[17:08] Today, JUNE 9th.
[17:15] 2026. This is a s
[17:17] well, all members of the
[17:18] council as well as the public,
[17:20] please rise for the invocation
[17:22] and remain standing for the
[17:24] pledge of allegiance. I will
[17:26] remain seated for now to
[17:32] delivers tonight. Tonight's
[17:33] us.
[17:35] Entitled of history and
[17:39] hope. We have memorized america,
[17:41] how it was born and who we have
[17:44] been and where. In ceremonies
[17:47] and silence we say words.
[17:48] Telling the stories. Singing
[17:51] the old songs. We like the
[17:54] places they take us. Mostly we
[17:57] do the great and all the
[17:59] anonymous dead are there. We
[18:01] know the sound of all the
[18:03] sounds we brought. The rich
[18:06] taste of it is on our tongues.
[18:08] But where are we going to be
[18:12] and why? And who? The
[18:13] disenfranchized dead want to
[18:16] know. We mean to be the people
[18:19] we meant to be. To keep on
[18:21] going where we meant to go. But
[18:23] how do we fashion the future?
[18:26] Who can say how except in the
[18:28] minds of those who will call it
[18:33] now? The children, the children.
[18:35] And how does our garden grow?
[18:38] With waving hands? Oh, rarely
[18:40] in a row. And flowering faces
[18:43] and brambles. That we can no
[18:46] longer allow. Who were many
[18:49] people coming together. Cannot
[18:51] become one. People falling
[18:54] apart. Who dreamed for every
[18:57] child. And even chance. Cannot
[18:59] let luck alone. Turn doorknobs
[19:03] or not. Whose law was never so
[19:05] much of the hand as the head.
[19:07] Cannot let chaos make its way
[19:11] to the heart. Who have seen
[19:12] learning struggle from teacher
[19:15] to child. Can not let ignorance
[19:19] spread itself like a rot. We
[19:21] know what we have done and what
[19:23] we have said and how we have
[19:26] grown degree by slow degree,
[19:28] believing ourselves toward all.
[19:31] We have tried to become just
[19:34] and compassionate, equal, able,
[19:37] and free. All this in the hands
[19:40] of children, eyes already set
[19:43] on a land we never can visit.
[19:46] It isn't there yet. But looking
[19:48] through their eyes, we can see
[19:51] what our long gift to them MAY
[19:54] come to be. If we can truly
[20:01] remember, they will not forget.
[20:03] I pledge allegiance to the flag
[20:06] of the united states of america
[20:08] and to the republic for which
[20:12] it stands. One nation under GOD,
[20:14] indivisible, with liberty and
[20:19] justice for all.
[20:23] All right.
[20:24] Welcome, council and community
[20:26] embers on a very stormy
[20:28] evening. Happy pride month to
[20:31] everyone again with a capital
[20:32] improvements budget required to
[20:34] pass the council no later than
[20:35] JUNE 15th and our next regular
[20:37] council meeting scheduled for
[20:39] tuesday, JUNE 16th and focused
[20:40] on consideration of the
[20:42] operational budget. We'll move
[20:44] right into our agenda. Without
[20:46] objection, we will suspend the
[20:48] calling of the roll and ask the
[20:50] clerk to please record the
[20:51] names of the members present
[20:53] throughout the meeting. Is
[20:54] there a motion for approval of
[20:56] the minutes of the meeting of
[20:59] JUNE 2nd, 2026? All right.
[21:00] There is a motion properly
[21:03] seconded. So without objection.
[21:05] And seeing no one seeking to be
[21:07] recognized a change to the
[21:09] minutes. All right. The minutes
[21:12] of the meeting of JUNE 2nd are
[21:13] approved. MR. Clerk, are there
[21:15] any messages from the mayor?
[21:17] There are no messages from the
[21:17] mayor.
[21:21] Thank you, MR. Clerk.
[21:24] All right. First, on our
[21:25] section agenda rather, is
[21:28] section e, the public comment
[21:29] period. Members of the public
[21:30] are tennessee residents wishing
[21:33] to speak in public comment MAY
[21:35] sign up at a table outside the
[21:37] council chamber from 5 to 6
[21:39] P.M. On the day of a council
[21:40] meeting. Public comment is
[21:42] limited to 20 minutes total at
[21:43] council meetings, and each
[21:45] speaker is allowed up to two
[21:48] minutes to speak. We have four
[21:51] persons who have signed up for
[21:55] public comment this evening.
[21:58] Turn on the public podium, mike.
[22:03] First is zach, juliet and zach
[22:05] will be followed by lauren
[22:08] curry. Zach is speaking on
[22:12] agenda item f one late filed
[22:14] ordinance in support. Go ahead
[22:16] sir, you're recognized.
[22:17] Thank
[22:19] you. Most of the backlash in
[22:21] response to the zoo data center
[22:26] has, for obvious reasons, been ecology. But what if
[22:28] we pretend for a second that
[22:29] the developers aren't lying to
[22:31] our faces, and that they really
[22:33] can make it safe? I expect that
[22:35] most of us would remain
[22:38] staunchly opposed. I think the
[22:39] morefundamental problem we
[22:42] have with ai is that we're all
[22:43] too familiar with the type of
[22:45] people who are pushing it on us.
[22:47] These are the same type of
[22:49] people who gambled away our
[22:52] economy in 2008, the same type
[22:54] drowning us in medical debt,
[22:55] the same type of people who
[22:58] started an opioid crisis on
[23:00] purpose. In short, the type of
[23:02] people who will happily ruin
[23:04] millions of ordinary lives to
[23:07] make money. If we had any%
[23:10] reason to believe that those
[23:11] power cared about what happens
[23:14] to us, then maybe we'd be able
[23:16] to embrace ai as a tool with
[23:18] the potential for some good.
[23:21] But as it stands, we have no
[23:23] choice but to see it as a
[23:25] weapon. And right now, a
[23:27] handful of billionaires are
[23:28] holding that weapon to the
[23:30] heads of everybody in this
[23:32] country who works to make a
[23:34] living. What are we supposed to
[23:36] do once they've destroyed the
[23:38] market for our labor? The only
[23:42] thing we have left to sell.
[23:45] They don't care about us. Fine.
[23:47] But if they can get away with
[23:50] not even needing us, then they
[23:52] will watch as we starve in the
[23:55] streets. This council should
[23:57] realize the anger isn't just
[23:59] about the fact that our zoo is
[24:01] obviously the wrong place for a
[24:03] data center. It's about a war
[24:05] being waged by the obscenely
[24:09] rich on all the rest of us. And
[24:11] frankly, until you stop it,
[24:15] you're on their side. Thank you.
[24:19] Thank you. Next is lauren curry.
[24:20] Lauren will be followed by
[24:23] heather schwartz. Lauren curry
[24:25] is also speaking on agenda item
[24:28] f one, a late filed ordinance
[24:31] in support. Go ahead.
[24:31] Members
[24:33] of council, thank you for your
[24:34] service to nashville and for
[24:35] the opportunity to speak
[24:36] tonight. My name is lauren
[24:38] curry. I serve on the board of
[24:39] the national zoo. I'm an
[24:41] attorney at sherrod row and a
[24:43] former metro nashville police
[24:45] officer. Tonight, I'm asking
[24:47] for one thing. Please support
[24:49] the johnston bradford temporary
[24:51] data center moratorium. This is
[24:53] not a vote to permanently ban
[24:55] data centers. It's not a final
[24:56] vote on this ordinance. It's
[24:58] simply a vote to allow the
[24:59] legislative process to begin on
[25:01] an issue that deserves careful
[25:03] review. As a lawyer, I believe
[25:05] in process. As a former police
[25:07] officer, I understand the
[25:08] importance of acting before a
[25:10] problem becomes irreversible.
[25:12] This council will have the
[25:13] opportunity to fully consider.
[25:15] Should have the opportunity to
[25:16] fully consider this issue
[25:18] before any project becomes
[25:20] vested. The need for a
[25:22] temporary moratorium is
[25:23] straightforward. Metro zoning
[25:25] code does not currently define
[25:27] data centers as a distinct land
[25:28] use, yet today's data centers
[25:30] are. Unlike traditional
[25:31] commercial facilities. They
[25:34] involve significant power
[25:35] demand, backup generators,
[25:37] cooling systems, lighting,
[25:38] noise, and round the clock
[25:40] operations. Those impacts
[25:42] deserve your careful
[25:42] consideration, particularly
[25:44] when a proposed data center
[25:46] seeks to locate immediately
[25:48] adjacent to one of nashville's
[25:50] most important educational and
[25:52] conservation resources at the
[25:53] national zoo, as well as a
[25:55] metro school. I also want to
[25:57] thank member roland
[25:58] horton and others on this
[25:59] council for your leadership in
[26:01] bringing forward permanent
[26:02] zoning legislation for data
[26:03] centers. The zoo strongly
[26:05] supports that effort. This
[26:07] moratorium is simply a bridge
[26:08] that would allow this council
[26:10] to complete that work and
[26:12] consider that it's narrow, it's
[26:13] temporary, and it expires when
[26:15] that permanent legislation
[26:17] takes place. If members have
[26:18] concerns, there will be
[26:19] opportunities to consider and
[26:21] amend that legislation. More
[26:23] than 350,000 people have signed
[26:25] a petition for this issue to be
[26:27] taken up. The public is paying
[26:28] attention. We're asking this
[26:29] council to please carefully
[26:32] consider this issue. Thank you.
[26:36] Thank you. Next is heather
[26:37] schwartz, also speaking on
[26:40] agenda item f one, the late
[26:42] file ordinance in support.
[26:43] Heather will be followed by man
[26:46] in hall. Go ahead. You're
[26:46] recognized.
[26:47] Hi everyone. Thank
[26:49] you for having me. I'm doctor
[26:50] heather schwartz. I'm the head
[26:51] veterinarian for the nashville
[26:53] zoo. And I'm here tonight to
[26:56] ask you to support to support
[26:58] suspension of the rules. So the
[26:59] johnston and bradford temporary
[27:01] data center moratorium can be
[27:03] placed on first reading. As the
[27:05] health director and the animal
[27:06] and the veterinarian for the
[27:08] zoo, it's really simple.
[27:10] Nothing good comes from placing
[27:11] a disruptive data center next
[27:13] to animals living in carefully
[27:15] managed habitats. The center
[27:16] will be placed right against
[27:18] our breeding and propagation
[27:20] centers for very fragile
[27:22] species like clouded leopards
[27:24] and future okapi, and large
[27:26] birds like our hyacinth macaws.
[27:28] Our animals depend on
[27:29] consistency, stability and an
[27:31] environment designed around
[27:32] their health and welfare.
[27:34] Constant mechanical noise, the
[27:36] vibration, bright lights,
[27:37] generators, all of that.
[27:38] Running 24 over seven is
[27:40] definitely going to be
[27:42] disruptive to their well-being.
[27:43] And that is our number one
[27:45] focus of the zoo is the welfare
[27:46] and well-being of our animals.
[27:47] I actually was just doing
[27:48] welfare assessments on our
[27:50] animals today to ensure that
[27:51] all are living happy and
[27:53] healthy lives. And I'm also the
[27:55] clouded leopard ssp veterinary
[27:56] advisor, meaning that's one of
[27:57] my main focuses, is that
[27:59] species we hold more than
[28:00] anybody else in the united
[28:02] states and their breeding
[28:04] center, literally, you can look
[28:05] from their door and see the
[28:07] center. That is howclose it
[28:10] will be. So metro has invested
[28:11] millions of dollars into this
[28:12] institution, including recent
[28:14] infrastructure investments that
[28:15] allow the zoo to grow and serve
[28:18] more families. So the zoo is
[28:19] nashville's preeminent family
[28:20] friendly destination. I'm proud
[28:23] to be a part of 16
[28:24] years. It's about education and
[28:26] conservation for the entire
[28:27] community to learn about all
[28:29] that we do and about animals
[28:30] around the globe. So tonight we
[28:33] are asking, not asking council
[28:34] to make a final decision on
[28:36] every detail of this moratorium,
[28:38] but please allow this bill to
[28:39] get on to first reading tonight.
[28:41] Let the process move forward,
[28:43] give council and the public the
[28:44] chance to protect the animals,
[28:49] the zoo and the public
[28:49] investment nashville has
[28:49] already made. Thank you.
[28:49] Thank
[28:52] you. Next and last is
[28:53] mendenhall speaking on data
[28:55] centers generally in opposition.
[28:56] Go ahead sir.
[28:57] Hi. I'm going to
[28:58] go through some facts about
[29:00] them. Big tech corporations,
[29:01] investors and the government
[29:03] are working in partnership to
[29:05] manufacture an ai boom,
[29:06] resulting in the rapid
[29:07] expansion of data centers, the
[29:09] facilities that are needed to
[29:11] power artificial intelligence.
[29:13] As of MARCH 2025, the U.S. Had
[29:15] over 5400 data centers, while
[29:17] the rest of the world combined
[29:20] had 1469. The propaganda of ai
[29:22] is a massive cover up of the
[29:24] violence that ai is actually
[29:26] weaponized for racial
[29:28] racialized violence, genocide,
[29:30] surveilling and purging workers,
[29:31] automation of health care
[29:33] denials, and keeping people
[29:36] criminalized and locked up data
[29:37] centers. Massive energy
[29:39] consumption consumption can
[29:40] disrupt electricity flow to
[29:41] homes and crews, increasing the
[29:43] risk of electrical fires,
[29:45] blackouts and brownouts. Power
[29:46] outages threaten the safety of
[29:48] residents who cannot have
[29:49] access to air conditionin
[29:50] during heat waves, utilize
[29:52] medical devices or risk carbon
[29:53] monoxide poisoning due to the
[29:55] improper use of generators.
[29:57] Every day, people regularly pay
[29:59] data center energy costs for
[30:00] the wealthiest companies in the
[30:01] world, from georgia to ohio,
[30:03] the industry has fought against
[30:05] concrete obligations to ensure
[30:06] its costs aren't passed along
[30:08] to ratepayers. Meanwhile,
[30:09] energy costs have gone up for
[30:11] regular consumers, directly
[30:12] attributed to data centers and
[30:13] associated energy
[30:15] infrastructure. An analysis of
[30:16] the electricity prices across
[30:18] the country found that monthly
[30:19] electricity costs have gone up
[30:22] as much as 267% over the last
[30:23] five years, in locations near
[30:24] substantial data center
[30:26] activity in georgia, which in
[30:27] 2025 surpassed northern
[30:28] virginia to become the fastest
[30:30] growing data center market to
[30:31] an amazon hyperscale data
[30:32] center. A typical resident
[30:35] customer is paying $43 a month
[30:37] more per month, or 560 more per
[30:39] year on their electricity bill
[30:40] than they were two years ago.
[30:42] An investigation found that
[30:44] business and business insider
[30:45] found that more than 230 data
[30:46] center locations were in
[30:47] communities highly overburdened
[30:50] by environmental pollutants and
[30:51] regions already burdened by
[30:53] public health challenges
[30:54] stemming from environmental
[30:58] racism and gentrification.
[30:58] All
[31:00] right. Thank you. That
[31:02] concludes our public comment
[31:06] period. Next is agenda item f
[31:10] one. This is ordinance bl2026.
[31:12] Unnumbered sponsors johnston
[31:14] and bradford. This is an
[31:16] ordinance declaring a temporary
[31:18] moratorium upon the acceptance,
[31:19] processing, approval and
[31:22] issuance of zoning, building or
[31:25] grading permits for data center
[31:27] developments on property within
[31:30] nashville and davidson county.
[31:32] Sponsor johnston, you are
[31:34] recognized.
[31:35] Committee reports
[31:37] are moved to suspend the rules.
[31:39] First move to suspend the rules
[31:40] first. Then I'll go to the
[31:41] report of chair.
[31:42] Okay. I'd like
[31:43] to move to suspend the rules,
[31:44] please.
[31:45] Chair. Cash for the
[31:47] report of the rules.
[31:47] Confirmations committee, please,
[31:48] sir.
[31:50] We we considered the late
[31:52] filed nature of the ordinance
[31:54] and voted five in favor. Zero
[31:56] against zero not voting.
[31:56] All
[31:57] right. Members, having heard
[32:00] the report of chair cash, is
[32:01] there any objection to the
[32:03] suspension of the rules to get
[32:07] this matter before us? Seeing
[32:09] none, the rules are suspended.
[32:11] And so it's back to you sponsor
[32:13] johnson for a motion to get the
[32:14] bill before us.
[32:14] Thank you. I'd
[32:16] like to move approval with a
[32:16] brief explanation.
[32:17] Please go
[32:18] ahead, ma'am.
[32:19] Thank you. So I
[32:21] appreciate my colleagues not
[32:23] objecting to the suspension of
[32:26] the rules. This moratorium is
[32:27] complementary to the bill that
[32:29] is currently in place,
[32:31] sponsored by councilmember
[32:33] horton. It I think that
[32:34] everybody can agree that time
[32:38] is of the essence for both of things. The moratorium is
[32:40] very straightforward. It is
[32:41] temporary. It's very narrow in
[32:44] scope. What is not necessarily
[32:46] is the policy which is so
[32:49] important that we get it right.
[32:50] Text amendments are already
[32:52] very complicated to do and take
[32:54] a lot of time and effort on our
[32:55] planning staff. I know that
[32:56] we're planning to suspend the
[32:57] rules at the planning
[33:00] commission to change the two
[33:02] meeting deferral, normally by
[33:04] rule to a one meeting deferral,
[33:06] which is further compressing
[33:08] this already sort of short
[33:10] timeline. I really want to make
[33:12] sure that we get this policy
[33:13] right, not just get it done. We
[33:16] MAY not need this moratorium.
[33:18] We MAY not. And that's fine. I
[33:19] would rather have it and not
[33:21] need it than the other way
[33:23] around. But in case we do come
[33:25] across some issues where
[33:26] planning staff needs more time,
[33:28] the commission votes a certain
[33:30] way, or maybe we find ourselves
[33:32] in disagreement about certain
[33:34] aspects of of the policy
[33:35] because we all want to get it
[33:36] right. And we understand that
[33:38] timing is of the essence and we
[33:39] don't want to be rushed. The
[33:41] moratorium would be in place to
[33:42] pause any development until we
[33:44] can get it right. Again, it is
[33:45] short. It is 90 days or until
[33:47] the bill passes, whichever
[33:49] comes first. And I appreciate
[33:51] your support.
[33:52] All right. We are
[33:56] on to discussion on this bill.
[33:58] First in the queue is
[33:59] councilmember benedict. You're
[33:59] recognized.
[34:00] Thank you, MADAM
[34:02] Vice mayor, I rise in support
[34:05] of this ordinance. I do
[34:07] appreciate all that we've heard
[34:08] from the public. We've seen a
[34:12] lot in our inboxes online, of
[34:16] course, and I, as the public is
[34:18] disgusted by this as I am as
[34:20] well, and we have to do
[34:21] something about this. And I'm
[34:23] committed. I've actually
[34:26] co-sponsored the bill 1391
[34:28] because this is important for
[34:32] us to get right. I, I, I was
[34:34] curious why this was late filed,
[34:36] but that's a non-issue at this
[34:37] point. I think at this point, I
[34:39] just want to move forward with
[34:40] it. I think we had an
[34:42] opportunity to get this in
[34:44] before. Nevertheless, we do
[34:50] have. We must do something. And
[34:51] that's what we're hearing from
[34:52] the public, is that something
[34:53] must be done. So I believe
[34:54] we'll continue to work with
[34:56] metro departments to see what
[34:59] we can do relative to any
[35:01] permits that have been or could
[35:03] be issued. I want the public to
[35:04] understand that, and I also
[35:05] want the public toknow that,
[35:06] you know, from my colleagues
[35:08] I've spoken with here on the
[35:09] floor, and it looks like a lot
[35:11] of them are in the queue and
[35:13] will speak that we are with the
[35:15] public on this. We want to make
[35:17] sure that any data centers that
[35:20] come into the city are highly
[35:21] regulated. With that, I stand
[35:23] in support. Thank you.
[35:23] Thank
[35:26] you. Next in the queue is
[35:28] council member tombs. MADAM
[35:30] Chair, you're recognized.
[35:30] Thank
[35:32] you, MADAM Vice mayor. I just
[35:34] have a few questions. I think
[35:35] director wilson MAY be able to
[35:39] help me with. Can you? Because
[35:41] I know most of the interest
[35:42] from the public is surrounding
[35:44] the proposed data center next
[35:46] to the zoo. And I know there's
[35:48] a lot activity around that.
[35:51] That parcel of property.
[35:52] Director wilson, can you speak
[35:55] to the the vesting of rights in
[35:56] the property and where we are
[35:59] in that that process.
[36:00] Special
[36:01] counsel wilson, you're
[36:02] recognized.
[36:03] Council member I
[36:04] will I can speak generally
[36:06] about the process and how
[36:09] vesting works in this case. Or
[36:12] in any case, typically, if a
[36:14] building permit has been
[36:17] applied for that, the applicant
[36:19] vests in the process. In this
[36:22] in this case, essentially, they
[36:23] will have the ability to
[36:26] continue to have a decision
[36:27] made about whether that permit
[36:31] is granted or denied by metro.
[36:34] If and then if that permit. If
[36:36] that permit is granted, then
[36:38] they are vested in that
[36:40] regardless of a moratorium.
[36:44] Okay. And in regard to the
[36:48] moratorium, if this goes on, if
[36:49] the moratorium legislation goes
[36:53] on, first reading tonight, we
[36:54] don't have a moratorium in
[36:57] place. Correct.
[36:58] Special counsel?
[37:00] Yes, councilmember. That's
[37:02] correct. There would be no
[37:04] moratorium in place until the
[37:06] bill was passed on third
[37:07] reading. Okay.
[37:08] And then my
[37:09] final question, because I do
[37:10] want to point out that there
[37:12] are currently data centers in
[37:13] nashville. We have over a dozen
[37:18] of them. So if this moratorium
[37:19] were to pass, once it gets
[37:21] through the legislative process
[37:23] or even the other legislation
[37:24] that we have that's pending,
[37:26] that puts parameters around
[37:30] data centers, is there would
[37:32] there be any impact to existing
[37:34] data centers.
[37:36] Special counsel?
[37:38] No council member, any existing
[37:39] data centers would not be
[37:43] affected by by pending
[37:44] legislation. If they've already
[37:45] been if they've already
[37:47] constructed data centers.
[37:47] Okay.
[37:48] Thank you, director wilson, and
[37:50] thank you, vice mayor. I am in
[37:52] support of passage of the
[37:54] moratorium legislation, but I
[37:55] thought that it was important
[37:56] to get some of that information
[37:57] out, because there's some
[37:58] misinformation floating out
[37:59] there in terms of the presence
[38:01] of data centers in nashville
[38:03] and how this particular
[38:05] legislation impacts data
[38:07] centers coming into nashville
[38:08] or existing in nashville. So I
[38:10] just want to get some
[38:11] clarifying information out
[38:13] there, but I am in support.
[38:15] Thank you.
[38:15] Appreciate that.
[38:17] Thank you. Next in the queue is
[38:19] council member porterfield.
[38:20] MADAM Pro tem, you're
[38:21] recognized.
[38:22] Thank you, vice
[38:26] mayor. And I appreciate
[38:27] everyone's passion around this.
[38:29] I agree with council member
[38:32] benedict and that we must do
[38:33] something, and I'm thankful to
[38:35] say that we are doing something.
[38:36] We are in the process of doing
[38:40] something. I believe that we
[38:43] all or mostly agree that the
[38:45] data centers, as we are
[38:46] discussing, is something that's
[38:48] going to be harmful to the
[38:51] community. Now to councilmember
[38:52] tombs point, there are
[38:54] different types of data centers,
[38:55] different sizes of data centers.
[38:57] Anything with a server can be
[38:58] considered a data center. So
[39:00] just for the record, not all
[39:01] data centers are harmful. But
[39:03] in most cases, when weare
[39:04] having these conversations
[39:05] about data centers, we're
[39:07] talking about these mega data
[39:08] centers that are causing these
[39:10] environmental concerns. And I
[39:11] believe that the majority of
[39:13] this body believes that those
[39:15] types of data centers are
[39:16] harmful. What we don't agree on
[39:18] is the approach and how we can
[39:21] best address this issue. Now
[39:23] there are two. If this passes,
[39:24] there will be two pieces of
[39:26] legislation tracking at the
[39:28] same time, a temporary
[39:29] moratorium that will be in
[39:31] place until the permanent
[39:33] legislation is passed, as it is
[39:34] tracking now, both of those
[39:36] pieces of legislation would
[39:37] pass on the same evening.
[39:39] There's no reason to think that
[39:41] one of those pieces of
[39:43] legislation will be delayed. It
[39:45] is similar to if you are about
[39:48] to have dinner and you have a
[39:49] snack an hour before dinner,
[39:50] that makes sense because you
[39:52] still have an hour to wait
[39:53] before dinner. But if the snack
[39:55] and the dinner are ready at the
[39:56] same time, there's absolutely
[39:58] no reason to have a snack at
[39:59] the same time as dinner. I also
[40:02] have concerns about the
[40:03] definition of a data center
[40:05] being too broad in this
[40:07] legislation. I feel that that
[40:09] can have negative impacts on
[40:10] existing data, or that can have
[40:12] negative impacts because it is
[40:14] not a good definition or more
[40:16] refined definition of a data
[40:17] center. And then most
[40:19] importantly, I'm concerned with
[40:21] the legal challenges. So
[40:22] moratoriums have been subjected
[40:24] to legal challenges. There have
[40:25] been two recently, one in hill
[40:28] county, texas, where they
[40:30] recently rescinded their
[40:33] moratorium after a $100 million
[40:34] lawsuit was filed by the
[40:36] developer. There was another
[40:37] one that was recently
[40:39] challenged in cave city,
[40:40] kentucky. So my concern is that
[40:43] if we pass this temporary
[40:44] moratorium, we are leaving%
[40:46] ourselves open and subjected to
[40:47] legal challenges when we can
[40:49] just pass the legislation that
[40:50] we already have. On first
[40:52] reading. I think there's been a
[40:53] misconception. I'm glad
[40:54] councilmember tombs got this on
[40:56] the record. Constituents have
[40:58] been led to believe that this
[40:59] moratorium will go into effect
[41:01] immediately, and it doesn't. It
[41:02] still takes three readings,%
[41:03] just like councilmember
[41:04] horton's legislation, which we
[41:06] have already passed on first
[41:08] reading, which has more than 25
[41:09] sponsors. There's no reason to
[41:10] think that that legislation is
[41:12] not going to pass. It can still
[41:14] be amended if there are changes
[41:16] that need to be made on it. So
[41:17] I don't support the moratorium
[41:18] for the reasons listed. I'm
[41:19] afraid that it's going to
[41:21] subject us to legal challenges.
[41:23] Again, we all have the same
[41:25] concern here. We just have a
[41:27] difference in our approach.
[41:27] All
[41:29] right. Thank you. Next is
[41:31] council member horton. MR.
[41:33] Chair, you're recognized.
[41:33] Thank
[41:35] you, vice mayor. I rise in
[41:36] support of many of the
[41:37] sentiments expressed by
[41:38] councilmember porterfield
[41:40] earlier, and would like to
[41:42] expand on or emphasize one
[41:43] additional part. And the the
[41:44] more permanent legislation that
[41:46] we have proposed. We define
[41:48] data center as well as
[41:49] distinguish between different
[41:50] types of data centers with
[41:51] prohibiting the large
[41:53] hyperscale ones imposing strict
[41:54] rules and environmental
[41:55] protections on others, while
[41:56] also recognizing smaller and
[41:58] more accessory uses like you
[42:00] might see in a library,
[42:03] computer lab, or a it closet at
[42:04] a neighborhood business. I
[42:05] think, unfortunately, this
[42:07] moratorium makes no such
[42:08] distinguishment and lumps in
[42:09] the massive hyperscale data
[42:10] centers with the high school
[42:12] computer lab and bans all of
[42:14] them. I think if this
[42:15] legislation, progressives
[42:16] progresses, I think that's
[42:17] something that we can workshop
[42:18] and make sure that we're not
[42:20] throwing the baby out with the
[42:22] bathwater on this. And so if it
[42:23] progresses, hope that the
[42:24] sponsor would be willing to
[42:25] refine the definition of this,
[42:27] to make sure that it's as
[42:28] narrow and targeted as possible
[42:30] or as needed.
[42:31] All right. Thank
[42:33] you. Next in the queue is
[42:34] councilmember. You're
[42:35] recognized sir.
[42:36] Thank you,
[42:37] chair, and thank you to my
[42:38] colleagues sponsoring and all
[42:40] the folks that are, you know,
[42:41] speaking about this, we've
[42:43] heard resoundingly from
[42:44] nashvillians that this is a
[42:45] major concern and problem that
[42:47] we need to address. And I
[42:49] appreciate my colleagues dinner
[42:50] analogy. I'm getting hungry now.
[42:52] Thanks. Thanks for that. But I
[42:54] do kind of expanding on that
[42:55] analogy. I think it's it's a
[42:57] fair thing to look at. But as
[42:58] we know, if you sometimes you
[43:00] have to have a snack before
[43:01] dinner because you don't know
[43:02] if dinner is going to take a
[43:04] little longer than you think to
[43:06] cook. So I think that having it
[43:08] be having the two bills tracked
[43:09] together is not necessarily a
[43:11] bad thing. It MAY mean that on
[43:12] third reading, there's some
[43:13] adjustments that need to be
[43:14] made, or a bill that does pass
[43:16] or doesn't pass. But I think
[43:18] having I'm always a fan of
[43:19] having options versus not. And
[43:20] with something that we just
[43:21] cannot afford to get wrong, I'd
[43:23] rather have those tools in the
[43:24] toolbox and move forward than
[43:26] than not. And I think that
[43:27] especially when you look at
[43:29] areas like the zoo and you look
[43:30] at these large scale data
[43:31] centers where we don't know all
[43:32] the environmental impacts, we
[43:34] don't know what this does, you
[43:36] know, one year, five years, ten
[43:37] years down the line having
[43:38] something to say. Let's take a
[43:40] beat, let's think about it.
[43:41] Let's make sure we're getting
[43:42] this right. I think there's no
[43:44] no downside to that to me, and
[43:45] I appreciate that there's
[43:46] potential legal concerns or
[43:47] things like that. But again,
[43:49] these are first reading, of
[43:50] course. And so we'll have time
[43:51] in committees to deliberate
[43:53] further. So I stand in support
[43:53] of this moratorium of
[43:55] COUNCILMAN Horton's bill. I
[43:56] appreciate that the council has
[43:57] very quickly and robustly
[43:58] jumped into this complex issue
[43:59] and look forward to further
[44:01] discussion on the matter.
[44:01] All
[44:03] right. Thank you. Next in the
[44:05] queue is council member cortez.
[44:06] You're recognized, sir.
[44:06] Thank
[44:08] you, vice mayor. Why does it
[44:09] feel that nearly every
[44:11] community in america is being
[44:12] asked to accept a data center
[44:15] it never requested and often
[44:17] doesn't want? Nothing in modern
[44:18] american history has expanded
[44:19] this quickly with so little
[44:22] public enthusiasm and so little
[44:24] public input. When communities
[44:25] ask questions about the impact
[44:27] on their neighborhoods, their
[44:29] electric grid, their water
[44:30] supply, their quality of life,
[44:32] we see data center developers
[44:34] scoff and tell them that the
[44:36] decision has already been made,
[44:37] and their pitch is always the
[44:39] same jobs, investment, economic
[44:41] growth. But the reality is
[44:43] often much different. Thousands
[44:45] of square feet of industrial
[44:47] development, massive energy
[44:48] consumption, constant generator
[44:50] noise, heat pollution,
[44:52] increased strain on public
[44:53] infrastructure, and legitimate
[44:54] concerns about water use and
[44:56] environmental impacts, all in
[44:57] exchange for a handful of
[44:58] permanent jobs and profits that
[45:02] the community won't see. And
[45:04] somehow, when communities ask
[45:05] for better health care, better
[45:07] schools, lower childcare costs
[45:09] and stronger infrastructure,
[45:11] we're told that progress takes
[45:12] time. But when some of the
[45:13] wealthiest individuals on earth
[45:15] need more computing power or
[45:16] need something moved forward,
[45:18] the public and private sectors
[45:19] suddenly find a way to move
[45:19] -
[45:21] forward at lightning speed. Why
[45:23] can we mobilize extraordinary
[45:24] resources to serve companies
[45:26] with massive lobbying power,
[45:27] but struggle to do the same for
[45:30] working families? I'm not
[45:32] opposed to technology. I'm not
[45:33] opposed to innovation. I'm
[45:34] certainly not opposed to
[45:37] economic development. But the
[45:38] economic development should
[45:39] improve the lives of the people
[45:40] who already live in the
[45:41] community, not ask them to bear
[45:43] the cost while somebody else
[45:45] collects the profits. This
[45:46] industry is changing daily, and
[45:48] we have reports from across the
[45:49] country that data centers
[45:50] create measurable harm to
[45:51] property values nearby to
[45:53] nearby homeowners. Why should
[45:54] that cost be borne by our
[45:56] neighbors, especially when the
[45:59] profits flow elsewhere? Working
[46:00] families should not be forced
[46:02] to subsidize billion dollar
[46:03] industries, the value of their
[46:04] homes and the character and
[46:07] livability of their community.
[46:08] We are seeing the importance of
[46:09] this legislation hit our
[46:10] community in real time. The
[46:12] proposal, located next to the
[46:13] national zoo, doesn't affect
[46:15] just a piece of land. It
[46:16] affects the environment around
[46:18] the zoo, the experience of
[46:20] families who visit the zoo, and
[46:21] the quality of life of
[46:22] residents who call that area
[46:24] home. Our community should not
[46:26] be asked to sacrifice their
[46:27] character and livability so a
[46:28] tech company can expand its
[46:30] footprint. This legislation is
[46:32] an insurance policy to
[46:33] COUNCILMAN Horton's fantastic
[46:35] and comprehensive zoning
[46:36] changes. It will create
[46:37] protections for our neighbors.
[46:39] If we need an extra round of
[46:40] discussions to really hone in
[46:41] the nuance of the protections%
[46:43] that our neighbors deserve, I
[46:44] ask my colleagues to support
[46:46] this piece of legislation on
[46:47] first reading, and ask for your
[46:48] commitment to making even
[46:49] stronger over the next two
[46:51] readings. Thank you.
[46:53] Thank you,
[46:54] councilmember johnson. You are
[46:56] next in the queue, but already
[46:56] having spoken, you have two
[46:58] other colleagues. Okay, we'll
[47:00] proceed next then with council
[47:02] member gad, you're recognized.
[47:02] Ma'am.
[47:03] Thank you so much, MADAM
[47:05] Speaker. And thank you to my
[47:06] colleagues who've already
[47:08] spoken and who have lifted this
[47:09] matter up for us to consider
[47:12] this evening. Like, like others
[47:15] that have expressed the
[47:15] incredible concerns that we
[47:17] have over these large scale
[47:18] data centers, are real, and
[47:20] what we all need is something
[47:21] more permanent with the
[47:25] framework and incredibly proud
[47:26] of. My colleagues have already
[47:28] begun begun that work and look
[47:30] forward to continuing that. And
[47:32] for our colleagues support on
[47:34] that. I think the concerning
[47:34] -
[47:36] thing, as we move forward with
[47:40] this particular late filed
[47:42] moratorium legislation, I will
[47:44] hope that we do address a few
[47:45] things that have already been
[47:46] expressed, which is the
[47:47] concerns of over how it is
[47:49] drafted as we move forward.
[47:51] Right now, it looks like could
[47:53] likely apply to a new library
[47:55] working to get built due to how
[47:56] it's defined. When we think
[47:58] about data center. So what I
[48:00] hope will happen is that we
[48:02] have further restrictive
[48:03] conversations, and then also
[48:05] make sure we're positioning
[48:06] ourselves in the best way to
[48:08] protect our communities and our
[48:09] resources, which is looking at
[48:10] the landscape, whether it's
[48:12] this company or other companies
[48:14] and how they have navigated
[48:16] this conversation and other
[48:18] communities. A lot has
[48:20] been through lawsuits that
[48:22] they've been they've actually
[48:24] used legal challenges to
[48:27] prevent jurisdictions from
[48:29] having the rights that we want
[48:30] to continue to maintain and
[48:32] restrict. So as we move forward
[48:34] with this, this conversation, i
[48:35] know the sponsor will will do
[48:37] this, make sure that we are
[48:40] being very thoughtful. So
[48:42] through those, there MAY be
[48:44] adjusted language to make sure
[48:45] we're actually focusing and
[48:47] doing the things we need to do,
[48:49] and making sure we're also
[48:51] getting our framework in place
[48:53] through some additional
[48:54] regulations so we can meet all
[48:56] the needs that all of our
[48:58] community members are
[48:59] expressing. I think many of us
[49:01] are aligned in that. It's
[49:02] something that we don't want to
[49:05] see in our neighborhood. We're
[49:06] sympathetic. I know I am with
[49:07] the national zoo. It's
[49:09] something we don't want to see
[49:10] resources taken from that or
[49:12] any one of our communities that
[49:14] we live in. So look forward to
[49:16] continued discussion. And I
[49:17] appreciate my colleagues have
[49:20] already spoken on this.
[49:20] All
[49:22] right. Seeing no one else in
[49:23] the queue seeking to be
[49:25] recognized, and we will move to
[49:27] the vote on this matter. That
[49:29] is on its first of three
[49:31] readings. Okay. That only
[49:32] requires a simple majority. So
[49:35] we will do that by voice. All
[49:38] in favor, please say there is a
[49:39] request for a roll call vote
[49:43] that requires three seconds.
[49:47] Okay. All right. So with that,
[49:50] MR. Clerk, if you would please
[49:58] load the vote. So this is MISS
[50:00] Johnston and MR. Bradford's
[50:02] ordinance as of yet unnumbered
[50:05] on its first of three readings,
[50:07] there was a request for roll
[50:10] call, and it was properly
[50:16] seconded. So you will vote by
[50:32] tablet.
[50:36] With all votes in. MR.
[50:39] Clerk, please show the vote.
[50:41] all right. This motion has
[50:42] passed. This bill has passed
[50:44] its first of three readings
[50:47] with 26 votes in favor, one
[50:50] against and zero abstentions
[50:52] for colleagues and the public.
[50:54] This bill will be assigned a
[50:56] bill number for its referral to
[50:57] the planning commission and
[50:59] then its subsequent time on our
[51:01] agenda. But that is still to be
[51:08] determined. Okay. All right.
[51:11] Now we're in section g, a
[51:12] little bit of a duplication
[51:14] there. We had a double f on our
[51:15] sections of agenda, but we're
[51:18] going to call this section g
[51:21] our consolidated consent agenda.
[51:23] All three or rather all third
[51:25] reading ordinances on this
[51:26] agenda are included on the
[51:28] consent agenda, if recommended
[51:30] for approval unanimously by all
[51:31] committees to which the item
[51:33] was referred. Items on the
[51:35] consent agenda will be voted on
[51:37] at a single time. The item
[51:38] number, along with the
[51:40] ordinance number of the items
[51:41] on the consent agenda will be
[51:43] read by me. This is a very
[51:45] short list. Today, members of
[51:46] the council MAY remove any item
[51:48] from the consent agenda by
[51:50] request before the consent
[51:56] agenda vote is taken. All right.
[51:58] Proposed for the consent agenda
[52:07] is agenda item two. Ordinance
[52:10] bl2026-1383. Agenda three
[52:16] ordinance bl2026-1384. Agenda
[52:23] item four ordinance bl2026-1385.
[52:26] And then lastly, agenda item
[52:33] five, ordinance bl2026-1390. Do
[52:35] any items need to be removed
[52:37] from the consent agenda? If so,
[52:39] members can please join the
[52:43] queue to request that. All
[52:45] right. I am seeing none. MR.
[52:46] Clark. Are all committee
[52:48] reports in for items on the
[52:49] consent agenda?
[52:50] Yeah. All
[52:51] committee reports are in.
[52:51] All
[52:54] right. Thank you, MR. Clark.
[52:56] Members, is there a motion for
[52:59] approval of the consent agenda?
[53:00] Okay. Properly moved and
[53:03] seconded. All in favor, say aye.
[53:05] Council has passed all items on
[53:08] the consent agenda. And now
[53:12] we'll go back to the sole item
[53:17] remaining on our agenda. This
[53:26] is agenda item one, ordinance
[53:27] bl2026-1380. Sponsor teams.
[53:29] This is an ordinance adopting
[53:36] the 2026 to 2027 through 2031
[53:38] to 2032. Capital improvements
[53:39] budget for the metropolitan
[53:40] government of nashville and
[53:42] davidson county as the official
[53:43] capital improvements budget of
[53:44] the metropolitan government of
[53:45] nashville and davidson county
[53:50] for the fiscal year 2026 2027.
[53:53] Council member tombs, you are
[53:55] recognized, ma'am.
[53:56] Thank you,
[53:57] MADAM Vice mayor, committee
[53:59] report, budget and finance
[54:01] voted to recommend approval as
[54:02] amended. Seven in favor, zero
[54:03] against zero not voting.
[54:04] All
[54:05] right. And for the report of
[54:06] the planning and zoning
[54:08] committee, chair horton, you're
[54:08] recognized.
[54:09] Thank you. Vice
[54:10] mayor. Planning and zoning
[54:11] voted in favor of the amendment
[54:12] by council member capps. Seven
[54:14] in favor, zero against zero not
[54:15] voting, and voted in favor of
[54:17] the bill, as amended. Seven in
[54:18] favor, zero against zero not
[54:18] voting.
[54:20] All righty. With those
[54:21] committee reports. And it is
[54:23] back to you, MADAM Chair, for a
[54:25] motion to get this before us.
[54:26] Move for approval.
[54:27] Okay. It's
[54:29] properly moved and seconded,
[54:33] and we are on to discussion.
[54:34] MISS Benedict, you are first in
[54:36] the queue. Go ahead, ma'am.
[54:38] Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
[54:39] I'd like to sign on to council
[54:40] member capps amendment, and
[54:41] therefore I'd like to move it.
[54:44] All right. You will be signed
[54:49] on. There is a motion to amend
[54:50] with the amendment offered by
[54:54] council member capp and council
[54:56] member benedict. It is, I
[54:59] believe, a housekeeping type
[55:01] amendment. And so with that,
[55:03] MISS Benedict, you are anything
[55:06] elseyou want to say about this
[55:06] amendment?
[55:07] It is indeed a
[55:08] housekeeping amendment. Thank
[55:09] you for that, MADAM Vice mayor.
[55:11] This is an item that's already
[55:13] in the city. This is just
[55:14] defining the properties around
[55:16] it. There was a mistake in
[55:16] there. And so this is
[55:18] correcting that mistake. I
[55:20] renew my motion.
[55:21] Okay. Is there
[55:23] any discussion on the motion to
[55:26] amend seeing none. All in favor
[55:28] please say aye. Any voting no
[55:30] or abstaining. MISS Tombs,
[55:31] would you please renew your
[55:32] motion to approve.
[55:33] Move for
[55:33] approval as amended.
[55:34] Thank you.
[55:36] All right. Colleagues, is there
[55:39] any discussion on the capital
[55:41] improvements budget on its
[55:43] third and final reading, as
[55:46] amended? All right. Seeing none.
[55:49] All in favor, please say aye.
[55:52] Any voting no or abstaining.
[55:54] Okay. This has passed its third
[55:55] and final reading. This
[55:57] concludes this evening's agenda.
[55:59] Our next council meeting will
[56:02] be on tuesday, JUNE 16th. Is
[56:06] there a motion to adjourn? We
[56:18] are adjourned.
[56:19] This has been a
[56:21] service of the metro nashville
[56:22] network. If you would like to
[56:25] see this presentation again, or
[56:26] for more information on this
[56:30] and other programs, visit
[56:33] nashville.Gov.
[56:52] Visit Nashville..