or people at
our parks and on our greenway's
.
over that time we've learned
about who's using the
greenway's the parks, how are
they using it, why are they
using it?
basically if you name the park
one of your local parks, we
could go in and tell you
exactly what type of people are
attracted to it and possibly
what could be done to improve
it and make more attractive
along that line.
we've we've transitioned a
little bit to where we're
seeing interventions being
developed in our parks.
>> but the research that we've
done you is really limited
because we're focusing strictly
on physical activity.
we're not able to tell the
finest with parks and
recreation what they need to do
, how they need to do it in
order to improve the parks and
that's where this master plan
comes into play.
they've taken methodologies
that are based and I say really
good science and then gold
standards on how to approach to
learn about how we in the city
of knoxville can improve our
park system, what we need to
improve and the process that we
need to follow to improve it.
and from an academic
perspective as a scholar who
studied all of the
methodologies related to
physical activity and parks and
recreation in greenways, I
think they've done a great job.
I think the master plan you
have in your hands right now I
want to assure you it's it's a
case study on how to go about
creating a master plan, a long
range plan for communities
metropolitan areas to improve
these fine amenities that we
have to that really increase
our quality of life and that's
what it's all about right now.
and as an epidemiologic is it's
all about disease prevention
too for me because the more
people get to the parks, the
more people are going to be
living longer, increasing their
quality of life.
so I really do ask you to
consider this as a really good
case study.
thank you.
next person signed up to speak
in favor of this item is jack
coaker.
mr coker, if you could come to
the podium, set your name and
address for the record and
you'll have up to three minutes
to address council.
hi good evening mayor and
members of council.
my name is jack coker and I
live at twenty four seven coker
avenue.
I also have the honor
of serving as president of the
bell morris neighborhood
through that role I became very
familiar with the parks and
recreation master plan update
and its community engagement
process when this update was
first announced there was a
great deal of excitement in our
neighborhood for decades
residents talked about the
potential for a greenway in
park along the cube owned
parcels bisect but morse that
opportunity was obvious to
those who live there but it
never quite made its way into
the broader city conversation
during the public engagement
period our neighbors organized
many of us placed pins along
that corridor on the
interactive map provided by
parks and recreation.
we attended public meetings and
even hosted a walk through
of the corridor so staff could
see the opportunity firsthand.
several members of the parks
and recreation team attended
that visit.
throughout this process we felt
very hurt when the department
asked for public input our
neighborhood gave it and the
trail we envisioned is now
included in the draft plan
before you tonight.
that is exactly how public
engagement is supposed to work
because of the depth
of outreach and the thoughtful
work that has gone into the
plan.
I encourage you to adopt it.
over the past year the
knoxville community has
provided meaningful input and
the parks and recreation
department have translated that
engagement into a strong
roadmap for the decades ahead.
thank you for your time.
thank next person sign up to
speak in favor of item twelve m
is carol evans you can state
your name and address for the
record and you'll have up to
three minutes very short.
carol evans thirty five oh five
kester would drive three seven
nine one eight.
um I'd like to start by really
applauding you for investing in
in the city's master plan
related to parks and
recreation.
as jean and evans mentioned,
the process is very thorough
and very well executed and I
think the city staff and the
consultants really went were
very, very diligent and getting
community input and I think it
reflects that in the plan.
I think the plan is important
because it really helps all
of us understand the wishes and
priorities for those who live
in knoxville around parks and
outdoors.
a plan like this really brings
us together the public sector,
the private sector and the
nonprofit sector so that we can
all maximize our resources and
collectively focus on the
projects that the community has
told us that they want from
legacy parks perspective I'm
especially pleased to see that
a very high value of those
community input sessions was
placed on conservation of our
open space and the desire for
more natural trails and outdoor
programs.
knoxville is absolutely blessed
as you know with the gift
of geography.
we have a river running through
the heart of our city forested
ridges, rolling valleys and
spectacular views we have with
other communities envy.
we have a vibrant downtown.
we have strong neighborhoods, a
robust business environment and
you can go for a paddle in the
middle of the day or do a ten
mile hike out of the back
of your your own outdoors.
so this plan really offers the
path forward on how we can work
together to expand and protect
all of the great things that
are about knoxville including
our great parks and our
outdoors.
I thank you again for
commissioning this plan and I
hope you'll support it.
thank you.
we have two people signed up to
speak in opposition to item
twelve and we'll start with
vivian qype misshaped if you
could come to the podium, state
your name and address for the
record you'll have up to three
minutes to address council
vivian qype thirty six fifteen
mlk knoxville thirty seven nine
one four ring ring ring ring
ring ring.
hello.
hey how you doing?
I'm good.
what's up?
I'm just calling to
congratulate you.
congratulate me for what?
you know for getting appointed
to the new holiway park
advisory group who homi nobody
call me.
what do you mean are you
telling me for such an
important group you did not get
a personal phone call asking
you to serve?
no I did not.
this is news to me.
wow.
maybe you need to check your
email maybe isn't in spam.
>> listen I'm glad you're on
the cag no one from the
community or those who fought
for that part were asked to
serve seriously.
>> oh yeah seriously.
listen up.
they got that big mass park
plan coming up a city council
meeting but like where is sure
how we park in that mix seems
like a big rush to push a plan
through that's going to last
ten years.
true.
they should definitely delay
and make sure all the people
are heard.
yeah, sure.
how report needs to be a part
of that master plan.
look, I just wanted to call and
say congratulations.
some of those on that list
of seventeen were for sale in
the park.
I do not understand how they
were selected to serve on a
visionary buuck.
yeah, I can see why the
community is upset and
concerned especially after that
first list.
look, I just want to say
congratulations.
I'm gonna hold you up but best
believe we will be at the
meeting on the 24th and every
single meeting that's held
there after kind of like the
word says, you know, watchman
on the wall as you guys talk.
>> remember we need to be part
of that master plan.
the part belongs to the people
of knoxville and knox county
and the people want open
spaces, a public park and they
want those padlocks out the
gate.
ok, ok.
I hear you.
I'll remember the people.
thanks.
I'll see the twenty fourth
piece at ok next person to
speak in opposition to item
twelve am is kent mineau mr
monroe if you could state your
name address the record you'll
have up to three minutes to
address council.
yes thank you.
I'm kettmann I live at three
one one west glenwood avenue.
good evening mayor council
members first of all I want to
say everything people said in
favor of the master plan it and
the quality people who worked
on it I completely agree with
speaking in opposition to
approving it despite the fact
there's a lot of great stuff in
it.
the parts about tree canopy are
fantastic but then again it
proposes putting astroturf on
more acreage.
how can an administration
committed to environmental
goals put toxic heat absorbing
plastic on fields where
children play?
but the main reason for my
objection is its length.
it's too long for hardworking
city council members to have
command of all it says in time
for an informed vote.
but there's an additional
question about this practice
putting a big pile of paper in
front of an elected official
and then saying vote on it
quick or you're not doing your
job.
it goes back to our budget
audit of last year and I
appreciate the remarks.
council members have made about
that.
the auditor remarked that the
deficiencies they uncovered
quote hurt public trust and
relationship with partners.
auditor jennifer mcmahon met
mentana said she felt it was
pervasive quotes from a report.
now I know there's a lot
of distrust for government
right now.
all over our country but we do
well not to get used to it.
according to the world
happiness report which I always
check out when it's published
every few years, trust in
government is one of the most
crucial attributes of social
well-being when people don't
trust their government, the
results show an increase in
crime, mental health issues,
even physical diseases.
the deficiencies cited by the
audit auditing committee were
well publicized.
now I know the city has
responded to city finance
department has been meeting
with city's audit committee
about corrective actions and
that's great.
but you're the people we see
the city you city council
members, many of you endorsed
by my organization need to make
your votes with your with our
happiness and our trust
uppermost in your minds to back
to the master plan.
I'm not saying it totally or
anything but this habit of not
giving this council adequate
time to check out all the
details and and expecting them
to make a quick vote while
pointing out a bunch
of features they're likely to
approve of.
that's part of the pervasive
problem.
the auditors we're talking
about simon williams from my
daughter's journey put it right
what many community based
nonprofits are experiencing
reflects a broader systemic
issue in how minority that
organizations are resourced
across the regions their
organizations often receive the
bare minimum in funding while
being asked to carry
disproportionate administrative
and reporting burden.
give it 60 days.
this will give council members
a chance to comb through it for
any potential problems and then
discuss those things with their
constituents.
don't wait for the city's
department heads to come back
on april 2013 and report on the
new processes.
do the right thing now get the
budget and overstuff oversight
stuff right and you take a big
step forward.
your time is up.
thank you so much.
>> thank you.
thank you council members.
I just wanted to first thank
all the people who participated
in this almost year long
process.
we've had a lot of meetings
many of you were part of that.
we've had meetings in all parts
of town and all different types
of venues.
people could participate and
give input and ideas
electronically in person by
email.
I want to give a special note
of gratitude to cheryl olian,
aaron browning, our parks
director and deputy director.
they've done an excellent job
leading this effort.
they are both here to answer
any questions you may have.
also our consultant carlos
perez is here.
I believe he's had an
opportunity to meet with
council members and I just want
to say that we needed this
updated master plan for a bunch
of reasons.
first, the last one we adopted
in the city is two thousand
eight.
that's almost twenty years old.
our needs have evolved and we
wanted to touch base with our
community.
what do they what's working
well for our parks?
what needs improvement and more
importantly with all the things
that we want to do, how do we
prioritize those?
so that was an important thing
to update it since it hadn't
been done since 2008.
the second reason this is time
sensitive we need to have an
updated master plan to be
eligible for certain grants
including some of which are due
april 1st those community
meetings for the holstrom of a
park and ned mcwherter park to
make us eligible for those
grants are happening later this
week and first last and and
most important it's a framework
for the future of our parks.
it's not a plan.
there's no single park plan in
there.
it's consistent with the need
to see it as a whole holistic
approach and we are also moving
forward with a robust very,
very well supported by staff
and others vision to meet a set
of meetings that start next
week for the holiway park
future next steps.
so these are not mutually
exclusive.
we can do both and and I urge
you to support us tonight.
I think council member grant
was first on we we do need a
motion to have a debate motion
made to prove has been made to
approve and seconded council
member grant?
>> yes, I have actually I got a
couple of questions for our
parks and rec director mrs
cheryl.
she doesn't mind coming up for
good evening.
>> thank for taking the time to
be here.
I just have a couple
of questions.
first I definitely want to say
thank you.
I notice has been somewhat of a
robust process.
there's been a lot going on
throughout the city and so you
know, I do want to give credit
to you and your department one
of the things I would like to
ask because I know there was
mention of a deadline can you
can you go a little bit more in
detail in terms of what that
deadline is and what exactly
we're having to do as a council
body here tonight?
so you so you can move forward
with that application.
good afternoon.
cheryl lee, director of parks
and recreation.
thank you for that question.
the deadline really is one
of the things that happens the
state is obligated us to do a
master plan and to do so we
have to have public input and
so we are doing that public
input.
the biggest thing is we have to
also have it authorized and
approved legislatively by the
governing body to basically
have a qualified master plan
of any kind.
and so the deadline really was
we've been working on this for
a year and it's time for the
approval of it.
I think the mayor talked about
us trying to apply for a couple
of grants.
that is one of the deadlines
but the biggest thing is this
plan has been out for about a
year for about a year.
it's been out for public
comment since january so that
the basically the meets of this
of this plan has already been
out for more than 30 days.
so there's been that
opportunity for any and
everyone to review that to
review the document.
thank you.
council member debartolo oh,
I'm sorry that were you I
thought you were done.
we don't know.
ok, so I know that's fine.
just wanted to speak to a
couple of things because I want
us to take the time moving
forward and consider the optics
of things right when you have a
drawn out process like this and
two weeks before the deadline
it's kind put in front of us.
it's almost kind of like we
have no choice but to move
forward.
right, because we want to be
able to to meet this deadline
and so I'm excited about this
master plan.
I have seen some things that
are questionable obviously how
we park being a a topic we have
to do better.
I mean there's some things that
I am questioning and there are
some things that I am concerned
about the master plan in it not
including much of how we part
now this time last year to how
we park wasn't a topic because
there were there was intentions
to do something with it that
matters that matters when
you're here in the community
asking for feedback.
>> most people don't know you
know, up until actually until
june 30th it's still a special
event space right will be
hopefully transitioning it over
to you.
but when you put survey out and
say hey, what do you want us to
do with our parks?
how we park isn't considered
and so I just kind of wish
there was more of a campaign
and let people know like hey
joe how he park is now going to
be a part of our master plan
back in january or back in
september when it was realized
that we weren't moving forward
with the other option.
and so yeah, that's water under
the bridge right now.
but you know, I don't want to
take away from the work you put
in and carlos but I do want to
make sure that we're mindful
of this because we can't let
our lack of effort in doing
things in a timely manner put
us in a position as councilor
where here we are two weeks
before deadline and we're
forced to pretty much vote.
if not, we won't support that
we need in terms of grants so I
appreciate your effort.
I just want you to know that I
definitely appreciate your
effort and I look forward to
this to this process and seeing
how it turns out.
thank you.
council member arlington.
um, yes.
thank you.
so at first glance I found the
two hundred twenty four page
study overwhelming and then I
dug into it and I'm impressed
with the rigor with the
organization and I'm excited
about the future of anoxia.
we're knoxville's indoor and
outdoor spaces.
this is a community road map
for our active and passive
public spaces and really the
next faster than taking this
this road work and setting
priorities, allocating funds,
applying for funds and then
competent execution and it
is helpful it's been helpful to
me to have conversations with
my constituents that this is a
framework for the next level
of discussion, be a tool to
help city staff come back to
this council with what they
hope the next steps would be.
the plan is required by the
bitd to secure funding.
we need that funding.
the plan includes a list
of private state federal grants
that the city can plot for that
on page two or four three two
eight eight.
if you're wondering it includes
criteria that city capital
projects committee will use to
make these decisions.
that's page 212 217 page one
ninety nine.
I was mind blowing to me it was
it was a helpful framework to
understand how to go back to
the beginning and how to go to
the end and basically it
recommended where basketball
courts should be, where tennis
courts should be.
we're square fields should be
where swimming pools should be.
we're walking trails.
there was an incredible thing
where it's I've got a page here
you can't see it but basically
it takes indoor cintas walking
lubes natural areas, water
accessories, parks, pools, all
these different recreation
opportunities and it tells us
the condition that those spaces
are in and what the recommended
for those places are and I
found that very helpful a great
inventory about deciding what
we are going to do next.
I would like to ask well what
so I was impressed with the
public participation.
I participated myself both
online and in go into meetings
and fountain city happens to be
very active when it comes to
their community rec center.
there's baseball fields so they
showed out in droves and so I
went to two very well attended
meetings.
I heard that some were not well
attended but again had the
opportunity to go online and do
these things so question I have
well I'll begin with this.
I think it's it is it's
rightful to think about holiway
park and I personally
appreciate the manner in which
this plan talks about how we
park and it's very it's not
very much there.
it's on page one seventy five
under neighborhood park vision
so it calls schwarzbart a
neighborhood park and it has a
little arrow out.
this is discussions ongoing for
chally park to be managed by
praed parks and rec department
starting in twenty twenty six
discussions are going.
I love that the plan does not
prescribe what we do with the
park except describes it as a
neighborhood park which while
we really want to ask two
questions one at will parks and
recreation department be taking
over the management of how we
park after the current legends
contract expires this summer.
>> mr. Debartolo, I'm going to
be proposing that in the budget
and so with that change will
come money that that cheryl
lee's team will need to have
that.
so yes, that is the plan
subject to your review and
approval this body will have to
make sure that we have the
resources such a high park can
be managed at the same level as
parks across the city.
ok, and then secondly I have
is the creation of the highway
park advisory group which we've
heard some feedback on first
public meeting is next week.
and so my question is this is a
statement from from you mayor
kincannon.
as promised, the city is moving
forward collaboratively towards
a community driven future for
charlie park.
so my question is how will the
charkaoui park advisory group
create a collaborative and
community driven process?
well, I I as I'll try to answer
this first is the the process
going to start next week and
the community advisory group,
this group of people there's
people who have a lot
of different perspectives and
backgrounds as someone said,
there are some people on that
group who were very maybe
supportive of the emerald
initiative.
there's others who are not
supportive that that's that's
old news that we're moving
beyond.
we have a clean slate and we're
going to use the information we
have collected from the
twenty nineteen vision program
.
the idea that this is going to
be a park now not just a park
in name obviously the named
shehabi park's been around one
hundred years but it has been
operated as an event space for
I don't know decades.
so we're going to have
stakeholders from the current
tenants which is the you know,
ace jim the fair, the zoo, the
museum also nearby
neighborhoods business folks
and they're going to convene
and have a group of a set
of meetings to talk about what
the vision should be.
what does the neighborhood park
look like to one person might
be different from another
person.
some people the focus is on
sports.
other people might be passive
park and trees and gardens.
can we serve all of those also
it's going to be a way for
people to have to be a funnel
for information so they know
what constraints we are as far
as you know, underwater issues
hydrogel cast and all of that
but also a funnel out a spout
or a spigot of information out
to the community.
so the group receives
information in and shares
information out.
so I don't know if miss justice
you you and your team are sort
of leading this effort along
with other staff.
so there's a community there's
the cpa, the park advisory
group but there's going to be a
lot of staff there.
I'm, you know, very supportive
of this process.
I'm not dictating you know,
we're not dictating the outcome
.
we're just saying here we are
to support this.
barbara mcmurry is going to
help facilitate it similar to
what we had outside facilitated
for the south waterfront
misjudges.
could you speak maybe elaborate
a little bit more?
we're working very closely with
the council member of grant and
council member healthlink on
how this can move forward and
mr justice, maybe you can
elaborate a little so we will
ask people to come together in
these workshops to sit around
the table and have
conversations and do workshop
activities where we share
stories and memories of the
park and also what's important
to people to see as the park
grows and takes shape to really
be what knoxville needs for the
future.
so how we do that is we've
asked people to be a member
of this group and represent
their community but also share
information back from the
group.
so it's you know, the funnel
of information works both ways.
so we're really excited about
bringing people together to
learn those community insights
and what people feel
is important for the future.
I'm not sure who is next.
maybe council member honeycut.
I actually think councilwoman
adams or remember I spoke with
council member adams I think
yours was next that there's a
lot of light so a lot of lights
.
um, thank you.
I wanted to say thank you to
parks rec for all the work with
the survey and certainly to
carlos perez for all the work
in putting the plan together.
I too got to attend some of the
sessions they were well
attended where I where I went.
I was great to see the feedback
that came back from people and
just all the exercises to both
help people understand how the
information was to be collected
, what would happen with it and
then to really engage with the
different options there.
um, I also want to acknowledge
that as a council member I
benefited greatly from being
able to sit with mr. Perez and
have him walk through a very
robust study.
I got comments from the public
about so long how do I go
through this?
I shared this with him.
I know that many people
experience that but having his
walk through helped me see the
highlights and at the end
of that I did ask is there any
way that we could have sort
of a summary dec that could
have gone out to the public?
and that's where I really got
educated on the time frame the
funding opportunities and how
important that is that is why
I'm not supporting postponing
this tonight.
I want to make that clear.
I see how this plan supports
future good work that the city
needs but I would ask that for
future processes of this kind
of thing that we include in the
scope when there's a great
robust study that is dig on the
study.
the study is great but that we
do include a scope that has a
summary dec that people can can
benefit from just to make it a
little bit easier and build in
a little bit of time for people
to consume that summary and
have all of us as ambassadors
to go out there.
do you think that helps?
but overall and I'm not
speaking to the the c pag group
that I don't think is part
of this draft plan.
I think that's another
conversation that's really
important to have.
but I'm talking about this
draft plan and I am very
thankful for it and supportive
.
thank you.
council member pirker thank you
mayor.
I had concerns about this study
that I expressed with the
consultant from day one the
framing of the study I found
quite problematic one aspect
of it being that there's no
differentiation between
residents um proximity to city
managed amenities and privately
managed amenities.
I find that very concerning.
uh, one reason is because
throughout this process and
over the years, uh, my
community where I currently
live in east nashville has
consistently complained about
uh ballfields that are locked
up the community and have
access to those ballfields so
they don't have that pride and
ownership over those all fields
so they don't show up for the
community meetings and the
discussion about plans because
they keep getting ignored.
we went through a year long
process.
that aspect completely ignored
for a year.
I just got a complaint today
about ballfields and how they
were used over the weekend and
who has access to them and who
does not.
I also got a complaint about
ned mcwherter park over the
weekend and the bathmat store
competition and what's going on
with the boat ramps at ned
mcwherter park and I told them
well I know there's some
renovations coming but let me
check into it.
they took the whole duck that
the boat paddlers have been
used and ripped off of the side
.
it's now floating down the
river and now these new docks
have been put and I guess maybe
these are the improvements I'd
give someone a chance to
explain it to me.
but these folks are prepared to
go to thursday's public meeting
or maybe the one on the
twenty something because no one
communicated with them about
this potential project that it
seems like we're trying to rush
ahead for because there's
potential money that we can
apply for but we're not working
with the community that
actually uses these spaces to
give them a heads up about
whether it's going to be a
temporary interruption for the
bass masters competition or
whether this is going to be an
ongoing long term change.
and if that's the case, what
they're telling me is that
these new motor boat docks are
not safe for them to use with
their rowboat.
so why are we not having a
conversation?
I'm I'm more committed to a
postponement when I see us
rushing towards projects and
we're not involving the
community members who are using
those amenities.
it goes back to one of the
public forum speaker said
earlier trust is a something we
have to value during these
processes maintaining trust
that the community building
trust of the community and it
can't just be parts of the
community, it can't just be our
hand-picked community members
that we put on committees.
it can't be just the people we
know and like in love it has to
be all parts of our community
that we are working to build
trust with.
that means we have to listen to
them.
that means we have to slow
things down when the community
tells us we're going too fast
we can't just say well you
know, the plan works for me.
well, you know, over here in
this part of the city it'll be
fine.
y'all might be having some
issues but over here is going
to be fine.
let's see how this is impacting
our entire community and slow
down when we need to.
I have no interest in rushing.
I'm also concerned to hear that
the twenty nineteen gl how
housing plan is being used as a
reference.
when I when there was a
discussion of selling to
holiway park and I was in a
public fight with the city
administration about whether
the twenty nineteen plan was
the actual plan or not and what
was continuing to be told
publicly was that wasn't the
plan.
so now the public doesn't think
the twenty nineteen plan is the
plan.
they think there's an
opportunity now to create a new
plan but what they found out
is the city has handpicked who
they want at the table to
create that plan.
I wish it were as obviously
offense to everyone else in
this room as it is to me
because who else would stand
for that to allow a hand-picked
thank you, councilman vice
mayor pierucci.
thank you.
I just want to speak to the
show how a park situation to
absolutely agree that there has
to be robust public process.
I do not see a steering
committee as the end all be all
to decide that committee.
my hope would be for the record
that that steering committee
does gather information, gives
information out but also helps
create a robust public process
to get input from all
stakeholders across the
community that loved how we
park and want to see it
thriving.
we have two great anchor
tenants there with the zoo and
the muse and long, long desire
to see how a park be a thriving
park back in east knoxville.
so my hope is that it would be
a true public process I did
generations refind come back
present but there has to be a
timeline in which you try to
get that work done because
dragging it out for a very long
time won't satisfy people
either.
so this has nothing to do with
the vote.
I'm going to vote for this but
we talked about how we park and
that would be my expectation
is that it involved a robust
public process as the designs
that are created.
and I will also say for those
the four of us that have been
on council back on this plan
started I did appreciate the
one on one personal hour, hour
and a half long conversations
about three or four times
during this process updating us
where we were on the plan and
the feedback we've been
getting.
my questions were answered.
so I don't see you here,
carlos, but I will see you
because you're behind tom's
chair.
so but it's nice to see you in
person rather than over a
screen.
so thank you very much.
hey, council member thomas.
yes.
I had a question about who
chose the task force for
highway park.
>> uh, mr. Grant and I met
several times.
I also talked to debbie housley
.
it's an advisory group similar
to the way we did the south
waterfront advisory group.
it's not uh, written in stone
and it's not it can evolve
sometimes people have a lot
of time and then their time
availability changes.
as I mentioned, it is open to
the public.
we want it to be transparent.
uh, you know, this is just a
kicking off a process to do all
the things that you several
members have said.
what you know, what is the
community's vision and desire
for this park and what are the
constraints we have to what are
the opportunities and what are
the constraints?
we have some special assets
into how we park that are
unique zoo the muse, um those
sorts of things.
but it also is unique in that
it has, uh, magnolia avenue
running through it.
it's in the middle of a more
urban setting so I'm not
predetermining the outcome.
but I do think that starting
the meeting and having those
discussions and letting that
advisory group say do they need
to be bigger or smaller have
represented there's a lot
of community members who are
willing to participate and
share information on an as
needed basis like the cultural
exchange center.
it's heritage others who might
want to share information about
horticulture and hydrology but
they don't necessarily need to
be at all the meetings but they
could be there when the group
wants more information.
yeah, my question thank you for
all that.
my question mainly was just the
makeup of the advisory group,
how they were chosen and from
what I hear from others it's
flexible that members can be
added possibly or as I think
there's some I'm hearing some
concern in the community that
the task force is not
representative enough.
I don't want to be overly
critical but I am hearing that
from the community.
right.
well, I think it'd be good to
have this meeting again.
these are not my picks.
these are things that I worked
on with mr. Grant.
I think that hopefully he would
agree that most of these
individual people that he and I
discussed and council member
housley also discussed.
but I'm it's not it's not
written in stone.
let's see who comes to the
first meeting and wants to be
part of the discussion whether
they were, you know, listed in
a media article or not, that's
fine with me.
and I also just hope that you
know, all of council supports
this effort.
we want it to be transparent
and inclusive and also I hope
that we don't hold the master
plan hostage to what
is happening in iraq.
I think that's uh they're
they're both interconnected and
we're very committed to trying
to support a future analysis
and vision for how we park.
but this master plan is for the
whole city.
it's how iraq is mentioned.
it says basically we're going
to figure it out in
twenty twenty six and that's
where we are right now.
but this this master plan
process has been the hard work
of many, many people and that
happened starting about a year
ago when charlie parker
is still an event space.
so that's that's why it's uh
you know that history.
yeah.
so is there a process suppose
like a group in the community
or a particular individual
could they apply or to the task
force I guess how would someone
why do we do that at the first
meeting I say see it people say
ok, all right, I don't want it
to be like american cannons
exclusive decision.
I just I think in the south
waterfront advisory group it
was it was more fluid.
we had people who were very
much, uh, critics and then
people who were, you know,
neutral and people who had just
different ideas and and they
all came together.
some came to every meeting,
some came to some meetings as
their schedules allowed.
it was more of an ad hoc type
of thing.
it wasn't like an official
appointment letter from city
council or the mayor was a
little more informal and maybe
this advisory group thinks it
needs to be more formal.
I'm happy to listen to their
suggestions.
well, thank you for that.
I just underline I am concerned
and have heard concern about
though that the makeup of the
advisory council for children
may possibly be a little bit
too restrictive.
I don't know I haven't really
surveyed who's on it.
I'm just getting those concerns
and so I would encourage you
and council member grant to
keep working together and make
sure that it's inclusive and
you know, one of the problems
with a giant park process was
people who felt like they had
been left out of the process
and I don't want to see that
happen with the advisory
committee.
I don't want them to feel like
it's kind of a overly select
group and not expansive enough
in the community.
so thank you for your comments.
I understand council member
honeycut I think you've had
your light on a while.
I've been looking at that on
this site.
I'm sorry.
it's fine and it's late so I'll
keep it keep my comments brief
but I think I just wanted to
bring it back quickly to to the
master plan which we're voting
on tonight and is part
of what's right before us
today.
and just say to miss ellie and
the parks and rec department
and carlos but I think you guys
did a fantastic job.
I mean I've been involved with
this for over a year now first
as a citizen and then as an
elected official and you've
done a great job both engaging
citizens because I was I have a
lot of the meetings last year
and and keeping us abreast
along the way.
so I definitely feel that, you
know, you have you held a good
transparent process and if
people didn't participate it
wasn't from a lack of you
trying to get them to
participate because it was
certainly you were doing
everything within your power.
is the plan perfect?
absolutely not.
no plan is but it's a great
plan and it helps move the city
forward in an important way and
it leaves I think in a good
way.
it leaves room to have a much
more robust and in-depth
discussion about the future
tillawi park very purposely so
that this year we can all
engage in the important process
we need to have regarding that
park in particular but as a
global master plan for our city
as a something north star for
us to point and at least move
the train forward.
you've done a great job and I
look forward to supporting it.
thank you.
council member housley I so
thank you.
um kudos to y'all y'all great
like my buddy carlos out there
he's moving to knoxville.
did you know that him here.
yeah yeah we're working on it
right gordo's yes his wife
loves it er so yeah so I was
told I would have a debbie
downer question ok why was the
parks and rec master plan not
included in our agenda.
what do you mean the back
wasn't the big packet was not
included in our agenda and so
the community is a little bit
nervous it wasn't there and so
I'm sure your department yeah
mr swanson it was primarily a
matter it's a really long
document.
it has it was difficult to
attach by the computer program.
we've got new complete computer
programs and our people
couldn't quite figure out how
to attach that big a document
to the to the packets and so we
gave links to it rather than to
print out the entire problem
not to start with.
there was nothing on there so
but yeah but there was a link
to it as I recall no there was
not to start with no but that's
ok it got added which is fine I
just there was some concern
about why people couldn't see
it and so I apologize that was
I guess like yeah we're sorry
my understanding is we're going
to link from the start so if
that didn't happen I was not
where I was going and I had it
so ok.
I do think there's community
input.
you know what's happened long
before it got to the council's
agenda all along the way
including the final master
plan.
so some people look council
agendas but I think a lot
of other people had other
forums find it so I thought and
so I just was going just you
know, any and no, no, no.
I plan to support sporkin plan
to support a plan.
>> I'm good.
thank you.
council member grant.
yeah, I just want to speak to a
couple of things on one of the
things that councilman thomas
mentioned in terms of the
process while I appreciate the
commitment being made on prior
to me meeting with you so let
me say this we met today I did
meet with the mayor and it was
good meeting, very productive.
I was able to get a lot answers
, a lot of questions answered
that I didn't know previously
to meeting with you.
I was ok with how the process
was in a very beginning giving
the final outcome of the list
and how it was put in the
community.
I got calls and wasn't able to
answer questions right.
and as the district six
represented where this park
sits is somewhat challenging
and frustrating when your
constituents call and you don't
have the answers for them, you
know when the communication
there's a communication barrier
let me just put it that way.
but I would say it was a
productive meeting.
I got a lot of things answered,
you know, in terms of the list
on the list needs to be
improved.
I would agree that when we have
this meeting next week that
we're able to make additions.
that's something that as the
district representative I would
like to do because there are
community members out here who
come from different backgrounds
who can provide a different
expertize in view of what we
might need for this park.
you had a number of individuals
who fought to keep this park
and I and I think, you know,
optics matter when when you're
when creating a group in terms
of how we move forward, I think
it's important that you allow
the people who advocated to be
a part of that process not just
invited but actually at the
table.
and so you know, I just want to
say, you know, I hope moving
forward the community will stay
involved in this process.
it's going to be a drawn out
process and we need community
members to show up.
we need communities to give
their input right.
even when you don't get what
you want right, you still show
up and you put forth the effort
if it's that important to you.
and so, you know, I just wanted
to get that on a record, you
know, I do thank you from for
making that adjustment and just
being open minded to realize
that we do need more
individuals on this.
and so and I want to invite
council members you know I know
your schedules are stretched.
I would like to see you guys
participate as much as you can.
I would like to see this group
not only centered on district
six but let's go out to the
different districts.
let's host meetings in
different areas of the city to
be able to get that feedback
from, you know, different
community members.
we want everybody coming and
visiting how we park not just
those district residents or
people in adjacent
neighborhoods.
we want to it's a city thing
and we need as many people as
we need as we should have at
this table not just within the
group.
so thank you council member
pirker.
thank you, mayor, for your
thoughts.
one is uh I will be at every
meeting.
yeah.
I don't have to invite me for
me to show up.
I will show up and I will be
there um and I do find it
unfortunate that uh the mayor
keeps saying ay ay ay discuss
this with council member grant
councilman helmsley when I have
fought to save holiway park for
at least the last eight months.
so not only is that offensive
to me when you say that whether
you intend to or not but it
offends my constituents who um
who see the work that I put in
and don't appreciate the
continued disrespect.
I don't either um we the the
the this master plan went
through a public input process
that finalized at the end
of february uh, once that
process finalized, I wondered
well how will that input be
incorporated into the final
plan?
and so, um, it was noted that
the master plan was not in our
packet but individuals have
recently been exposed to the
plan through the public input
process.
but I imagine many of them like
I did would assume we would
actually incorporate some that
public input into that master
plan would actually change
following up public input
process.
did we make any changes to the
plan following the public input
process?
>> we we thank you councilwoman
parker.
we did make some corrections
into it.
um, if you look at it this
is really relatively minor.
carlos could probably carlos
perez could probably speak more
to it and give you a true
oversight what happened as he
incorporated that information?
a lot of the things that we
came back with were around
typos that need to happen
because it was more of things
that were already in the plan
and not additions to the plan.
and so I would I would probably
lean to carlos, probably
explain just a little bit more
about what that final plan
is and why it was written the
way it is.
>> mm hmm.
I would love to hear from mr.
perez about the changes made.
good evening.
mayor and council carlos perez
878 peachtree street, atlanta.
thank you for the opportunity
to to present to you this
evening and thank you for that
question.
um, as director you mentioned
we did receive comments uh for
the master plan and as she
mentioned they were relatively
minor uh, related to typos.
there were some park names that
um I recommend were noted as
needing to be updated.
there was a lot of support for
the suggestions that were
included in the master plan and
those were really the the
changes that we we received.
there was no major fundamental
revisions or comments, uh, that
we had received.
thank you.
um, there have been requests
tonight that conversations
continue and that this remains
a somewhat flexible document.
>> I would echo those request
but I would also challenge us
to question some of the
assumptions that went into this
uh, plan and understand that
the community still has
concerns and still, uh, at
least making complaints to me.
hopefully I'm not the only one
that they're making complaints
to but about, uh, privately
managed amenities versus
publicly managed amenities.
I'm happy to see a proposal
coming about shifting to how we
park back to parks and rec.
but I'm worried about other
proposals to outsource some
of these services that we might
see in my meeting with the
knoxville zoo.
uh, there was discussion of the
zoo potentially building a
community center for that piece
of property.
I'm interested in seeing public
spaces developed, um, if there
is some sort of management
shared then we have to
seriously improve our
transparency and our sharing
of policy so people know how to
access these services equitably
.
thank you.
council member parker.
just as a reminder I have an
open door for all council
members I meet with most of you
routinely and happy to have
standing meetings or ad hoc
meetings.
council member parker I enjoyed
our most recent meeting where
your focus was on the
resolutions that you had
presented to council.
you know, often when I meet
with council member grant
charkaoui park is top of his
list of things he wants to talk
about happy to talk about that
with you or any other council
members.
please contact my office and
set up a meeting any further
discussion on the master plan
seeing none all those in favor
please say hi and he opposed
the motion carries unanimously
ok motion carries eight one
thank you parks and rec team
and everyone who helped
contribute to this plan we
really appreciate them.
>> next item please 12 in his
resolution authorizing the
mayor to execute an agreement
with the knoxville civil war
roundtable for the installation
of a cannon and monument at the
fort dickerson gateway park for
motion made and seconded I I'm
not sure if he's still here but
there was someone here from the
civil war roundtable, tom
wright.
if anyone has any questions
seeing none of those in favor,
please say any opposed motion
motion carries eight one twelve
was the resolution authorizing
the mayor to execute an
agreement with f three services
llc for the maintenance
of seven scattered landscape
sites for an annual amounts not
to exceed seventy two thousand
five hundred fifty dollars move
to improve motion made to
approve and seconded council
member grant.
>> yeah I just want to
highlight this particular
resolution say thank you to our
public service department and
our procurement.
this is a small minority
business and so one of the
things second so you know that
how we part issue that the
mayor had mentioned for me
is just making sure are giving
small disadvantaged businesses
these type of opportunity.
and so just want to say thank
you to our public service
department mayor and those who
participated in this process
and mr frazier came lawn care
services as well.
so thank any other questions or
comments on all those in favor?
please say hi and he opposed
motion twelve the resolution
authorizing the mayor to
execute an agreement with
carmichaels lawn llc to provide
ground maintenance at the
oddfellows cemetery and
potter's field for an annual
amounts not to exceed
twenty six thousand nine
hundred forty five dollars to
approve most major
improvements.
I cannot remember grant.
yes again I just want to say
thank you to public service but
also want to highlight another
cemetery that we have in our
community the crestview west
district which is in district
three myself and councilman
doug we got to participate with
a cleanup.
we keep natural beautiful
natural heritage the heart and
family I mean it was over a
hundred volunteers came out.
I mean the city was able to
provide, you know, help with
trash pickup and so while this
is oddfellows while this is in
district six, it's a very
historic cemetery.
but I just wanted to get on a
record for us to, you know, try
to pay attention whether the
state coming in or just
figuring out how we can
advocate for the crestview
cemetery district is the it's
the largest african-american
cemetery that we have and the
oldest cemetery that we have
here in the city of knoxville
actually countywide.
and so, you know, I has been a
process within itself.
I'm hoping for help from our
constituents, you know, to try
to help councilman doug lloyd
to try to shed some light on
that particular cemetery.
so thank you.
any other questions or comments
saying and all those in favor
please say I oppose motion
carries 12.
q is the resolution authorizing
the mayor to execute any all
documents necessary to apply
for and accept a project safe
neighborhoods grant from the
tennessee office of criminal
justice programs and the amount
of forty seven thousand six
hundred eight dollars with no
required matching funds to be
used to purchase equipment and
supplies used in programs
designed to prevent, respond to
and reduce violence and gun
crimes.
their motion moved to approve
motion made to approve and
seconded council member grant.
>> yeah I would just like to ex
chief no well you can take a
moment and just kind of go into
brief detail in terms of what
this grant is on the city.
we aren't matching these
dollars right.
this is a grant tennessee
office of criminal justice
program so it's unmatched funds
.
but could you briefly go into
detail in terms of what we will
utilize these funds for sure.
>> yeah, this is a project safe
neighborhood grant which is a
grant that is traditionally
used to combat violence,
particularly gun violence.
no local match we're going to
request to use this on for dna
testing specifically for all
firearms like the swab a
firearm and I'll get that dna
testing done to help us either
eliminate potential suspects or
confirm suspects involved
violent crimes.
>> thank you.
council member pirker um, thank
you.
um, so for this grant you will
use it for success for testing
services.
no equipment will be purchased
.
no, our intention is to use
this for dna testing for for
firearms to get those those
test process processed.
uh, I'm sure I'm curious.
it's described as equipment and
supplies.
I'm not sure what we're going
to apply for is to do dna
testing through rapid dna
is what we're going to do.
um, is there a reason that
those descript shems when you
are applying for dna testing
just don't just say dna testing
rather than equipment and
supplies?
>> I'm not exactly sure how
that language was formulated.
>> I'm not trying to be
evasive.
I just don't know that that
language from paper it comes
from the lab.
>> it may have come from one
of our staff but I'm not saying
it doesn't come from outside
this.
>> I just don't know.
>> yeah, it just would be great
for transparency purposes for
the public.
>> it's probably just mirroring
the the probably the subject on
in the grant.
>> I'm sure that's what it is.
yeah.
um any effort we can make to be
more transpac in that
description.
sure.
because that's all these
conversations are about.
that's the only reason we pull
it off with the consent agenda
is to know what equipment and
services are.
>> some of the challenges that
we're having with the grants
right now is that you know,
normally what happens with
these grants is they they drop
in a set period every year.
they have some time to drop it
really fast and right now the
turnaround times were really
quick.
so the deadline descried just
right not long ago.
the deadline for us to apply
is on friday.
so our great team is really
scrambling.
so the grant world over the
last year, two years or so has
shifted shifted dramatically.
so that's why like with the
packard that was not a lot
of documents with it because
it's like a great team is not
put it together yet.
we'll probably be following
this grant like probably like
within hours before the
deadline and it'll get a little
bit dropped.
>> ok, thank you.
that's helpful.
all those in favor please say
oh council members grant was
ready ok all those in favor
please say I and he opposed
motion carries 13 s is an
ordinance to amend the knox
city could be zoning
code article 15 section fifteen
point to point b published
notice to align noticing
requirements with recent state
law changes city of knoxville
applicant all districts most
major proven fact that any
questions or discussion seeing
none all those in favor please
say I indya oppose motion
carries 13 t is an ordinance to
close an unnamed alley near
nineteen oh two forrest avenue
lying within city block one
zero zero eight five running
between nineteenth street and
twentieth street and
authorizing the mayor to
execute quitclaim deeds to
address and property owners
first district move to approve
motion made to approve and
seconded any questions are can
I mean council member adams?
yeah I would like to make a few
comments.
I know you're thrilled about
that everybody.
um but this is an important
issue.
it's a big um proposal that
will be coming through even
though it seems like a small
thing because it's an alley.
I just want to put on the
record that I am not for alley
closures.
they are very important for
pedestrian right of ways and
the fabric of the city,
particularly the traditional
grid and so I don't take these
lightly.
I've had many conversations
with mr. Mullins with planning
and with others in the city
trying to see is there any way
around that we don't have to
close this.
um, currently if you went to
the site you would not say oh
that's an alley.
you would say oh that's a
surface parking lot.
so it's not currently serving
in the capacity that that I
feel strongly about.
the other thing is that while
this is just about an alley
closure, looking at the entire
case, the the zoning by right
allows for pretty pretty
intense buildings there and
that is like I said by right.
um so I recognize the great
need for housing uh
particularly for students just
in the past um, two weeks I've
received messages from students
saying I'm having to drive
twenty or thirty minutes to get
to campus because I can't
afford to live there.
so I understand the housing
needs and that this is an
opportunity to help to help
with this.
but again I just wanted to say
that um I do have concerns
about closing alleys.
I wouldn't do this any place
but understanding that this
is a block and we did talk
about other options um but
really didn't work out so well
here.
>> that's why I'm supporting
this council member thomas.
yeah.
I just want to add I'm glad
that you had that discussion
about that because on the
previous council we did have a
discussion about how we were
possibly rubber stamping to
some degree the alley closures
and then after some discussion,
you know, there's some
opportunity there on some
of them so we should scrutinize
them.
I had a similar situation where
in lonsdale it looked like an
alley closure would actually
impede the possibility of a
future green way.
and we went out and miss ellie
and the developer and we spent
a particular quite a bit
of time on it and we found out
that actually the alley closer
was justified because the
potential for a greenway wasn't
really there as it was on first
blush.
so I had a particular situation
where I scrutinized it and it
found out yeah, ok, this
is we're not giving up city
property or we're not giving up
a significant right to the
public but I applaud you for
discussing that because any
time we close these alleys or
things like that, we're
actually giving up public
property so they've got
criteria most of the time
they're right.
but that doesn't mean as far as
closing these alleys but that
doesn't mean that we shouldn't,
you know, keep an eye on it
because it is public property
and we lose it if we don't be
mindful.
>> thank you.
thanks.
I have one other question.
this is for mr. Mullins comment
.
really?
yeah, I signed up to speak but
please it's late.
yeah, I was one of the things
that we exchanged when we were
talking about this was
improvements to the sidewalks
that would be made to help with
some of the pedestrian access
that we'd be losing.
but another item was that there
is proposed and interior green
space for this potential
development.
yeah, and we had some emails
about that today and I
appreciate you know, we asked
to postpone for two weeks.
give us more time of course
that two weeks also includes
spring break and I had a three
trial so we really haven't been
able to engage on it quite as
much as I'd hoped we had.
and so I would you know, this
is first reading I think there
has to be a second and I think
between now and then I think
we'd want to have some more
conversations to address that
but that you'll see on the
plans there's that western side
where there's some parking and
there's some greenery and
that's the area that's going to
be kind of open more to the
public at central to the fact
that it's kind of central to
the building itself but it's
kind of off center because it's
on the western side.
it's not the interior courtyard
area.
that's where the pool is that's
not going to be open to the
public.
so that's what we proposed.
but I've got mr. Mr. Harris
here.
he's the developer nottoway and
mr. Cohen talked with you know,
we're not set in concrete and
all this we still have
opportunities to tweak some
things if there's things that
you specifically have in mind,
we're open continuing to have
that conversation.
yeah, I think just to say this
for the period between now and
next reading is that that
public access is really
important and making it be a
part of the community, not a
monolith that is saying you're
not welcome here.
so that's that's all ok, thing
no further limits on all those
in favor please say I opposed
the motion carries.
thank you all very much.
uh, now we'll move on to public
forum.
we have six people lined up to
speak at public forum.
they'll each have up to three
minutes to address council.
first is vivian qype misshape
vivian qype thirty six fifteen
mlk knoxville three seven nine
one for some would say that
winter is back but we know
winter never left.
what has been left are the
housed left out of planning
left out of planning for safety
and lodging against the
elements tonight it will be a
cold cold twenty six degrees
relaunch is gone and there's no
room than had we passed
parker's second resolution we
would at least be on our way to
discussing a fix instead we are
two years away from a solution.
how many will die in the next
two years?
how many we discuss and debate
into early graves.
bring back the parker
resolution, open temporary
emergency shelters.
we say we are a sanctuary city
.
let's act like it.
next person signed up to speak
is sumika elliot sumika.
elliot, if you could come to
him said your name and address
for the record you'll have up
to three minutes to address
council.
>> hello my name is famiglia
elliot two nine zero four
tazewell pike three seven eight
one eight good evening council.
my name is tamika elliot
ahmadullah community health
worker founder of a lotus
program experience.
I'm here alongside of my
community partner in our
absence alexis alsup of empower
dulin midwifery services.
together we have coulier in
knoxville black maternal health
conference and initialing for
the past three years of free
community centered events focus
on advancing awareness
education in action around
maternal health care in east
tennessee with the official
city proclamation locally
recognizing the week in 2020 to
what started as a one day
conference has now grown into
something much bigger in
twenty twenty six this year we
are launching knoxville's the
first official black maternal
health week taking place april
11th through the 17th a full
free week of programing that
uplifts local birth workers,
health care professionals,
researchers, families.
this expansion reflects both
the urgency of the issue and
the strength of community
demand over the past three
years we've created a space
where honest conversations can
happen in public health where
family share lived experiences,
providers deepen their
understanding of culturally
compensate comprehensive care
and doulas birth workers and
health professionals are
recognized as essential leaders
in improving health outcomes
and this work is fairly
critical.
tennessee currently takes 40
days in the national in the
nation excuse me for maternal
mortality with rate
significantly higher than the
national average as tennessee
has a seat on our maternal
health report card, we also
continue to see elevated rates
of preterm birth and infant
mortality outcomes that
disproportionately impact black
families and rural communities
across our great state.
these are not just statistics.
these are families in our
communities that we serve what
we are building through black
maternal health week is a
community driven response.
we educate by making maternal
health information accessible
and culturally relevant.
we advocate by lifting the
voices of families and birth
workers and we connect
resources to ensure better
outcomes for mothers, babies
and families.
some of this work has been
supported in part by myself
investment, mutual aid and
knoxville's two or two funds
which we are deeply grateful
for that investment.
thank you councilwoman parker.
councilman mckenzie, previous
councilwoman same councilman
thomas and councilman roberto.
however, as we expand into a
full week of programing we are
seeking additional support to
ensure this initiative remains
free, accessible and impactful
for our community because we
invest in maternal health care
that is community base.
we also invest in the health
care of our community.
thank you for your time,
leadership and consideration.
I do have a couple of fliers if
somebody could help me pass
these out and around I have
emailed all of you a copy
of them as well and you all are
invited so please come and show
up.
all of your constituents will
be there.
thanks.
thank you.
council member debartolo one
for sharing those documents.
>> next is alexis alsup.
she's with you ok and she
doesn't want to speak or she's
not here.
ok, cantillano thanks.
yeah again campanello three one
one w glenwood avenue I'm not
going to read this whole thing
here because previous
conversation about your how
park I just remind you of the
sierra club participated in the
movement to save show how apart
from being sold and now there's
a new process with a community
advisory being formed but the
group selection on this process
and the mayor handpicked the
members and bypassed community
of voices.
now I know that's kind of been
the usual practice in other
areas but this given the
history is a really bad idea
now the process is incomplete.
we need to add to the list
where are the advocates for
rally for kilauea, the city
council movement, sierra club
neighborhood groups like town
hall e, other neighborhood
groups around holiway park.
if we want to collaborate and
create peace between former
contenders, why wait the
advisory group so heavily
toward one side?
councilman grant ask for
community members willing to
participate.
I'd put myself forward.
I wanted to make sure the
environmental principles the
community had originally
advanced had a proper place
development process.
after all, this administration
ran an environmental program I
didn't think the mayor needed
necessarily to pick me but I
was shocked that practically
none of the people who had
spoken had been selected
virtually to a person.
those community members have
insisted that the park doesn't
belong to any one neighborhood
demographic or class.
it's for all of us and it's to
be shared with the world but to
develop it right we need to
bring together the voices who
have spoken out to protect the
park without excluding those
who work towards selling it.
so far we haven't done so and
it needs to be fixed.
we need more than the voices
of established insiders.
we need strong voices
supporting environmental
protection.
we need voices who are aware
of the park's history.
we need people who understand
the black communities fear
of marginalization and
displaced.
we need advocates for
development who insist that it
be sustainable and economically
just new city council members
have already developed a
reputation for independence
of thought.
please press the mayor and city
council to create an advisory
group and I notice you already
done this that contains the
contending elements from the
debate and instructs them to
develop trust and collaboration
with each other so we get a
plan the whole city can be
proud of.
>> thanks so much.
next person is the best can
state your name and address for
the record and you'll have up
to three minutes.
>> yes, my name is eddie debusk
.
I live at fifty eight twelve
grove drive here in knoxville,
tennessee.
the essence of this message
needs the following background
information before our
attendance to the knox county
commission meeting on thursday
february the 25th 2026 my
brother and I witnessed a
decorative hardhat and small
backpack fall from a motorcycle
at the intersection
of washington park and north
molle road as the cyclist
proceeded west to the entrance
ramp of about 640 westbound.
for the record, the cyclist had
the green light at the
westbound intersection and was
not speeding and we were
stopped at the southbound red
at washington park.
additionally, the cyclist
proceeded on his or her journey
and did not stop in a safe
manner.
we retrieved the following
items from the street and found
our way to knoxville city
council city county building to
attend the scheduled knox
county commission meeting at
which time we met two state
police officers that were
stationed on the porch of a
knox county old courthouse as
we approached the
aforementioned officers we told
them of our retrieval of the
aforementioned items in
question and asked for guidance
as to how to surrender.
they found that I understood
the proper authorities at which
time they told us to take the
the items to the public safety
complex at huron street as we
approach the aforementioned as
we attended the aforementioned
county commission meeting we
went to the public after the
meeting rather we went to the
public safety complex to
surrender the stated items in
question and learned that the
items needed to be surrendered
during the regular business
hours as our schedules did not
coincide with the regular
business hours the public
safety complex on friday
february the twenty six 2026
the items in question were not
returned on february 26, 2012
six while running errands on
saturday february the
twenty seven 2026 I noticed two
city police cars parked at the
parking lot at the intersection
of metal springs mineral
springs road and walker
boulevard at which time I
parked my car the parking lot
to speak to the officers about
what I have conveyed here in in
response to my story they asked
me about the current location
of the following items at which
time I opened the trunk of my
car and presented them with the
articles in question in
conjunction with our
conversation the officers
carefully examined the items at
which time one of the officers
linked the findings to the
madisonville police department
at the conclusion of my time
with these two officers they
took the items in question with
them so that the items could be
dispositioned accordingly.
in summary, my message via this
communication to the knoxville
city council anti-american can
and is simple.
I was impressed with officer
kincannon and officer eubanks
on february 27 twenty twenty
six at which time they conveyed
and is conveyed in this message
.
these two officers have
excellent people skills in
their interaction with the
public and in my opinion are
valuable assets to the
knoxville police department.
to that end it is obvious to me
that knoxville police chief
knowles selection process for
police officers to providing
officers that care about the
public that they are protected.
sir, thank thank you, mr. Tyvi
last person signed up to speak
is mary ann garner.
uh, apparently she is nola ok
council members that includes
public forum and without
objection this meeting
is adjourned and