Council scrambling to get voting changes on ballot
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
The Knoxville City Council meets Tuesday evening with a lengthy agenda that includes three different ways to change the way future councils are elected. The rush to get something on the November ballot includes two proposals up for their second and final readings and one alternative proposal very different than the others on first reading.
The first proposal, if voters approve, would change the cycle of District 5 Council elections, removing it from the Knoxville Mayor, city judge and at-large city council elections and putting it in with all the other council district elections. Councilman Charles Thomas is hoping for that change.
The second proposal, promoted by Councilman Andrew Roberto, would remove the term “District” and replace it with “Region” with all qualified regional candidates running in primary and general elections at large, meaning everyone in the city would vote on each region race.
The third option, suggested by Councilwoman Amelia Parker, would establish that only citizens within the existing districts could vote on those seats. At-large candidates could win with a majority of votes in a primary and the two highest-vote candidates in each district primary would face each other in a general election.
Given the number of sponsors, the first two proposals may be chosen. Parker appears as the sole sponsor of her proposal.
In other business, Joyce Feld, representing Scenic Knoxville, is on the agenda to appeal a ruling by the Board of Zoning Appeals to reduce the street frontage at 5014 Washington Pike.
The contract with Whaley Construction may get a $439,621 boost for the Old Broadway Sidewalk Project, upping the cost to over $2.9 million.
Volunteer Ministry Center may get pass-through funding from HUD for rapid re-housing for the homeless and additional HUD funds to provide street outreach services. The council may also approve the mayor to apply for about $1.8 million from HUD to provide housing and services for homeless youth.
Mayor Indya Kincannon may get approval to apply for a federal lead-based paint hazard reduction grant. If approved, the $4.6 million funding would be matched with $400,000 in city funds. A contract for $194,922 may be approved in an agreement with A & A Associates to provide recycling service in five areas of the city.
Asylum Avenue LLC is asking for a zoning change from mixed-use special district to mixed-use regional center as the owners continue to develop that historic area for commercial use, venues and concerts. The property is located at 940 Blackstock Avenue.
Several additional zoning changes are before the council, most of them requesting changes to residential areas. Changing from low density to medium density is being requested for 3514 and 3520 Sevier Avenue. The change would be to a general residential neighborhood.
Three lots on Maryville Pike may change from RN-4 residential to industrial mixed-use. A change from low density to medium density is requested for 962 North Gallaher View Road, an RN-5 designation.
A lot at 315 Erin Drive may go from general industrial to industrial mixed-use and 2909 North Broadway may be changed from office to industrial mixed-use. A change from general commercial C-G-3 to C-G-1 could be approved for 5900 and 5902 Kingston Pike.
The property at 911 West Baxter Avenue may change from RN-4 residential to C-N, neighborhood commercial. A change from RN-2 residential to industrial mixed-use is being proposed for 3030 North Central Avenue, adding a historic overlay to the classification.
