By Mike Steely
Amplified music from street vendors is again on the Knoxville City Council agenda. When the council meets Tuesday evening they will again debate whether or not to allow the uses of amplified entertainment on public right of ways and public property.
When the issue came up earlier several council members had questions and a number of street entertainers showed up to oppose the matter. Rick Emmett, the city’s downtown coordinator, said if adopted the ordinance would prohibit amps, although a permit could be requested.
Mayor Madeline Rogero told the previous meeting that the city isn’t quite ready with the ordinance. Several people said that “busking” is a legal activity in Knoxville and one council member said the street music adds to the atmosphere downtown. This may be the ordinance’s second and final reading.
The council will also consider naming two public properties. The bridge at Grainger Avenue, Lutrell Street and Hoitt Avenue may become the Chester “Chet” Kilgore Pedestrian Bridge in a request from Council member Lauren Rider.
Brandau Street between Knoxville College Drive and Monroe Senter Street may be renamed “James Davis Drive” on a request from the planning commission.
One tract of land at 7720 Pocanno Road and a plan for services when annexed into the city will also be considered on a request from the Office of Redevelopment.
Two street closings will also be considered, the first for Forest Avenue between the western edge of Twelfth Street and the edge of World’s Fair Park and an unnamed alley between Patton Street and its eastern terminus. Both closing are recommended by the planning commission.
Vice Mayor Finbarr Saunders wants to discuss rescheduling the council’s regular scheduled meetings and deleting meetings on January 1 and December 31th,
The council will also consider a $200,000 contract with Roadway Solutions, LLC, revising the agreement for the Guardrail Replacement Project for one year. The additional years, at $100,000 per year, is optional.
The mayor may be authorized to give a quitclaim deed to Knox County for property for the South Doyle BMX Track in a request from the law department.
Mayor Madeline Rogero may also be approved to execute an agreement with the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police to coordinate Internet Crimes Against Children investigation training in a grant from the state Office of Criminal Justice Programs for just over $60,000.
The East Tennessee Community Design Center may be granted $50,000 in a Community Development Block Grant for conceptual design and technical assistance for community improvement projects.
Two rezoning requests are before council although the request for a change to property at Ferd Hickey Road has been withdrawn. Mountain View Partners LP is asking to rezone property on Weisbrook Lane northeast of East Weisgarber Road from C-6 (Commercial) to I-3 (Industrial).
Tekco LLC is asking to rezone a property on Pleasant Ridge Road north of Sanderson Road from R-1 (Residential) to RP-1 (Planned Residential). The request seeks up to 24 units per acre and is recommended by the planning commission with one condition.
The council may also vote on hiring Unicorn HRO to provide payroll, payroll tax preparation and human resources services for K-Trans Management, doing business as Knoxville Area Transit. The cost would be a one-time implementation fee of $11,662 and an estimated annual cost of $48,426, based on the number of employees.
