Open up our meeting by
acknowledging that this meeting
is being held on the unceded
stolen land of the Cherokee,
Shawnee, and Yuchi people. And
to remind you all that no one
is illegal on stolen land that
was built by stolen labor. And
with that, we have our first
presentation of the evening, a
proclamation from Council
Member Emily Benedict that
shall leave everyone feeling
warm and furry. A proclamation
recognizing Doug the Pug on the
occasion of his 12th birthday.
Council member, you are
recognized.
Thank you. Thank you. Pro tem.
Um, so this here
s a
proclamation recognizing Doug
the Pug as you said. So whereas
Nashville is home to many
remarkable individuals whose
creativity, generosity, and
spirit leave a lasting
impression upon communities
both near and far. And whereas,
among those cherished local
figures is Doug the Pug, born
MAY 20th, 2014, a canine
companion whose joyful presence
and unmistakable personality
have delighted millions across
the globe and whereas, through
a.
Social media.
Presence spanning millions of
followers.
Doug has become widely
recognized for his playful
costumes, uplifting content and
appearances alongside
celebrated entertainers, public
figures and cultural icons, all
while proudly representing
Nashville on an international
stage and.
Whereas beyond his fame as a
beloved internet personality,
Doug has helped demonstrate the
meaningful bond between humans
and animals, using this
platform to encourage kindness,
laughter, compassion, and
connection during times when
such comforts are often needed
most and.
Whereas the work of the Doug
the Pug Foundation, if I five
and one c3 non-profit
organization established in
2020, Doug and his family have
supported people facing serious
illnesses by helping facilitate
therapy, dog visits and moments
of comfort, hope and
companionship, and. Whereas it
is fitting.
That we recognize Doug the Pug
not only for his cultural
impact and accomplishments, but
also for the happiness and
encouragement he has brought to
countless people around the
world, proving that even the
smallest paws can leave an
enduring mark.
And now, therefore, I, Emily
Benedict, district seven
Council member of the
Metropolitan Council of
Nashville and Davidson County,
along with the undersigned
Members of Council, do hereby
recognize Doug the Pug on the
occasion of his birthday and
extend sincere appreciation to
Doug and his family for the
joy, compassion and canine
charm they continue to share
with the people of Nashville
and the world.
So I want to get.
Happy birthday.
Wait, wait. One second.
And council member, after the
photo, we will give Doug the
opportunity to give a few
remarks.
And sniff the mic. Doug got a
little snorts.
Ready?
In all seriousness. My name is
Leslie Mosher. I have had the
honor of a lifetime of doing
Doug the Pug as a full time job
for the last 11 years, and I
fully believe that we would not
have 18 million followers and
have had the immensely amazing
experience if it weren
t for
this incredible city supporting
us every step of the way. So we
are incredibly grateful. Doug
spread so much joy, and this is
an incredible way to kick off
his birthday celebration.
Woohoo! Thank you so much!
Thank you so much and happy
birthday to MR. Pug.
We also appreciate that Doug
showed up in a tuxedo for this
occasion.
Custom designed in London,
England.
Thank you so very much.
This.
Thank you so much. And we also
have, in addition to, uh, Doug
and co, Doug and friends, we do
have additional special guests
with us today. I want to take a
moment to recognize and welcome
the members of Starbucks
Workers United, who are here
with us to visit. And we have a
welcome message.
For. Do you want me to say yes?
You are. You all are recognized.
Hi. Sorry.
I
m going to fix this speaker
real fast. Um, hi. My name is
Lindy. I
m a lifelong Nashville
man. Also been a fan of Doug
the Pug for a considerable
amount of years. Um, and a
Starbucks worker of more than
six years. Over those six
years, I worked my way up from
barista before eventually
leaving store management. I
m
back to being a shift
supervisor now. I
ve seen this
company from nearly every
angle, and what became
impossible to ignore is just
how much Starbucks relies on
the labor of green apron
workers, while giving us less
and less in return. The
baristas are the face of this
billion dollar company. We are
the ones making the drinks,
calming angry customers,
running floors, understaffed,
and keeping stores afloat every
single day. And yet, workers
are still struggling to get
enough hours, struggling to pay
rent and struggling to access
basic stability. Starbucks MAY
be leaving Seattle for
Nashville, but wherever they
go, workers will be organizing
and fighting for something
better. Recently, Starbucks
announced plans to build a
corporate headquarters here in
Nashville. Around that same
time, ceo Brian Nichols stopped
by a nearby store ten minutes
away from mine for a polished
little photo op, but noticeably
absent from that visit were the
union stores and organizing
workers across the city. I
think that says everything
because Starbucks doesn
t want
to actually meet their workers.
Behind the smiling
advertisements and carefully
curated branding, they want
Nashville
s culture. They want
our labor. They want our
growth, our tourism, and our
tax breaks. They don
t just
want workers to have power. And
while executives pose for
cameras, baristas are being
pushed harder than ever before.
Workers are dealing with
impossible drive through times,
severe understaffing,
increasingly complicated drink
builds and now disciplinary
threats over not writing one
word on a cup as if forced
positivity written in Sharpie
is somehow going to fix
burnout. Poverty, wages or
exhaustion. And despite that,
workers are still organizing
anyway. Across the country,
we
ve grown our union by
thousands and won nearly 700
elections because baristas are
demanding what Starbucks still
refuses to give us a fair
contract, real protections on
the job and dignity at work.
The Long Hollow Pike store in
Goodlettsville recently won
their union election. Last week,
workers in Johnson City
organized two, and those
victories matter because they
prove something corporations
hate hearing. Starbucks only
works because we do. Nashville
was not built by CEOs. It was
not built by billionaires
flying in for press tours and
ribbon cuttings. This city was
built by workers, by the people
pouring the coffee, driving the
trucks, cooking the food,
cleaning the buildings,
stocking the shelves and
surviving in a city that
becomes more expensive every
day. While corporations make
record profits off of our
labor. So if Starbucks wants to
make Nashville its home, then
workers are going to make sure
the city here
s our voice, too.
And no matter how many
corporations move here, chasing
profit workers in this city are
going to continue organizing,
continue fighting, and continue
demanding dignity because the
city belongs to the people who
keep it running. Today, we
re
asking Metro Council and the
people of Nashville to stand
with Starbucks workers and call
on Starbucks for a fair union
contract, no contract, no
coffee.
Thank you. Being present.
Thank you all so much. Thank
you all so much for being here
today. Colleagues, if anyone
has any announcements, um,
please go ahead and get in the
queue. First I see
Councilmember Styles.
Councilmember styles, you are
recognized.
Thank you very much. First, I
wanted to thank everyone that
participated this past weekend
in our first All Antioch
cleanup. It was really great.
We had a really good time and
we
re going to do it again.
Saturday, OCTOBER 3rd. So there
will be information about that.
Because even if you don
t live
in Antioch, maybe you want to
help us. Come on out and clean
it up. And then I also wanted
to make a reference because I
think i
m I
m probably going to
be leaving shortly. And I won
t
be here to talk about it. I did
have a resolution regarding the
Energy board and lack of
confidence in how they have
handled the storm. Fern. It
s
been deferred a meeting. It
s
unfortunate. I don
t think the
report is going to tell us
anything we don
t already know.
We weren
t prepared. People
failed and our constituents
would like to hear about
accountability. They don
t want
to read a white paper. We will,
but they won
t. And we have
made them wait long enough. And
delaying legislation where we
can hold people accountable, I
think is negligent on our part.
So I want to be sure that I got
that out before I leave. Thank
you.
Next, we have Council member
Hill, Council. You
re
recognized. My apologies.
Council member Cooper is next
and then we will have Council
Member Hill.
Thank you. Have to give me some
of those tickets to make up for
that. I don
t know, thank you.
Thank you MADAM Pro-Tem. Um, a
couple of quick, couple quick
things. Um, the board meeting,
first board meeting for our
Midtown business improvement
district is Wednesday, JUNE the
3rd at the Erickson, 4 to 5:30
P.M.. Really excited about
that. We
ve sat most of the
board members and are working
on budgets and all that great
stuff. Um, also obviously very
exciting news today I
m hearing
about a Super Bowl coming to
Nashville in 2030. Um, I
ve
talked about this a lot today
and so on. Posting and things
like that. We
ll continue to
talk about it. It
s really
important to me that this event
is not just another event that
feels downtown, but is
something that the entire city
can benefit from. Small
businesses, local residents,
workers, etc.. So, you know,
it
s in early stages, but if
people have any suggestions or
ideas, please reach out to me.
I want to make sure that this
is something that all corners
of Nashville really benefit
from, and really get to be a
part of. Um, and then just for
tomorrow, there is an event
that the cdc is putting on a
community celebration tomorrow.
It
s at 630. The streets open,
there
s music at 730 and a live
broadcast at 8:00. Um, so thank
you to the cdc. Everyone who
worked hard on this effort. And
again, this is a real
opportunity, I think, to show
to show our city that we can do
things differently and really
make it impactful to all.
Thanks.
Thank you. Council Member
Koopman. Next we have
Councilmember Hill. You
re
recognized.
Thank you. Mayor Pro Tem, uh,
with this weekend being
Memorial Day weekend, I
m going
to continue what I think is my
20 year, um, and I go to the
veterans Cemetery at McCoy
Lane. Uh, there
s an old
military tradition that you
place a coin on the headstone
to show that someone came by.
Uh, I
ll be there this weekend
or Monday at 9 A.M. At the
Middle Tennessee Veterans. If
anybody wants to come with me,
you
re welcome to be here. I
ll
have a handful of rolls of
coins to place on, on
headstones. And, uh, remember,
this is a weekend that we honor
those who gave all.
Thank you. Council. Next, we
have Councilmember prep, t
Council member prep to your
recognized.
I believe council member Suara
was ahead of me. Um, so.
I
m sorry. Everybody will get a
chance. So you already own you
go ahead and I got you next.
Council member.
Okay. Thank you, MADAM Vice
Mayor or MADAM Pro Tem. Um, um,
first and foremost, this, uh, I
want to speak on a rather
solemn moment for our nation.
Um, over the past 24 hours,
we
ve seen more details come
out about the shootings that
took place in San Diego. Um,
and I just want to say to every
single person who
s affected by
this tragedy, in particular to
our Muslim American community
members, that my heart breaks
for you all, um, to be targeted
for who you are is
unconscionable. At a bare
minimum. Um, and so I just
wanted to say to every member
of the community who
s been
who
s been affected by this
tragedy that we see you, we
stand with you and that we will
continue doing everything that
we can in this city to make
sure, regardless of where you
come from, how you pray, who
you love, that you are
welcomed, that you are loved,
and that you are protected. Um,
thank you. I, I also want to
say on a happier note, um, that
tomorrow, MAY 20th, is my
nephew Atticus 12th birthday.
Um, so I wanted to say on
behalf of the Metropolitan, uh,
County Council of Nashville and
Davidson County, happy
birthday, Atticus. Thank you.
Happy birthday. Atticus. We MAY
have a little song before it
s
all over with. Councilmember
Sawyer, you
re recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Pro-Tem. And
thank you, Councilmember, for
your comment. That was one of
the things I was going to speak
to you. I actually even plan to
play a little message that I
got, uh, Ellen, the week last
week. Uh, a very nice message
left for me by someone. Um, and
I spent all of today even
talking to folks online that
were justifying that the people
that died actually deserved it.
Um, one of the guys that I
spoke to talk to me about how
he hated me so much. And the
question is why? You don
t even
know me. Uh, and so for that, I
did I do appreciate what,
Councilmember Burchett said.
And I will continue to say that
for all of us. Um, it is very
important that it should not
matter who the perpetrator is.
It should not matter who the
victims are. Every time we see
any of these things, we should
always, always confirm them.
Nobody deserves to be gunned
down or killed like that. And
it should not matter who the
victims are. And so I will
continue to do that. And I hope
that we all do that as well.
And my prayers, uh, goes to the
people of San Diego, that
community over there. And I
m
going to continue to pray for
them. Uh, the shooter to the
family are dealing with things.
So I
m going to continue to
pray that the good Lord comfort
and hold all of them and give
them peace and tranquility, uh,
like no one else can. And so,
um, but on a happier note, um,
I want to announce two things.
One, this Saturday. Uh, Council
member Tasha Ellis is hosting,
uh, a program about legacy and
aging. Well, uh, what that
means is how people can prepare
for retirement, but also have a
financial legacy and build
generational wealth for their
family. This program will be
done in partnership with the
mayor
s office, the National
Center for empowerment. Uh, the
United Way and a host of other
people. And I will be
participating on a panel with,
uh, so if you
re in southeast,
uh, please do come out and
join. If you have people that
are elderly, please encourage
them to come. There will be
people on staff that will give
them free advice. There will be
a lot of resources that will be
shared. Again, I
m just going
to support its, uh, council
member. Tasha l is a program.
Uh, the other thing that I
wanted to share also is that I
started my budget conversation
this last Sunday, uh, with the
mayor
s budget. And then this
next Sunday will be every
Sunday now from 3 to 4 P.M..
And thanks to the vice mayor
and I are going to I
m going to
let her announce that that
later. But, uh, she did do
something very great that
allowed us to be able to meet
online as council member, to be
able to be part of a
conversation, something we
ve
not been able to do. And so,
based on our efforts, uh, we
can do that to some extent now.
But I let her announce that.
But I
m letting all of you know
that you can join online, uh,
if you so choose. And this
Sunday, we
ll be talking to the
chair of the Edmond ps budget.
Uh, doctor Bettina McKinney. So
i hope you all will join us for
that. Thank you. And thank you,
MADAM Pro Tem.
Thank you so very much,
Councilmember, for next we have
Council Member vote. You are
recognized.
Thank you so much. Pro tem. Um,
we have a lot going on in
district 17. As always. Um,
this Thursday, MAY 21st, the
Snap community, uh, will be
having a meeting and they
ll be
discussing various updates in
the community. Um, from Mndot
updates, um, and some projects.
So if you would like to join
that, that
s from 6 to 7:30
P.M. And that
s virtual. Um,
and then next week, um, next
Wednesday from 630 to 730, I
m
having a community meeting at
third and Mildred just
discussing noise and business
and changes happening there. So
that will be happening at Third
and Mildred. People, everyone
is welcome. Um, and then on MAY
30th, the Chestnut Hill
Neighborhood Association is
having their annual barbecue at
Dudley Park from 12 to 3. It is
free and everyone is welcome.
And, um, on. Oh, also tomorrow.
I forgot this. Tomorrow, Browns
Creek there they
ll be doing a
walk and talk at Fair Park with
Cumberland River compact from
530 to 7. So if you want to
learn more about Browns Creek,
please join that. Um, and I
want to make sure that you all
know that my town hall, save
the date is Saturday, JUNE 13th
at United Record Pressing. That
will be from 3 to 4 P.M.. Um,
and then, um, a great project
that
s happening in the
community. Um, in partnership
together, the National City
Cemetery and the William and
Edmondson homesite. They are
going to be doing a rock
painting together as part of
the enslaved memorial project
on JUNE 6th, from 10 to 11:30
A.M.. If anyone would like to
participate. And I want to make
sure that anyone in the
community is aware that JUNE
8th is, um, Japan, their
national team will have their
open training day and so the
community can come and get free
tickets. And that will be
happening at Judy
s Park at
6:00. So, um, I also want to
just take this moment to
congratulate Nashville Soccer
Club. They
ve had two huge
milestones. Um, just this past
few days. On MAY 13th, they had
their 100th win milestone. Um,
so yes, huge win. Um,
congratulations. And also want
to congratulate Honey Mukhtar,
who hit his over hundredth goal
on MAY 17th. So
congratulations, honey, and all
the great things happening in
district 17.
Thank thank you, Council
member. We only have a few more
minutes, colleagues. So if we
could just keep that in mind
with the number of
announcements we have to make.
Councilmember Ewing, you
re
recognized.
, even.
Understanding what you just
said.
I
ll be very.
Quick. Um, on.
On JUNE 6th, I wanted.
To give.
As much of an advance notice as
possible that there will be.
A community drop.
Off on the 7th of JUNE, 8 to 12
at Bellevue Middle School, $5
per vehicle. Um, we
re
accepting items for shredding
furniture, electronics, etc. So
look that up on.
, um.
On the Bellevue community
websites. The various websites.
Also, I just wanted to wish um,
Council Member Hill, who is out
of the room, a happy, happy,
happy birthday. So happy
birthday to Councilmember Hill.
Thank you so very much.
Councilmember. Councilmember
gamble, you
re recognized.
Thank you. MADAM Pro Tem, I
would like to announce that
there will be a district three
quarterly meeting this
Thursday, MAY 21st, 6 P.M. At
the Madison Precinct and on my
drive, 400 mile drive. We
ll
have a public safety update
from Deputy Chief Greg Blair.
And also discuss proposed
projects on West Old Hickory
Boulevard and Mulberry Downs.
So we can invite everyone in
district three and anyone who
wants to come and hear about
things going on in district
three to attend our district
three quarterly meeting on this
Thursday, MAY 21st at 6 P.M.,
Madison Police Precinct. Thank
you.
Thank you, Councilmember
gamble. Councilmember Harrell,
you are recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Pro Tem. Um,
so district eight, we have two
developer meetings coming up,
uh, dealing with, uh, potential
developments that are coming to
our district. Uh, MAY 21st at 6
P.M., virtual. Uh, we will be
discussing five, 995 Mount View
Road. And on MAY 28th at 6
P.M., virtual. Uh, we will be
discussing four, four one
Maxwell Road, 6 P.M.. Thank
you.
Thank you, Councilmember
Harrell. Councilmember
Sepulveda, you are recognized.
Thank you. MADAM Pro Tem. Real
quickly, um, Nashville c is
number one in mls, which
Councilmember Vo forgot to say.
Um, this Saturday? Well, yes.
This Saturday, MAY 23rd. Um,
the Union Veterans Council of
Middle Tennessee, uh, with the
afl-cio, will be placing flags
at headstones at the Nashville
National Cemetery. And you
could rsvp it will be from 8 to
12 P.M.. It is also labor lunch
this Thursday at 1130 at
Homegrown Taproom.
Thank you. Councilmember
Sepulveda. Last call for any
final pressing announcements.
All right. Seeing none, the
announcement period is closed.
2026. This is the ninth meeting
of 2026 and the 61st meeting of
the current term of the
Metropolitan Council of
Nashville and Davidson County.
Will all members of the
council, as well as the public,
please rise for the invocation
and remain standing for the
Pledge of Allegiance? The
invocation is being offered
this evening by MR. Stephen
Watts. He is the guest of
district 16 Council Member
Jenny Welsh. Welcome, MR. Watts
and friends. You are
recognized. Thank you and
friends.
Many of us here tonight hold
multiple different positions
and roles within Nashville. But
we
re here tonight just as
community members who fight for
a better city with our own time
and resources, because we
deeply care and love the
version of Nashville that we
get to witness on the grounds
every single day. We stand for
a city that doesn
t just build
housing strategies, but build
housing itself for a city that
acts out of abundance instead
of giving its people crumbs.
For a city that ensures its
people have food jobs that
actually pay the rent, free
transportation, benches, safe
streets, safe schools, arts
transparency, accountability
and preservation of Nashville
s
history, especially of the
difficult parts.
About the difficult part. Real
quick, um, one public squares
literal foundation was cleared
and leveled by slaves. Black
bodies. This city purchased and
owned people owned by the
Nashville government. When a
white minister named Amos
Dresser carried anti-slavery
pamphlets through Nashville in
1835, he was seized by an
unelected group of Nashville
business leaders and political
leaders and lashed 20 times on
this very square. His crime was
possessing sundry pamphlets of
a most violent and pernicious
tendency that could cause an
insurrection or rebellion
amongst the slaves. Many have
observed that we in the South
have inherited from our
centuries of slavery a culture
that punishes whoever
acknowledges harm, usually far
more harshly than those who
inflict it. We have not
overcome that inheritance yet.
We
re working on it.
Today we come together,
inspired by a promise that
holds us. Those of us appointed
to carry a people
s message.
The promise reads. Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall
be satisfied. For the GOD who
listens. Thank you for hearing
us. I praise you because you
are worthy and we receive you
in this room. I share in your
joy every time a council member
fights for the least of these.
I see you dance every time.
Justice inconveniences all the
other plans clamoring for
attention in this room. I have
cried with you when studies and
risk assessments are allowed to
live longer lives than the
bodies who are bearing the
risks being studied. I have
seen you weep when skyscrapers
and cameras and weapons and
police budgets and business
districts and Super Bowls and
wealth accumulation are
considered the pinnacles of
human achievement. I feel you
holding us to this day.
Lord GOD, I pray for all those
in this room who believe that
building this city higher and
bigger will protect them from
their neighbor who have
preferred their imaginary
neighbor who they would like to
move in from California and
Texas to the ones living right
here on the streets. Many in
this room have forgotten that
you live most clearly in the
faces of our neighbors, who do
not provide us with what you
need, with what we need. And I
confess, I have not loved my
neighbor as myself. I have
loved them incompletely, and
only when they live up to my
expectations. We have ignored
each other and so have lost
sight of you. And in your mercy
you are able to use that to
all. Loving one. As the
people
s money is traded and
people
s lives are debated. I
pray for divine protection over
us. All. The people
s money is
the people
s labor, which is
the people
s bodies, which is
the people
s lives. And so much
that has been built by the
people has been withheld from
us all the same. But you are
not the GOD of leftovers, and
you have called us to share in
your name. And even if the
people
s money and power is
kept from us today, we know
that our hands, our feet, our
hearts, our minds, our labor,
our will, our power, you will
return it to us tomorrow. All
the money that today is moved
around in circles to feed
people
s importance. Elections
campaign Eagle capital will
tomorrow be taken to feed the
poor. No matter what this
legislative legislative body
chooses today. You have
promised tomorrow the people
s
money will be shared freely
with the people. Which just
means they will be given right
back to you. I am grateful that
you have given us the freedom
to choose our own way. And I
pray over this council. But
whether or not this council
chooses to live up to your name
today we receive you and we
receive your tomorrow. Whether
or not our electeds do your
will. We are the people and we
are your people. And we welcome
you in this room.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which
it stands. One nation under
GOD, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
Thank you, MR. Watts, and
friends. Welcome, Council and
community members, as we segue
from what I had been thinking
when I made my notes for this
evening, might be an unusual
invocation. I wanted to remind
everyone that an invocation is
a solemn izing of our
proceedings, and does not have
to be a religious prayer. An
invocation MAY be a poem,
spoken words, or a song, and
even though it is most
frequently been a Christian
prayer in this chamber, it does
also bear reminding. After the
events on the National Mall on
Sunday. And as our country
celebrates its 250th year that
we are not and were never a,
quote, Christian nation. Though
many people in state and
federal leadership and the
social media managers that
support them are trying to make
people believe that to be true,
our founders established a
secular government to prevent
religious persecution and
sectarian conflict, and to
protect the freedom of
religion. I have asked this
council to be thoughtful in
making sure that a diversity of
our city
s faith traditions are
represented through this
invocation opportunity. The
First Amendment to the
Constitution, in addition to
securing the freedoms of
speech, press, assembly and
petition for all people within
the United States, secures the
freedom of religion, the right
to practice any religion or no
religion, and specifically
prohibits the government from
establishing a national
religion. We began this council
term with a muslim prayer as
our invocation, and our hearts
are with our local Muslim
community. After the tragic
events in San Diego, where two
teenagers killed three people
at an Islamic center yesterday.
Authorities have said that
these young people shared a
broad hatred toward people of
different religions and races.
As elected officials, it is
very important that we spend
time and stand with our
neighbors of all races,
religions and creeds. Members
of this council and I have
enjoyed iftar dinners at
Nashville
s mosques, Passover
seders at the Jewish Community
Center, attended celebrations
of the Lunar New Year and
celebrated Holi at the Hindu
temple. And with an invocation
in this chamber earlier this
term. MAY is Jewish American
Heritage Month. It is Asian
American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month, and it is
Haitian Heritage Month, and we
happily have council members
representing all those
communities. Diversity is this
city and our nation
s strength.
As we ponder the recent
violence in San Diego
perpetrated by two young people
taught to hate others online by
malicious and fear mongering
adults, we also want to lift up
all the many bright and kind
young people here in Nashville
and across the United States
that are making a positive
difference in their communities
and graduating from middle
school, high school, and
college this month. Municipal
auditorium right around the
corner from City Hall, has been
the site for several
graduations these last few days
and has been wonderful to see
families celebrating and taking
photos of their kids in their
caps and gowns on the public
square. Thank you to educators,
staff, and administrators at
all Nashville schools. MAY is
Bike Month in Nashville, 1100
Nashville, including five
council members. The mayor and
me joined the tour de Nash ride
organized by Walk Back
Nashville on Saturday. And if
the weather holds out, I am
looking forward to joining kids
and parents for a bike bus ride
to school in East Nashville
tomorrow morning. Very few
things bring me as much joy as
seeing young people able to
safely bike the streets that
belong to them. There will be
three more open Streets events
in downtown this summer. You
can easily rent an e-bike,
e-bike bicycle from a kiosk
downtown and explore various
routes without cars. I invite
all Nashville fans to try and
replace at least one car trip
with a bike ride this month.
Friday is bike to work day, so
you could give that a try or
see if you can bike to the Park,
school, the library, or your
favorite local restaurant.
Biking is fun or should be, and
it needs to be much safer in
Nashville with a meaningful and
functional connected network as
soon as possible. But for now,
that safety often comes in
numbers, so invite a friend to
join you and a reminder to
everyone that is driving. Slow
down and pay attention. Bikes
and the people biking make
cities better for everyone. All
right, with that objection, we
will suspend the calling of the
roll and ask the clerk to
please record the names of the
members present throughout the
meeting. I want to recognize
COUNCILWOMAN Olivia Hill, whose
birthday is this evening. So
happy birthday to her. Thank
you for spending your birthday
with us. Is there a motion for
approval of the minutes of the
meeting of MAY 7th, 2026? All
right. There is a motion
properly seconded. Without
objection. And seeing no one
seeking to be recognized for a
change to the minutes, the
minutes of the meeting of MAY
7th are approved. MR. Clerk,
are there any messages from the
mayor?
There are no messages from the
mayor.
All right. Thank you, MR. Clerk.
Okay. We
re going to roll right
into our agenda. The first is
section e elections. We have
three elections this evening,
and though only two of them are
contested, they are all three
loaded in your desktop voting
system. And so first among
those will be item e one. This
is an election for the East
Bank Development Authority to
fill one vacancy to that
authority, with a term expiring
JUNE 30th, 2030. MR. Clerk,
will you please open the vote?
Could assist MR. Rutherford,
please.
Sometimes we have some
technical difficulties. That
s
okay. MR. Clerk, are all votes
in? MISS Allen and MISS Gadd,
do you seek to vote? Okay. All
right. Please show the vote. I
think we know what the results
are going to be on this one.
Council has elected Nathaniel
Carter with 34 votes.
Congratulations. Thank you for
your willingness to serve.
We
re going to have two more
elections. So, council members,
if you could wait until we
dispose of all these elections,
and then we
ll thank MR. Carter
and the others who are elected
and those who put themselves
forward. Next is agenda item e
two. This is an election to
fill one vacancy on the
property Standards and Appeals
Board. With the term expiring
APRIL 7th of 2030. There are
two nominees Grafton Brittle by
Councilmember Coupon and Roger
farmer by council member Evans.
MR. Clerk, would you please
open the vote? Council members,
this election requires 21 votes
by ordinance. For a person to
be elected.
Okay. MISS Lee, are
you seeking to vote? No worries.
Okay. With all votes in. MR.
Clerk, if you would please show
the vote. Council has elected
Roger farmer with 21 votes in
favor and 13 votes to Grafton
Brittle. Congratulations to MR.
Farmer, and we appreciate MR.
Biddle putting himself forward.
Thank you. All right. Um, we
now will move to e three. Um,
this is an election to fill one
vacancy on the short term
rental appeals board. With a
term expiring AUGUST 31st of
2027. The nominees are. Diamond
Bell, nominated by
Councilmember Tombs and Kevin
Griffith, nominated by
Councilmember Coupon. Uh, MR.
Clerk, if you would please open
that vote. Again, this requires
21 votes for election. Um,
pursuant to the ordinance.
With
all votes in. MR. Clerk, please
show the vote. Council has
elected Diamond Bell with 26
votes in favor and eight votes
to MR. Griffith. We appreciate
putting himself forward. Um, we
want to thank, him and
congratulate Nathaniel Carter.
Roger Farmer and Diamond Bell.
Um, and again, thank you to
everyone who put themselves
forward. We appreciate your
willingness to serve our city.
All right. We
re moving into
section f of our agenda
appointees and nominees. This
portion of the agenda shares
all persons who are scheduled
to appear before the rules,
confirmations and public
elections committee for an
interview this evening.
Referrals back to the committee
will be by rule as part of the
council
s two meeting process
for elections and
confirmations. No votes will be
taken by the body in this
section of the agenda, other
than for deferrals. Chair cash
Brief report please. No vote
totals necessary. Simply the
names of those interviews and
for which board, commission,
committee or entity. And if a
person in the appointment and
confirmation process was unable
to attend your committee this
evening, you can also share at
what meeting they will next
appear. Go ahead chair.
Okay for the Fire and Building
Code Appeals Board, we
interviewed Ilka Ham Loeser and
um. I don
t see the name of the
other one. Tim I
m sorry. Tim.
Pro and then for Board of
Health. Uh, doctor Jeffrey
Stovall for traffic and parking
commission. Tom Sturdivant for
transportation licensing
commission. Um, Erika Henley
and Annie Klaver, um, Delilah
Haake was withdrawn.
Okay.
And then. I said for that.
Okay. Um, uh, Julia Hawk will
be withdrawn, um, from
nomination consideration. All
right. Um. Next is section g.
Confirmations. Uh, chair,
you
re recognized again for
your committee report on the
appointees. In the second step
of your committee
s two meeting
process, this time with vote
totals, please. And a
consolidated motion for the
confirmation of those persons,
or first for deferral motion,
if there are any. Go ahead.
Sir.
Airport authority appointment
of Marcus Chute Junior for term
expiring APRIL 5th, 2032. A 6
to 0 zero Airport Authority
appointment of Steve Schwartz
for a term expiring APRIL 5th,
2032. Also six to 0 to 0.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission appointment of
Winston Wright for term
expiring APRIL 16th, 2036. In
favor zero against zero. Not
voting. Farmer
s Market Board
appointment of Sylvia marcella
Gomez for a term expiring MAY
5th, 2031 6200 Historic Zoning
Commission Reappointment of
Elizabeth Mayor for a term
expiring JUNE 1st, 2031. Six to
0 to 0. Midtown Central
Business Improvement District
Board of Director Andrew Cook
for a one year term approved
six to 0 to 0. The Tourism and
Convention Commission
reappointment of Sybil Brown
for a term expiring JUNE 30th,
2039 6 to 0 zero. Tourism and
Convention Commission Report of
Mark Hays for term expiring
JUNE 30th, 2029. Approved 6200
and I move approval.
All right. There is a motion to
confirm all of these eight
appointees, properly seconded.
Does anyone wish to remove an
item from this consolidated
motion for purposes of an
individual abstention or no
vote? Okay. Um, uh, MR.
Bradford.
Please remove g1 and g2 from
the consent.
Okay. And. Okay, so at this
juncture, um, there is a motion
to confirm. Uh, now, six
appointees in a consolidated
motion, items g three through g
eight. Uh, okay. All in favor
of these confirmations, please
say I a okay. Um, now we will
go back to g one and g two. G1
is the appointment. Uh, or
rather the confirmation of of
the appointment of Marcus Shute
Jr to the airport authority for
a term expiring APRIL 5th,
2023. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting? No. Any
abstaining. MR. Bradford, do
you seek to abstain?
Okay.
Okay. Yes, sir.
So, colleagues.
Sorry you don
t get to speak on
an abstention.
That
s. I pulled them off so I
could speak on these.
Okay. We have moved to the
vote. Um.
Well, then let
s move to the
next one. And I want to speak
on that one.
All right, sir. So are you
recorded as a abstention, then,
on MR. Shoot? Okay. All right.
Um. Uh.
Yes.
Okay. You are a yes on Mr.
Sheet. Okay. All right. Um, so
council has confirmed the
appointment of Marcus Shute.
Um, colleagues, we will go back
through at the end of this
section of our agenda to thank
all those persons who have been
confirmed, but the remaining,
uh, item on this agenda is g
two for the airport authority.
Uh, this is the appointment of
Steve Schwartz for a term
expiring, uh, APRIL 5th, 2032.
Um, I do not typically ask for
discussion on these, but to MR.
Bradford
s point, um, I will
recognize you. Go ahead, sir.
Thank you, Vice Mayor. And we
have spoken on these before in
the past. Um, I want to thank
my colleagues for taking this
opportunity for me to speak.
You all know that I
ve been
fighting for a long time to get
representation for my district
on the airport authority, and
so I want to take this
opportunity to celebrate and
thank the administration for
finally making that happen, not
just for my community, but for
district 20 as well. These are
two communities that I have to
deal with. The impact of
airport operations. And so now
these communities are going to
have a seat at this table. And
so I want to celebrate the fact
that now these communities are
going to finally be heard when
it comes to matters of the
airport. And for that move, for
approval.
All right. Is there any further
discussion on, um, the
confirmation vote on the
appointment of MR.. Steve
Schwartz? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. Uh, Council has
confirmed the appointment of
Steve Schwartz. So, to all our
confirmed appointees, if you
chose to return to the council
chamber this evening, which is
not required. But if you are
here, do please stand as I call
your names. Council has
confirmed to the airport
authority. Marcus Shute. They
have also confirmed Steve
Schwartz, Council has confirmed
the bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Commission. Winston
Wright. Council has confirmed
the Farmer
s Market Board.
Sylvia marcella Gomez. Council
has confirmed to the Historic
Zoning Commission the
reappointment of Elizabeth MAY
Hall. Uh Council has confirmed
the Midtown Business
Improvement District Board of
Directors Andrew Cook, and then
lastly to the tourism and
Convention Commission. Council
has confirmed the reappointment
of Doctor Sybil, or rather,
Cyril Brown and Mark Hayes. All
right. Thank you all very much.
Congratulations. We appreciate
your willingness to serve.
Thanks.
Thank.
All right. We are moving right
into section h of our agenda.
This is our public comment
portion. Again, thank you to
everyone who was confirmed or
elected this evening. Members
of the public who are Tennessee
residents wishing to speak, MAY
sign up at the table for public
comment. Outside the council
chamber from 5 to 6 P.M. On the
day of the council meeting.
Public comment is limited to 20
minutes total at council
meetings, and each speaker is
allowed up to two minutes to
speak. Uh. Persons speaking on
agenda items must be
prioritized to comply with
state law. We have one person
who has signed up for public
comment this evening. That is
Ryan Adcock. I
m speaking on
agenda item 42. Um, this is the
operational budget ordinance.
Um, 1377. Uh, is Ryan Adcock
present? Please go ahead and
come forward. You
re recognized.
I will note for the public that
the operational budget will
have its very own public
hearing. That will be later.
But this is on first reading on
our agenda. Go ahead. Sir.
Thank you so much. Ryan Adcock,
government affairs director for
Greater Nashville Realtors.
Just coming out tonight, um,
making sure that our voice is
heard, our association
s voices
heard on the matter of the
Barnes Fund in the budget a few
weeks ago, our 2026 PRESIDENT
For Greater Nashville Realtors,
Jack Gaughan, wrote a piece in
our weekly column addressing
the Barnes Fund. And I just
wanted to take a quick moment
to reiterate those words. Let
the council know that Greater
Nashville Realtors is
supportive of 32 or, excuse me,
$30 million being placed in the
budget for the Barnes Fund this
upcoming year. Affordable
housing is currently the top
strategic initiative for the
Greater Nashville Realtors
Board of Directors, and as an
association that is dedicated
to the idea of homeownership.
Our realtor members see
firsthand just how hard it
s
become for their clients to
reach that dream. Nashville
strong local economy has made
it an appealing place to start
a career, raise a family, put
down roots, and our success on
those fronts has also created
some challenges, particularly
when it comes to affordable
housing. And unfortunately, the
supply of available housing has
not kept pace with the demand.
Driven by our continued growth.
This, combined with higher
interest rates, means that the
path to homeownership has
become increasingly difficult
for many residents in
Nashville, particularly working
households earning under
$100,000 annually. This
includes many of the people who
keep our city running, such as
first responders, educators and
service industry workers. And
as residents continue to face
all these challenges, how the
city responds moving forward
will determine whether
Nashville remains accessible to
the very people who have helped
fuel its growth and success.
Metro Nashville Unified excuse
me, Metro Nashville Unified
Housing Strategy recommends a
minimum annual investment of
$30 million to support the
development and preservation of
affordable housing. This level
of funding represents a
meaningful and strategic
investment in the future of our
city, and by continuing to
invest in programs like the
Barnes Housing Trust Fund, the
council can take important
steps towards increasing
housing opportunities,
strengthening neighborhoods and
ensuring more residents have a
pathway to homeownership and
the long term stability it
provides.
Thank you.
Thank you. All right. That
concludes our public comment.
Next is section I of our
agenda, uh, rules of procedure.
Um, uh, Council member prep t
has proposed an amendment to
rule a procedure 46, uh,
regarding the council meetings,
uh, throughout the year and the
scheduling of those, uh,
council member prep to your
recognized sir.
Thank you, MADAM Vice Mayor,
before getting committee
report. Um, just want to
provide some quick context
about the conversation that we
had in the Rules Committee. We
had a very productive
conversation about what this
this particular rule change
could mean for, um, for this
council body and in potential
future council bodies. And from
that that conversation, I do
anticipate some changes to, to
this proposed rule change. And
so with that, I will now ask
for my committee report.
Chair cash for the report of
the rules, confirmations and
public elections committee. Go
ahead sir.
Rules voted for a one meeting
deferral. Six in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
Okay. Um, and with that we we
treat it like a legislation.
So, um, with rule no, we don
t
not rule 8.1. We can
t apply
it. All right.
Point of order.
Okay. Um, go ahead, sir.
Just, uh, the automatic
deferral applies to ordinances
and resolutions, not to not.
Okay. I appreciate the
clarification. So it
s back to
you, MISTER. Prep t to please
make a motion, sir.
Thank you, MADAM Vice Mayor.
What? The committee report. And
I do move for a one meeting
deferral.
Okay. It
s properly moved and
seconded. Is there any
discussion on this one meeting?
Deferral of this proposed
amendment to rule 46? Okay.
Seeing none. All in favor of
the one meeting deferral,
please say aye. Aye aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. This will be deferred.
Uh, one meeting to the first
meeting in JUNE. All right. On
then. Next two. Section j, this
is a resolution on public
hearing. It is agenda item one,
resolution 2026, dash 1964.
Sponsor Vo. This is a
resolution exempting Momotaro
middleman and alla vitae
located at 519 Houston Street
or Houston Street from the
minimum distance requirements
for obtaining a beer permits
all rights. MISS Vo, uh, would
you please ask for your
committee report, please?
First, ma
am. Go ahead. I
m
sorry, ma
am. Go ahead.
Thank you. Vice mayor,
Committee reports, please.
For the report of the
Government Operations and
Regulations. Committee chair
Hill, you
re recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Vice Mayor, we
recommended approval. Five in
favor, zero against, zero not
voting.
Okay. All right, now it
s back
to you. Um, MISS Vo, to open
your public hearing, ma
am.
Thank you. Vice mayor. I
d like
to open the public hearing.
Okay. Um, I
m going to declare
the public hearing open. Um, I
will also share that Spanish
interpretation services are
provided for all Metro Council
public hearings. Counsel office
team member Karina Valdez is
here as the interpreter. Uh,
MISS Valdez, will you please
share how you can help if
someone should need it?
Services interpretation in
Espanol is disponibles and
audiencia publica. Gracias.
Okay, gracias. We appreciate
you. I also share whenever we
have a public hearing, even if
it is only one resolution on
that public hearing that for
those wishing to speak this
evening as part of public
hearings, you please do state
your name, but it is not
required for you to provide
your exact address if you do
not wish to do so. Okay. Um,
again, the public hearing is
open. Um, would all members of
the public that are here in
support of this resolution,
please raise your hand? Thank
you. Uh, with all members of
the public here in opposition
to this resolution, please
raise your hand. Seeing no one
here in opposition to the
persons here in support, seek
to be recognized or to speak as
though they are shaking their
head. No. And so with that, I
will declare the public hearing
closed. And it
s back to you
for a motion on your bill.
Thank you, vice Mayor. Move to
approve.
All right. There
s a motion to
approve. Is there a second?
Okay. Is there any discussion
on this resolution? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. All right. Uh, you
have adopted this resolution.
Next is agenda item, or rather,
section k. This is our
consolidated consent agenda.
All resolutions and second and
third reading ordinances on
this agenda are included on the
consent agenda. If recommended
for approval unanimously by all
committees to which the item
was referred. Items on the
consent agenda will be voted on
at a single time. The item
number, along with the
resolution and ordinance number
of the items on the consent
agenda, will be read by me, and
then members of the Council MAY
remove any item from the
consent agenda by request
before the consent agenda vote
is taken. All right. The first
item proposed for the
consolidated consent agenda is
agenda item five. Resolution
2026-1962. Agenda item seven.
Resolution 2026. Dash 1965.
Agenda item eight. Resolution
2026. Dash 1966. Agenda item
nine. Resolution 2026. Dash
1967. Agenda item ten.
Resolution 2026. Dash 1968.
Agenda item 11. Resolution 2020
61969. Agenda item 12.
Resolution 2026. Dash 1970.
Agenda item 13. Resolution
2026. Dash 1971. Agenda item
14. Resolution 2026. Dash 1972.
Agenda item 15. Resolution 2026
1973. Agenda item 16.
Resolution 2026-1974. Agenda
item 17. Resolution 2020 61975.
Agenda item 18. Resolution 2026
1976. Agenda item 19.
Resolution 2020 61977. Agenda
item 20. Resolution 2026-1978.
Agenda item 21. Resolution 2020
61979. Agenda item 22.
Resolution 2026-1980. Agenda
item 23. Resolution 2020 61981.
Agenda item 24. Resolution
2026-1982. Agenda item 25.
Resolution 2026. Dash 1983.
Agenda item 26. Resolution 2020
61984. Agenda item 27.
Resolution 2020 61985. Agenda
item 28. Resolution 2026-1986.
Agenda item 29. Resolution
2026. Dash 1987. Agenda item
30. Resolution 2026. Dash 1988.
Agenda item 31. Resolution
2026. Dash 1989. Agenda item
32. Resolution 2026. Dash 1990.
Agenda. Item 34. Resolution
2026-1992. Agenda item 35.
Resolution 2026-1993. Agenda
item 36. Resolution 2026-1994.
Agenda item 38. Resolution
2026-1996. Agenda item 39.
Resolution 2026-1997. Agenda
item 40. Resolution 2026-1998.
And then last, among the
resolutions proposed for
consent is agenda item 41,
resolution 2026-1999. Now for
bills on second reading
proposed for the consolidated
consent agenda. First among
those is agenda item 57,
ordinance bill 2026-1368.
Agenda item 58 ordinance bl
2026-1369. Agenda item 59.
Ordinance bl 2026-1370. Agenda
item 60. Ordinance bl 2026-1371.
Agenda item 61 ordinance bl
2026-1372. Agenda item 62
ordinance bl 2026-1373. Agenda
item 63 ordinance bl 2026-1374.
Agenda item 64. Ordinance bl
2026-1375. Agenda item 65.
Ordinance bl 2026-1376. Now,
items on third reading proposed
for the consolidated consent
agenda. First among those is
agenda item 66 ordinance bl
2026-1296. Agenda item 67
ordinance bl 2026-1317. Agenda
item 68 ordinance bl 2026-1318.
Agenda item 70. Ordinance bl
2026-1337. Agenda item 71
ordinance bl 2026-1338. Agenda
item 72 ordinance bl 2026-1339.
Agenda item 73 ordinance bl
2026-1340. Agenda item 74.
Ordinance 2026-1341. Agenda
item 75. Ordinance bl 2026-1342.
Agenda item 76 ordinance bl
2026-1343. Agenda item 77.
Ordinance bl 2026-1344. Agenda
item 78. Ordinance bl 2026-1347.
Agenda item 79. Ordinance bl
2026-1348. Agenda item 80.
Ordinance bl 2026-1349. Agenda
item 81 ordinance bl 2026-1350.
Agenda item 82 ordinance bl
2026-1351. Agenda item 83
ordinance bl 2026-1352. Agenda
item 84 ordinance bl 2026-1353.
Agenda item 85 ordinance bl
2026-1354. Agenda item 86
ordinance bl 2026-1357. Agenda
item 87 ordinance bl 2026-1363.
Agenda item 88. Ordinance bl
2026-1364. Agenda item 89 bl 2026-1365. Agenda
item 90. Ordinance bl 2026-1366.
Agenda item 91 ordinance bl
2026-1367. And that is the last
item proposed for the
consolidated consent agenda. Do
any items need to be removed
from the consent if so,
members, please join the queue
to request that. MISS Styles
you are recognized.
Thank you.
Number 39. The first 25th
anniversary.
Okay. MISS Styles
has requested that agenda item
39. Resolution 2026 1997 be
removed from consent. It has
been removed. Council member
tombs, you're recognized. Oh.
I'm sorry. Go ahead, MR. Holmes.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Item number 38.
Okay. MISS
Tombs has requested the removal
of agenda item 38. This is
resolution 2026, 1996, and it
has been removed from consent.
COUNCILWOMAN Suara, you're
recognized. I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Okay. Item number 371995,
please.
Okay.
I'm sorry. That's
a 94. Item number 36.
Okay, so
agenda item 36. MISS Sua has
requested to be removed. That
is resolution 2026-1994. It has
been removed from consent. I
also have a note. Go ahead,
MISS Bo, you're recognized.
Thank you. Vice mayor. Can we
also remove agenda item number
40?
Okay. Agenda item number 40.
This is resolution 2026-1998.
It will be removed from consent.
I do have a note about agenda
item c, perhaps having received
an abstention. Okay. Okay. All
right. So agenda item 88.
Received a no vote in committee.
Okay. That is ordinance bl
2026-1364 sponsors bradford
tombs, horton and hill, and
that will be removed from
consent. Are any other members
seeking to be recognized to
remove an item from the consent
agenda? All right, MR. Clerk,
are all committee reports in
for the items on the consent
agenda?
Yes. All committee
reports are in.
Thank you, MR.
Clerk. Members. Is there a
motion for approval of the
consent agenda? Okay. There is
a motion in a second. All in
favor, please say aye. All
right. Council has passed all
items on the consent agenda. We
will now go back through in
agenda order for items that
were not on consent. First
among those. Among our
resolutions is agenda item two.
That is resolution 2026-1926.
Sponsors tombs, gadd and welch.
This is a resolution accepting
the terms of a cooperative
purchasing master agreement
with for the record limited for
courtroom audio and visual
equipment service and storage
for the state trial courts.
MISS Tombs, you are recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Withdrawal.
Okay. Agenda item
two. Resolution 1926 has been
withdrawn. Next is agenda item
three. Resolution 2026-1954.
Sponsor styles. This is a
resolution expressing a lack of
confidence in the performance
and leadership of electric
power board of the metropolitan
government of nashville and
davidson county for its
failures during winter storm
fern, MISS. Styles, you are
recognized.
thank you.
Committee reports, please.
All
right. First, for the report of
the transportation and
infrastructure committee. Vice
chair ewing, you're recognized.
The transportation
infrastructure committee
originally had a motion to
indefinitely defer. This was
superseded by a motion to amend
the motion to defer one meeting,
nine in favor, zero against
zero not voting.
Okay. So that
was a one meeting deferral. All
right. For the report of the
rules, confirmations and public
elections committee chair cash
recognized.
One meeting
deferral, seven in favor, zero
against. You're not voting.
Okay. So per rule 8.1, that is
a mandatory deferral without
discussion. That item has been
deferred. One meeting to the
first meeting in JUNE. Next is
agenda item four. This is
resolution 2026-1961. Sponsor
tombs, welsh and bradford. A
resolution reducing the local
sales tax on the sale of
groceries. Council member tombs,
you are recognized.
Thank you
MADAM. MADAM Vice mayor, I have
conflicting notes on here, but
I think I have it right.
Committee report, budget and
finance voted to recommend a
two meeting deferral 11 in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
I show to defer to the
second meeting in JUNE to track
with the budget. Okay. Special
counsel is nodding that that is
correct. Okay. We're both i
guess we're both, right. That's
just a different way of saying
the same thing. Okay, okay. Got
it. Okay. Deferring to the
second meeting in JUNE. That
will be on what date? 16 JUNE
the 16th. Okay. And so as not
to create confusion, we do have
that. See, I be meeting in
between there.
So move to defer
to the to the JUNE 16th meeting.
Got it. Is there a second for
that motion? All right. Is
there any discussion on that
motion seeing none. All in
favor please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. This resolution will be
taken up at the meeting o JUNE
16th. Next is agenda item six,
resolution 2026-1963. Sponsor
coupon. This is resolution
approving the fiscal year 2027
central business improvement
district budget and accepting
previous central business
improvement district budgets.
Council member kupin, you are
recognized, sir.
Thank you,
MADAM PRESIDENT. Committee
reports.
For the report of the
budget and finance committee.
Chair, tombs, you're recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor,
budget and finance voted to
recommend a one meeting
deferral 11 in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
All
right, MR. Coupon by rule 8.1.
That is a mandatory deferral of
one meeting without discussion.
Okay. That will be taken up at
the first meeting in JUNE. Okay.
Next is. Agenda item 36,
resolution 2026-1994. Sponsor.
Suara porterfield, vo tombs,
taylor, welch and benedict.
This is a resolution denouncing
the tennessee general assembly
for enacting a redistricting
plan that divides and dilutes
congressional representation of
residents of memphis and shelby
county council member suara,
you are recognized.
Thank you.
Vice mayor. Committee reports,
please.
For the report of the
rules, confirmations and public
elections committee chair.
Cashier recognized.
We voted to
approve six in favor, zero
against. You're not voting.
All
right, back to you, MISS Suara,
for a motion.
I move approval
with a brief comments.
Okay. Go
ahead ma'am.
Thank you, MADAM
Vice mayor. I rise today with a
heavy but determined heart to
speak about what has happened
to the people of tennessee,
particularly the people of
memphis and nashville. Under
the newly drawn republican
redistricting maps in tennessee,
the new republican drawn maps
dilutes the political power of
black voters in memphis and
continues to fracture the
unified voices of nashvillians.
I think it's very important we
we receive an email probably
earlier today about somebody
arguing that this only. It's
it's only about memphis and
that we should focus on on
nashville. And I think it's
important for people to realize
that this does impact nashville
to one, we know whatit feels
like when our congressional
district was divided into.
Three. Instead of having a
office downtown by the library
to go talk to our congressmen,
we don't even know none of our
current people representing
nashville lives in nashville,
so we know what that is like.
But it's not only that, with
this new map, almost everybody
in nashville is some of us. I
know I did my my congressional
map changed, my district
changed. And so this does
impact nashville. And this is
something that as nashvillians,
we should speak up for, but
also, again, diluting black
power, diluting black voters in
memphis is something that I
think we all should speak up
about. These maps were not
drawn to reflect the people
they were drawn to control the
people they were drawn, because
the protections that once
prevented racial gerrymandering
have been stripped away by the
very court entrusted to uphold
them. What we are witnessing is
not simply a political maneuver.
It is a direct attack on the
fundamental promise of american
democracy that every person's
vote should carry equal weight.
Yet in this moment, we should
not feel that this is the end
of the story. We have to
continue to show up. We have to
continue to vote. Black people
in nashville and in tennessee
have never waited for
permission. We have always
organized, we have always MARCH.
And we've always voted through
barriers far greater than on
fair maps. And so, colleagues,
I ask that as we continue to
talk about, I've seen many of
you show up when nash was here,
I've seen you show up for
juneteenth and black
celebration and black history.
But we cannot continue to
celebrate the legacy of john
lewis and nash and the people
that fought for civil rights in
nashville by undermining the
things that they bled for. They
fought for those rights. It's
so sad that everything that
they put their lives on the
line for. When I thought about
MISS Frankie, we're going to
talk about that now. The day
that I found out that she
passed, I'm thinking, I'm glad
some of them are not even
around to see what's going on
to everything that they work
for. So this is not about
partizan. This isn't about
party. This is about democracy.
This is about making sure that
people of memphis and nashville
have the right to pick the
people that they want, and not
what the politicians want. So
with that, again, I renew my
motion and I ask that, yes,
it's already been done.
Somebody will get up and say,
it doesn't matter. They've done
it. Yes, but it does matter
that we tell our people that we
do notaccept it, we do not
think is right and that we
denounce it. Thank you.
Thank
you MISS. Next in the queue is
councilmember porterfield.
MADAM Pro tem, you're
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I stand in support of
this resolution and will ask my
colleagues to also vote in
support of this and consider
signing on as a. Not only am i
a lifelong tennessean, but I'm
originally from memphis, so,
you know, this has a double
impact being from memphis,
seeing the impact on my home
city. As councilmember sawyer
already said, this also impacts
nashville. In my congressional
district change we saw after
the redistricting, our district
was cracked like an egg, and
our solidly democratic district
was. Our voting power was
diluted into three different
districts. So nashville
definitely understands the
impact and the real life
implications of what this looks
like. But I also just wanted to
note that memphis was not a
voting rights act district. And
a lot of people think that that
that this district was drawn
because of the voting rights you go on to the
government website and you look
to see how congressional
districts should be drawn, it
talks about not only population
equality, but it talks about
compactness. And that was a
compact district where black
voting power was consolidated,
because memphis is a
predominantly black city. So
this district was not drawn
because of the voting rights
act. So to to be so haphazardly
enacting after the gutting of
the voting rights act to, to
come so quickly, there's no way
to get meaningful community
engagement. And it was just
very, I can't even say
frustrating because it was
beyond frustrating. It was
beyond infuriating. Instead of
doing things that could help
everyday tennesseans like
ending the grocery tax,
expanding access to abortions
and health care as rural
hospitals close down across our
state, as we don't get our fair
share of dollars for public
education, as we're not
expanding access to affordable
housing, instead of doing the
things to help the people of
tennessee, our state
legislators decided to to bully
and to, to take away or to
attempt to take away and to
dilute the black voting power
in memphis. So this does have
an impact on everyone. We all
should be speaking out about it.
But the last thing that I want
to say is that tennessee is
setting a precedent. Not only
are you seeing this here in
tennessee, you're seeing this
all across the south, but we
should be leading the nation
for good things instead of
leading the nation as on the
race to the bottom. And that's
what we're seeing right now.
But we're also setting a
precedent when it comes to
speaking up, speaking out, and
resisting. And we're seeing
other states following that and
looking at what the people in
tennessee did. And the people
showed up and made sure that
their voices were heard. We're
going to keep showing up. We're
also going to show up at the
polls. So this is just a
reminder that everyone needs to
check their voter registration
status. And we will see what
happens at the midterms. Thank
you.
Thank you. Next,
councilmember. You're
recognized sir.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor, I rise in
support of this legislation and
thank the sponsor for bringing
it in. Reflecting on the events
of the special session, I was
struck by the way that it it
affected me because ican
recall in 2017, 2018, when I
was in law school, whenever
during the first trump
administration, whenever he he
made a comment about nations
like the one that my family is
from part of the language,
calling them nations. And I
distinctly remember feeling as
if these institutions and this
country that I have invested
myself in don't care about
people with faces like mine.
And that's the exact feeling
that I had while up at the
state legislature during the
special session. What this is
what the what the tennessee
general assembly did is nothing
short of state sponsored racism
and diluting the power and
saying to people with faces
like mine, you don't belong in
this state. Your voice doesn't
matter and we don't care. To
the to the, to the people who,
who genuinely believe that. I
say to you that african
americans in this country have
outlasted every single system
of oppression that this country
has ever thought of, and we are
not going anywhere. We are
going to continue this fight
despite the fact that at every
turn in history, african
americans have fought and died
to make this country better.
But we are hated for it. We are
going to continue because we
know that the arc of justice,
that the arc of history always
bends towards the righteous. We
are righteous in this fight. We
are not going to end. We are
not going to stop. We're going
to continue to stand up for the
rights of every single
tennessean, regardless of what
anybody says. Thank you.
Thank
you. MR. Next is COUNCILMAN
Copen. You're recognized, sir.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT. I
rise in support of this
resolution and in condemning
what happened here. This is a
dereliction of duty. This is
anti-democratic. It was racist.
And as my colleague said, it is
ablack and brown voices in our
state. There are republicans I
have spoken to who also know
better and knew it was wrong
and still went on with it. And
that's that's terrifying to me.
This is this is crossed so many
lines. And I never thought that
I would see elected officials
stand on an on a floor and
remark that, well, it's not
racist. We're just doing this.
So we get the result of the
election. We want we want more
republicans. That, to me is
that's not democracy changing
the rules in the middle of an
election, mid election, mid
cycle saying, you know, we
don't like the way this is
going. We're going to change it
to get a different result.
That's what happens in a
dictatorship. That's what
happens in authoritarian
governments. That's not
democracy. People that are
doing this know better. They
should know better. It has no
place here. We will continue to
fight back. There are five
congressional districts now
within 45 minutes of nashville,
so it's not over. NOVEMBER is a
long way away. I hope people
will join me in knocking doors
and making calls and getting
the vote out. You know, they
have they MAY have won this
battle, but we'll win the war.
Thanks.
Thank you. Next council
member ewing, you're recognized,
ma'am.
Thank you. As as just
one voice of of one white
person. I just want to say that
we we have to gather ourselves
and and not make this a fight.
And. And something that only
the black and brown communities
have to fight. This is the
fight. This is the fight of
everyone who believes in
democracy, everyone who is
against racism, everyone who
believes in good over evil.
Because what we saw was not
just wrong, it was evil. And if
anyone has any doubt that this
wasn't about racism, just look
at what happened. The first
amendment, that the reason we
have the first amendment is to
guarantee the right to free
speech. That is what those of
us who showed up at the capitol,
at cordell hall and the capitol
building, that is what we were
doing. It is enshrined in our
constitution. We all took an
oath to support that
constitution and in retribution
for that action, the pictures
and the profiles of those
legislators, those professional
people who were doing their job
and defending their
constitution, were taken off of
the website. It's an outrage
and we all be offended.
We should all be standing up.
We should all be shouting out
and not letting this go. This
is all of our fight, and we
have to fight it and keep going
until it's won.
Thank you, MISS
Ewing. Next council member
cortez, you recognized, sir.
Thank you, vice mayor. The
tennessee gop supermajority is
the clearest example of what
happens when power is protected
and accountability is destroyed.
Extreme gerrymandering is not
just a political issue. It is
an economic weapon used against
working people. When
politicians pick their voters,
instead of voters picking thir
politicians, government stops
serving the people and starts
serving itself. A government
unaccountable to voters will
fail. Tennesseans of every
party. Every time. My heart
breaks for memphis, because
this is not leadership. It is
the destruction of protections
that lifted communities up. Now
voices are being silenced and
representation is being
stripped away to protect the
comfort of the political class.
These politicians do not govern.
They protect their position,
serve their donors, and send
the bill to working families
who can no longer afford
groceries, rent, a doctor's
visit or a full tank of gas.
You cannot gerrymander your way
out of $5 eggs. You cannot
gerrymander your way out of a
broken health care system, and
you cannot gerrymander your way
past voters who are tired of
being lied to. This ends when
voters decide it ends, and new
leaders are rising. Leaders who
cannot be bought, cannot be
controlled, and are not afraid
to take the fight straight to fund this
horrendous behavior.
thank you,
councilmember suara. You seek
to be recognized.
Vice mayor, I
just want to echo what
councilmember murphy said and
ask if we're not going to do
the 12.3, but I hope that
everyone will consider emailing
the clerk to add their name.
When we talk about the heroes
of tennessee. As a student of
the movement, I talk about the
civil rights movement, but we
also talk about the story of
tennessee giving women the
right to vote. And one of those
heroes of that story, sarah
vaughan, was a republican who
changed his votes at the last
minute to be able to give women
the right to vote. So it does
not matter what party you
belong on or belong to. It's
about doing what is right. And
this is morally right, and I
hope everyone in this room will
consider thinking about the
impact of this and adding their
name to the legislation. Thank
you.
All right. Seeing no
further discussion, we will
move to the vote to MISS Suarez
point. Any member MAY, in the
course of a meeting, email
metro clerk@nashville.Gov. If
they want to be added as a
sponsor to any legislation. All
in favor of this resolution,
please say aye. Any voting no.
Any abstaining? Okay. MISS Webb,
you will be recorded as an
abstention. All right. You have
adopted this resolution. Next
is item 37, resolution
2026-1995. Sponsors alan gadd,
ewing. Benedict. Greg. Cap.
Coupon, evans, cash. Welsh.
Evans. Evans, siegel, truffle,
nash and suara. This is a
resolution urging nashville
electric service and the
electric power board to
implement a temporary
moratorium on recently
announced vegetation management
changes. MISS Allen, you are
recognized. Thank you, MADAM
Chair. Committee reports,
please, for the report of the
rules, confirmations and public
elections committee chair.
Cashier recognized.
We voted
six in favor, zero against and
one not voting.
Okay. All right,
back to you for a motion. Thank
you, MADAM Chair. I'd like to
move approval with a brief
explanation. Okay. Go ahead.
Thank you. So this this
resolution simply acknowledges
that utilities are important to
nashville and that while
electricity is one utility, our
tree canopy is also another
utility that it provides
habitat for wildlife storm
water retention. It reduces the
heat island effect. It
increases our property values.
And we also know that during
the winter storm, a lot of it
fell apart and put us out of
electricity. So we all
understand the need to to
respond to what didn't work
during the storm and make
changes. But there are a number
of neighborhoods that have been
affected by the very aggressive
tree trimming policy that has
been adopted subsequent to that.
And this does not ask any s to
stop trimming or to slow down
trimming. It simply asks for an
opportunity to re look at the
changes that have been made in
the trimming policy, and to
give council members an
opportunity to learn more about
the data behind those changes,
and to ensure that each of
those changes is relevant and
is going to have an effect on
ensuring that our electricity
stays on. So this is again, I
just want to emphasize we are
not asking them to slow down
the trimming. We understand
that we don't want another
outage like we had before, but
we do want the opportunity to
understand better why these
changes have been made, and
perhaps to make some changes to
the way that that has been done.
So with that, I would ask my
thank my fellow sponsors for
this and ask for approval.
All
right. There's a motion to
approve. It's properly seconded are on to discussion.
First in the queue is council
member nash. Recognize, sir.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT. I
ever since this storm occurred,
I've been kind of taken aback a
little bit by the, I think,
some kind of excessive response.
I thought he deserved a lot
more grace than it was getting.
And I understand that if you
were without power for five
days. But this was a perfect
storm, far in excess of
anything we'd had before. Not
only did we have the ice storm
that broke trees and poles, we
had the followed by days of of
subfreezing weather. So I get
people's. Anger and concern
over it. But for every action
there is an equal and opposite
reaction. And I think maybe any
s response to what I thought
was a bit of excessive concern
and criticism of any s has
resulted now in taking the most
aggressive amount of tree
trimming strategy for tree
trimming. I know at my house
every three years there was a
little green dot on my silver
maple tree and s was coming
around and they were clearing
the line, but above that
clearing 15ft or so, there was
another branch that was over
there. Now, fortunately it
didn't fall, but other places
did. We had whole trees that
fell down. And I. I'm not
critical of any s, but I do
think that we maybe want to
look at that and, and see if
this is the appropriate
reaction to our public's action.
And I support this bill.
All
right. Next in the queue is
councilmember. You're
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
PRESIDENT. I also rise in
support of this resolution.
Appreciate my colleague for
bringing it. And I do
appreciate any s quickly
continuing to respond to our
concerns and coming to council
and having special meetings and
making changes. But I do think
that we need to not stop, but
pause our efforts here and make
sure that that we understand
what absolutely does need to be
cut back, but preserve as much
of the tree canopy as we can.
I've also had residents who
have shared that they wish that
they knew, because now they're
left with a half cut tree, with
the majority of it now leaning
towards their home. And now
they are afraid that during a
windstorm, that tree MAY fall
onto their home, which
previously it was not going to
do, and they don't have the
time or the resources right now
to then cut the other side of
that tree. So again,
communication, collaboration
really important. I appreciate
the opportunity to slow down
and, you know, hopefully have
us look at this and look at the
policies and make changes
accordingly. So stand in
support and appreciate my
colleague for bringing it.
All
right. Thank you. Next in the
queue is council member
benedict. You are recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor. So
I was one of the first ones on
this body to introduce
legislation regarding any s
response to storm fern. And I'm
I'm I'm a co-sponsor of this
bill because our this
resolution, rather because this
is good policy. I've deferred
mine out. We've watched others
come before us and also get
deferred. This is one that I
think is collaborative. It is
not accusatory. It is taking
the approach of, you know,
let's let's be more strategic
in how we're doing this. I've
asked for that. And what we're
getting in response oftentimes
is being told instead of being
engaged with, here's a memo,
here's information, this is
what we're doing rather than,
hey, this is what we're doing.
Do you think we should change
anything? Hey, this is what
we're doing and we'd love your
input. Hey, this is what we're
doing. And since there's
districts and 40 council
members, maybe you could
collaborate with us to push
this information out and that
communication. And I hope that
that as the board looks at this
and a potential moratorium,
they are looking at how we can
help as a body communicate with
with my 20,000 constituents,
they have hundreds of thousands
of customers that they're
trying to reach. I have 20,000
constituents who look to me,
and you do too, who look to you
to get information to them for
more strategic and, in my
opinion, responsible response
from, you know, our power
company. And I think that, you
know, again, this resolution
strikes the right balance, in
my opinion, to let the the
board know that, you know, we
need that type of communication
and engagement and your
customers deserve it. My
constituents deserve it. And so
I hope that that message comes
across as collaboration rather
than telling pointing fingers
or being told, here's a memo,
right? Like it's great to
receive information, but when
you just throw information at
me, that's not as helpful as
when we sit down and have a
conversation together and say,
this is going to be the
approach. Council member
benedict, can you help
communicate this out? Or
council member benedict, is
there anything we could be
doing differently that would
help you and your constituents
in northern inglewood in
particular, but in madison as
well? We have a tree canopy
that was severely impacted by
storm fern, and we're seeing a
severe response. And, you know,
there's pictures all over the
internet that I as I drive
through my neighborhood, that
is what I see as well. So we,
we could be doing better. I
think we just need some more
collaboration. And I hope this
comes through loud and clear.
Thank you.
Thank you. Next is
council member cash recognized
sir.
Thank you chair. Yeah. The
and yes, it's been in my
district a lot the last month
cutting trees and I've gotten a
lot of responses to it. I am I
get that we have some trimming
to do that we need some you
know, we we need to protect our
wires. I, you know, I still
maintain that trees are a, an
infrastructure in positive ways.
And we need to we need part of
why we need a pause is because
we need to look at this
holistically and, you know,
make sure that we're
remembering all the ways that
trees are helpful, you know,
environmentally stormwater wise.
And I agree with council member
benedict, a lot of this has to
do with communication in a
number of different ways. Like
first, I, you know, when I've
been getting feedback and
concerns from my constituents
and then I, some of them, some
of them I get are just like, oh,
I don't, I don't want this to
happen to my tree. Some of them
are. There's a disconnect
between the crews on the ground
and any s leadership and what
their policies are. And not all
there's we not all the folks on
the ground understand the rules.
I had a constituent that had
little bushes cut down. They
were in within the 15 foot
right of way, but they were not
going to grow anywhere near
those wires. But they were cut
down because they were told 15
everything in the 15ft. And
there's just so there's
communication between the
leadership who understands the
and creators of the policies
and those doing the work on the
ground, some of many of whom
are from out of town. I think
it is their trees going down
with little notice. They're
they're the the notification. I
think it's getting better, but
the notificationhasn't been
there. You know, when we had
google fiber going all around
the city, they had not made
them do door to door
notifications seven days before
they were going to do the work.
And if and I know that if if
mndot, if we told mndot, nope,
they did not notify seven days
before they started the work
and that would start that clock
all over again. We need better
notification. People need to be
able to know what's going on,
be able to talk if it's a
serious situation in terms of,
you know, how it's going to the
level, it's going to impact the
tree. They need the opportunity.
Customers need the opportunity
to talk to them about it, have
an opportunity to reach out to
an arborist. And I, we're
getting lots of stuff and these
are complicated. I am not an
arborist and I can't answer
some of these questions or know
what's right and wrong, so we
just need to pause so that we
can all figure this out so that,
yes, there is proactive
communication, not reactive
communication. There is still
plenty of work to do out there
to trim these trees, and going
by the old rules will will help
for some time now. So I really
do wish that they could pause
while we make these, while we
understand and make, hopefully
make some changes to them.
Thank you. All right. Next in
the queue is council member gad.
You are recognized ma'am.
Thank
you so much. I rise in support
of the resolution today.
Clearly a co-sponsor and
appreciate the the lead sponsor
for bringing this and the
incredible groups that have
reached out with incredible
concern. So thank you to many
of my constituents as well. I
know my district is not alone
or unique, but I do stand and
represent it about the
incredible impact of the storm,
the ice storm and the
destruction of the tree canopy.
And really what also happened
is many in my district were
among some of the longest
without power. And that has a
lot to do with the lines that
were down and the impact from
the ice storm on the tree
canopy. So with that,
constituents are also holding.
At the same time, the response,
the over response,
understanding of what remains
as of our tree canopy needing
to be incredibly and
respectfully addressed by nes.
So, you know, the request here
is very simple. It's to pause
the blanket application of the
15 foot clearance rule that's
being applied to every tree of
every species and every
neighborhood, regardless of
whether that tree poses any
meaningful risk to the power
grid. What we are asking and
what I'm asking is this tree,
our trees, like the living
biological systems they are,
because here's what the science
actually tells us, and what
utilities across the country
are all already know. Not all
trees are alike. Not a willow
tree grows fast and fails
readily, and oak grows slowly
and holds a bradford pear has
weak branch unions. A bald
cypress is structurally sound.
These are not opinions. They
are biological facts. And they
matter. When you're making
pruning decisions. Now, am I
arborist? Have I known this? No.
But over the last several weeks
and months, I've learned a
whole lot. And it's not taken
me a whole lot of time to learn
that. For example, seattle city
light, they know this. They set
different clearance for slow
growing versus fast growing
species. Utilities in texas,
ohio, arkansas, florida, and
yes, part of our own region all
incorporate species
characteristics into the
vegetation vegetation
management. The point here is
there's collaboration to be had
better communication, which is
what we have all been crying
for for a long time on lots of
different aspects of us. So
thank you for hearing. Please
pause. Please do the right work.
Reach out to any of us on this
floor to talk about what
collaboration is, and we'll be
happy to to follow up. Thank
you.
Thank you. Council member.
Next is council member jennifer
gamble. You're recognized.
thank you, vice mayor. I my
area, as many of you know, was
hit very hard by storm fern. A
lot of the damage that we had
came from trees that were not
cut back. And there are a lot
of trees in our area. In fact,
during the post fern
discussions with nez, I talked
about a resident senior who I
helped tried to help three days
before the storm get limbs that
were hanging over nez line
cut and it didn't happen. And
of course, then the storm
happened. She was out of her
house ten extra days longer
than everyone else because of
that. So I do appreciate and
and understand that we do need
pruning. However, I do support
the bill today because I feel
like there needs to be more
discussion. We need more data
to make informed decisions
about how the trees should be
pruned and cut. And I think
that hasn't been done. I mean,
just like the report that we're
waiting for, I guess there's a
meeting on JUNE 11th to talk
about what what happened during
the storm, what were the
shortcomings? What were the
gaps? Before we make any
decisions on accountability, we
need that same effort in this
respect as well. And so I
support this notion of a
temporary moratorium so
can look at what is the best
process or best way to go about
addressing the tree trimming so
that we don't have a disaster
like we did a few months ago.
Thank you.
Thank you. Okay.
Anyone else in the queue? All
righty. We will then move to
the vote. Seeing no further
discussion. All in favor of
this resolution, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining?
Okay. MISS Webb, you're an
abstention. Okay, MR. Benton,
you're abstention. Okay.
Council has adopted this
resolution. Next is agenda item
38. Resolution 2026-1996.
Sponsors tombs, suarez, spain.
Coop and cap. Porterfield.
Taylor. Vo. Hoffman. Evans.
Stiles. Benedict. Evans. Siegel.
Ewing. Welch. Gamble. Weiner,
nash and gad. This is a
resolution honoring the life
and legacy of frankie mae
keeling, henry, civil rights
activist, freedom writer,
educator, and beloved
nashvillian councilmember tombs.
You're recognized, ma'am.
Thank
you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Committee report.
For the
report of the rules,
confirmations and public
elections. Committee chair.
Cash. 1990 1996 regarding
frankie mae keeling. Henry.
We
approved six in favor, zero
against. You're not voting.
All
right. Back to you, MISS Tombs.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Move for approval with a brief
comment.
Okay. Go ahead ma'am.
So I am going to invoke rule
12.3 because I believe that the
life of MISS Frankie mae
keeling henry deserves that.
Okay. We've got a motion to
approve with rule 12.3 applied,
such that all those voting in
the affirmative will be listed
as co-sponsors. Properly
seconded. Go ahead.
as a young
student at tennessee state
university, MISS Kealan henry
got involved in the sit ins in
the 1960s. She was burned with
cigarettes. She was physically
assaulted. She was arrested and
spent two weeks in jail because
she was involved in the
movement. Her grades suffered.
She had to leave school. So she
made a tremendous sacrifice of
herself for the betterment of
everyone. And as we think about
the times that we're living in
now with the gutting of the
voting rights act, and we those
rights that folks like MISS
Henry fought for are being
diluted and destroyed. So I
think it is fitting to to
recognize her life. Her
services are actually this
saturday. And as a council, we
should stand together and honor
her and the work that she and
others have done for us. I'm
going to schedule a a more
formal presentation at a later
date. Her family is interested
in that, and they can come and
receive our condolences and,
and our honor of of MISS Henry.
So I renew my motion as well as
that invocation of 12.3.
All
righty. Thank you for those
words. We will now go on to
discussion. MISS Suara, you are
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. And I want to thank the
sponsor for this resolution nd
honoring a pioneer, an amazing
individual. Often when we talk
about the story of the movement,
we talk about the guys a lot.
But there are so many women
that were involved, and one of
them was MISS Frankie, and she
would never stop telling you
the story about the cigarette
burn on her hand, and she will
show you all of that. She
dresses so well. She was a
teacher. She did so much. Even
after that. MISS Frankie's
family will tell you how.
Because of her bravery. Because
she had the courage to to stand
up and to be arrested and to
sit so we can all stand. She
was expelled. She was not able
to finish her degree in time.
It took her a long time to be
even able to get her first
degree. One of the things I
love about MISS Frankie's story
was that actually, when they
got arrested and she was in
jail, her family were able to
bail her out and they'd come to
get out of jail. And she was
like, no, I'm not going until
we all we all out. And so
there's so many stories of
bravery in the movement. And
when you think about it, one of
the reason why it's part of my
priority to continue to talk
about these people and honor
them is because I know without
what they did, I would not be
standing here. We MAY still be
at the back of the bus. We MAY
still be drinking from a
different fountain. But what
they did was not just for the
african american community, was
for all of us as a society. It
made us better. It made us to
be able to recognize our
humanity, none of us, and the
contributions that everybody
has done to make this city well.
It made nashville the first
city in the south to be able to
desegregate the lunch counter.
And if they did not do that,
GOD knows what will happen. And
so nashville is better for it.
Our country is better for it.
And like MISS Riley said, it's
very, very sad to see that
people that actually put their
lives, these people have to
write their will before they
actually go out, because some
of them did not know they were
going to come back. You need to
read those stories of their
courage, of all that they did
for all of us to be here, and
for all of us not to be able to
take that for granted. So I had
the pleasure of getting to know
MISS Frankie. I'm so grateful
that this city gave all of them
a key to the city. In our first
term, we were able to honor
them with lifting up their
names. We're doing things to
honor them. I think many people
did not know about frankie or
nash or lawson until we did the
street naming, and I'm so glad
that we're learning and we're
talking about them, and we
continue to honor them for what
they did. It's it's an
encouragement to me as I read
their story, especially in
times like this, that if they
did what they did, if they
could stand at that time, then
I'm moved to do the same thing
during my time. So, so much to
say about MISS Frankie and all
-
of them. She did a time she
made the world better. Her
legacy is great. I hope that
all of us, our time comes,
our legacy is as good as that.
And so with that, I move again
for your approval. And I
support this. Thank you.
Thank
you, MISS Suara. Discussion
continues. Next in the queue is
council member oogan. Go ahead
sir.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I got to meet MISS Frankie on
one of the john lewis marches.
And, you know, there's there's
a few moments in my life I'll
never forget. And this was one
of them when we were chatting
and she was talking about what
she had done and who she, who
she had been and how she
impacted us. And she turned
over her arm and she showed me
the cigarette burn. She showed
me the scar on her arm that she
still carried from when someone
burned her arm with a, with a
lit cigarette. And it just, it
grounded for me the fight and
it grounded for me. This
movement that we're still going
through, we're walking
backwards and trying to fight
forwards. And so I just had to
rise and say that I'll MISS,
MISS, MISS Frankie terribly.
She had a huge impact on
history and also a deep impact
on my own personal life. And
I'll carry her her memory
forward. Thank you.
Thank you,
MR. Cuban. Next council member.
Glad you recognized.
Thank you
so much. And thank you to my
colleagues for bringing this
forward and for making sure we
enshrine the memory here. I
just felt like I can't only
speak about trees tonight and
not take a moment to. Even
though I didn't rise to speak
in our resolution that was
presented condemning the acts
of the state against black
people and voters and
disenfranchizing black voters.
I felt like it was necessary to
say thank you to all the black
leaders. I'm standing here
because honestly, because of
the work you've also done. It
is no secret that women's
rights have come through
because we have access, because
of the work and the labor of
black women and people of color
and black men, and their
incredible sacrifice. MISS
Frankie is one of those
incredible leaders. And. As we
honor her passing and in the
last couple of weeks, seeing
racism rise so boldly and speak
so plainly. I hope we won't
forget that the the two are are
absolutely connected. The goal
of the legislative actions at
the state is to erase people
like MISS Frankie, MISS Frankie.
It's to ensure that those
voices are not heard. And so
while she had the scar, the
scar on the outside, that she
was able to demonstrate the
scars internally for so many
here, probably in this chamber
as well, that we MAY not see
exist. And I know I have every
obligation to to rise up and
speak. So thank you for this
legacy, COUNCILWOMAN Tombs,
thank you so much for making
sure that we take this moment
here. And thank you to my
colleagues for constantly
speaking up and speaking truth.
Thank you.
Thank you, MISS Gad.
Next is council member
porterfield. MADAM Pro tem,
you're recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor. I rise in support
of this resolution. Thank you
for everyone who. Thank you to
councilmember tombs for
bringing it. And thank you to
everyone that signed on.
Something that I just really
want to contextualize for us is
that MISS Frankie kneeland
henry was a 19 year old
freshman at the tennessee state
university when she
participated in the second wave
of the freedom riders. And to
put this in perspective, when
the us government called diane
nash about the freedom riders
and said that someone was going
to get killed as a council
member, saw alluded to, MISS
Nash said, sir, you should know.
We all signed our last wills
and testaments last night
before they left. We know
someone will be killed, but we
cannot let violence overcome
nonviolence. And these were the
actions of 19 year olds and 20
year olds that put their bodies
on the line, that signed their
last wills and testaments to
fight for the dignity and the
equality of all people. And
this was one of our leaders who
did that. So, you know, a lot
of times when we think about
what happened with the civil
rights movement, we think about
it as so far removed as it was
so many generations ago. But
these are the people that are
still with us today.
Councilmember sawyer has talked
about, you know, we're losing
some of those leaders. So we
definitely want to give people
their flowers while they're
still here. And we were very
honored to be able to
acknowledge those civil rights
leaders with the key to the
city. A few years ago, when we
did some symbolic things to
honor those leaders. But again,
I just really wanted to
reiterate that, that these were
19 and 20 year olds and just
how forward thinking she had to
have been, and how bold and
brave to be a child, and to put
your body on the line, to try
to change this country and to
believe in the concepts of
democracy to that extent that
you're willing to put your body
on the line. And a lot of
people now, or a lot of people
now, say what they would have
done if they were around during
that time. And we keep saying,
like, what are you doing now?
We saw what she did and we
honor her for what she did.
Thank you. All right. With no
further discussion, we will
move to the vote. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting? No.
Any abstaining? All right.
Council has adopted this
resolution. Next is agenda item
39, resolution 2026-1997.
Sponsor styles, cooper, welsh
and bradford. This is
resolution recognizing the
first art museum on the
occasion of its 25th
anniversary. Councilmember
styles is no longer with us.
MR. Cooper, you're the next
sponsor. It's in your district,
sir. Anything you want to say
or we can just move to a vote,
okay? All right. Is there any
discussion? I guess we need a
committee report, though,
having it having been taken off.
So, MR. Cooper, you're
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
PRESIDENT. Committee reports.
Okay, chair. Cash.
We voted six
in favor. Zero against zero.
Not voting.
All right, back to
you for a motion, MR. Cooper.
Thank you, PRESIDENT.
Move approval.
Okay. Is there
any discussion? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining?
Okay. Council has adopted this
resolution as well. Next is
agenda item 40. Resolution
2026-1998. Sponsors vo styles,
suarez, nash, greg. Allen,
koopman. Hoffman, wiener.
Johnston, GOD, cap, ewing,
welch and bradford. This
resolution, recognizing MAY
2026 as older americans month
in nashville and davidson
county and recognizing 50
forward for its 70th
anniversary. Councilmember.
You're recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Committee report.
For the report of the rules,
confirmations and public
elections. Committee chair.
Cash recognized.
We voted six
in favor, zero against zero not
voting.
Okay, back to you for a
motion, MISS Beth.
Thank you.
Can I move to approve with a
brief comment?
Yeah. Go ahead
ma'am.
Thank you. It's an honor
for our chamber to celebrate
older americans month and
recognize the 70th anniversary
of 5470 years ago. This
organization was founded in
1956 as a program for active
seniors at the 54 knowles
center and has become the
premier nonprofit serving older
adults in middle tennessee,
serving over 20,000 seniors,
children, and families. And
their work reminds us that
aging is not something to fear.
It's something to honor older
americans month is important
because it gives us the
opportunity to recognize the
generations who have built our
neighborhoods, raise families,
served our country, strengthen
our communities, and pave the
way for all of us. In case you
don't know, in tennessee, the
population will be 25% older
adults by 2030. Older adults
are not just part of
nashville's story, they are the
foundation of it. So I just
want to take this moment to let
every older nashvillian know
that they are valued here in
our city, that they belong here,
and that their wisdom,
experience, and contributions
to shaping our future and our
city are acknowledged and
valued. So I just want to thank
sally and 54 for 70 years of
leadership, compassion and
service. T was really great to
be able to celebrate with them
last week and MAY, MAY we just
celebrate happy older americans
month and congratulate 54 on 70
remarkable years, which is
their platinum year. Thank you.
Thank you, MISS Bo. All right.
There is a motion to approve.
It's properly seconded. We're
on to discussion of. Next in
the queue is council member
bradford. You're recognized sir.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Just rising in support of this.
And to let my colleagues know
to be on the lookout for next
spring and to dote on the
amazing ladies at 54 donelson
station, who every spring put
on one of the best fashion
shows in the state of tennessee.
I've never seen more vivacious
or fashionable women in my
entire life, so I. So please
make plans to come out next
spring to donelson station for
their fashion show.
Thank you,
MR. Bradford. Next in the queue
is council member nash. You're
recognized sir.
Thank you,
MADAM PRESIDENT. As the oldest
member of this council, I would
like to say thank you to you
all for recognizing. And I, I,
I vivacious older women to.
Your spouse first among them,
I'm sure. Okay, next council
member ellis, you're recognized,
ma'am.
Thank you, MADAM
PRESIDENT. I rise in support of
this resolution, but I also
wanted to bring to the surface,
as council member suara has
stated during the announcements
period on this coming saturday,
we are having a legacy planning
event which is for older adults,
and it's also for people of any
age helping them protect their
assets. And also it's a service
that united way has partnered
with metro government for. And
so I would invite you all out
and all the wonderful ladies at
at 50 forward to get free one
on one consultations about end
of life documents and power of
attorney's information, and
also want to lift up that will
be having a panel discussion
with council members were
talking about the importance of
protecting your assets and
staving off gentrification,
which is, as we know, davidson
county, the the highest rated.
Thank you, MISS Ellis. All
right. I'm seeing no one else
seeking discussion will move to
the vote. All in favor of this
resolution, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? All
right. Council has adopted this
resolution. All right. Next
let's see for bills on
introduction and first reading.
Section m by rule, all items on
first reading shall be voted on
at the same time, unless
requested otherwise by primary
sponsor or by two other members.
Do any items need to be removed
from the collective first
reading vote? Council member
kimble, you're recognized,
ma'am.
Thank you. Vice mayor.
I'd like to remove item 52.
Okay. Item 52 will be removed.
Do any other members. Seek to
be recognized? All right.
Seeing none, is there a motion
for approval of all the items
remaining on first
consideration? Okay. Properly
moved and seconded. Without
objection, you have approved
all items on first reading with
the exception of agenda item 52.
Sponsor kimbrough. This is
ordinance bl 2026-1387. An
ordinance to amend title 17 of
the metro code of laws. The
zoning ordinance of metro
government by changing from our.
S ten to our ten zoning for
property located at 1616 ashton
avenue, approximately 540ft
west of hydes ferry road. This
is 0.37 acres. MISS Kimbrough,
you're recognized.
I'd like to
refer this to planning.
Okay.
So you would like maybe a
motion to approve on first with
a re referral to the planning
commission?
Yes.
Okay. Is there
a second for that motion? Okay.
Is there any discussion on that
motion seeing none. All in
favor please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. This has passed its
first reading and will be
referred to the planning
commission. All right. Next is
agenda item or rather section n.
This is a late bill sponsor
coupon. This is an ordinance to
provide for the designation of
public property within
specified areas of downtown
nashville as a temporary
special event zone during the
time period beginning at 6 P.M.
On JULY 2nd, 2026 and ending at
11:59 P.M.
On JULY 5th, 2026,
relative to the use of these
areas in conjunction with the
2026 JULY 4th celebration and
related activities and events,
council member koopman, your
recognized sir. You'll need to
suspend the rules given the
late nature.
Thank you, MR.
PRESIDENT. I'd like to move to
suspend the rules.
Okay. There
is a request to to suspend the
rules. Is there any objection?
Seeing none. But also, MR. Cash,
I need to get your report, sir.
Yep. We discussed the late
nature of the bill, and we
voted 5 to 0 zero that we
should be properly permitted
for independence day before
JULY 4th.
Okay. Having heard
the report of chair cash now,
is there any objection to the
suspension of the rules to get
this bill before us? Seeing
none, the rules are suspended.
So, COUNCILMAN Koopman, you're
recognized for a motion.
Thank
you, MADAM PRESIDENT. I move
approval, please.
Okay. Is
there a second? All right. Is
there any discussion on this
ordinance? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? Okay.
All right. So this has passed.
MR. Its first of three readings.
Okay. All right. This is passed
its first reading. All right.
So next are bills on second
reading section o of your
agenda. Agenda item 55
ordinance bl 2026-1356.
Sponsors tombs, evans, siegel
and benton. This is an
ordinance amending chapter
2.24.1, or rather, 225 of the
metro code of laws to modify
appraisal requirements for
certain real estate
acquisitions made by the
nashville department of
transportation. Multimodal
infrastructure, also known as
mndot, and for. Choose how you
move projects, MISS Tombs
budget and finance chair, you
are recognized.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor. Committee
report. Budget and finance
voted to recommend a one
meeting deferral 11 in favor,
zero against zero not voting.
All right. And for the report
of the transportation and
infrastructure committee, vice
chair ewing, you're recognized.
Transportation infrastructure
committee also voted. 9 in 9 in
favor, zero against zero. Not
voting to defer one meeting.
all right. Rule 8.1 will apply
such that that is a mandatory
deferral without discussion.
This will be back on second
reading at the first meeting in
JUNE. All right. Next is agenda
item 56. Ordinance bl 2026-1662.
Sponsors allen, ellis, evans,
siegel, spain, suara and
hoffman. This is an ordinance
requiring an annual review and
an annual presentation to the
budget and finance committee of
the metro council from all
boards, commissions,
departments and authorities
offering tax abatement
incentives. MISS Allen, you are
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
PRESIDENT. Committee reports.
Please, for the report of the
budget and finance committee.
Chair, tombs.
Budget and
finance voted to recommend a
deferral to the JULY 6th
meeting. 11 in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
All
right. I believe it is, in fact,
the JULY 7th meeting. Is that
right? Okay, so the first
meeting in JULY is, in fact, on
JULY 7th. Okay. Okay. With that
report in, it's back to you,
MISS Allen. First for a motion
to get the bill before us.
Please. MADAM Chair, I would
like to move for deferral with
a brief explanation.
Okay. All
right. There is a motion to
defer to the first meeting in
JULY. It's properly seconded.
Go ahead, ma'am.
Thank you. If
I take a point of privilege,
since you mentioned bike month,
I just wanted to point out that
i've gotten bike bingo into
challenge all my fellow council
members to try to fill out your
bike bingo. Card while the
month still upon us. So
anyway, lots of fun in the tour
to now back to the business. I
have been working with a number
of different departments and
have a few more amendments that
I will probably want to add to
this, so I would like to ask
for deferral to the JULY 7th
meeting, please.
All right. Is
there any discussion on that
motion to defer? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say
any voting no or abstaining?
All right. This will be
deferred to the first meeting
in JULY. Okay. That concludes
our second reading items. Next
is a section p bills on third
reading that were not on
consent. That next one. And
also the last one. Not quite.
All right. Second to last one.
Agenda item 69, ordinance bill
2026-1326. Sponsors coogan and
evans. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws zoning ordinance. The
metro government to clarify the
entitlements of properties
which are adjacent or within
rail corridors within 17.37 the
downtown code, all of which is
described here in MISTER Coupon.
You are recognized, sir.
Thank
you, MADAM PRESIDENT. Committee.
No. Committee reports. No.
Sorry.
Yes. You will need a
committee report to planning
and zoning for the report of
the planning zoning committee.
Chair horton recognized.
Thank
you. Vice mayor. Planning and
zoning voted in favor of the
amendment. Ten in favor. Zero
against zero not voting. And we
voted in favor of the bill, as
amended. Ten in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
All
righty. So it's back to you,
MR. Coogan. First for a motion
to get the bill before us. Okay.
Is there a second? Okay. Go
ahead.
Sir, move the amendment,
please.
All right. Is there a
second on the motion to amend?
Okay. Anything you want to say
on the amendment, sir? Okay.
Any discussion on the motion to
amend? Seeing none. All in
favor of the amendment, please
say I. Any voting? No or
abstaining? Okay. If you renew
your motion.
As amended, please.
All right. Is there a second?
Any discussion on that? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. All right. This is
passed its third and final
reading, as amended. Okay. Last
item on our agenda is agenda
item 88. Ordinance bl 2026-1364.
Sponsors bradford tombs, horton
and hill. This is an ordinance
approving a lease agreement
between the metro government
and hessel properties gp for
use of 74,374ft
s of office
space, located at 1283
murfreesboro pike. MR. Bradford,
you're recognized sir.
Thank
you, MADAM Vice mayor. I don't
see that we need any more
committee reports. I move for
approval.
all right. There is a
motion to approve. Is there a
second? Okay. Is there any
discussion on this ordinance on
its third and final reading?
Seeing none. All in favor,
pleasesay aye. Any voting? No.
Okay. Okay. We by rule we have
to go on the board, MR. Clerk,
with a no on an ordinance
is on its third and final
reading. If you would please,
sir, load the vote. Colleagues,
hang in real quick.
All right,
everybody, get your votes in,
please. With all votes in. MR.
Clerk, please show the vote.
All right. This ordinance has
passed its third and final
reading with 3430 votes in
favor and one vote against and
one abstention. That concludes
this evening's agenda. Our next
council meeting will be tuesday,
JUNE. The second budget
hearings resume tomorrow, and
the council office will be
closed on monday, MAY 25th in
observance of memorial day. Is
there a motion to adjourn? All
right. We are adjourned.
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