Bryan Berry

The Healthy Knoxville Program (HKP) is designed to strengthen neighborhoods in the City of Knoxville by supporting community-based initiatives focused on health and wellbeing. The program aims to increase healthy outcomes for neighbors through activities in four key categories: Physical Activities / Utilizing Outdoor Spaces, Nutrition / Healthy Food Access, Tobacco / Vaping Cessation, and Mental Health and Wellness. It encourages sustainable lifestyle changes and community bonding, with participating neighborhoods striving for achievement levels ranging from Bronze to Platinum based on their accomplishments during the program year.

This document outlines the City of Knoxville's Annual Action Plan for 2026-2027, focusing on Housing and Neighborhood Development. It serves as an update to the Five-Year Consolidated Plan (2025-2029) and details annual funding allocations and community engagement. The plan's strategic priorities include transforming blighted properties, encouraging housing development, keeping people housed through rehabilitation and social services, and promoting housing fairness. It addresses critical community needs in public safety, healthy and connected neighborhoods, a clean and resilient future, and thriving businesses and good jobs, all while emphasizing comprehensive strategies to combat housing unaffordability and homelessness.

This document outlines substantial amendments to the City of Knoxville's 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan, primarily focused on reallocating unspent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (CDBG-CV) funds. The amendments prioritize projects addressing the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on eligible individuals and households within the city. Key focus areas include reducing and preventing homelessness through various public services and facility improvements, such as transitional housing, counseling, housing assistance, and street outreach. Additionally, the plan aims to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods by funding health services for substance abuse and mental health, and expanding community nutrition programs. The changes also involve adjustments to CDBG-CV Housing/Homeownership Assistance and CDBG-CV Administration funding.

The meeting was identified as a midyear budget retreat for the City Council. The discussion focused on the ongoing management of city tax dollars and investments. Key agenda items included a Budget 101 presentation, an overview of key investment areas, and the presentation of the midyear budget report for FY26, which covered the financial standing at the midpoint of the fiscal year and projections to year-end. The presentation detailed the seven major funds: General Fund, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Special Revenue Funds, Capital Projects Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Affordable Housing Fund, including their respective balances and purposes. The structure of the annual budget process, from proposal to adoption, and the city's 38-year streak of winning the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award were reviewed. The process for the annual audit and the subsequent Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Finance and Reporting award were also outlined. A unique part of the day included an invitation to tour the dental clinic at LMU following the formal proceedings.

This Urban Tree Canopy Assessment for Knox County and the City of Knoxville provides baseline information on the urban tree canopy, its distribution, and value. The assessment details current UTC percentages, changes from 2008 to 2018, and quantifies the environmental benefits of trees, such as carbon storage, pollutant removal, and water management. It identifies potential planting areas and correlates UTC with socio-economic factors. The document offers recommendations for developing UTC goals, refining policies, integrating UTC into broader sustainability initiatives, ensuring tree equity across communities, and informing the creation of an urban forestry master plan.