i want to open up this 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 built by stolen
labor. We have two
presentations to open up today.
Our first presentation is our
20 26-2066 by Council member
Barclay Allen. A resolution
honoring the contributions of
Tom Palko of the Department of
Water and Sewage Services upon
his retirement. Council Member
Allen, you are recognized.
Thank you so much, MADAM
CHAIRMAN. Um, I
m reading a
resolution honoring the
contributions of Tom Palko of
the Department of Water and
Sewage Services upon his
retirement, and I invite all my
colleagues to come back and
join me. So whereas Tom Palko
was hired as a third stormwater
employee of the Metropolitan
Department of Public Works in
MARCH 1985, he was an engineer
in training fresh with a degree
from University of Tennessee,
working in a meat department,
cutting chickens with five
years. The other two stormwater
employees had left and MR.
Palko became head, stormwater
employee and Whereas since the
first fema flood maps were
developed in 1982, MR. Palko
missed only three years of
flood mapping and has been
involved in all nine subsequent
revisions and right there.
Whereas MR. Palko started the
Stormwater National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System
program in 1996, when Nashville
was issued the first phase one
municipal separate storm sewer
system permit, and Whereas MR.
Palko established Nashville
Successful floodplain Home
Buyout program, purchasing and
removing 485 homes in the
floodplain and restoring nearly
250 acres of Nashville
s
natural floodplain. Turning
much of that into public park
land. And whereas the
stormwater division moved to
Metro Water Services in 2002,
MR. Palko was named assistant
director, adding the
maintenance division to perform
daily routine stormwater
maintenance activities such as
cleaning inlets. The stormwater
division has grown to a total
of 136 employees and.
Whereas MR. Palko led efforts
to create and continuously
update the stormwater
Management manual to regulate
impacts of development on
stormwater runoff, which
includes one of the most
stringent floodplain
development restrictions within
the nation. And Whereas, MR.
Palko launched stormwater
funding with a user fee in
2009, which now brings in $35
million annually for
maintaining and improving
stormwater infrastructure,
including hundreds of
stormwater capital improvement
projects to minimize flash
flooding impacts to residents
of Nashville and Davidson
County, and.
And Whereas, in response to the
2010 flood, MR. Palko ensured
that the department had full
staff in the office every day
in MAY to review and issue
permits and develop buyout
projects. And Whereas, to
ensure the stormwater system
keeps up with the ongoing
growth around the county, MR.
Palko launched a new master
plan effort in 2023, which will
provide guidelines and
prioritization for expanding
the stormwater system. And
Whereas during MR. Falco
s 40
plus years of leadership,
Nashville
s stormwater program
has successfully navigated
through several compliance
audits from the Environmental
Protection Agency, Federal
Emergency Management Agency and
the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation
without any major findings of
noncompliance and.
Whereas MR. Palko many
achievements include receiving
the John iv Award, which
recognizes superior efforts in
certification of floodplain
managers serving as a pm,
certified floodplain Managers
Exam working Group, being
responsible nationwide for cfm
certification, and overseeing
the certification of as many as
ten certified floodplain
managers at Metro Water
Services. And Whereas, MR.
Parker served as floodplain
basis Basics instructors for
the Tennessee Association of
Floodplain Management and help
charter and continue to serve
the state chapter of Silver
Jackets, which develop
comprehensive and sustainable
solutions to natural disasters
and.
And Whereas MR. Palko is driven
to create successful programs
and impactful regulations,
several of which, such as the
home buyout program four feet
above base flood elevation
requirement and MAY 2010 flood
response, where the envy of our
municipalities at floodplain
manager events. And whereas
coworkers at aws Metro Water
Services referred to MR. Palko
as thank you Herculean Lee
competent and steady and his
hard work and always cheerful
demeanor will be missed upon
his retirement, leaving very
large shoes to fill.
Now therefore, be it resolved
by the counsel of the
Metropolitan Government of
Nashville and Davidson County,
that the Metropolitan Council
hereby goes on record
recognizing the accomplishments
of Tom Palko on the occasion of
his retirement, and thanking
him for his many years of
service and leadership,
improving Nashville
s
environment, and wishing him
lots of fun on his retirement.
Well, well, um, yeah.
Thank you very much. And I just
want to say I appreciate the
support I
ve had all the time
through the council and as an
engineer, all I wanted to do
was give you all good
information in a timely manner,
and hopefully I did that. So
thank you very much. All right.
Thank you.
Thanks.
MR. Henderson. Hello.
My sister.
Terry. That was good. Sonja.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you
very much. Congratulations.
Congratulations, MR. Palko.
Next, we have our 2026-2029
Council member Terry Vo. A
resolution recognizing JUNE
2026 as Immigrant Heritage
Month in Nashville and Davidson
County Council member Vo. You
are recognized.
Thank you so much. Pro tem. Um,
JUNE has been I mean, I feel
like this year has been really
fast. And for us, we wanted to
make sure the Immigrant Caucus
and of course, my colleagues,
to honor all the amazing
immigrants that live and call
Davidson County and Nashville
home. And so I
m going to read
resolution 2026 2029, a
resolution recognizing JUNE
2026 as Immigrant Heritage
Month in Nashville and Davidson
County, whereas Immigrant
Heritage Month was started in
2014 to honor and recognize the
countless contributions made by
immigrants to the fabric of
American society. And Whereas
the United States is a nation
of immigrants for generations,
immigrants from all around the
world have built the economy of
the United States and shape the
character of our community and.
Whereas immigrants have
contributed immeasurably to the
economic prosperity,
innovation, and entrepreneurial
spirit that not only of
Nashville and Davidson County
by the United States. And
whereas immigrants make up 15%
of the population of Nashville
and Davidson County, Nashville
is also home to the largest
Kurdish community in the United
States, with a population of
more than 15,000 and.
Whereas in 2013, immigrants
made up 9.5% of all business
owners in the Greater Nashville
area. As of 2019, there were
over 13,000 immigrant small
business owners in this area,
showing the importance of the
contribution of immigrants to
Nashville
s economic vitality.
And Whereas since JANUARY 2025,
hundreds of Nashville have been
arrested by Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, more than
half of these community members
had no prior criminal
conviction or any pending
criminal charges, and.
Whereas now more than ever is
important to recognize and
celebrate the contributions of
immigrants in the United States
and fight against policies that
harm our immigrant community
and.
Whereas the Metropolitan
Council supports and stands
united with our immigrant
community. Now, therefore be
resolved by the Council of the
Metropolitan Government of
Nashville and Davidson County.
Okay, I
ll read the sections.
Section one, the Metropolitan
County Council hereby goes on
record recognizing JUNE 2026 as
Immigrant Heritage Month in
Nashville and Davidson County.
Section two. This resolution
shall take effect from and
after its adoption. The welfare
of the Metropolitan Government
of Nashville and Davidson
County, requiring it.
Yes.
And today, we are honored to
have Siobhan, who represents
the Kurdish community that we
referenced in our resolution.
If you would like to share a
few words.
From the Kurdish community, I
just want to tell everybody,
thank you very much. Thank you
for having me. It was wonderful
to see everyone.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You got to come up.
Pretty tall though. Thank you.
Thank you so very much. Council
member Vo, before we go into
the announcement period, I want
to start by acknowledging the
tragic loss our community has
experienced. On JUNE 30th,
Nashville lost a daughter, a
leader and an icon. Vonda
McDaniel, the Queen mother of
Nashville
s labor movement.
While many Nashville fans MAY
never have known her face or
her name, countless workers
across the city, our state and
our nation have benefited from
her vision, her leadership, and
her unwavering commitment to
working people. For more than
30 years, Vonda has been
dedicated to the labor
movement, starting as a member
of the United Rubber Workers in
1994. Since 2013, Vonda served
as PRESIDENT Of the Nashville
Central Labor Council and has
served as vice PRESIDENT Of the
afl-cio Executive Council since
2017. Beyond those
extraordinary leadership roles,
she was a founding member of
Stand Up Nashville, the Music
City Construction Careers,
Music City Construction
Careers, and the Nashville
Justice League, as well as
Tennessee for all her tireless
advocacy helped expand
opportunity, strengthen workers
rights, diversify the labor
movement, and build a more just
community for generations to
come. Her commitment to her
faith, her family, and her
community leaves a legacy that
will continue to inspire all
who had the privilege of
knowing her, and all who have
benefited from her life
s work.
Her visitation is taking place
today at First Baptist Church,
Capitol Hill, until 7:30 P.M.
And her funeral will be held
tomorrow at the Music City
Center. Today we honor Rhonda
s
legacy and we thank her for her
extraordinary service to
Nashville and beyond. Please
join me in observing a moment
of silence.
Thank you.
Council Member Sara, you
re
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Pro Tem. I
also want to rise and share my
condolences for the passing of
MISS Vonda. When we think about
heroes, we think about people
with Cape. Think about people
that we read in books. We even
think about icons. People that
have passed, that made
monumental change. Not a lot of
us have are fortunate enough to
actually know a living hero,
walk with them and stand with
them. And Vonda was one of
those. In my tribute to her, I
wrote, really, heroes don
t
fly. They stand beside you.
They show up, they walk with
you and they walk for you.
Vonda McNally was that kind of
hero to so many. She spent her
life lifting others, making
their lives better in ways big
and small. What makes this
thing so painful is that Vonda
wasn
t a hero from a comic
book. She was here with us,
living, serving, fighting for
workers for her church, for her
family, and for our community.
She was real. She was present.
She was tireless. Israel will
write about Vonda. Many awards
will carry her name, but all of
that will pale in comparison to
the memories and stories held
by the people who truly knew
her. She was a soldier, a
fighter, selfless, caring, and
profoundly human. This loss
hurts, but it was an honor and
privilege to know and work with
Vonda. And I know that it
s not
just me. She touches so many
people in so many ways. My
prayers are with our families,
our friends, our community. Uh,
a lot of people are hurting.
Uh, but van der requires us to
continue the fight, to continue
our legacy, to make the world a
better place than we found it.
She did that. And I pray that
the Lord be with her family.
That the Lord comforts them,
that he, in his mercy, hold
them and be with them like no
other person can. Thank you.
Council Member Nash recognized.
Thank you. Mayor Pro Tem. It
s
always hard to follow such
tributes, and I. I would like
to say that what I
ve. What
I
ve known of MISS Vonda has
always been a friendly face.
Willingness to help. Um, is a
former labor leader. I know
what a big job she had,
corralling the whole Central
Labor Council with all the
different interests. And when
and she did it magnificently.
Uh, also, I wanted to remind my
colleagues to save the date
JULY 22nd at 2026, the Andrew
Jackson Police Youth Camp will
be holding their open house
starts at 11 A.M.. Lunch will
be served at 12. Uh, the Andrew
Jackson Police Youth Camp is a
nonprofit summer camp, on Older
Lake in Windsor County. It
s
run by the Fraternal Police
Lodge five for underprivileged
youth in the Nashville area.
Its mission is to build
positive relationships between
children and police officers
through activities that teach
life skills like teamwork,
decision making, and a safe
environment, helping to break
down cultural barriers to camp.
Features a 35 acre facility
with pool, bunkhouse, lake
access and hosting around 300
children each summer. Um, I
invite you to come up to the
police department. Does a great
job coming up. They
ve got the
helicopters, the robots, the
the horses. Uh, canine
exhibitions. It
s something
that, as council people, I
think you
d be interested in
seeing. Um, just as well as
seeing what a great facility is
for the kids. And. And this
great community outreach that
the police department does.
Thank you.
Thank you. Council member.
Nash. Council member. You are
recognized.
Thank you so much. Pro tem. Um,
I just echo your beautiful
words for MISS Vonda. As we
remember what an amazing leader
she was in our community. Um, I
just want to invite everyone
with this amazing music. Thank
you. Thank you so much,
Councilmember Gamble. Um,
tomorrow. We are so excited.
Um, uh, in partnership with the
mayor
s office and Mndot and
choose how you move, we are
going to do a groundbreaking
for a complete street on
Chestnut Street. So that will
be happening tomorrow at 1030.
Um, right by diocese, in the
district. So very excited for
that. Um, and I want to make
sure that everyone knows I know
that the World Cup is happening
right now. And even though the
us was eliminated last night.
Uh, we
ve got soccer here
happening in Nashville,
Davidson County. So youth
soccer is happening, and
registration is open now
through AUGUST 7th and the
season will begin SEPTEMBER
12th. And this is in
partnership with Metro Parks.
And it
s for group ages six and
under, eight and under and 11
and under which is very
exciting. So if you
ve got kids
and you need them to get some
energy released, have them sign
up for some youth soccer with
our metro parks. And I just
also want to remind everyone
about our, um, language survey
that
s going on with mhk. Um,
it
s a quick five minute survey
to share your experience with
the language services provided
by Metro Nashville. We have
them available in 12 languages
in Spanish, Burmese, Tagalog,
Creole, Nepali, Kurdish,
Arabic, Chinese, Somali,
Korean, Haitian, Vietnamese,
and English. If you need a
language for your community,
please reach out and let us
know. And this Saturday, I just
want to invite everyone to the
Wedgewood Houston Art crawl.
Uh, it typically is on the
first Saturday, but because of
4th of JULY, it
s this
Saturday. And last thing is
JULY is Parks and Recreation
Month. And I just want to
highlight the mission of Metro
parks, um, about their
sustainable and equitable way
of providing to everyone in
Nashville and Davidson County
and our park system was
established in APRIL of 1901
with Watkins Park as our first
park in the city, followed by
Centennial Park in 1902. Metro
Park offers a variety of
facilities and programs
throughout Davidson County that
includes over 15,000 acres of
open space, 189 parks, 110
miles of greenways, 158
playgrounds, seven public golf
courses, two splash pads, five
year round pools, three outdoor
pools, 12 dog parks, seven
historical sites, 28 regional
and neighborhood community
centers, 155. Tennis and
pickleball courts, 73
basketball courts. The
Centennial Sportsplex Wave
Country, and a variety of other
recreational facilities and
opportunities. And so we really
hope that you will come and
enjoy all the parks of, um,
that Metro Parks has to offer.
And we just wanted to make sure
that we celebrate Metro parks,
and we hope that you get out
there and of course, stay
hydrated. Thanks.
Thank you Councilmember. Thank
you for that. A partridge in a
pear tree. But thank you. Um, I
do have one more quick
announcement that I
m gonna go
to Councilmember Aurora. And
for our friends that are
visiting us for the very first
time, I promise our
announcement periods are not
usually this heavy, but
unfortunately, we lost two
giants in the civil rights
movement and in our community.
So I also want to take a moment
to honor the extraordinary life
and legacy of MRS. Rosetta
miller Perry, who passed on
JUNE 26th, a pioneering
journalist, civil rights
advocate, business leader,
veteran and community builder
whose impact on Nashville,
Tennessee, and beyond will be
felt for generations. MRS.
Perry dedicated her life to
ensuring that truth was told,
justice was pursued and the
voices of black communities
were heard from serving in the
United States Navy and working
alongside leaders of the Civil
Rights movement. During one of
the most pivotal moments in our
nation
s history to leading the
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission in Nashville. She
spent her life breaking
barriers and creating
opportunities for others. As
the founder and publisher of
the Tennessee Tribune. She
transformed black media into a
powerful platform for advocacy,
education, and celebration. She
also founded the Greater
Nashville Black Chamber of
Commerce, established
scholarships and journalism
programs, mentor countless
young leaders, and championed
civic engagement. Always
reminded us of the importance
of using our voices and our
votes to create change. MRS.
Perry received hundreds of
honors throughout her lifetime,
but perhaps her greatest
achievement was the legacy she
leaves and the people she
inspired, the institutions she
built, and the doors she opened
for those who followed. As we
begin today
s meeting, I want
to remember and acknowledge
MRS. Rosetta miller Perry with
deep gratitude and respect, and
MAY we honor her memory by
continuing her commitment to
truth, service, justice, and
opportunity for all.
Councilmember Sawyer, you
re
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Chair, and
thank you for agreeing that we
should split the, um,
acknowledgement into two
because the two powerful women
and lumping them into one is
not going to do them justice,
which is why we wanted to do
one the first and then do MISS
Rosetta Perry. I had the
incredible honor of being
inducted to the Tennessee Women
Hall of Fame with MISS Perry in
2015. Uh, I
ve seen her work
and done a lot of stuff with
her, but what stood out to me
the most was in 2019, when I
first ran for office, and I
started getting her attacks and
all the stuff that some of you
knew about, uh, she was one of
the people that, uh, stood by
me, wrote about it. Um, she she
doesn
t mince words, let me
tell you that, uh, she
s very
bold. And she wouldn
t have
done all the things that she
did if she if she wasn
t. She
was an icon, a trailblazer. She
opened the door for so many
people. Uh, and Nashville is
blessed to have had an amazing.
She will be sorely missed. Uh,
and before I sit down, since
we
re talking about civil
rights and civil rights icon,
as many of you know, um, we
will be having the John Lewis.
We MARCH on JULY 18th, another
event that we use to honor
those that have passed that
made Nashville what it is
today, a welcoming city that we
all talk about, uh, that allows
for all of us to be here. And
for those who did not know, uh,
because of the efforts of our
icons. Nashville became the
first city in the South to
desegregate the lunch counters.
And so, in honor of that
legacy, we do a John Lewis
MARCH to thank them for what
they did, but also to remind
all of us, uh, we
ve talked
about Vonda. We talk about MISS
Perry, we talk about John
Lewis. We named them and we
honor them. Uh, but the best
thing we can do is to emulate
them. The best we can do is
when we see something that is
not right in our own time, that
we get up and we fight against
it. John Lewis legacy is the
Voting Rights Act, and I will
be remiss if I don
t talk about
all the attack on our voting
that is going on right now. All
the redistricting that is
happening across the country.
This is an attack on black and
brown voting. So we don
t just
want to name them, we just
don
t want to honor them. This
is our opportunity to do
something. We are here now. We
will be gone someday and I hope
that we learn from them. So
marching is a form of protest.
And so we are asking that you
join us on JULY 18th at 8 A.M..
The MARCH starts at the
Tennessee Library and Archives
is a one mile MARCH will be
marching to the Ryman
Auditorium. A featured speaker
this year will be Doctor
Michael Eric Dyson, a prolific
speaker. We have all the, uh, a
lot of the churches, uh,
pastors that will be leading
the MARCH with us. The movement
started in the church. And so
we
re going to have a Doctor
Brown from the Lawson Center
and a whole bunch of other
people. The abc PRESIDENT
Joining us in the MARCH. So I
m
inviting all of you, please
come out. Uh, let
s protest
with our feet. Let
s put
protest with our mouths. Let
s
protest with our policies.
Let
s protest and do what these
people are doing that makes
them an icon, uh, that we leave
this world better for those
that are coming behind us. And
that. Thank you, MADAM Pro-Tem.
Thank you. And closing us out,
we have Council member Sandra
Sepulveda, Council member. Your
happy birthday, Councilmember
Sepulveda. Thank you.
Um, I just have two quick
announcements. Today is the
last day to register to vote.
So if you want to give me a
present, go ahead and register
to vote. Um, I also wanted to
announce that Mariposa Park is
finally going to open on JULY
11th, which is this Saturday at
10 A.M. It will be at 140
Tuscola Road. There will be
music, food, and a lot of fun.
So come on out. Um, it is, uh,
something that has been worked
on for a very long time. So I
m
very proud that it
s finally
happening. And, um, last I just
wanted to say that, um, Vonda
was a champion for the for the
labor movement, and she was one
of the best of us. So, um, I
m
glad that we got to honor her
legacy today at her viewing and
tomorrow at her celebration of.
Life.
Thank you, Council member. And
again, happy birthday. And with
that, our announcement period
is adjourned.
This has been a service of the
Metro Nashville Network. If you
would like to see this
presentation again, or for more
information on this and other
programs, visit Nashville..
Today is tuesday, JULY 7th,
2026. Do now have a quorum.
Thank you for your patience.
This is the 64th regular
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
remain standing for the pledge
of allegiance? The invocation
is beingoffered this evening
by the reverend doctor kim
mcclain of music city west
church of the nazarene. She is
the guest of district 19
council member jacob koopman.
Welcome. Pastor mcclain. You
are recognized.
Good evening.
Nashville is known as music
city, the place that makes you
think of the songs, the stages,
the studios and the stars. The
rich creative culture here has
a colloquial feel that gives it
organic authenticity. Two
familiar mottos in the music
community are. It all begins
with a song, and musicians are
the reason it's called music
city. Nashville's arts culture
feeds the soul of all great
industries thriving here, from
health care to education, trade
and government. James allen
wrote, creatives are the
architects of heaven. Without
them, laboring humanity would
perish. The rhythm and rhyme
pulsing down the boulevards we
call music grow. Reach. From
our calle carolina to
california. By nurturing the
creative soul of music city, we
bevel the rough edges of a
troubled world. Music reminds
us that our lives are not
simply about making noise, but
about finding harmony in
different voices, different
experiences, and different
perspectives. As a songwriter,
I've learned that songs have a
way telling everyone's story.
And as a pastor, I've learned
that communities flourish when
we join with a common goal to
serve with grace, justice,
compassion, and conviction. Let
us pray. Loving GOD, we thank
you for this city and for these
leaders who have accepted the
responsibility of serving it.
Grant them wisdom. Give them
courage to make difficult
decisions and hearts that seek
the common good. Help them
remember those whose voices are
quiet, whose burdens are heavy,
and whose hopes depend upon
faithful leadership. MAY this
chamber be a place where
differences become dialog. And
service rises above
self-interest. Thank you for
these leaders who are guided by
love for this city. MAY music
city continue to be more than
the music it makes. MAY it be
the kindness we extend. The
dignity we protect. And the
hope we leave for the next
generation. We ask these things
with gratitude and humility.
Amen.
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.
All right. Welcome, council and
community members to what could
be our longest meeting of this
council term. We appreciate so
many of you coming out for the
public hearings this evening.
As of the start of this meeting,
we have issued 182 speaker
tickets for bl13, 91 and 24 for
the moratorium, civic education
and increasing access and
participation in local
government has been a hallmark
of this council term and our
nation's 250th birthday has
hopefully given us all
opportunities to contemplate
the great promise of our
democracy and the knowledge
that a democracy of the people,
by the people and for the
people requires all the
people's participation. Council
members will have a large group
of opportunity now. Summer
youth interns from a wide
variety of metro departments
with us in the chamber for
metro council 101 session on
the morning of monday, JULY
13th. It is always my hope that
we can show the young people
that visit with us the
diversity of their
representation in nashville. So
if you would like to join me,
please let the council office
know by noon this thursday.
Participating in democracy also
means voting. As elected
officials, we do our best to
make sure nashvillians have the
information they need to
exercise their vote in every
election. We thank our davidson
county election commission and
volunteers who do the same.
Early voting will be underway
before this council meets again
starting JULY 17th and
continuing through AUGUST 1st.
There are 15 locations across
the county where you can vote
early in state and federal
partizan primaries and county
general election. Midnight
tonight is the deadline to
register to vote. Sepulveda
mentioned that earlier in
announcements. In those
elections, you can go to go
vote tn.Gov or the davidson
county election commission
website via nashville.Gov for
more information. With only
about 6% of active voters
having participated in local
primary elections in MAY, it is
very important that we
encourage all of davidson
county's 471,000 eligible
voters to exercise their right
to vote in upcoming elections.
Democracy depends on all
americans reading, learning,
engaging and participating. All
right. Without objection, we
will spend the calling of the
roll and ask the clerk to
please record the names of the
members present throughout the
meeting. The roll call is also
the time when I share that we
have a council member
celebrating their birthday with
us this evening. Pro tem
already announced it, but again,
happy birthday to council
member sepulveda. Is there a
motion for approval of the
minutes of the meeting of JUNE
16th, 2026? All right. Okay.
There's a motion is properly
seconded. I do understand that
we have one member seeking to
clarify the minutes. So, MR.
Capp, you are recognized, sir.
Go ahead.
Thank you for
recognizing me, vice mayor. I
briefly need to move to amend
the minutes from the last
meeting to reflect my intention
to abstain from bl 2026, 1445,
1446 and 1447.
Okay. So noted.
MR. Clerk, without objection.
Members, the motion to approve
the minutes can be amended with
that change. Is there any
objection? All right. Now,
seeing no one else seeking to
be recognized for any change to
the minutes and the motion
having been amended with MR.
Capps, change, the minutes of
the meeting of JUNE 16th are
approved, as amended. All right,
MR. Clerk. Are there any
messages from the mayor?
Yes.
There is a message from the
mayor.
All right, MR. Clerk, go
ahead, please.
Dear vice mayor
henderson and members of
members, members of the council.
Tonight's agenda includes
several items that speak
directly to how nashville grows
and how we protect our
neighborhoods, institutions,
and quality of life. For months,
we've heard from neighbors,
families, and zoo supporters
from every corner of this
county about the proposed data
center adjacent to the
nashville zoo. I share their
concerns about the proposed use
of that site, but the question
before us is bigger than one
parcel. Right now, our zoning
code doesn't distinguish
between a server room and a 100
megawatt campus. That's a gap
we must close. I urge passage
of both zoning bill and the
moratorium legislation before
you tonight. As substituted
council member horton's
ordinance bill 2026 1391 would
give nashville its first data
center specific zoning
standards. I support this
framework and appreciate the
planning commission's thorough
work to strengthen it. The
legislation MAY not arrive in
time to apply, MAY not arrive
in time to apply to the
property next to the zoo, but
it sets the important blueprint
for how we regulate data
centers in our city. Moving
forward. Departments working
under executive order 59 will
identify further impacts and
determine how best to guard
against them to further
safeguard our communities.
Paired with councilmember
johnston's ordinance bill 2026
1448, which would pause new
data center approvals, we have
a responsible path. Press pause
and put thoughtful rules in
place. Separately, you have
before you before you tonight,
a late filed bill for my
administration. I filed
condemnation legislation to
allow metro to acquire the adjacent to the zoo
for public use. We've been
looking for space in this area
for of the city for some time
and have multiple needs that
this site would address. I hope
you will support that
legislation, which might give
us the only option available to
address immediate needs in this
area. I understand. Earlier
this evening, dc blocks issued
a statement that is full of
inaccurate wishful thinking,
divorced from reality, and
indicative of a company trying
to repair a pr problem that
calls for themselves. The
timing would suggest an attempt
to disrupt tonight's council
votes on data center
legislation. To be clear, I
called a meeting because there
are three parties interested in
the property and metro intends
to acquire the land. We will
proceed in metro's interest.
Thank you to this council for
the seriousness you bring to
these questions and to the many
nashvillians who will spend
their tuesday evening
participating in your
government that represents
local government at its best,
and I appreciate it. Every time
a nashvillian works to make
their city a better place, I
appreciate the chance to join
you on that journey. Best mayor
freddie o'connell.
All
thank you, MR. Mayor. And thank
you, MR. Clerk. All right. Next,
we'll proceed right into our
agenda. Section e 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. Chair, cash your brief
report, please. No vote totals
necessary. Simply the name of
those interviewed and for which
seats. And if a person in the
appointment confirmation
proess was unable to attend
your committee this evening, at
what meeting they will next
appear, please, sir, go ahead.
Chair. Cash, recognized.
For
community corrections advisory.
Jamal boykin for contract and
compliance board. We deferred
marcus t booth for one meeting.
Okay. For the contract
compliance board. Michael, I'd
ovadia and you sent me that too.
I'm sorry. For contracting
compliance for. Matthew. Neil
for director of law. Tyler
yarbrough for electric power
board. Robert boone for
employee benefit board. Thomas
curtis for farmers market board.
Jackson zeitlin for historical
commission. I've got five
doctor clay bailey, jay
brothers, caitlin jones. Doctor
marissa richmond and linda
nguyen for short rental
appeals board. Kevin griffith
was withdrawn for transit
authority. Whitney weeks.
All
right. So I appreciate you
sharing all persons that were
interviewed. And we will note.
Okay, that marcus booth is
deferred one meeting and
griffith is withdrawn. Pro tem,
you're recognized for a point
of order.
Thank you. Vice mayor
tyler yarbrough should be for
the director of law, not for
the electric power board. I was
just speaking.
I appreciate you
correcting the record. If that
was misread. Yes. MISS Tyler
yarbrough had her interview in
committee to serve as the director of law.
Okay. With that chair cash, you
are now recognized for your
committee report on the
appointees in the second step
of your committee's two meeting
process, with vote totals this
time, and a consolidated motion
for the confirmation of those
persons first for deferral
motion, if there are any, go
ahead, sir.
All right. For
bicycle and pedestrian advisory
commission, the reappointment
of alvin j. Haney. We approved
6 to 0 zero for the central
business improvement district
board appointment of
christopher carlson for term
expiring JUNE 15th, 2029. We
voted to approve four in favor,
one against and one not voting.
And then for the tourism and
convention commission. The
appointment of darius mcdonald
for a term expiring JUNE 30th,
2029 approved six in favor,
zero against zero not voting.
And I move the nominees.
Okay,
so there is a motion to confirm
these three appointees in a
consolidated motion, properly
seconded. That said, does
anyone wish to remove an item
from this consolidated motion individual
abstention or a no vote? MISS
Sepulveda, you're recognized.
Thank you. Vice mayor. Can we
remove the seabed nominees?
Yes.
Okay. Any other seeking to be
recognized in that regard? Okay.
So the amended motion at this
juncture is for the approval of
the or rather the confirmation
of alvin j. Haney and darius
mcdonald in a consolidated
motion. All set.
Move approval.
Okay. All right. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. Okay. And if
you'll hang with us so we can
recognize everyone who is here.
Appreciate you all that have
just been confirmed. Next in
our agenda is item f two
regarding the central business
improvement district board. The
seabed board, it is the
appointment of christopher
carlson for a term expiring
JUNE 15th, 2029. MR. Cash chair,
can you make a motion for that
approval of confirmation?
I
move the approval of
christopher carlson for the sea
bed.
Okay. All right. And with
that, we will move to the vote.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting? No. Okay. MR. Clark,
is that sufficient to record
with raised hands? Okay. Any
abstaining? Okay. Council has
confirmed. Also christopher
carlson. So it appears that we
have some of our confirmed
appointees with us this evening.
If you chose to return to the
council chamber, which is not
required, do please stand and
be recognized as I call your
name. Council has confirmed the
appointments of alvin j. Haney.
He was reappointed to the
bicycle and pedestrian advisory
commission. Council has
confirmed the appointment of
christopher carlson to the
seabed board. And last but
certainly not least, council
has confirmed the appointment
of darius mcdonald to the
tourism and convention
commission. Thank you to
everyone for your willingness
to serve. We appreciate you.
Thank you.
All right. We are
now in section g nominations of
our. For our agenda. Council
members will have received a
memo from me on JUNE 15th
announcing two vacancies on the
municipal auditorium commission.
those vacancies will be with
terms expiring on JUNE 30th,
2029. An election will be
conducted at the AUGUST 4th
meeting so that your nominees
can go through our two step
process that those openings or
those vacancies were also
announced from this dais at
last meeting. And so I will now
open nominations. If you seek
to nominate someone, you can
get into the queue. Or raise
your hands. Council members,
we've been busy, but also you
got a memo and I mentioned it
at the last meeting. Anyone?
Can we defer?
Yeah. I mean, if
there are no nominations made,
it will we will just defer it
to the next agenda. We don't. I
believe special counsel need to
engage in any procedure. We'll
just. Okay. All right. So I
will close the nominations as
there were none. And then I
would point you all, please, to
my memo of JUNE 15th and ask
and and again, put it out to
the community. There are two
vacancies on our municipal
auditorium commission. If you
have an interest in serving,
please do contact your council
member so that they MAY
nominate you. Council members,
you know, please give that
board and commission a look and
see who is currently serving
and otherwise. And we will take
up these nominations again at
our meeting. Okay. All
right. Next we are in section h
of our agenda. That is the
public comment period. Members
of the public are tennessee
residents wishing to speak MAY
sign up at a table for public
comment outside the council
chamber from 5 to 6 P.M. On the
day of a council meeting.
Public comment is limited to 20
minutes total at council
meetings, and each speaker is
allowed up to two minutes to
speak. A person speaking on
agenda items must be
prioritized to comply with
state law. All right. With that,
the first, second and third
persons for public comment. So
I would ask that they all just
go ahead and come on forward.
Are trina huel, mannon hall and
john hamilton. Trina huel is
speaking regarding public
hearings, processes and
procedures. Go ahead, MISS Hill.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is trina. I live in district
six. Tonight I saw a neighbor
with a cane waiting in a line
that goes up a flight of stairs
to the second floor, just to
receive a ticket. Once people
receive a ticket, they're
ushered. Not. Once they receive
a ticket, they're ushered into
what appears to be some kind of
cattle herding situation. And
there's very little seating.
And what I've heard expressed
out the one thing that
we can guarantee is that this
city does not want us to have a
place to sit, but people
standing in that line, right?
The last I saw, the line is
down the stairs to get a ticket,
which we have one staff member
sorting which of the two
hearings you want to speak on.
And I filmed and it's taken
about 90s to two minutes just
to get one person a ticket. So
I do appreciate that. A lot of
work went into planning tonight,
and I do think that this is an
improvement. But on JUNE 2nd,
constituents were asked to show
grace while standing in a line
that broke down immediately on
JUNE 11th at the planning
commission, people waited
outside a 90 degree heat and
were told the fire marshal was
the reason they couldn't come
in. I contacted the nashville
fire department deputy fire
marshal michael figlio. The
third responded in writing. To
my knowledge, there was no
enforcement needed from our
office regarding the occupant
load within the space as the
space was not over the maximum
occupant load, let alone near
it. Tonight's ticketed system
is an improvement, but a
neighbor with a cane is
navigating a staircase inside
this building right now, just
to get in line to speak with
nowhere to sit while they wait.
The people of nashville who
show up to participate in their
government deserve betterthan
this. We have deserved better
for a long time. Thank you.
I
appreciate your feedback. And I
will just add, for those
listening, any staff member,
sheriff's office, anybody on
the mezzanine or the ground
floor is very happy to provide
ada accommodation to anyone
about whom there is a concern,
and use the elevator rather
than the stairs. It is not
required to use the stairs. I
appreciate you sharing that
with me. Just want to speak
that for people's assistance.
MR. Mendenhall is speaking on
agenda item 73. This is our
s2026-2097. Speaking in
opposition, this is an mou
regarding law enforcement
within the public transit
system. Go ahead, MR. Hall.
Hi,
my name is mendenhall. I'm
speaking as an individual who
relies on the bus every single
day, and I'm asking you to
defer vote down this mou
between the metro transit
authority, mpd and rta. First,
I must ask why has has an mta
in time fully fund fully
launched the journeys pass the
journey pass program with
income verification. First, it
was going to be launched last
spring, then fall 2025, then
spring 2026. And now they're
saying by the end of the year
2026, why do they keep pushing
timelines with no explanation?
The transportation improvement
program, the the tip that chime
funded, approved by the voters,
only allocated $5 million for
security improvements over the
15 year program. It's in the
document. The mta has already
drawn down more than $5 million
for a currently non-existent
transit police division. When
the transit ambassador program
is being slowly slow rolled, we
are encouraging and acting on
getting the people that need to
ride the bus, the ability to
ride the bus more frequently
with the journey pass program.
When metro interacts, when.
When mpd and the security at at
mta on the bus. Their strategy
is just to ban someone for a
day, for a week, for a month.
That's what the policing and
the security do at wego.
Prioritizing more police at m
at at wego central and at the
bus stops is not
increase the safety because
those people will come back
after their their day, after
their week, after their month.
It's by bringing the transit
ambassador program to the front,
making that the priority,
putting that in place now by
having ambassadors who can
connect our bus riders with the
resources they need, like we
have resources, we'll talk
about it all the time, rather
than just banning them from the
system over and over again, we
can actually make our bus
system safer. Thank you.
Thank
you, MR. Hall. Next is john
hamilton, also speaking on
agenda item 73rs2026-2097 in
opposition. Go ahead, MR.
Hamilton. You're recognized.
Yes. And and hamilton is my
middle name.
Oh, I apologize
sir. What's your last name?
Bull bullbull.
Thank you sir.
MR. Bull, you're recognized.
The current system is effective.
I'm a frequent rider of the bus.
For example, yesterday county
transfers. I rode the bus for
for for nine routes. And I've
been riding the mass transit
system for a half decade since
wego implemented what security
arrangements they've done, it's
been very effective. It's if it
works, you don't fix it. My
opinion. Thank you.
Thank you,
MR. Bull. All right. That
concludes our public comment
period. All right. Now we are
moving into the public hearing
portion of our evening and our
agenda. These are sectionsi
and j, a resolution single
resolution, and then multiple
bills on public hearing.
Spanish interpretation services
are provided for all metro
council public hearings. MISS
Sandra obando is here as the
interpreter this evening. MISS
Obando, will you please share
how you can help? Please, ma'am.
Buenas. My name is sandra
obando. Soy interpreter en
espanol. Para la seccion de
esta noche. Si necesita
asistencia esto sentada
izquierda. Gracias.
Gracias. We
appreciate you. All right. For
those wishing to speak on
public hearing items this
evening, 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, you MAY want to tell us
in what neighborhood or area
you live, your connection to an
agenda item or project, or who
your council member is. Okay.
All right. First, in section I,
we have a resolution on public
hearing. This is agenda item
one, rs2026-2070. Sponsor
taylor this is a resolution
exempting vibes bar and lounge
located at 114 28th avenue
north from the minimum distance
requirements for obtaining a
beer permit pursuant to section
708090 of our metropolitan code.
MR. Taylor, you're recognized,
sir.
Thank you, vice mayor.
Move to open the public hearing,
please.
Okay. Committee report.
Well, we can do committee
report first. We've we've done
it either way. But for the
report of the government
operations and regulations
committee of chair hill, you're
recognized. Ma'am.
This was 20
2070. Ready?
Yes, ma'am.
Yeah.
We recommed six in favor zero
against zero not voting.
Okay.
Alrighty then. And now I heard
you request to open the public
hearing. Absolutely. So I
declare the public hearing open
for council member taylor's
resolution 2070 with all
members of the public here in
support of this resolution,
please raise your hand. Thank
you. Would all members of the
public here in opposition to
this resolution please raise
your hand? Seeing no one here
in opposition, do the persons
here in support seek to be
recognized or speak? Okay.
Thank you. Appreciate that.
Seeing no one here to speak,
whether in support or
opposition, I will declare the
public hearing closed, MR.
Taylor, and it is back to you
for a motion on this bill.
Given that you have, or rather
resolution with your committee
report in.
Thank you. I like to
move for approval with a brief
comment.
Go ahead, sir.
Thank
you. So I'll make it brief.
Thank you. So just give some
timeline with this. The vibes
owner approached me, I believe.
Late 2020 four, DECEMBER,
NOVEMBER and time's up. And so
and in that moment, there was
some pushback from neighbors in
regards to this project. They
had some apprehensions. And as
the property owner to come or
the business owner to come and
have a conversation, and over
time, that business owner made
a vow to be a good neighbor.
And so since that time that
they've come to that community
meeting opened and moved
forward, they vowed to be a
good neighbor. We just recently
had a community meeting. This
topic was on the table. They've
been such a good community
member that the community was
mad at me for not giving them
the permit already. And so
moving forward, I'd just like
to thank the the property owner,
the community members for
working through this process
with me, and I renew my motion
to approve.
All right. There's
a motion to approve, properly
seconded. Is there any
discussion on this resolution?
Council member alan, you're
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
Chair. If I might just make a
couple of comments. I had a
good conversation with council
member taylor. Some concerns
from some of my constituents
who live on the other side of
west end, just about past
behavior, which he has, has
addressed. And so I guess my
question would be he's been
motivated to have good behavior
to get this beer permit, and I
am fully confident that he will
continue in that in that vein,
which is good. Is there someone
who could answer the question
of if that motivation to get
the beer permit isno longer
there? And there was a
regression to former past
behavior that had been
troubling neighbors. Is there a
process for revocation of beer
permits that would just provide
some comfort in terms of number
of calls to police, for example,
or something like that?
So the
question is potentially to
special counsel. Is there a
specific procedure relative to
revocation related to the
number of.
That has been a past
measure of.
Certified or.
Calls
to police. Is something
measurable? Okay. That number
had been very high many years
ago. It has not been high for a
number of years, and I very
much appreciate the change.
Particular to this property,
particular.
To this property.
Is there is there a process for
revoking permits that could
provide neighbors just a little
bit of assurance that that
we're good.
Special counsel. Is
there anything codified to that
effect, sir?
Yes, vice mayor,
there is within the urban
services district. Their permit
board has the power within its
discretion and in addition to
other penalties to suspend for
a period of time, revoked
permanently any beer permit for
violation of the metro code
upon giving a the permit holder
written notice and. The written
notice within the rules and
regulations of the beer permit
board.
I appreciate that
assurance. I support this and
and will let my constituents
know that we're covered.
all
right.
Appreciate the work that
councilmember taylor did.
Okay.
Is there any further discussion
on this resolution? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining?
All right. This resolution has
been adopted. Next section j
bills on public hearing. Agenda
item two, ordinance bl2026-1314.
Sponsors horton and evan siegel.
This is an ordinance amending
certain sections and
subsections of chapters 2.104,
6.26, 13.32, 17.2, 4.2,
8.36 of the metro code of laws
to correct typographical errors,
incorrect references.
Redundancies and other minor
errors. Council member horton.
You're recognized, sir. Is
there anybody? This is
predominantly planning and
zoning. I don't know if. Vice
chair harrell planning and
zoning. Would you be willing to
sign on to this bill, sir, for
purposes of keeping this moving?
Oh, I'm sorry, MR. Hill.
Yes.
Okay. MR. Clark, so noted. And
given that, MR. Harrell, do you
seek to open the public hearing
to staff, know that that is MR.
Horton's intent at this time?
Okay.
Open the public hearing.
All right. Okay. I declare the
public hearing open for council
members. Horton,evan siegel
and harrell's ordinance 1314.
Would all members of the public
here in support of this bill,
please raise your hand? Okay.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Mr.
harrell, seeing no one present
on either side seeking to be
recognized, I will declare the
public hearing closed, and, MR.
Horton, MR. Harrell, your vice
chair has taken up that bill.
Are you okay with him? We want
to put it back over to you, as
I know you do have a substitute
and so forth. So the public
hearing is now closed. And with I can now recognize you,
MR. Horton, for a motion to get
this bill before us.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Apologies for that.
I'd like to move for approval,
please.
Okay. So there's a
motion to approve. Properly
seconded. We're on to
discussion. Do you seek to make
a motion to substitute?
I'd
like to move the substitute,
please.
Okay. Anything you want
to share about the substitute?
As the caption shared, this is
a housekeeping bill and so is
the substitute. Okay. All right.
And move for approval.
All
right. Is there any discussion
on the motion to substitute?
Seeing none. All in favor of
the substitute, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining.
All right. And MR. Horton, if
you renew your motion to
approve a substitute.
To move
for approval substitute.
All
right. Any discussion on that?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. All right. This
has passed its second of three
readings as substituted. Next
is agenda item three. Ordinance
bl 2026-1360. Sponsors, styles
and evan siegel. If someone
could please go get MR. There
she is. Yes, ma'am. An
ordinance amending chapter
17.28 of the metro code of laws
to amend regulations on
underground utilities. MISS
Styles, you recognize, ma'am.
Thank you, vice mayor.
Committee reports on this one.
Not at this juncture, no.
That's on third.
Get moved.
Open the public hearing. Okay.
I declare the public hearing
open for council member styles
and evan siegel's ordinance,
1360. Would all members of the
public here in support of this
bill please raise your hand?
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? All
right. Seeing no one here on
either side, I declare the
public. Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
Where are we? Behind the column
here. Okay. I'm terribly sorry.
I have a line of sight issue
here. So is there one person in
support and one person in
opposition? Is that correct?
Okay. If. Let's see. So will
those persons wishing to speak
in support. Please come forward
to the podium if you seek to be
recognized on this bill.
Supporting speakers go first.
Does the person here in support
seek to be recognized or speak?
Okay, I literally cannot see
behind the column. Okay. Does
the person here in opposition
seek to be recognized and speak?
All right. Okay. So with no one
seeking to be recognized. To
speak, I will declare the
public hearing closed and it's
back to you for a motion on
your bill. Styles.
Thank you
very much. Vice mayor. I'd like
to move for approval, please.
All right. There's a motion to
approve on second reading. Is
there a second? It's properly
seconded. We're on to
discussion. Do you seek to move
your substitute at this
juncture?
Yes. I would like to
move the substitute, please.
Okay.
There you are.
There's a
motionto substitute. Okay. Is
there anything you'd like to
share about the substitute?
No.
Okay.
Okay. How? Housekeeping.
Perhaps a little bit. Yes. From
directly from planning, not
from me.
Yeah. The planning
department table. This was a
substitute provided
by the
planning department. They are
concurring that it is of a
housekeeping nature. Okay. Any
further discussion on the
motion to substitute? Seeing
none. All in favor of the
substitute, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. Okay.
MISS Styles, if you would renew
your motion to approve on
second as substituted.
I'd like
to move for approval.
Substitute, please.
Okay. Is
there any discussion? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. All right. This has
passed its second of three
readings as substituted. All
right. Next agenda item for
ordinance bl 2026-1361.
Sponsors benedict cap and evan
siegel. This is an ordinance to
amend chapter 17.37 of the
metro code of laws to establish
an east bank design review
committee within the downtown
code, also known as the dtc
council member. Benedict, you
are recognized.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor, I'd like to
open the public hearing.
I
declare the public hearing open
for councilmember benedict's
bill 1361 regarding the east
bank design review committee,
with all members of the public
here in support of this bill,
please raise your hand. Okay.
And if you happen to be behind
a column out and kind of give
me a wave. Okay, so I do hear
see some people here in support,
would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Okay.
Seeing no one here in
opposition, do the persons here
in support seek to be
recognized or speak? I am
seeing some heads being shook.
No. And so with that, I will
declare the public hearing
closed. And it's back to you
for a motion on this bill, MISS
Benedict.
Thank you, vice mayor.
I move approval.
All right. Is
there a second? Okay. We're on
to discussion. And you still
have the floor, man.
Thank you.
Move the second substitute,
please.
Okay. There is a motion
to substitute with the second
substitute. Is there a second?
Okay. Is there any discussion
on the substitute? Anything you
want to share about it, ma'am?
No.
We made improvements to the
planning department and with
other sponsors of the bill. So
it's better. Bill.
Okay. Any
any further discussion on the
motion to substitute? Seeing
none. All in favor of the
substitute, please say aye. All
right. And, MISS Benedict, do
you want to renew your motion
to approve as substituted.
Yes.
That please.
Yes. That's good
seeing. Just say so moved when
I reiterated. There. That's a
good deal. Okay. Is there any
discussion on that. Seeing none.
All in favor please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining.
All right. This has passed its
second of three readings as
substituted. Next is agenda
item five. This is ordinance bl
2026-1386. Sponsor styles. This
is an ordinance to amend title
17, the metro code of laws
zoning ordinance of the metro
government by amending a
portion of ridge view, udo
urban design overlay for
property located at eagle view
boulevard, unnumbered and the
northeast corner of eagle view
boulevard and baby ruth lane
zoned m, u, l and rm9. This is
14.21 acres to permit assisted
care, living and open space.
Council member styles. You're
recognized, ma'am.
Yes. I
actually need to defer this.
Okay.
Would you? I'm just
trying to figure out how many
meetings.
Okay. If you defer it,
you have to defer it to the
next public hearing because a
public hearing is required. You
could do that at the meeting of
AUGUST 4th or the meeting of
SEPTEMBER 1st, or the meeting
of OCTOBER 6th. Those are the
next three public hearings for
zoning items.
I'm going to
defer this until the. First
meeting in SEPTEMBER.
All right.
There is a motion to defer this
ordinance on second reading,
and it's a public hearing to
the first meeting in SEPTEMBER.
Is there a second properly
moved and seconded? Is there
any discussion on that motion?
Okay. Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. All right. This
is deferred to the first
meeting in SEPTEMBER. Thank you.
Next agenda item six, ordinance
bl 2026-1387. Sponsor kimbro.
This is an ordinance to amend
title 17, the metro code of
laws zoning ordinance. The
metro government by changing
from r s ten to r ten. Zoning
for property located at 1616
ashton avenue, approximately
540ft west of hydes ferry road.
This is 0.37 acres. Council
member kimbro, you're
recognized.
Thank you. Vice
mayor, would you please open
the public hearing?
I declare
the public hearing open for
council member kimbrough's
ordinance 1387. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Okay. Would
all members of the public here
in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Seeing
no one here on either side, I
will declare the public hearing
closed. It's back to you, mis
kimbrough, for a motion on your
bill.
Thank you. Move for
approval.
Is there a second?
Okay. There's a motion to
approve. Properly seconded. Is
there any discussion on this
bill on second reading? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Next is agenda item
seven. Ordinance bl 2026-1388
sponsor styles. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from our m20ns to a
r2a zoning for properties
located at 5118 mount view road
and mount view road. Unnumbered
approximately 360ft west of
highland drive. This is 9.4
acres. Councilmember styles,
you are recognized.
Thank you
very much. Withdrawal.
All
right. This bill has been
withdrawn. MISS Styles, bill
1388 will be withdrawn. Okay.
Next is agenda item eight. This
is ordinance bl 2026-1389. Also
sponsor styles. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from s p to a r2a
zoning for properties located
at five, three, two and 538
bell road, approximately 570ft
southwest of murfreesboro pike
and located in the murfreesboro
pike urban design overlay
district and corridor corridor
design overlay district. This
is 5.25 acres style. She
recognized.
Thank you very much.
I'd like to call for the public
hearing.
Okay. All right. Do we
have a notice issue on this one?
Okay. All righty. I had a note
that you might be intending to
defer. Just double checking.
No,
this one is the one that stays.
Okay. The other ones are good.
Got it. I appreciate the
clarification. All right, so I
declare the public hearing open
for council member styles's
bill one three, eight nine.
Would all members of the public
here in support of this bill
please raise your hand? Okay.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Seeing
no one here on either side, I
will declare the public hearing
closed. It's back to you for a
motion on your bill. MISS
Styles.
I could not read your
lips fully. Are you talking to
the seeking?
The planning?
Would you like to recognize the
planning table? Okay. Planning.
MISS Milligan, you're
recognized.
Yes.
Thank you. The
planning commission has not yet
made a recommendation on this
zoning bill. With an understand
we had an understanding that it
was to be deferred.
Oh, okay.
special counsel wilson, what
would you advise? Or would you
like me to. MISS Milligan? Do
you want to offer advice to
MISS Styles as far as the order
of operations at this juncture?
Yes. This is we are scheduled
to hear this in at the JULY
planning commission meeting,
which is at the end of JULY,
because we only have one
meeting. So if you wanted to
move forward with second
reading tonight, you could
defer third reading beyond that
date, which would allow
planning to have a
recommendation to you all in
advance of third reading.
All
right. So just to restate that,
that would be a motion to
approve on second with third
reading.
To be deferred.
At
which meeting? First meeting in
AUGUST. Okay. Is there a point
of order? AUGUST. AUGUST 4th.
Thank you. Sorry. I heard a or
in your little tonal sound
there. Okay, so that's a proper
motion. 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. So this has passed its
second reading and had its
public hearing here. It will
next go to the planning
commission for any member of
the community is listening. And
that will be at the JULY the
next, the 23rd at the planning
commission, at which juncture
it will be before this
body on its third and final
reading, and in committee at
that time at the meeting of
AUGUST 4th. Okay. All right.
Next is agenda item nine,
ordinance bl 2026-1395 sponsor
welsh. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws zoning ordinance. The
metro government by changing
from rs7 point five to r eight.
A zoning for property located
at 470 radnor street,
approximately 270ft northeast
of meade avenue. This is 0.2
acres. Council member welsh
recognized. Ma'am.
Thank you.
Vice mayor. I'd like to defer
for lack of notice.
All right.
And defer to the next public.
Hearing to the first meeting of
AUGUST.
Okay. Is there a second
for that motion? Okay. Is ther
any discussion on that motion?
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining?
Okay. This will be back on
public hearing at the first
meeting in AUGUST. Okay. Next
we have two bills. They are
companions to each other.
Council member parker for
purposes of the public hearing,
they can be taken together. I
will go ahead and read both the
captions into the record.
Agenda item ten is ordinance bl
2026-1396. Sponsor parker. This
is an ordinance to mental. 17
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance of the metro
government by amending a
specific plan and changing from
rs52 sp zoning for properties
located at 832834836838 seymour
avenue. 905907 west eastland
avenue. 939 30 c mcferrin
avenue and wait for it
609611613615625627639631, 633,
635, six, 37, 639, six, 41, six,
43 and 645. Richmond bend,
approximately 417ft west of
mcferrin avenue and located
within the greenwood
neighborhood conservation
overlay district in the
detached accessory dwelling
unit overlay district. This is
3.24 acres to permit eight
additional units and 3250ft
s of
non residential units or other
uses. And again, it's companion
bill which is agenda item 11.
That's ordinance bl 2026-1397,
which requires certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings
at all those addresses in 1396,
which I will mercifully not
repeat. Okay. With that, MR.
Parker, you are recognized, sir.
Oh, I'm sorry sir. Go ahead.
Thank you, vice mayor. I'd like
to open the public hearing.
All
right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
parker's bills. 13961396 and
1397, which are companions to
each other. Would all members
of the public here in support
of these bills please raise
your hands? Okay. Would all
members of the public here in
opposition to these bills
please raise your hands? Seeing
no one here in opposition to
the persons here in support
seek to be recognized or speak.
They are both shaking their
heads. No, MR. Parker. And so
with that, I will declare the
public hearing closed. And now,
as I come back to you, given
that you have substitutes, we
will have to take these up
individually for purposes of
substitution and passage. So go
ahead, sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I would like to move the
substitute on bill 2026 1396.
Okay. If we can if you could
please just move approval on
1396 to get it before us and
then.
Move approval of bill
2026 1396.
Is there a second?
Okay. And I heard you already
make the motion to substitute.
Is there a second for that?
Second? Okay. All right.
Anything you want to say about
the substitute, sir? All right.
There is a motion to substitute
1396. Is there any discussion?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining? Okay. If you
could renew your motion to
approve a substituted.
Approve
1396 as substituted.
Okay. Any
discussion on that? Seeing none.
All in favor please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining.
Okay. So that has passed its
second of three readings as
substituted. Next we're on to
agenda item 11. Go ahead sir.
I'd like to move bill 2026 1397.
All right. Go ahead. Back to
you. For the substitute.
I
would like to move the
substitute.
Okay. Is there any
discussion on the substitute
seeing none. All in favor of
the motion to substitute please
say I I okay. Any voting? No or
abstaining. All right. And if
you could renew your motion.
Move a substitute.
All right.
So it is. I'm going to presume
that your motion was to approve
on second reading as
substituted. Any discussion on
that. All right. Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining.
Okay. Ten and 11, 1396 and 1397
have passed their second of
three readings as substituted.
Yes, sir. All right. Next we
are on to agenda items 12 and
13. Again, they are companions
to each other. The both sponsor
taylor. The first is ordinance
bl 2026-1398. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from our six to sp
zoning for property located at
1038 28th avenue north. This is
approximately 138ft north of
meharry boulevard. It is 0.10
acres. Its companion 1399,
and it requires certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings
mentioned in ordinance 1398.
MR. Taylor. For purposes of the
public hearing, we can take
these items up together. Go
ahead sir.
Absolutely. Thank
you. I'd like to open the
public hearing for bl 2026,
1398 and 1399.
Okay. I declare
the public hearing open for
council member taylor's
companion bills 1398 and 1399.
Would all members of the public
here in support of these bills
please raise your hand? Okay.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to these
bills please raise your hands?
Okay, just wait just for a
little bit. I've been advised
that you just want to give
people a little bit more time
in case they are out on the
mezzanine. Again, we have
seating for anyone that has a
public hearing item coming in
front of these data centers. So
you can come on inside. If
you're listening upon the
second or third floor. Okay. So
with that, having held a little
bit of time there, I will
declare the public hearin
closed. And with that, it is
back to you for a motion on
your bills, MR. Taylor, because
you don't have any substitutes
or amendments, you can move
both of these in a consolidated
motion.
Absolutely. Move for
approval.
All right. Is there
any discussion on the motion to
approve 1398 and 1399 on second
reading? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. Okay.
These have passed their second
of three readings. Next are
agenda items 14 and 15 sponsors
lee and hill. Again, these are
companions to each other.
Agenda item 14 is ordinance bl
2026 1400. This is an ordinance
to amend title 17, the metro
code of laws zoning ordinance,
the metro government of
nashville and davidson county
by changing from a r to a to sp
zoning for property located at
5683 cambridge road,
approximately 479ft south of
spring park lane. This is 6.64
acres to permit 68 multifamily and again,
it's companion agenda item 15,
which is ordinance 1401, which
requires certain materials to
be restricted in the
construction of the buildings
mentioned in ordinance 1400. Go
ahead, MISS Hill. You are
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I'd like to move for a
two meeting deferral to the
first meeting in AUGUST will be
AUGUST the 4th.
Okay. All right.
So we will move these to the
AUGUST public hearing and
AUGUST 4th. That is the motion.
It is is there a second to hear
that? Is there any discussion
on that deferral motion? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. Okay. Those are
both deferred to AUGUST 4th.
Next is agenda item 16.
Ordinance bl 2026-1402 sponsor
welsh. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws zoning ordinance. The
metro government by changing
from rs7 point five to r eight.
A zoning for property located
at 412 veritas street, located
approximately 380ft west of
nolensville pike. This is 0.26
acres. MISS Welsh, you are
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I would like to defer to
the first meeting in AUGUST due
to lack of notice.
Okay. There
is a motion to defer to the
first meeting in AUGUST. That's
AUGUST 4th. It's properly
seconded. Is there
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? Okay.
This will next be taken up on
AUGUST the 4th. Next, our
agenda items 17 and 18. They
are companions to each other.
Sponsor parker. The first is
ordinance bl 2026-1403. This is
an ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by amending a specific plan for
various properties generally
located west of gallatin avenue,
east of emmett avenue, south of
mcclurkin avenue and north of
douglas avenue. Zoned s p and
changing the zoning on
properties from r, s, five c, s
and or20 to s p. This is 19.09
acres. To permit a mixed use
development, and again, it's
companion agenda item 18, which
is ordinance bl 2026-1404,
which requires certain
materials to be constructed or
restricted in the construction
of buildings that are within
ordinance. 1403 councilmember
parker, you're recognized.
Thank you, vice mayor. I'd like
to open the public hearing.
All
right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
parker's bills one 403 and 1404.
Would all members of the public
here in support of these ills
please raise your hand? Thank
you all. Would all members of
the public here in opposition
to these bills please raise
your hand? Okay. There are
several here in opposition. So.
Persons in support do speak
first. And so if those persons
wishing to speak in support
wold please come forward to
the podium. Supporting speakers
will go first in. Persons in
opposition wishing to speak
will go after those speaking in
support. Do the persons here in
support seek to be recognized
okay? Go ahead sir. You're
recognized.
Michael mcnally.
Southern land, where the owner
and developer of the property.
And just here to say thank you
to COUNCILMAN Parker. We've
been working on this project
for several years. Some
modification to an existing s p
here to answer any questions.
But we're appreciate the time
and effort to review this.
All
right. Thank you, MR. Mcnally.
All right. Does anyone else
seek to be recognized to speak
in support? Okay. Seeing none,
do the persons here who raised
their hands in opposition seek
to be recognized or speak? If
so, please go ahead and come on
forward.
Hey, man. In nine one,
two. Strauss live in the
neighborhood. I'm really
excited about this development.
You know, it's already approved
s p my my concerns is like the
the homes that are now detached
in this along emmett ave. I was
really excited for there to be,
you know, single family homes
attached no side yards because
that meant there was going to
be more green space at both
like the corners. And there's
going to be, you know, space
for the community use the
community really likes right
now, the green space that's
accessible while, you know,
they're waiting for this sb to
be developed right on the hill
there. And so obviously the
neighborhood and the future
residents would be great for
those who live in the apartment
complexes to have more access
to green space. What this
amendment does is it removes it
moves some of the single family
homes that were attached and
makes them detached and adds
like, you know, five foot or,
you know, along those lines,
side yards, which over a whole
block, you know, gets rid of
all the green space that was
like basically a little pocket
park. And now, I don't know if
y'all been in neighborhoods
where people have like five
foot side yards, it's not
really usable space. It's kind
of dead space. And so by that
nature, it also is making the
homes more expensive. A
detached home is more expensive.
And the market than, you know,
a home that is attached. And so
obviously would love to see
homes that are attached and
slightly more affordable and
which ultimately benefits the
community. So I think if it
were possible for them to come
back to the table and find a
way to include green space and
make sure the homes are
attached, I would love to see
that. Thank you.
All right.
Thank you, MR. Hall. Go ahead.
Come on forward. Okay, folks,
we do not clap after folks
speaking. Go ahead sir.
Hi, my
name is liz shaw. I live at
2407 brasher avenue. And I just
want to read a statement here.
Thank you, council members. I'm
speaking on behalf of the
southern land lincoln tech sb
amendment, sponsored by council
member parker. The planning
commission approved this on
APRIL 9th by a vote of 8 to 0,
with conditions including
meaningful neighborhood green
space. And I have a statement
prepared by my neighbor, bree
merrill, also living on
bratcher avenue, who couldn't
be here at the last meeting.
The planning commission
recognized something our
neighborhood has been
advocating for from the
beginning that meaningful
neighborhood green space is an
essential part of this
development, not simply an
optional amenity. We left that
meeting encouraged because
there seemed to be a shared
understanding that additional
green space would help create a
project that better serves both
future residents and the
existing neighborhood. Yet the
latest plan appears to move
away from that direction, as
the commission's guidance was
viewed as a suggestion rather
than an important expectation.
Neighborhood green space
provides lasting benefits that
extend far beyond esthetics. It
creates a space where children
can safely play, where
neighbors can gather, where
families can picnic, where
seniors can walk, and where the
community can build
relationships. It also improves
stormwater management, supports
mature trees and wildlife,
reduces the urban heat island
effect, and contributes to
better physical and mental
health for the community. These
are investments that continue
paying dividends for
generations. This development
has the opportunity to become a
model for thoughtful planning,
one that balances new
investment with the quality of
life for everyone who calls
this neighborhood home. We
respectfully ask the metro
council to remain steadfast in
the direction established at
the previous meeting and
require meaningful neighborhood
green space as part of any
final approval. Thank you very
much.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized. Come on.
Forward.
Thank you. My name is
katie gustafson. I live at 905
b strauss avenue in the
neighborhood. And first of all,
I just want to really thank the
southern land company. I think
they've done a great job
engaging the community in terms
of this development. I will not
try to repeat what lynch said
so eloquently, which is just
the importance of green space.
And I would also just add to
that, I think some other
recommendations that were made
was a traffic study and maybe
additional access into the
neighborhood. It's hard to
imagine, I think, what that
space is. It's about 20 acres.
And I think in terms of what's
being proposed, which is super
exciting, and I am not at all
opposed to the development, but
it is a substantial number of
people and vehicles that will
be in that 20 acres. And so I
think all of us, the neighbors
and the southern land company,
want that to be a place that
still functions in terms of the
traffic and what that means for
people there. And so I would
just really encourage the the
committee tonight to reiterate
maybe by saying no tonight and
please come back with that sort
of additional information
around the traffic and
additional access to the
neighborhood. Thank you.
All
right. Does anyone else seek to
be recognized to speak in
opposition? All right. Seeing
none, I will declare the public
hearing closed. And it's back
to you, MR. Parker. With no
amendments or substitutes or
anything, you can make a
consolidated motion for both of
these, sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I think I'd like to
defer one meeting with a brief
explanation.
All right. So
there's a motion to defer 1403
and 14041 meeting. So just to
clarify, sir, public hearing
having been held, that is just
to the next meeting. Is your
intent for second reading. Okay.
Properly seconded. Go ahead.
So
I want to thank our three
neighbors from ren ra who came
out to speak tonight. It is a
kind of a relatively compact
neighborhood, and this s p
represents a significant chunk
of that neighborhood. So we've
had a ton of meetings over,
gosh, the last 4 or 5 years
about the original s p, which
is actually in place on the
site right now. And then this
amendment to the s p there's a
lot of great things in this
amendment to the s p we're able
to realign strauss, which is
going to significantly help
with traffic flow and safety.
The the way that the commercial
buildings engage with the
gallatin corridor, I think, is
a massive improvement over what
was in the previous s p the one
that's in place right now.
There's there's still obviously
a big desire from the community
for more green space. I do want
to temper expectations because
this is going from a open,
institutional campus style
development to a dense, mixed
use development. Like that's
still what's happening. That's
the s p that's in place today,
allows that to happen. So we're
not going to be able to add
like a park here. But what I'm
hoping we can do in the the
time of the deferral is take a
look at that question of, is
there anything we can do with
the structure, the s p that's
in place had, as one of the
speakers mentioned, more
attached product in the sort of
for sale multifamily area had
more attached product, which
means not burning
that space between units. And
is there an opportunity to
cluster some of those units and
yield a little bit of
additional green space? That's,
I think, the most viable path
to potentially making an
amendment here. That's what I
want to spend the deferral time
looking at as well. As, you
know, the planning commission,
we talked about how the area
around the mansion is going to
be programed or arranged or
addressed. So that's the
purpose of the deferral. And
I'll be reaching out to both
southern and some of the
neighbors to, to try and have
some discussions about that in
the in the time. So I would
just renew my motion for a one
meeting deferral.
All right.
And there's a motion to defer
one meeting to the meeting of
JULY 21st. It was properly
seconded. You've heard an
explanation from the sponsor.
Is there any further discussion?
Okay. And again, this is for
both 1403 and its companion.
1404. All in favor, please say
aye. Aye. Any voting no or
abstaining? Okay. These will be
back on our agenda on JULY 21st.
Okay. So next is agenda item 19,
ordinance bl2026-1405. Sponsor
taylor. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws zoning ordinance of
metro government by changing
from rs5 to r six. A zoning for
property located at 1704 10th
avenue north, approximately
80ft northwest of jane street.
This is 0.17 acres and located
within the detached accessory
dwelling unit. Overlay district
council member taylor, you are
recognized, sir.
Thank you.
Please open the public hearing.
Okay. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
taylor's ordinance 1405 with
all members of the public here
in support of this bill, please
raise your hands. Okay. All
members of the public here in
opposition to this bill, please
raise your hand. Okay. Seeing
no one here on either side. I
will declare the public hearing
closed. It's back to you for a
motion on your bill, MR. Taylor.
Thank you. Move for approval.
Okay. Properly seconded. Is
there any discussion on this
bill on its second of three
readings? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? Okay.
This has passed its second
reading. Next, our agenda items
20 and 21. They are companions
to each other. Sponsors lee and
hill. The first is ordinance bl
2026-1406. The second, 14071406,
is an ordinance to amend title
17, the metro code of laws
zoning ordinance. The metro
government by changing from a r
to a to sp. Zoning for
properties located at 56015621
cambridge road, cambridge road
unnumbered and 3314 old
franklin road. This is 42.2
acres to permit 79 multifamily
residential units and 100
single family residential lots.
Again, it's companion bill 1407
requires certain materials to
be restricted in the
construction of buildings
mentioned in 1406. MISS Hill,
you are recognized. Oh, I'm
sorry ma'am. Go ahead.
Thank
you, vice mayor. I'd like to
move for deferral to AUGUST for
two. Meeting deferral to AUGUST
4th.
Okay. So there is a motion
to defer these public hearings
and the second reading of these
bills to the meeting of AUGUST
4th. It is properly seconded.
Is there any discussion on that
motion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. Those will be taken up
on AUGUST the 4th. Next is
agenda item 22, ordinance bl
2026-1408. Sponsor welch. This
is an ordinance to amend title
17, the metro code of laws
zoning ordinance. The metro
government by changing from our.
As five to our six a zoning for
property located at 311 joiner
avenue, approximately 350ft
southeast of nolensville pike.
This is 0.17 acres of. MISS
Welch recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor. I'd like to open
the public hearing.
I declare
the public hearing open for
council member welch's. Bill
1408. Would all members of the
public here in support of this
bill please raise your hand?
Okay. Would all members of the
public here in opposition to
this bill please raise your
hand? All right. Seeing no one
here on either side, I will
declare the public hearing
closed. It's back to you for a
motion on this bill.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Move to approve.
All right. Is there a second?
Okay. Properly seconded. Is
there any discussion?
Okay.
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting? No
or abstaining? All right. This
has passed its second of three
readings. Next is agenda item
23. Ordinance bl 2026-1409.
Sponsor parker. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government,
by changing from our m nine to
rm15ans zoning for property
located at 705 a skyline ridge
drive, approximately 44ft north
of channing drive. This is 0.84
acres. Councilmember parker,
you're recognized, sir.
Thank
you, I'd like to
open the public hearing.
I
declare the public hearing open
for council member parker's
ordinance 1409. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Thank you.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Seeing
no one here in opposition, does
the gentleman here in support
seek to be recognized or speak?
He is shaking his head. No, MR.
Parker. And so with I
will declare the public hearing
closed. It's back to you for a
motion on this bill.
Thank you,
vice mayor. I'd like to move
approval.
Okay. Seconded. Any
discussion? All right. Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Next agenda item 24.
This is ordinance bl 2026-1410.
Sponsor taylor. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from our. As five
to our m20a and s zoning for
property located at 2839
georgia avenue, approximately
808ft west of 28th avenue north.
This is 0.74 acres.
Councilmember taylor, you're
recognized, sir.
Thank you.
Open the public hearing, please.
All right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
taylor's bill 1410. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Thank you sir,
and okay. Would all members of
the public here in opposition
to this bill please raise your
hand? Okay. Seeing no one here
in opposition to the persons
here in support seek to be
recognized or speak. They are
both shaking their heads. No.
And so with that, I will
declare the public hearing
closed, MR. Taylor, and it's
back to you for a motion on
this bill.
move for approval.
Okay. Is there a second
properly moved and seconded. Okay. Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. All right. This has
passed its second of three next, our agenda
items 25 and 26. Again, they
are companions to each other.
Sponsors lee and hill. The
first is ordinance bl 2026-1411.
The second is 14121411. Is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from a r to a to sp.
Zoning for property located at
13181 old hickory boulevard at
the corner of old hickory
boulevard and twin oaks lane.
This is 4.97 acres to permit a
mixed use development, and then
again, the companion 1412
requires certain materials to
be restricted in the
construction of buildings of
council member hill. You are
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
Vice mayor. I'd like to move
for a two meeting deferral with
a brief comment.
Okay, so
there's a motion for two
meeting deferral such that this
would again be on its second
reading for public hearing on
AUGUST the 4th.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay. And that is applicable to
1411 and 1412. Is there a
second for that motion? Okay.
Go ahead ma'am.
I just want to
also add that there will be a
meeting at the cambridge
community center at 6 P.M. JULY
the 23rd. So I want to make
sure everybody was aware of
that as well.
okay. 6 P.M. JULY
23rd community meeting. Okie
dokes. No one else seeking to
be recognized for discussion.
There is a motion to defer to
the meeting of AUGUST 4th.
Properly seconded. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. Okay. Next is
agenda item 27. Ordinance bl
2026-1413 sponsor welsh. This
is an ordinance to amend title
17, the metro code of laws
zoning ordinance. The metro
government by changing from rs
five to r six. A zoning for
property located at 110 ludy
street, located approximately
270ft west of miller street.
This is 0.17 acres.
Councilmember. Well she
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I'd like to open the
public hearing.
All right. I
declare the public hearing open
for council member welch's bill
1413. Would all members of the
public here in support of this
bill please raise your hand?
Thank you. Would all members of
the public here in opposition
to this bill please raise your
hand? Okay. Seeing no one here
in opposition, does the person
here in support seek to be
recognized or speak? She is
shaking her head no. And so
with that, I will declare the
public hearing closed. It's
back to you for a motion on
your bill.
Thank you, vice
mayor. Move to approve.
Okay.
Is there a second? Okay. It's
properly moved and seconded.
Any discussion? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
any voting no or abstaining?
Okay. This has passed its
second of three readings. Next,
our agenda items 28 and 29.
Again, they are companions to
each other. Sponsor evans.
Agenda item 28 is ordinance bl
2026-1414. This is an ordinance
to amend title 17, the metro
code of laws zoning ordinance.
The metro government by
changing from our. S 15 to sp
zoning for property located at
6114 north new hope road,
approximately 352ft north of
central pike. This is three
acres to permit 44 multi family
residential units and ordinance.
Bl 2026 1415. It's companion
which requires certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings
in the aforementioned 1414.
MISS Evans, you're recognized
for purposes of public hearing.
These can be taken up together.
Thank you, vice mayor. I'd like
to move to open the public
hearing, please.
Okay. I
declare the public hearing open
for council member evans bills
1414 and 1415, with all members
of the public here in support
of these bills. Please raise
your hands. Thank you. Would
all members of the public here
in opposition to these bills
please raise your hand? Seeing
no one here in opposition, does
the gentleman here in support
seek to be recognized or speak?
He is shaking his head no. And
so with that, I will declare
the public hearing closed and
it's back to you. You can make
a consolidated motion on these
bills.
Thank you, vice mayor.
I'd like to move to approve
both bills, please.
Okay.
There's a motion to approve
1414 and 1415. Is there a
second? All right. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? All
right. 1414 and 1415 have
passed their second of three
readings. Next is agenda item
30. Ordinance bl 2026-1416.
Sponsor webb. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government,
by applying a contextual
overlay district to various
properties along shepherd hills
drive and twin hills drive,
southeast of gallatin pike.
Zoned r 20. This is 137.6 acres.
Council member webb, you're
recognized. Ma'am.
I'd like.
To
ask for one meeting deferral,
please.
Okay. Is your intent to
defer to the next meeting in
JULY or to the public hearing
in AUGUST? The first meeting in
AUGUST?
Yes, the meeting.
In AUGUST. Okay. There is a
motion to defer to the first
meeting in AUGUST for purposes
of public hearing and second
reading. Is there a second
properly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining. All
right. This will be deferred to
the meeting of AUGUST the 4th.
Next is agenda item 31,
ordinance bl 2026-1417 sponsor
tombs. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
-
of laws, the zoningordinance.
The metro government by
changing from our s five to r
six eight zoning for property
located at 129 elmhurst avenue,
approximately 96ft north of
lucille street. This is 0.17
acres. Councilmember tombs,
you're recognized. Ma'am.
Thank
you, MADAM Vice mayor, request
open the public hearing.
Okay.
I declare the public hearing
open for council member tombs
bill 1417. Would all members of
the public here in support of
this bill please raise your
hand? Thank you. Would all
members of the public here in
opposition to this bill please
raise your okay. Seeing
no one here in opposition, does
the gentleman here in support
seek to be recognized or speak?
He is shaking his head no. And
so with that, MISS Tombs, I
will declare the hearing
closed back to you for motion
on your bill.
Move for approval.
Okay. There's a motion to
approve. Properly seconded. Is
there any discussion on this?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Next agenda item 32.
Ordinance bl 2026-1418. Sponsor
spain. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws, the zoning ordinance.
The metro government by
changing from a r to a to rm9ns
zoning for property located at
7345 old charlotte pike. This
is approximately 322ft east of
old hickory boulevard and it is
0.93 acres. Council member
spain. You're recognized sir.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Like to open the public hearing.
All right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member.
Spain's bill 1418, with all
members of the public here in
support of this bill, please
raise your hand. Okay. Would
all members of the public here
in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? MR.
Spain, seeing no one here on
either side, I will declare the
public hearing closed. It's
back to you for a motion on
this bill.
Thank you, MADAM
PRESIDENT. I move approval.
All
right. Is there a second?
Properly moved. And second, is
there any discussion? Seeing
none. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Next is agenda item
33, ordinance bill 2026-1419.
Sponsor evans. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from our. S 15 to
our. 15 zoning for property
located at 3524 earhart road,
approximately 535ft south of
hess road. This is 3.2 acres.
Councilmember evans, you're
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I'd like to move to open
the public hearing, please.
All
right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
evans's bill 1419. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Okay. Would
all members of the public here
in opposition to these bills
please raise your hand? MISS
Evans. Seeing no one here on
either side, I will declare the
public hearing closed is back
to you for a motion.
Thank you,
vice mayor. I'd like to move
for approval, please.
All right.
Is there a second? Properly
moved and seconded. Any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No or abstaining? Okay.
This has passed its second of
three readings. Next is agenda
item 34. Ordinance bl 2026-1420.
Sponsor. Well, this is an
ordinance to amend 17,
the metro code of laws, the
ordinance, the zoning ordinance,
the metro government by
applying a contextual overlay
district to various properties
along cumberland hills drive
and northside drive, south of
gallatin pike. Zoned rs40. This
is 68.2 acres. MISS Webb,
you're recognized.
I'd like to
ask for another deferral till
AUGUST the 4th meeting.
Okay.
Is there a second? Okay. There
is a motion to defer the public
hearing and second reading to
the meeting of AUGUST 4th. It's
properly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? Okay.
This will be taken up again at
the meeting of AUGUST 4th. Next
is agenda item 35. Ordinance bl
2026-1421 sponsor tombs. This
is ordinance title 17, the
metro code of laws. The zoning
ordinance. The metro government.
by changing from our. As 52r6a
zoning for properties located
at one, 233 and 1235 john l
copeland boulevard at the
southeast corner weekley
avenue and john copeland
boulevard. This is 0.28 acres.
Councilmember tombs, you're
recognized ma'am.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor, request to
open the public hearing.
Okay.
I declare the public hearing
open for council member tombs.
Bill 1421. Would all members of
the public here in support of
this bill please raise your
hand? Okay. Would all members
of the public here in
opposition to this bill please
raise your hand? Seeing no one
here on either side, MISS Tombs,
I will declare the public
hearing closed. It's back to
you for a motion on the bill.
Move for approval.
Okay. There
is a motion to approve.
Robustly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No or abstaining? Okay.
This has passed its second of
three readings. Next is agenda
item 36. Ordinance bl 2026-1422
sponsor benedict. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17 of
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government,
by changing from rs7 point five
to r eight. A zoning for
property located at 863 argyle
avenue, located at the corner
of argyle avenue and emmett
avenue. This is 0.58 acres.
MISS Benedict, you are
recognized, ma'am.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor. Our goal is
correct.
Thank you.
For that. I
know I said argyle, but I
didn't.
Know you got it. I'm
going to move this to for
deferral to the first meeting
in AUGUST, please.
Okay. There
is a motion to defer properly
seconded to move the public
hearing and second reading of
this bill to the first meeting
in AUGUST, AUGUST 4th. Is there
any discussion on that motion?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining? Okay. Next, our
agenda items 37 and 38. They
are companions to each other.
Sponsor horton 37 is ordinance
bl 2026-1423 and agenda item 38
is 14241423 is an ordinance to
amend title 17, the metro code
of laws zoning ordinance. The
metro government by amending a
specific plan on property
located at 5901 california
avenue at the southeast corner
of 60th avenue north and
california avenue, zoned s p
this is 8.12 acres to permit a
mixed use development, and
again, it's companion bill 1424,
which will require certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings
at the aforementioned addresses.
In 1423. Council member horton.
Sponsor. You're recognized, MR.
Chair.
Thank you, vice mayor.
I'd like to open the public
hearing, please.
Okay. I
declare the public hearing open council member horton's
bills 1423 and 1424. Would all
members of the public here in
support of these bills please
raise your hand? Thank you.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to these
bills please raise your hands?
Okay. Seeing that there are
folks here, both in support and
opposition, are supporting
speakers. Go first. If the
persons here in support. I seek
to be recognized and speak. If
you would go ahead and come
forward to the podium and line
up behind. All right. Go ahead,
sir, you are recognized.
Good
evening. I'm wesley smith here
in a personal capacity. I live
right down the street from this.
And what I'm most excited
selfishly for this project is
it fills a pretty significant
sidewalk gap from my apartment
to west park. I walk this
stretch several times a week. I
did this morning before work.
There's no sidewalk on either
side of the street, on the
frontage of this property on
60th, and so it connects
basically from the food project
to west park, also from saint
john, saint luke's community%
house to the park as well. So
it does a lot of what we say we
want more of in this city feels
sidewalk gaps paid by for by
developers and it builds more
housing. And so that's as
simple as it gets for me, and I
hope you will support it. Thank
you.
All right. I just do want
to make a point of
clarification. MR. Horton has
several items on the agenda
this evening. But this this is
an sp zoning particular to the
nations on which you just spoke.
Thank you, sir, but I do just
want to make sure that folks
hearing MR. Horton's name did
not queue up as it relates to
data centers. But if you are
here to speak on that item in
the nations, go ahead and come
on forward. Sir. You're
recognized.
Good evening. My
name is dean white.
My family
owns the property at 5901
california. I want to express
my support for the proposed
project. I. We've been a
business owner in the nations
for over a decade. We've become
very familiar with kind of what
works and what doesn't work
within the the group. And we
think it's very important to
have residential opportunities
as well as commercial
opportunities. And that's what
this project does.
Unfortunately, as a as the
owner of this property, we've
had a lot of really bad things
happen. Our property is now
vacant because of the sp that
was going to go on the property
our tenants vacated. We've had
numerous break ins at the
building. All the wire copper
wires been stripped out of the
building. We've got vagrants
that are living in the property.
We call call the police
numerous times to try to get
this situation addressed. And
it's it's been a real drain on
us and on the project. This
project would deliver housing,
retail space and a better
landscape community with more
trees and new sidewalks. The
team behind the project has
spent a lot of time working
with the people in the
neighborhood, trying to find
common ground. I think we have
got the support of a large
percentage of the people in the
neighborhood because as a
result of these efforts,
although we do still have some
opposition, we're ready to sell
this property. And
unfortunately, our plan b will
would have to be resorting to
an industrial use or continuing
an industrial use in the middle
of a almost 100% residential
neighborhood, which we think
would be very adverse to the
neighborhood. So we ask you all
to join us in supporting this
project.
All right. Thank you
sir. Next, speaking in support
of MR. Horton's bill 1423. Go
ahead ma'am.
Hi, my name is
mark. I'm a homeowner and
resident of district 20. I
wholeheartedly support this
proposal. I welcome this
development that would augment
our neighborhoods character.
We're in great need of walkable
spaces to build community, and
adding both housing and
businesses would help us
achieve this. I'm a mother as
well, and I look forward to
communal spaces that would
allow for my child to walk or
bike safely in the neighborhood.
And it's no secret that there's
a housing shortage in nashville,
and we continue to perpetuate
an artificial shortage by
trying to block important
measures like this one.
Opponents of this measure, by
and large, do not have a stake
in this neighborhood. They
either don't live here, don't
send their kids to our public
schools, and don't meaningfully
invest in our community. More
housing would help families and
renters move in. The arguments
against this are provably false.
Evidence based research shows
that renters socialize and
participate in their
communities rather than detract
from them. We need housing
options for people who would
like to put down roots in the
area, but can't afford a single
family home. In addition, we
need more families to attend
our local public school or my
child will be starting in the
fall. More registered students
means more much needed
resources as we lag behind
compared to other nashville
public schools. Property taxes
paid by developers would go
toward local budgets, which
will provide our public schools
with those resources. Opponents
continue to distort facts, rely
on misinformation, and provide
emotional arguments that don't
hold up to scrutiny. These
regressive arguments seek to
restrict growth and housing
options for people in need, due
to fears that are not supported
by facts. Mixed use buildings
would enhance the feeling of
community in our neighborhood.
This phenomenon is widely
reported from tokyo to texas
will undoubtedly benefit from,
like the small businesses and
cafes that this measure would
attract. Blocking this measure
would prevent us from
increasing the quality of our
life and improving our
neighborhood. This development
should be encouraged here in
the nation's and across
nashville. Thank you for your
time.
Thank you. Go ahead and
come on forward.
Katelyn jones.
I'm a I own a townhome in the
west mill townhome development,
which is directly adjacent to
this property. And I'm actually
here for a different agenda
item. But while I was sitting
here for a little bit of time,
I saw that this was on the
agenda and attended a community
meeting about it. So I just
wanted to vote or say support,
say that I'm in support of this
project. Again, I've lived in
that townhome for several years
and have seen the property just
become derelict. There's, you
know, and I just think that
this development, they've
worked a lot with the community.
Again, I the the developer
would partners came to me as a
former member of the board of
my townhome development to set
up a community meeting with the
townhomes that were directly
adjacent to. They've really
worked, I think, to, to get
information to us. So I'm just
excited about more housing in
the neighborhood. This is a
perfect parcel. It's in tucked
in the neighborhood. I just
think that that the current
development that they have
slated is what's appropriate
for the neighborhood and what's
going to add to the
neighborhood. And I'm excited
about it as someone who has a
property next door. So I just
wanted to voice my favor for
this project. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead and come on
forward. Y'all can come up a
little bit closer to the podium
so we can just keep it moving.
Go ahead sir.
hi, I'm adam
nicholson, I live in district
30. I'm speaking in favor
because this is the kind of
thing we need to be building
all over the city. At about
90,000 units shortfall. This
area has sidewalks. Only 90% of
the city has sidewalks. There's
west park city park two blocks
away. Highly desirable
neighborhood. So much better to
absorb this kind of demand in
this area versus greenfield
development's bottlenecking off
the highways going to zoom
through town. Give us more
traffic. These people are
already where they want to be.
I would much rather see this
kind of thing in my
neighborhood instead of a data
center. I would love to have
more neighbors in the existing
desirable neighborhoods.
Belmont. Hillsborough just lost
a 50 unit multifamily
affordable unit in favor of a
handful of multi million dollar
single family homes. So we can
do better. Please support this.
Thank you. Go ahead sir. You're
recognized.
Yeah.
Stephans 9 to 9 gill lane. I'm
the project lead and managing
director for wood partners. All
the 60th is thoughtfully
designed and created mixed use
development in the heart of the
nation's. We've worked hard to.
To get it to this point, the
updated city would transform an
inoperable abandoned warehouse
into activated, vibrant,
vibrant landscape neighborhood
appropriate development. Early
in the process, we explored a
large amount of commercial.
That project deemed to be
unfeasible. So we pivoted to
this plan. With this updated
plan, we've retained a small
retail footprint while creating
a project that's both
financially viable and
responsive to the site's
context. The updated sp has
less units, more trees,
sidewalks, crosswalks. We're
also maintaining essentially
the same height as the original
sp and essentially adheres to
the adheres to the udo
guidelines. Throughout the
process, we've worked closely
with the neighborhood leaders,
neighborhood neighbors nearby,
and business owners, and
COUNCILMAN Horton to understand
the priorities and shape a plan
that supports the area's
continued growth while
remaining feasible to deliver.
We're thankful to receive the
planning commission's unanimous
approval on APRIL 23rd. We
believe the project will bring
much needed housing to
nashville, and we appreciate
the support. Thank you.
All
righty. Thank you so much.
Anyone else seeking to be
recognized to speak in support?
All right. Now, if those among
you who raise your hand in
opposition would seek to speak,
please do come forward at this
time. Go ahead and come on down
close to the podium. Go ahead.
Ma'am. You're recognized.
I'm
rachel gladstone. I've lived in
the nations for 25 years. I'm
here specifically to ask for a
deferral this evening. The
original s p grandfathered in
because of featured adaptive
reuse of an existing building.
there's a 350 foot long mural
painted by 12 artists that will
be destroyed when this building
is taken down. The new s p left
out any mention of this mural.
The original s p had it in. It
is not mentioned at all. Once
the developer owns this land,
they'll have the legal right to
destroy this public art
installation and will have no
recourse to stop them. On APRIL
27th, sam horton assured the
neighborhood association that
the bill would not come up for
first reading until fall. I've
sent an email to all of you
showing you the art, the
beautiful art. And this meant
we'd have a few months to
figure out what to do and how
to dismantle the mural. But the
first reading came on JUNE 2nd,
unbeknownst to any of us. So an
artist sent a demand letter to
the developer with a federal
law that protects their work.
The visual artists rights act
requires the developer to give
90 days notice to each of these
12 artists before their work
can be touched. The developer
thus far has not replied to
this demand letter, which went
out on JUNE 23rd by certified
mail. And in the light of the
accelerated timeline being
pushed here, we respectfully
ask for this bill to be
deferred for a brief period of
three meetings, so the artists
in the community hve a
meaningful opportunity to
pursue every possible avenue to
save this iconic 150 foot, a
350 foot mural. I know the city
loves art. I know this council
loves public art. It's a huge
part of nashville and we would
like a chance to save it. We
don't want you to vote on the
merit of the bill.
Please do.
Your time is concluded. Thank
you. Go ahead and come forward,
please. You're recognized.
Hello, I'm becky turner. I live
in treaty oaks in the nations.
Some properties directly,
directly behind my house. And I
want to read a letter from one
of the artists that couldn't be
here today. It says, my name is
audie rocks. I am one of the
artists who created the nations
mural wall on 60th avenue. This
project, brought together by 12
of nashville's most prolific
muralist, to create a work of
art that celebrates the beauty
and diverse community that
calls the nations home. This
350 foot mural has become a
fixture of the nashville's
public art scene. Today, it's
at risk of being destroyed as
part of this redevelopment
project, the artist who created
the mural poured their hearts
and souls in this work, and by
all accounts, this is a piece
of public art that was
meaningfully meaningful.
Considered in the site's
redevelopment plans. It's
nowhere in there. We're going
to lose this great piece of art
today. I find myself in this
heartbreaking position asking
metro council for something
very simple. Just more time,
more time, time to bring
artists together. Time to
explore the protections under
federal law. Time to work with
the community and determine
whether this irreplaceable work
of art can be preserved.
Nashville proudly calls itself
the athens of the south. I hope
it can continue to live up to
this reputation by valuing art
as much as we do development.
Once this mural is gone, it's
gone forever. I respectfully
ask to defer this bill for
three meetings, so that the
artists and the community can
meaningfully opportunity to
take any action we can to save
and work on this opportunity
just to keep this piece of art.
So I would appreciate any
deferral at this time. So
thanks for your consideration.
All right. Anyone else seeking
to be recognized to speak in
opposition? We're not we're not
going back to support.
I'min
opposition.
Okay.
There's too
many parking spots.
Okay.
It's
it's it's less than two
football fields away from the
19. And it's a very short bike
ride away from the 50. Would
just love to see developments
like this with less parking.
Thanks.
All right. Thank you.
Anyone else seeking to be
recognized to speak in
opposition? Seeing none, I will
declare the public hearing
closed for both these companion
bills. And it's back to you for
a motion, MR. Horton, to get
them before us. I'm sorry, sir.
Go ahead.
Thank you, vice mayor.
I'd like to move approval with
a brief comment, please.
All
right. There is a motion to
approve 1423 and its companion
1424. Properly seconded. Go
ahead.
Thank you. First,I'd
like to thank all of my
constituents who showed up to
share their thoughts on this,
both in support and those in
opposition to the proposal.
This is not a new project. This
is an amendment to an existing
sb that was approved by my
predecessor back in 2023. The
sp is being amended to modify a
provision that requires the
reuse of the existing building.
That provision is being
modified due to damage that the
structure has incurred while
it's remained vacant, both due
to vandalism and an unhoused
community who has been residing
on the premises, the existing
building is primarily
remarkable because of the cool
mural that's on the side of it.
Ironically, that was not part
of the structure that was going
to be preserved in the original
sb, but it will be preserved in
this current one. It is the
developers intent to reuse the
mural and the new development,
and we'll all be bringing an
amendment to codify that intent
on third reading and can defer
it if necessary to if we need
more time to get that amendment
in, I'd like to remove renew
the motion for approval, please.
All right. There's a motion to
approve 1423 and 1424 on their
second of three readings. Any
further discussion? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting? Where in the middle
of voting. So. Do you have a
point of order?
I had when you
asked for additional commentary?
I put my hand up before we
started voting, if I MAY.
we've
moved on to the vote, ma'am, I
apologize. I did not see you in
the queue.
So you missed it. So
because you missed it, then I
don't get to say what I need to
say.
Well, it's on its second
reading. It will be in
committee on its third reading,
and we have already moved to
the vote, so we are not going
back. Okay, so we had said, all
in favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No. Okay. MISS Styles
will be recordedas a no. Any
abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Again it will go to
committee on third reading.
These bills are amendable on
their third reading. Okay. Next
agenda items 39 and 40. They
are companions to each other.
Ordinance bl2026-1425 and 1426.
Sponsor l 1425 is an ordinance
to amend title 17 of the metro
code of laws zoning ordinance.
The metro government by
changing from a r to a to sp.
Zoning for property located at
3233 hamilton church road,
approximately 315ft west of
buck passer avenue. This is 4.5
acres and located within the
hamilton hills. Urban design
overlay to permit 24
multifamily residential units.
And again, the companion is
1426. It requires certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings
in the aforementioned 1425.
MISTER L vice chair. You're
recognized, sir.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor. So I would
like to move to defer 1425 and
14261 meeting due to lack of
notice.
Okay. And so let's do
that one or rather two meetings
to the next public hearing for
purposes of public hearing.
Okay. So that will be a
deferral of two meetings to the
meeting of AUGUST 4th. And it
will have its public hearing
and second reading at that time.
Is there a second for that
motion? Okay. Properly moved
and seconded. Any discussion?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. Okay. Next
agenda items are item 41
ordinance bl 2026-1427. Sponsor
and hancock and MR. Horton
chair has signed on. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17 of
the metro code of laws. Zoning
ordinance of metro government
by changing from rs ten to our
ten zoning for property located
at 917 hospital drive,
approximately 444ft east of
kingsley boulevard. This is
0.443 acres. Council member
horton, you are recognized,sir.
Thank you. Vice mayor. I'd like
to open the public hearing,
please.
Okay. I declare the
public hearing open for council
member hancock and MR. Horton's
bill 1427. Would all members of
the public here in support of
this bill please raise your
hand with all members of the
public here in opposition to
this bill, please raise your
hand. Seeing no one here on
either side, I will declarethe
public hearing closed. It's
back to you for a motion.
Thank
you. Move for approval, please.
All right. Properly moved and
seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No or abstaining? Okay.
This is passed its second of
three readings. Next agenda
item 42. Ordinance bl 2026-1428.
Sponsor benedict. This is an
ordinance to amend title 17,
the metro code of laws zoning
ordinance. The metro government
by changing from our s ten to
munasanss zoning for properties
located at two, two, one two
and 2216 riverside drive at the
northwest corner of oakhurst
drive and riverside drive. This
is 0.60 acres. Councilmember
benedict, you're recognized
ma'am.
Thank you, MADAM Vice
mayor, I'd like to open the
public hearing, please.
All
right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
benedict's bill 1428. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Okay. Thank
you. Would all mmbers of the in opposition to
this bill please raise your
hand? Seeing no one here in
opposition to the persons here
in support seek to be
recognized. They are shaking
their head. No, MISS Benedict,
so I will declare the public
hearing closed. It's back to
you for motion.
Thank you. Move!
Approval, please.
All right. Is
there a motion to approve? It's
properly seconded. We're on to
discussion. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting no or abstaining? Okay.
This has passed its second of
three readings. All right.
last non data center item on
public hearing. Just the
regular old public hearing is
agenda item 43. This is
ordinance bl 2026-1429. Sponsor
spain. This is an ordinance to
amend title 17 of the metro zoning ordinance.
The metro government, by
canceling a portion of a
residential planned unit
development overlay district on
properties located at 8011 and
8087 poplar creek road and
poplar creek road. Unnumbered
approximately 2078ft west of
old harding pike. This is 39.2
acres and it's zoned r, s 15
and a r two a council member.
Spain. You're recognized sir.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT.
Last but not least, I'd like to
open the public hearing, please.
All right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member.
Spain's bill 1429. Would all
members of the public here in
support of this bill please
raise your hand? Thank you.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition this bill
please raise your hand? Okay. I
see you, sir. Thank you for
leaning out there, seeing that
there is a person here in
opposition. Does the person
here in support seek to be
recognized and speak? Persons
in support will go first if you
seek to speak. Okay. All right.
You are recognized to speak in
support. Go ahead. Oh, I'm
sorry ma'am, I apologize. I did
not have your mic on and I
would ask that you also just
stand very close to the mic as
well. Thank you.
Jane stretch
in support.
This is family
property that was had a pud
overlay on it that we are
seeking to take the overlay off
so that it can return to farm
property, as my father
initially intended it to be our
one of our children and her
family want to build on it and
operate it in the way that it
was operated in the past and
that dad sought to have
preserved.
All right. Thank you,
ma'am. Just a person here in
opposition behind the column
seek to be recognized and speak.
Okay. Just just to make sure
anyone else here in support.
Okay. Go ahead. In opposition,
you MAY come forward. Go ahead.
I'm only. I live on poplar
creek, and all I knew about
this was they're trying to take
away from being residential.
And so I figured I wanted to
remain residential. But she's
saying it's going to go to
farmland instead of homes.
That's even better. I just
didn't want it to be okay.
All
right. So is anyone else
seeking to be recognized in in
opposition? Okay. Seeing none,
I will declare the public
hearing closed. It's back to
you, MR. Spain, for a motion on
your bill, sir.
Thank you,
MADAM PRESIDENT. Apparently, we
could have done a better job
communicating the intent of
this. But as was mentioned, the
existing pud calls for another
90 plus homes on this property
was included as a possible
future phase five of poplar
creek estates. That's not going
to happen. You heard from MR.
Ransom what the intent for the
property is. With that, I move
approval.
Okay. All right.
There's a motion to approve her
second. All right. Is there any
further discussion on this bill?
Okay. Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its second of three
readings. Alrighty. Okay, so
now we are moving in to the
portion of our public hearing
related to data centers. This
portion of the public hearing,
as you all who have very
patiently waited, are aware,
has ticketed, queuing and
ticketed speaking so as not to
be tedious throughout the
evening. I am not going to call
people sort of number by number
at this juncture. I presume we
kind of have our our first five.
And what I am going to do
occasionally is just ask the
person who is speaking what
their ticket number is, because
I imagine over time we MAY have
some attrition, right. And so I
will just ask for that
occasionally. And then I will
also update sort of the
listening or viewing or present
public on where we are from a
status standpoint. So this
first public hearing, and I
will go to the sponsor to make
it official, but this is for
agenda items 44 and 45. They
are companions to each other.
They are bills 1391 and its
companion 1392. I will just
read these into the record and
then recognize the sponsor.
1391 or the primary sponsor has
sponsors horton, porterfield,
gad huffman, welsh, toombs prep,
tea, benedict, spain, parker,
wiener, bo. Bradford, copen,
ewing. Johnston, sepulveda,
evans, cortez. Hill, allen.
Taylor, cap. Gamble, greg.
Suara, harrell and truffle. As
of this printing. So a lot of
sponsors. This 1391 is an amend title 17 of
the metro code laws to add
various new data center uses
and related definitions and
conditions to the zoning code.
1392 is the companion to that
bill that requires certain
materials to be restricted in
the construction of buildings.
So, MR. Horton, you are
recognized, sir. I'm sorry. Go
ahead, sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I'd like to open the
public hearing, please.
All
right. I declare the public
hearing open for council member
horton's bills 1391 and 1392.
We are just going to proceed
through. Let's see. Do we
actually ask if anybody is in
opposite. Okay. So this is just
like we do at the budget public
hearing. If you're for or
against or whatever, you are
just speaking on this bill. But
I will, I guess, for purposes
of dramatic photography, ask
what all members of the public
here in support of this bill,
please raise your hands. Okay.
Would all members of the public
here in opposition to this bill
please raise your hand? Okay.
All right. So as I stated
earlier, and just for the
general public to be aware, we
are going to have our staff
support folks in getting queued
in ticketed order. We don't
want folks to be standing too
long, and we will continue to
call people kind of from the
mezzanine and down from the
third floor as needed. I do
want to share with folks, as
you contemplate whether or not
you wish to speak this evening,
you MAY be here for several
hours. You are here in numbers.
And we see and we feel that you
MAY feel that folks have, you
know, spoken great words with
which you concur. So you each
have two minutes. You don't
have to use the entirety of
your two minutes, nor if you
see that others are saying what
you might want to say, the
ticket that you does not
require you to speak. Okay, you
might change your mind. You are
very welcome. You are very
welcome to speak. I do want to
let you know that as of 8 P.M.
There were 245 ticket ticketed.
Yes, sir.
Sponsors do we have
on this bill. 2828 sponsors.
Yes.
Thank you. And yeah, as
those were the 28 sponsors that
I read into the record, I think
MR. Taylor is perhaps
mentioning that, because what
that implies is this bill is if
every sponsor votes in favor is
is likely to pass this evening.
So as of 8 P.M. There were 245
ticketed speakers. So everybody,
if you want to do the math two
times 245 speakers is an eight
hour public hearing. Okay. And
so this is a public hearing.%
folks who want to speak will be
heard. But I would ask that
with respect to everyone here,
you know, let's let's think
about this as we as we go along.
Okay. And so with that, the
public hearing is open. And so
if our first speaker would
please come forward.
Hi. I was
not expecting to have to go
first, but. Good evening. My
name is catherine wyatt and I
live in the davidson county
side of hermitage, tennessee,
and council district 14. I'm
here to speak in support of
ordinance bill 26, 2026 1391,
because I want strong and
permanent rules and regulations
around data centers in
nashville and davidson county,
not just at fisk university or
the zoo, and not just for six
months. This means not a single
large scale data center goes up
in davidson county, hopefully
forever. But if not that, then
until the full scope of effects
on our power grid
infrastructure, water and
public health can be fully
understood, and the companies
who want to build them can
fully account for how they are
going to mitigate these effects,
so that the population of
middle tennessee is not left
bearing the health and
financial consequences of the
current run on unnecessary data
centers being built to
capitalize on massive tax cuts
to corporations, including dc
blox, a company headquartered
in atlanta, georgia. Thank you
to council member horton, my
council member huffman, and all
the other sponsors of this
ordinance for looking out for
davidson county residents.
Thank you.
Thank you. Next. Go
ahead, folks. We're going to
move much faster if we don't
have clapping. And if folks to
the podium will just come on
right on up and roll on through.
Go ahead, sir. You're
recognized.
Thank you.
my name
is rick heron. I'm a resident
of nashville, live in
germantown neighborhood. I'm a
volunteer leader with the
tennessee chapter of the sierra
club. I'd like to share my
personal thoughts on bill 2026,
1391 and 1448 tonight. The
rapid and unchecked growth of
data centers is quickly
overwhelming utilities putting
ratepayers at risk of increased
bills, undermining our
environmental goals and public
health, and putting our air,
water and climate at risk. I
urge council members to support
both bills 1391 and 1448 to
protect davidson county from
adverse impacts we've seen, not
only in memphis but across the
country, where tech companies
are allowed to run roughshod
over communities. I support
1391 as a first step in the
right direction, but the
current language in 1391 must
be strengthened. We need to be
vigilant to have not only the
intent, but the reality of
protections with real teeth.
And what we don't need. Are
holes big enough to drive a
trailer bed full of noisy,
polluting gas turbines through.
To that end, I urge council
members to support amendments
to 1391 that include the
following one the use of
renewable energy and
substantially increasing the
requirements in the bill so
that any projects do not move
us backwards from our own
city's goal of reducing
community wide greenhouse gas
emissions 80% by 2050. To the
extent any emissions producing
generators are allowed at all
for on site power, there need
to be very strict, strong
limitations so that these
onsite power generators are not
used for routine operations or
as a substitute for any grid
power produced by any s and tva
also need written confirmation
from any s or tva that they
have, or will have the capacity
to fully serve any projects, so
that power reliability for the
rest of us will not be
compromised. Again, I speak in
support of this bill. Language
needs to bestrengthened. I
urge council members to support
these amendments. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead and come on
forward. You're recognized.
Hello, my name is amber rose. I
am a homeowner in district
seven. Shout out to
COUNCILWOMAN Benedict. Ditto
what they said. I support it
and I'm glad there's 28
sponsors. So thanks.
Thank you.
Go ahead and come on forward.
You're recognized.
My name is
megan castleberry. I live in
nashville in district five. I'm
a member of the middle
tennessee democratic socialist
chapter, and I support bill
2026 1391 to hopefully in the
future with strengthened
language, prevent the
construction of all data
centers, but if not to prevent
and to strictly regulate the
use of ai in both fields. Arts
and education simply must be
regulated, as is taking a
direct toll on the creative job
market, as well as the
well-being of young people whom
I work directly with, both in
davidson and williamson
counties. The use of ai systems
aside, it's been shown time and
time again that environmental
impact of data centers on local
communities and the planet at
large are undeniably awful. I'm
a proud born and raised
tennessean. I have moved out of
state and back here largely in
support of the natural beauty
of living here and those data
centers. Wrecking that natural
beauty is a direct attack
against our humanity and
against tennesseans. So we're
in support of this bill. Glad
to see you all are too, along
with tennessee.
Thank you so
much. Go ahead and come forward.
And could you share your ticket
number, please?
Oh yes, I'm
ticket number six.
Go ahead.
And my name is rachel glidden
and I live in district seven.
And I'm here to support bill
2026 1391. I want to ask the
question, I guess, of the group,
which is basically, if the
people building these data
centers don't want to live by
them, why should we? That's
that's pretty much it.
Thank
you. Thank you so much. Go
ahead and come on forward.
Ticket number seven. My name is
riley newton. I live in
nashville in district six. And
I'm here in support of bill
2026 1391. I concur with
everything that's been said
before and I yield my time.
Thank you, thank you. Excellent.
Go ahead and come on forward.
Sir. You're recognized.
I am
ticket number eight.
not
everybody has to state their
ticket. I'm just going to ask
occasionally, but thank you. Go
ahead.
My name is henry bennett
jones. I've lived in district
24. I'm in support of bill 2026
1391. I've lived in nashville
my entire life and. I've gone
to the zoo as a child. And I
think that, you know, on behalf
of everyone that has grown up
going to the zoo and on behalf
of those that want to be able
to enjoy the zoo in the future,
I think that a data center,
there would be a extreme
detriment to my ability and
others ability to enjoy going
to the zoo, and an extreme
detriment to the surrounding
neighborhoods of nolensville
pike. Thank you.
Appreciate you
coming out. Thank you. Go ahead
sir. You're recognized.
My name
is amir meyers.
MR. Meyers, can
you pull that mic up so I can
hear you a little bit better?
Go ahead.
Sir, my name is amir
meyers. I am from district 28
around the antioch area, and I
am a. I am in support of both
bills. And honestly, I just
have to say, what's the point
of innovation if it's going to
lead to the harm of others and
I. I yield my time.
Thank you.
Go ahead, ma'am, come on
forward. And if you could share
your ticket number, I.
Am
ticket number ten.
Okay. Thank
you. Go ahead.
good evening,
I'm emily tataryn. I am in
district 29, and for the sake
of brevity, I'm here to tell
you that I am in support of
this bill. I am a fifth
generation nashvillian. My
daughters are sixth generation,
and I would like to leave
nashville in a better place
than how I found it and how I
grew up here. So please pass
this bill.
Thank you. Thank you
so much. Go ahead and come on
forward. Go ahead and come on
forward. You're recognized. If
everybody could keep coming
forward, not leaning against
the wall. Go ahead and come on
forward. Go ahead ma'am.
Hello.
I'm number 11, alex van zeeland
from inglewood, and I support
bill 2026 1391, 250 years ago,
our forefathers fought for our
right to live in a free country,
and 250 years later, I find
myself questioning am I truly
free? Am I free? When my
government gives tax breaks to
billionaires for the
construction of a building that
harms my neighbors? Am I truly
free when my cost of living
skyrockets? And the only answer
we the people receive is deal
with it. Am I truly free when
my data is more valuable than
my life? Your life, and the
animals caught in between? And
when our rights and civil
liberties are eroded by
corruption and greed, history
shows what comes next. The seed
of revolution. Just like our
forefathers before us, we don't
want watered down restrictions.
We don't want half measures. We
don't want data centers at all.
consider this my creativity.
Thrown into the boston harbor
and made this movement inspire
every other state in this
country to follow suit and call
out the people in power who
look to profit off the harm of
our citizens.
All right. Thank
you. Go ahead and come forward.
Sir. You're recognized. Let's
please not pause in between
speakers, sir. Come on. Forward.
Thank you sir. You're
recognized.
My name is alan
diehl. I'm in support of 1391
and. If heaven were on earth,
it would have to be the zoo.
There is so much to see and a
whole lot to do. From the
gibbons to the rhinos, the zoo
is the place to go. Where else
can you say pink flamingos?
There is a lot to do and you
never can tell. You might even
ride a wild animal on the
carousel. You can soar like an
eagle way up in the sky. Or
ride a toy train while the
people wave bye. But it isn't
just the animals that you see
at the zoo. The one thing I
hope to see is you. Let's not
put this data center here. It
don't belong. Thank you.
Thank
you sir, we appreciate your
poem. Okay, go ahead and come
forward. You're recognized.
Hello. My name is darcy keyser.
I live in nashville in district
five, and I support bill 1391.
I'm a nashville native and the
daughter of a prominent figure
in animal activism. My mom
started the first no kill
animal shelter in greater
nashville. As an animal rights
activist. My mom spoke for the
voiceless and that is why I am
hre today. I do not want to
see a data center built near
the zoo. This isn't just about
the animals, it's also about
the human impact. There are
three facts that support why we
should not have data centers in
davidson county at all. Power
supply. A typical data center,
takes up power of over 100,000
homes. Residents already
experience the horrors that was
winter storm fern. The
residents of davidson county do
not need to see rising
electrical costs and failed
systems again. Water pollution.
Our rivers already have been
tested and have shown a
persistent presence offorever
chemicals of pfas. We don't
need more water pollution.
Noise pollution data centers
can make noise of up to 85db.
This noise won't just impact
the zoo animals. That noise
impacts the entire city's
ecosystem. For example, birds,
frogs, squirrels, and bats have
mating calls that depend on
acoustical environments. Simply,
we will see a change in our
wildlife species and food chain
as a result. As a result of
this data center. In summary,
we do not need any new data
centers. I support bill 1391
because it puts restrictions
and rules in place about data
centers, and that's a start.
Truly, bill 1391 is only a
compromise to no data centers
at all. Thank you.
Thank you so
much. Could you share your
ticket number, please?
Number
15.
Okay. Thank you ma'am. Go
ahead.
Good evening, vice mayor
and council. I'm penny judd,
I'm a goodlettsville resident
and I serve on the national zoo
board. I'm here in support of
council approving measures to
create zoning rules for data
centers and other lawful
measures to protect the zoo.
While economic growth is key to
a vibrant city, this pause to
review and amend land use
policies is an important and
responsible step toward
balancing quality of life with
economic growth so that
children of all ages can enjoy
the zoo for years to come. Our
family has cherished the
nashville zoo, visiting often
for the past 20 years, enjoying
the wildlife and beautiful,
serene setting and is such an
asset for children and families
and a great treasure for
everyone in our region. Our
community has this significant
opportunity to protect animal
habitats, park space and
surroundings for generations to
come. With over a half million
petition signatures, it is
evident that our community
agrees with this sentiment.
Further, I support innovation advancement
as a tool toward greater
prosperity and american
competitiveness. This location
is simply not the right place
or land use for a data center
next door to this park setting.
With animal habitats and
surrounding neighborhoods. In
closing, the nashville zoo is
thriving as nashville's number
one tourist attraction, with
over 1.3 million visitors in
2025. As reported in the
nashville business journal. I
share this to encourage council
to rally around building upon
this momentum of great things
happening at the zoo and
protecting this amazing asset
for our community. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is noel shaw. I am a
resident of district 33, and I
am here in support of this
legislation. Thank you.
Thank
you. Next. Come on forward.
Hi,
my name is katie bridgeforth.
I'm a resident of district 13
near b and a and donelson. I'm
here speaking tonight in
support of bill 2026 1391.
Legislation surrounding data
centers is important for our
city, having clear guidelines
surrounding how and where data
centers can operate supports
the people and animals
nashville calls home.
Legislation once passed, canbe
amended as we seek to better
protect our homes, our
communities, our safe places.
Legislation sets a clear
precedent. Nashville protects
our communities. Research shows
the negative effects of data
centers on communities. To
summarize, data centers disrupt
the ability to live life in our
own city. Two proposed sites
near fisk university in
nashville zoo have united
people in support of better
legislation to keep communities
safe. Bill 2026 1391 is the
start in keeping schools like
pearl-cohn and mlk safe from
disruptions in education. Bill
2026 1391 is a start in
protecting the nashville zoo, a
place beloved by the people,
the animals who live there, and
the people who visit. For the
representatives who have
supported this bill, thank you
for your support of nashville.
And for those of you still
deciding, I am asking for your
support of bill 2026 1391,
protecting nashville and what
she holds dear. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead and come on
forward.
Good evening. My name
is dan russell and I live in
district 21 and work in the
environmental sector. I am here
because although I support bill
2026 1391, I want to see the
following changes made to it.
First, we needclear
definitions outlining what
kinds of data centers are
allowed to be built regardless
of size. Right now, quote data
center is a catch all term,
ranging from basic school
computer labs to advanced cloud
computing and ai use. We need
clarity here and much stricter
restrictions put forth on data
centers using advanced cloud
computing and ai that have
shown more harmful
environmental and public health
impacts, regardless of their
size. Second, I don't believe
the recommended distances for
new data center builds close to
residential, academic,
religious and conservation
areas go far enough. Small data
centers should now be one mile
away. Medium data centers
should now be two miles away,
and large data centers should
now be three miles away. Third,
all new data center builds must
run on 100% renewable energy
resources. This includes both
primary and backup power in the
event of a shutdown. Again, no
exceptions there. Also, there
needs to be a local incentive
program to transition current
data center centers to run on
100% renewable energy. Fourth,
and finally, revise section
seven on quote permits to data
centers under line item I to
where data center operators
must give now quarterly
compliance reports at the
beginning of each fiscal
quarter, as opposed to the
current language saying only
once a year, no later than the
1st of JANUARY, to keep these
companies accountable. Thank
you. And please consider my
revisions.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is jack settle. I live in
district 16. My home is on
sanford avenue, which is three
quarters of a mile from 648
grassmere additionally, I work
for an audio visual company
located less than half a mile
from 648 grassmere in district
26, and also do just want to
thank all the sponsors of this
bill, specifically council
members horton, welch and
johnston. As you probably
guessed, I am strongly opposed
to new data centers being built
anywhere in the city,
especially right next to me. I
have many concerns, as others
have mentioned, noise,
environmental impact, energy
use, property value, and the
quality of life in my
neighborhood. I feel like my
neighborhood has so much
potential, and this would be a
big kick in the face to put
that there. Nashville is a very
special place. It's as was
mentioned in the invocation,
it's an international hub for
business, music, health care,
tourism, and so much more. My
little slice of that that I fit
into is music and entertainment.
I'm a singer and songwriter
fortunate to get to play on
occasion at the bluebird cafe,
and every time I play there, I
meet people from like at least
two other countries and
probably ten other states.
Those people don't come here to
see our data centers. They come
here for our music, for our
talent, for tennessee's
incredibly beautiful scenery.
So let's continue to make
nashville welcoming place to
visitors, but most importantly,
a safe, comfortable home for
its residents. The people of
nashville have made it clear
today what they want. I'm sure
you all heard the chanting
outside and outside the
building, so I'm asking that
you vote in favor of us people
of nashville and not in favor
of an out of state corporation
asking you to say no to data
centers and say yes to greenery.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead
and come on forward. Hello.
Welcome. You can pull that mic
way down. Thank you sir. Go
ahead.
My name is josiah. I
live in district five. I love
the zoo and I want the animals
to stay happy and healthy.
Thank you.
Thank you, hang on,
hang on. Josiah. Wait there.
Okay. Go ahead.
Hi.
my name is
sarah rivas. I live in mcferrin
park in east nashville. Council
district five. I am here in
support of this bill. My eight
year old goes to school about a
mile and a half from this
proposed data center site, and
I want him to have clean air,
clean water. But the reality is,
every single eight year old in
nashville deserves that. Just
-
like my son in every part of
nashville. So I urge the
council to consider that it's
thegovernment's responsibility
to regulate corporate interests
before they hurt people, before
they hurt animals, before they
hurt the environment, if at all
possible. And I urge the
council to consider that in all
of the data center bills going
forward. Thank you.
Thank you
so much. Go ahead. Come on.
Forward. You're very welcome.
You can pull that.
Hi, my name
is jenny mott. My district is
29 and I support this bill. One
issue I have is with the metro
stormwater permits documents
showing that all three of the
site stormwater drainage
outfalls from the data center
currently flow onto the
existing stormwater
infrastructure located on the
zoo property. According to
permit documents, a and
sewer review was canceled with
no explanation. A noise review
was approved, but no documents
have been provided from it. The
zoo's stormwater retention
system is already
the zoo's retention pond works
overtime to filter stormwater
runoff, where the data center
plans to be built. The
infrastructure protects
groundwater and streams that
not only run through the zoo,
but also through the
neighboring community. The data
center will have detrimental
impacts on the well-being of
the animals at the zoo. Effects
of noise pollution from ai
centers on animals are chronic
stress, disruptive breeding
patterns, hearing damage the
constant hum can disrupt and
mask natural sounds that the
animals use to communicate
amongst themselves, leaving
them confused and agitated.
Prolonged or sudden noises can
cause direct hearing damage,
heightened anxiety,
cardiovascular or respiratory.
Arrest. Following the effects
of the air pollution on animals
can compromise their
respiratory systems, give them
neurological damage and
reproductive failure. The U.S.
Already has eight times more
data centers than any other
country. We have 4280 data
centers. The closest to us has
527 data centers. That is by
far the greatest number of data
centers in the world. And this
also I my notes for more for
the zoo, but I also disagree
with it next to the fisc.
Because of the same dangers,
noise pollution, air quality
and the stream, water or energy.
Thank you.
Appreciate you
coming out. Yeah. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi. My name
is jack smart and the nashville
zoo is ranked top ten zoos in
the country and top ten
attractions in tennessee, and
all six primates at the zoo are
endangered or critically
endangered. The leopard,
sumatran tiger, clouded
leopards, cheetahs, eastern
hellbenders and the nashville
crayfish. The zoo. The zoo has
over 350 species and 3000
animals, and the zoo
participates in over 50 species
survival plans. Ai, ai data
centers are being built at an
alarming pace. Posing possible
risk to to diverse and
vulnerable communities. This
one could be feet away from the
most fragile and rare
collections of of animals in
the country. The zoo's
incredibly rare animals and
endangered animals are the ammo
leopard, which is the world's
rarest big cat. The spotted
fauna is the first american zoo.
The national zoo is the first
american zoo to successfully
breed this rare animal. The
sumatran tigers are the rarest
tigers on earth, and the masai
are endangered species. The zoo
is is a great place and I love
seeing the animals happy. Thank
you.
Thank you very much. All
right. Could you please share
with me your ticket number? 424.
Okay, started at 837.
It is now 901 and we're on our
24 speakers, so we're moving in
good time. Go ahead. Ma'am.
I'm
perry del favero from district
20. In a perfect world, we
wouldn't need zoos. But our
world isn't perfect. Human
progress has inflicted a
permanent scar on the creatures
who share our planet. And we
can't turn back the clock. But
we can create places that
protect wildlife and promote
conservation. Zoos. Let's talk
about the elephant in the room.
Some people don't like zoos. I
love sharing with skeptics what
I've learned inmy two decades
of involvement with the
nashville zoo. These
educational institutions are
highly regulated by governing
bodies, overseeing construction
materials, diets, even which
bears are permitted to hump
each other. The zoos of our
childhood looked very different,
and as our knowledge has grown,
they've evolved. Zoos are the
reason we still have so many
previously endangered species.
Our national zoo has released
over 40,000 crested toad
tadpoles to their native puerto
rico. Countless wild animals of
today descend from raised
responsibly in human care. It
is through this work that I
believe we're atoning for our
environmental, environmental
sins. Zoos didn't earn our
trust quickly or by accident.
Over time,
society and
government demanded standards,
transparency and accountability.
The ceo of dc blocks claimed
much of the concern expressed
is related to last generation
data centers that were less
efficient and utilized older.
This is misleading, to put it
nicely in this context. Last
generation doesn't mean decades,
not even one decade. He's
referencing facilities that
were considered state of the
art only a few years ago. His
own words prove my point. Data
centers are evolving so quickly
that there are complete unknown,
as is their long term impact.
Responsible oversight shouldn't
be an afterthought. It should
be the starting point. Thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello.
My
name is dara rosenkrantz and
I'm a district 27 resident and
homeowner. I'm here to express
support for bill 2026 1391,
strong legislation that
protects every neighborhood in
nashville from the dangers of
data centers. We have the
opportunity to prevent terrible
harm, and we must. In my jewish
tradition, one of our most
important values is tikkun olam,
which is usually translated as
repairing the world. However,
many jewish scholars have
argued that a more authentic
translation is actually
preventing harm by setting up
systems that stop harm before
it occurs. That is what we have
the opportunity to do with this
legislation, and we must thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
Welcome.
Hello.
My name is
olivia cantrell. This is polly
and we are fourth and fifth
generation nashvillians. I
think my fellow citizens have
hammered home the ideas that
really illustrate how negative
data centers can be, the
consequences of which obviously
have been said. It is no secret
that data centers destroy the
environment in which surrounds
them, as well as the quality of
life. So although I support
legislation such as this, I'm
proposing something for you
guys to think about and think
about steadfastly. I would
suggest that we ban them
entirely in the city of
nashville. I would love for
them to be banned entirely in
the state of tennessee as well.
And that leads me to the next
question. Do we make decisions
that are good for nashville?
Are we steadfast in our moral
compass or are we misaligned?
And only my short lifetime I've
seen I've seen things happen in
nashville that break my heart.
I've seen this degenerate. I've
seen choices that leave our
local businesses and homeowners
hanging at the gallows. If
property taxes were gallows,
you guys would tell us to hang
in there. You know, there's not
much that we can do on our end
except for speak our voice and
our opinions and tell you that
I don't think the future is ai.
Inherently in my heart. I
believe ai is anti-human, and I
think data centers are
anti-human as well. I'm not
anti-technology, not byany
stretch of the imagination, but
I am against anything that is
anti-human. And listen to your
hearts.
Thank you. Go ahead.
Come on. Forward. You're
recognized. Thank you.
Good
evening.
My name is vesna
galovic. I live in north
nashville, district 21, and I'm
here in support of bill 2026
1391. I wanted to begin by
acknowledging this very moment.
Today, people from across
davidson county took the time
away from their jobs, their
families, their
responsibilities to come here
and ask you to protect
something. We all share our
resources, our neighborhoods,
our wildlife, the air we
breathe and the water we drink.
If I wanted to build an even
small industrial operation on
my own property, I couldn't.
There are zoning laws, setbacks,
noise regulations, and
environmental protections that
exist to protect my neighbors.
So why should facilities that
consume enormous amounts of
waterand electricity and have
the potential to create
significant negative impacts on
our communities, be held to
lower standards? Bill 2026 1391
is an important first step, but
it should do more than just
determine where data centers
MAY be built before any project
is approved. There should be
independent, transparent
evidence that it will not harm
nearby residents, strain our
water and power infrastructure,
increase noise and pollution,
or add to the cumulative
burdens already carried by
communities like north
nashville. The burden of proof
should rest with the project,
not with the community. Growth
should never occur and come at
the expense of the people who
call this city home. Our
neighborhoods are not
industrial parks. They are
homes, schools, hospitals,
parks and communities that make
nashville what it is and they
are worth protecting. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello. My name is
calvin canada. Like the country
district 21. And I'm here to
support bill. Bill 2026 1391.
There's a lot that's been said,
but I'm here to go further and
talk about the accountability
enforcement. So I'm here to
advocate the use of community
benefits agreements, which is a
mechanism for the establishment
of transparency between the
developer and the community as
as well as enforceable
accountability. Community
benefits agreement will require
the data center owners to do
things like restrict which
energy sources are permitted,
and restricted capacity caps,
local labor requirements and
publishing of all reports, such
as the utility of most of the
servers or all of the servers.
Seeing as most of the servers
that we have currently are not
even being operated near
capacity, as well as data from
sensors installed to monitor
the environment, which keep the
community informed on the
impact of the data center on
their lives. Instead of relying
on words which all too often
have been hollow. After all, we
wouldn't want a repeat of the
data center debacle debacle in
memphis. This will be a step
forward to ensuring this never
happens again. And that's all
for me.
Thank you very much. Go
ahead and come on forward.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is olivia molitor. I live
in district 17 and I support
bill 20261391. The ideal
scenario is there to be no data
centers at all. But with this
bill, the overall harm imposed
by the centers is mitigated and
the people recognize that ai
benefits no one except the tech
oligarchs and and anybody on
their bankroll. Any part in the
progress of ai is an
unmistakable betrayal against
the american people that we
won't forget. There are 546,890
signatures on a change.Org
petition opposing the data
center, and 17,459 signatures
opposing the fisk university
data center. Your public
servants. You're supposed to
act in the interest of the
people with this bill. I call
on you to not so so shamelessly
sell out nashville. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Go ahead.
My
name is taylor darden from
district 28, and I'm here in
support of bill 2026, 1391. And
I would just like to say that
as human beings, we are the
only species that has the
willingness and ability to
deliberately use our resources
in such a negative capacity.
There are thousands of species
in the state of tennessee, and
over 350 of them represented in
the national zoo alone. And
while I think, as my
predecessor said, it would be
great to have no data centers
at all, putting one anywhere in
a community, anywhere near the
animals and those that cannot
speak for themselves is an
egregious error and should be
opposed. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Could you please
share your ticket number 3131.
Okay. Thank you sir.
All right.
My name is ezra howard. I live
in district 22. I think what
this whole debacle sort of
illustrates here is this is a
lot of reaction. Like even this
legislation, while I support it,
I think it's good. And I think
there's gotten a lot of good
feedback on things to make it
stronger tonight. It shows that
we're all reacting to things
and even the ad hoc, you know,
previous 43 ish items that are
a bunch of zoning, that's an ad
hoc sort of approach. So we
need to really think about, and
I want to impress upon you,
like a proactive approach to
zoning on this, like just all
of nashville, we down zoned
like almost the entire cityin
the 90s. And we really need to
think about like, what is a
human centered, housing
centered approach to zoning
that can get us to the
affordability that we want, and
not just sort of picking at the
margins. We do this that lot
and that lot. And then we're
found flat footed with, you
know, a data center that we
didn't think of, you know,
ahead of time. And not only because I have a
minute left, because I don't
have prepared notes, I really
just wanted to take a picture
of my kid with, with those
resolution that there seems to
be needs to be better lines of
communication between the
administration and council too,
because like this was at least
on some level known by the
administration. And this could
have been brought a lot sooner,
in my opinion. I don't know the
back end stuff. You guys can
talk that out, but yeah, this
seems to keep happening where
someone knows something, but
it's not making it down the
line to legislation. So I think
that needs to be, you know,
improved either both on your
side and the administration
side, because it just between
this and the boring company,
because it has, you know, a lot
of sort of reverberations of
that story too. It just needs
to be, you know, proactive and
not reactive. So thank you.
Thank you so much. Go ahead.
A
lot of people out there.
So
good luck. Yeah. Go ahead and
come on forward. You're
recognized.
Hi, I'm carolina
sears. I'm resident of district
ten. And I'm also an
environmental justice advocate
here in nashville. I'm in
support of the regulation on b
with bl20261391 with some
caveats. But before I share
those, I really want to urge
our city council to legislate
more policies promoting clean
air in nashville. I am someone
who suffers from a severe lung
condition as a cf carrier and
with severe asthma, and I
already struggle to breathe
healthily in this county.
According to the 2026 american
lung association state of the
air, we are the 39th most
polluted city in particle
pollution, and we have a
failing grade when it comes to
federal air standards, data
centers have a reputation for
being bad for clean air and
water, but with regulation,
their impacts can be
ameliorated. I suggest that the
city council consider these
amendments to the existing bill
renewable energy. Encourage the
use of it to power data centers.
The more of it, the better.
however, due to the state's
peculiar definition of
renewable energy, I would
encourage explicit language
that specifies wind and solar
energy and not fossil fuels
such as natural gas. I cosign
what others have said about the
distance between data centers
and key places like residences,
parks, schools. Et cetera. They
need to be farther away from
people where people and animals
live in patron. Lastly,
portable fossil fuel turbines
don't allow the data centers to
use them. They are heavily
polluting. And our friends in
memphis dealing with x. I can
tell you all about how they are
bad for our air and our health.
And please remember, as you
legislate, clean air is not
optional. It is a human right.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Go ahead sir. You're recognized.
I'm dan tarango, district six.
I represent climate, nashville,
tennessee, interfaith power and
light, and the creation care
ministries of the tennessee
western kentucky conference of
the united methodist church.
Three organizations, a lot of
folks, tva just released its
irp. It's an integrated
resource plan. It has a
potential massive natural gas
build out due to data centers,
which would essentially
decimate any chance to
decarbonize tennessee and for
nashville to meet its carbon
goals. So our organizations
would really like to we really
commend the work that's been
done, and we really appreciate
the work that's been done, but
we'd like to see this
strengthened to make sure that
data centers, if they are going
to be built out, are built out
in ways that have renewable
energy and don't have portable
gas turbines. I do a lot of
work in memphis, and that's a
disaster. We don't want that to
see that happen here in
nashville. And so for climate
reasons and environmental
justice reasons, we just would
we appreciate the work, but
would urge you to strengthen
the legislation. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Go ahead and
come forward. You're recognized.
Good evening. My name is yana
and I am a resident of
nashville in. District 30. I'm
here this evening to speak in
support of council member
horton's legislation bill 2026
1391 to restrict and regulate
data centers. I live within
five minutes of the zoo, so the
proposed data center will
directly affect me and my
neighbors, dc block said. They
will build a data center only
50mw, but there are data
centers in northern georgia,
southwest michigan and texas
that are 30mw, and residents
there are registering 60db as a
consistent noise. Consistent
noise at this level has been
proven to affect mental health
in and well being. And
not to mention the effect it
has on animals and pets who
have more sensitive hearing
than we do. This is only one of
the many concerns that I have.
I don't have time to speak on
the severe environmental
effects or unnecessary water
usage, or the increased
electricity bills, which I
don't want. And even if dc
blocks addresses all of these
issues, which I don't trust as I can throw them, the
constant pushing and the no
means yes attitude is predatory
and unwelcome to the council
members that have shown support legislation. Thank you
for showing you care about us
and for the council. Members
have not yet shown your support.
We see you and we'll know who
to vote out next. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead and come on
forward. Could you share your
ticket number, please?
Yes. 35.
Okay. Thank you sir.
Hi, my
name is wesley porter and I
live in council district 19,
and I'm here today to voice my
support for bill 2026 1391. I
urge the city council to enact
common sense regulations around
large scale data centers, like
the one endangering the zoo.
And at fisk, I work in tech.
The proliferation of data
centers should not be decided
solely by those who profit from
them. Large scale data centers
are not inevitable. We have a
choice. We do not have to
accept a future of increased
energy costs,
most importantly, harm to our
overall community. Our
community shouldn't bear the
cost for the expedient personal
enrichment of a few. This is a
nonpartizan issue. I strongly
encourage the council to listen
to the unified voice of the
community. Support and pass
bill 2026 1391 into law.
Thank
you. Thank you so much. Go
ahead and come on forward. If
folks could come up a little
bit closer to the podium, that
way we can just rotate right on
through. Go ahead. Ma'am. Hi.
My name is grace wegener. I'm a
resident of east nashville in
district six, and I strongly
support bill 2026 1391. I
concur with what has been said
so far. I believe data centers
don't belong anywhere in
nashville at all, but if they
are built, they must be subject
to strict regulation and
oversight to avoid the
catastrophic impacts to
residents, animals and natural
areas that you've been hearing
about tonight. We cannot let
technological growth come at
the expense of working people
and our environment. Thank you
to all the sponsors of this
bill. I hope those who are
undecided will prioritize the
people of nashville and support
it. Thank you very much.
Thank
you so much. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Good evening.
My
name is winston wellington
wright, a proud alumni of fisk
university, class of 2017. And
tonight I'm here to speak in
support of bill 1391 and to ask
you all to ensure the
legislation remains strong
enough to protect north
nashville from the proposed 30
megawatt data center shell at
fisk university. A few weeks
ago, I created a petition
against the proposed data
center at fisk that has gained
over 17,000 signatures. As
mentioned earlier, I want to be
clear that despite the rhetoric
being shared by some officials
across the city, fisk does not
want a data center on campus.
The fisk university
administration and board of
trustees MAY have interest in
placing a potentially harmful
and destructive building in the
heart of 37208. But many alumni,
residents and students have no
interest in being the test
subjects for a potential quote,
unquote, do no harm experiment.
When communities across the
country have been fighting back
against these buildings that
have been making everyday
people sick. And while I know
many of you MAY be in support
of this ordinance, I have to
call out the optics that are at
play. Currently, it appears as
if nashville cares more about
animals than we do about the
residents of north nashville,
many of whom have
impacted by other forms of
harmful infrastructure like
interstate 40, which is forced
current and former residents to
live with the legacy of
intentional harm, displacement
and health impacts that still
have not been solved for
allowing the fisk university
administration to build a data
center of the proposed size and
power usage would exacerbate
and be a continuation of the
historic and current harm done
on the neighborhood. Again, the
fisk community does not want
this data center. This is why
I'm asking you all to reinforce,
through this ordinance
protections that will hold the
current university
administration accountable and
make no exceptions to allow a
large ai data center in 37208.
Thank you.
Thank you, MR.
Wright. Go ahead, sir, you're
recognized.
good evening.
Council members. My name is
scott hoeflinger. I reside in
the union hill region of
northern davidson county, and
I'm here representing myself,
but as well, the middle
tennessee group of the sierra
club. We believe that data
centers are a necessity for the
future of our nation as a
leader in technology, but we
must develop reasonable rules
and regulations accommodate
the infrastructure relating to
these centers that no matter
their size, data centers are
not simply another warehouse or
office building. They are a new
class of critical
infrastructure. Although this.
This is not a decision directly
on the table tonight. We
strongly believe that placing a
data center near our zoo that
could be expanded to quite a
large footprint footprint is
not in the best interest of all davidson
county. In addition to the zoo
itself, now there is an
opportunity to be a leader in
developing rules and
regulations that go beyond this
to be more comprehensive in
overall consideration of all
resources, including water
resources and pollution. Many
data centers across the nation
have been consuming water at an
alarming rate. Even those that
say they are recycling the
water or discharging polluting
water into sewer systems or
natural streams. Electrical
needs, including grid risk and
effects on tv. A carbon
emissions throughout the region,
air emissions from all sources,
particularly emissions
producing turbines. Noise
including all sensitive animals
at risk. Use of renewable
energy sources in lieu of
conventional sources that
increase greenhouse gases, land
use, long term and
comprehensive impacts. Given
the above, we believe that a
comprehensive set of new zoning
regulations is needed and that
bl20261391 could be a start
with additional requirements to
better serve the needs of the
community in the future. An
option would be to impose a
moratorium while those improve
regulations are finalized.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Go ahead sir. You're recognized.
Hello. The night before the
last one of these public
hearings, I weirdly had a
conversation with jeff uphues,
the ceo of dc blocks, and I
asked him to convince me. I
asked him, what's in this for
me? How is this project going
to positively impact my life?
Long story short, he completely
failed to convince me in any
way. I'm even more skeptical
about his honesty now. And this
is extremely subjective, but
I'm completely skeptical about
his honesty and maybe more
objective take away from the
conversation is that yeah,
there is no upside to this.
These companies don't come here,
you know, to improve our lives.
They come here to make money.
Among the crazy things he said
at one point was that his
priorities are his employees,
his clients, and then his
investors in that order. So I
waited to see if he would. I
let him dig his own grave a
little, waited to see if he
would say the community or
consent didn't occur to him. So
that's the kind of person we're
dealing with. There's a lot I
could share about the
conversation. He's talked at me
for like 30 minutes straight. I
barely got a word in, and he
sounds just dead set on this
project going through. No
matter what he said, they've
already put too much time into
it. Et cetera, et cetera, et
cetera. And he let's see. Well,
I just want people to keep in
mind these people lie. They lie
all the time. I mean, the
PRESIDENT Lies now and no one
blinks an eye. He one thing he
was harping over and over again
is how. This is not that kind
of data center. We're not that
kind of company. But that's
probably what they told
everyone in memphis. His
website says they're going to
be ai ready and whatever that
means. And then he is trying to
be that kind of company. So
full skepticism. Don't trust
these people. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized. Could you share
your ticket number, please?
I'm
number 40.
Ticket number 40.
Okay. Thank you. Go ahead.
Thank you for recognizing me.
My name is andrea young. I am a
former zookeeper at the
nashville zoo, and I'm also a
current master's degree
candidate at harvard university
in the field of conservation
biology. And I do appreciate
you all for letting me speak
here, and I appreciate the care
that I see that you are putting
into this project. I have a
short story for you, the great
auk. It was a flightless bird,
similar to the penguin that
lived in the north atlantic
until 1844. 44 john branson.
Seager is. And ketil catterson
are remembered as the three men
that were directly responsible
for the extinction of the great
auk. I bring up this tragedy to
highlight this, to highlight a
similarity. So in addition to
its threat to the zoo and to
the community, the data center
is a direct threat to the
nashville crayfish, which is a
federally protected species
that lives only in a handful of
tributaries near the planned
location. It is found nowhere
else in the world. It's a very
small creature, but it's ours,
not tennessee, but nashville is
its only home. So members of
this council and any
representatives of dc blocks
that MAY be present or watching.
I want you to take a second and
think about your names, because
you could, in the very near
future, be named alongside the
aforementioned men as humans
who directly facilitated the
extinction of a species. So
please do your part to prevent
or relocate this data center by
strengthening the regulations
of the proposed bill. By
fighting for enforceable
safeguards with real penalties.
This should include prevention
of any data center related
pollution of the mill creek
tributaries. So I ask the
voting members in this room to
ask yourselves, will you be
remembered as someone that
facilitated the extinction of
an entire species, or is
someone who did everything to
protect one of GOD's and
nashville's fragile creatures?
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi.
My name
is laura conwell. I'm actually
a resident of greenbrier, but
I've been going to the national
zoo for over 20 years, so I
hope you'll still hear me out
today. Executive order 59
highlighted four areas
concerning the data center
development, infrastructure,
environment, economy and
community infrastructure in
JANUARY of this year, at one
point in time, over 230,000
citizens were without power and
some for over two weeks. Dc
block says they will pay for
power used, and while that
feels like it should be, it
doesn't have to be said. The
what. What is the plan when
that power quite literally is
not there for environmental
concerns? We don't know.
Unfortunately, the tech
industry standard of move fast
and break things is now
encompassing our community.
Tennesseans are expected to be
involuntary guinea pigs in a
real time study of the
ecological consequences of ai
data centers, 55% of those that
support ai data centers cite
job growth. Companies like dc
blocks themselves will admit
that they do not offer that
many jobs. In fact, the permit
for this data center cited 25
expected jobs. Yesterday,
microsoft laid off over 4500
employees, citing that ai is
changing how things are done
for community. I think I will
let the unprecedented number of
citizens who have arrived here
today to show their support for
this item to speak for
themselves. And lastly, while I
was looking over data for this,
I was on facebook and I saw
comments from other cities
where they had held protests
against data centers. And one
comment I saw was, I wish our
governments cared for us like
nashville's does. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead, sir.
You're recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor and reps.
You're all
doing great. My name is stephen
mason. I live in district five.
I'm grateful to be represented
by sean parker, who wields a
chainsaw like jimi hendrix
played guitar. This was all
because of the power issues and
the trees. And so shout out to
you, sean, I, I own a one chair
barbershop in district 17. Go
nc. I support both these bills
and for previous speakers, I
believe this is a good start,
but given that lawyers for this
development lied about permits
in hand and billionaires say
this is inevitable, I can tell
we're in this for the long haul.
So courage and I support this
bill.
Thank you so much. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Good
evening. My name is danielle
caron. I am a resident of
district 19 and I grew up in
franklin, tennessee. I am a
professional mechanical
engineer, a leed accredited
professional, and a certified
decarbonization professional. I
am speaking in strong support
of bill 2026 1391. This bill
establishes a strong framework
for all future data centers,
and it represents a giant step
in the right direction. The zoo
presents an opportunity to
learn about where data centers
should and should not go, and
what sort of legislation should
be established for them. That
said, I have a couple of
suggestions for potential
amendments to the bill. The
purpose of a site assessment,
according to lead, which
considers it a core essential
requirement, is to protect the
health of vulnerable
populations by ensuring that
the site is assessed for
environmental contamination and
that any environmental
contaminant contamination has
been remediated. I believe this
should be consideredin the
amendment in future amendments.
In the case of the zoo, while a
human can choose to rationalize
or adapt to a constant
mechanical hum, the captive and
endangered species at the
nashville zoo cannot. The best
estimate of how an animal will
react to new sounds comes from
those who study it the most.
That would be the employees of
the nashville zoo. I believe
that there should be more
collaboration between future
data centers and the
communities with which it is
adjacent to. While it is true,
not all data centers are the
same, they all still consume
massive amounts of power and
electricity equals heat,
meaning thermal plumes form
around them. Eliminating water not eliminate
environmental impact, it simply
transforms it into a larger
power load that comes with a
higher chemical or atmospheric
leak risk. And the bill
addresses this very well by
requiring closed loop cooling
systems in the future, it MAY
be wise to establish more
stringent maintenance
requirements to prevent
groundwater pollution from
these systems when replacing
them. Data centers are a
meaningful piece of modern
infrastructure.
Thank you,
thank you. Appreciate you
coming out. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello, my name is
jimmy sears and I live in
district ten. I think it's very
good that metro council is
setting standards for data
centers, but I would like to
humbly recommend three changes,
number one, for clarity, that
-
the acceptable renewable energy
sources be comprehensively
listed, that the distance from
data centers to residential
areas be increased, and that
there be very strict and very
clear limits on any on site
emissions producing generators
or ideally no on site emissions
producing generators. Thank you
for your time and consideration.
Thank you very much. Go ahead.
You come forward. You're
recognized.
Hi there. My name
is wendy timmons. I live in
district 23, and for whatever
it's worth, I work in district
21. I am in support of this
bill, but I want to please urge
you all to keep pushing. It's
not enough for us to say, not
in my backyard. These data
centers don't really have a
place in tennessee. As people
living and working in nashville,
as people serving nashville,
the capital of tennessee, we
really have an opportunity here
to lead the entire state in how
the state approaches data
centers, their construction,
their location, so on and so
forth. Thank you for putting
this all together. Thank you
for your consideration. The
bill does take a lot of these
things into consideration
already, but please keep
pushing. Thank you.
Thank you
very much. Go ahead. Ma'am,
could you share your ticket
number, please?
46.
Ticket 46.
Okay. Thank you. Go ahead.
Good
evening, andthank yu for
sticking with all these people.
I just wanted to say that I'm
actually, I might cry. I have
four grandchildren that love
the zoo, and it would be
devastating to them. I'm from
williamson county, but they are
nashvillians and I just really
hope that people will
understand that it's not only
about the zoo, but it's about
families. And if you have
grandchildren, I'm sure you
take your children to the zoo.
I also want to say that I feel
that tennessee is a testing
ground for these data centers.
And I read today that blackrock
has put $41 billion designated
it for data centers. And I just
want you to keep that in mind
and that I hope we will not be
a testing ground for these data
centers.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello,
everyone. Thank you for those
speedy procedures to be able to
get through this. I appreciate
your patience. My name is joe.
I live a couple blocks away
from the proposed location for
the data center, less than a
mile from it and only a couple
blocks away from the zoo. I
have several concerns as a
neighbor over the potential of
a data center in my backyard.
And so I want to voice that. I
support bill 1391, declaring
the 1448 moratorium. And if we
need to, to consider eminent
domain in this situation, my
first concern is quality of
life concerns. I think the
psychological or physical
effects of infrasound, for
instance, are understudied
severely, and whose effects
could be both psychological and
gastrointestinal. Number two is
the displacement of local
wildlife habitats. I'd want
more rigorous environmental
studies, as has been mentioned
before, and those that live in
the neighborhood alongside me
know that the surrounding
creeks and trees host a diverse
array of local wildlife that
would definitely be affected by
this development. Number three
is an unnecessary strain on the
power grid. During the ice
storm this year, my house lost
power for seven days in JANUARY.
I don't want my house, others
or the zoo to be affected by
the increase in power
consumption. Also, dc blox
characterizes the plant
structure as a digital
connectivity hub, but they
still advertise, as has been
established as being ai ready
on their website. And I don't
know their clients. But my
fourth concern is the
ethics around ai. I'm worried
about a potential for copyright
infringement that undermines
the local artists here in
nashville. I'm a musician here
as well, so this directly
affects me and all four of
these ways. And I'm just one
person speaking, but I live in
a household with several others
who couldn't make it today,
that are happy voicing that
they stand with me and my
concerns. So thank you so much
for your time. I'm encouraged
by the potential to do good
here, and I'm thankful y'all
been willing to hear the voices
of the public on this issue. So
good luck.
Thank you so much.
Sir. Could you share your
ticket number 48? Okay, so I
just want to share before you
speak, that we are at just
about to hit 937. We began the
hearing at 837. So we are one
hour in and on our 48 ticketed
speaker. Just for reference, we
have 245 speakers, potential
speakers ticketed. Go ahead sir.
Hi, my name is adam murdoch. I
live off of harding place on
lynn drive, about a block or
two from the zoo. A lot of the
concerns. I had a couple
prepared remarks, but most of
them have been covered. I would
just pray and admonish you guys
to make the wise and just
decision with this, and I
support this bill in that to
that extent. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello.
My name.
Is
laine fodor and I live in
franklin, tennessee. I support
bill 2026 1391. I'm here to
speak on behalf of my many
friends and colleagues living
and working in nashville, many
of whom I gained during my four
years as a student at
vanderbilt. I not only support
this legislation for how it
will protect the quality of
life for fellow students at
fisk university and the people
and animals of the nashville
zoo. By reading noise, air and
water pollution. I support this
legislation because I believe
it will set the precedent for
responsible development
throughout tennessee. I second
the more stringent distance and
renewable energy amendment
amendments mentioned previously.
This legislation puts in place
common sense, distance, energy
and water protections for the
nashville community and the
environment, which are, in fact,
inseparable entities. I'm tired
of hearing the same story of an
industry coming to a community,
claiming to bring economic
development, and then
extracting all the value from
the people in the land with
little to no consequences. I'm
personally invested in the
issue of responsible
development. As a student of
both climate studies and
economics. This legislation
puts in bare minimum guardrails
on how data centers can be
developed, and lets the people
decide if they want to pave
paradise or put up a data
center lot. Again, I support
this legislation and thank you
for your time.
Thank you very
much. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello, my name is
ray covey and I live in gulf
view. I am a retired school
principal. I spent my life
teaching children to consider
the consequences of their
actions. I ask you to do the
same vote in support of common
sense guidelines on data
centers. In fact, tighten the
rules and regs and let this be
your legacy. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Good evening. My
name is annabelle davies. I am
a social worker and a lifelong
resident of tennessee. I was
born at baptist hospital and
have been blessed to call
nashville my home for my entire
life. Thus far, I know and have
worked with many, many people
who have worked tirelessly to
pursue the safety of
nashville's families and the
preservation of its ecosystems.
Data centers jeopardize both,
and have already been proven to
negatively impact both in other
parts of our country. And that
is the understatement of this
century. I wish I had time here
to provide you the list of the
debilitating consequences. I've
been around since the 90s, and
have been a firsthand witness
of the boom of our beloved city
of nashville. In the past ten
years, nashville has become one
of the fastest growing cities
in the entire country. We did
not need data centers to
accomplish this, and we
absolutely do not need them now,
especially if they do not come
with strict permanent rules and
regulations surrounding them
and where they are implemented.
I have confidence that I can
speak on behalf of my fellow
tennesseans behind me and in
the mezzanine and across the
state here, as well as the rest
of davidson county, that we,
the people are vehemently
opposed to ai data center
development in our city and
county. As things currently
stand, I stand here tonight to
vocalize my full support for bl
2026 1391, and I implore you to
stand with this legislature to
stand with this legislation and
stand with the people for the
sake of a healthier for
nashville, davidson county, and
all of tennessee. Thank you so
much.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
My name is
dave seaman. I live in district
16, just northeast of the
proposed data center site. I've
lived there for seven years.
I'm also an engineer and a
product designer. I think that.
Time and time again, we've seen
a cycle where we become the
product, and these tools end up
limiting our creativity and our
and our control. I'm not here
as a skeptic of technology, but
as a skeptic of the intentions
of the companies that build and
deploy these technologies. And
so far, dc blox has not made
the best impression on me as a
neighbor. I have a number of
ethical concerns about why this
location was chosen and who and
what it will impact as a
professional. Some of my
concerns are how do we know
this facility won't be used to
charge more at the kroger down
the street? How do we know it
won't be used to put carbon
uber drivers out of business?
More critically, how can we be
sure that it won't use be used
for surveillance or malicious
targeting here or abroad? Being
concerned, I read up on dc
blocks to see how they
described themselves on the
website. I found the value of
teamwork, which named customers,
partners, investors, local
community leaders and
government. But design tells a
different story. Above that
were customer testimonials from
holders of state and city
offices, a governor, a mayor, a
commerce secretary and a
director at google. That's a
lot of attention paid to a
narrow audience, and know
now that real life has
reflected what is on their site.
I think as a result of that
initial exclusion, we're seeing
what real community teamwork
looks like. We don't need a
data center without input from
the local community, which is
why I support both of these particularly the
moratorium. And I would support
more rigorous restrictions as
well. Furthermore, I think that
what we really need are
protections, rights, and
interests in our data and the
works that use them, not new
data centers.
Thank you.
Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Hello,
my.
name is landon nettles from
district district 13, and I'm
just here to show my support
for bl 2026 1391 and say that I
think I can speak for everyone
here that we don't like data
centers. And I would I would
feel personally very hostile
towards data centers, and I
want them and the profiteering
ceos and people that are in
charge of those corporations to
feel the hostile nature of our
opposition. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is jade
erwin. I live in nashville's
district 13 and I'm here to
support bl 2026 1391 and the
ordinance to follow. I do ask
that if you're looking at your
phone right now, you look up
here and pay attention. I
support the demand for
amendments to strengthen the
regulatory language within this
legislation and ensure that
there is no and will never be
room for interpretation that
puts our community at risk. I
agree with almost everything
that has been said at this
podium today, but I do want to
detail a couple things that I
feel have not been mentioned,
but are of utmost importance to
the council members and other
elected officials who have
shown up today with the
intention of representing the
needs and interests interests
of nashvillians. Thank you for
fulfilling the expectations of
your elected position, and
please continue to do so to
those who are undecided or who
are in support of data center
development within our city or
even our state, I remind you
that you have been elected as a
representative. Your job is to
voice and to represent the
interests of your constituents,
not those who line your pockets
or whose policy tickles your
fancy. So please remember when
and regardless of what you vote
for, that this state belongs to
the people. Welcome to the
revolution.
Thank you. If you
could share your ticket number,
please.
Ticket 55.
Okay.
Thank
you.
My name is camden lee
perez. I live in dstrict 13. I
just want to say I concur with
everyone on this bill. Thank
you for listening to all of us.
And I'm going to say is I feel
like when the question is
convenience and profits versus
physical quality of life, I
feel like the answer should be
obvious.
Thank you. Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hello, my name is shelby kirby.
I live in district 33. I'm in
support of bill 2026 1391 for
the sake of the zoo, fisk
university and all of
nashville's residents. However,
I will be mainly speaking in
regards to the zoo. As a
nashville native, I want the
nashville zoo to keep boasting
about their exciting new
additions of animals, programs
for conservation, and
investments in education and
expansion. I do not want the
zoo to be forced to be one of
the first to conduct research
and report on the negative
effects of data centers on
animals, many of which are
already endangered.
Thank you.
Thank you. Next.
Hi, my name is
graciela.
Armendariz and I am.
Deeply concerned about my city
and the corporate interests
that seeks to take advantage.
Of a lack of protections so
they can build without the
impediment of the consent of
the people or the protection of
our resources. That is a
classic villain storyline that
we do not have to go down. This
council has the immense
responsibility to protect its
constituents, and I hope that
you feel the weight of that
tonight. And while I support
bill 2026 1391, I believe the
restrictions are not yet strong
enough. It is obvious to me
that the people of the city
will contest the interests of
these billionaires alongside
you, and we need you to do your
part. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Go ahead sir. You're
recognized.
Thank you, ice
mayor and members of the
council. And I particularly
want to thank the 546,831
people who have signed our
petition, as well as the 244
people who have signed up
tonight to speak. I'm rick
schwartz, PRESIDENT And ceo of
the national zoo. I'm here to
ask you to use every tool
available to protect our zoo.
The 3150 animals we care for,
our 370 staff members, our
surrounding neighbors, and the
1.4 million visitors that come
here each year. My entire life
has been dedicated to
understanding and protecting
animals. 36 years ago, when I
founded the zoo, I did so with
a simple dream to create a
world class zoo that inspires
generations to connect with
animals from around the world
and protect them from
extinction. Now, with the
threats of this data center,
that dream is on the line. My
concern for the well-being of
our animals has remained the
same from the beginning of this.
Paramount concerns is noise,
specifically tonal noise, not
the 65db that dc box has said
they will conform to, but the
constant exposure of low
electromagnetic frequency
vibrations, the type of 24 over
seven noise disruption that has
already impacted the health of
cattle in rural areas, causing
lower milk production due to
diminished feeding, inhibited
breeding behaviors, and
premature or stillborn calves.
We cannot risk those negative
impacts on vulnerable animals
like the clouded leopard, or
signature conservation species.
National zoo has bred more
clouded leopards than any zoo
in the world, and this data
center will be only 32 320ft
from the area they call home.
The question for council is not
whether data centers should
exist in nashville. The
question is whether large data
centers should be allowed to
move forward in uniquely
sensitive location. It is my
ethical responsibility to
protect these animals. I cannot
stand by and let the animals in
our care become an experiment
of the long term effects of
data centers. Thank you very
much.
Thank you. Go ahead, sir,
you're recognized. Go ahead sir,
go ahead and start speaking,
please. You're recognized. Go
ahead and start speaking,
please.
Okay.
I'm dario.
Meeks,
I'm from district two. I just
came here today in support of
bill 2026 1391. I believe that
the we need more time to, you
know, better regulate how these
datacenters are going to
affect our communities. That's
it.
Thank you sir. All right.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Okay. Hi. My name is whitney
atkinson and I reside in
district 34. I'm here in
support of 1391 and also 1448.
I am a member of the national
zoo and previously served as
zoo docent. I currently work%
for the nashville humane
association, where I remain
committed to helping animals
and also serving our community.
I have a lot of really serious
concerns about this data center,
data center, infrastructure,
cooling towers, chillers, hvac
systems, generators,
transformers produce continuous
noises. Low frequency noise is
particularly concerning because
it travels long distances,
penetrates buildings more
easily than high frequency
sound, and is perceived as
vibration, even if noise
generated by the data center is
acceptable for humans. Many of
the animals at the zoo have
hearing far beyond our own,
such as andean bears, tigers,
clouded leopards, giraffes,
rhinoceros, bats, owls,
kangaroos, horses, goats, sheep,
guinea pigs, cattle and many
others. Prolonged exposure to
noise will negatively impact
their health by increasing
-
stress, disrupting
communication, altering
behaviors, interfering with
breeding and interrupting rest.
Noise pollution MAY also affect
nearby residents. Research has
shown that prolonged exposure
to noise can negatively impact
cardiovascular health, sleep
quality, cognitive performance,
and mental well-being. In
addition, the proposed data
centers projected electricity
demand has been estimated to be
comparable to the around the
clock energy use of 50,000
single family homes, which
could place additional strain
on the electrical grid,
potentially affecting
reliability, increasing energy
costs and contributing to more
outages. The proposed data
center also threatens local
water quality by further
training the zoo stormwater
system, which protects
community groundwater and
streams, and continuous
exterior lighting, MAY also
disrupt natural daylight cycles
for both animals and nearby
residents. Increased vehicle
traffic and facility operations
will cause higher levels of
pollution. In summary, the data
center will have many numerous
impacts on both animals and the
community.
Thank you. All right.
Could you please share your
ticket number 65. Okay. We're
on ticket 65. We're skipping
ahead a little
yeah.
My
name is aubrey l with an a,
ivanov with an I. Yes, my
initials are a I and I am
against a I. I'm a resident of
hermitage, tennessee district
12. I'm here to state my
support for bl 2026 1391. I
urge the council to listen to
the over 200 people who have
shown up today to make our
voices heard. I have known no
other home than nashville,
tennessee. It is already
difficult as it is without an
ai data center to live here.
Nashville should be for its
people. Its citizens do not
allow greed to poison the city.
I will not be bullied out of
this city. We the people have
spoken. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
My
name is drew small. I live in
district 30 and I'm here in
support of this legislation.
This bill isn't about punishing
one company, though they MAY
act like it. It's about
protecting all of the people in
davidson county. You see,
punishment looks backwards at
what was done. While protection
looks forward to our shared and
collective futures, however,
it's worth looking back for a
moment not to be petty, but to
gain proper perspective at
every turn. Doug sloan and dc
blocks have told us something
that is flatly contradicted by
the public records available to
all. They claim vested rights
to permit record says otherwise.
They said they'd only run their
generators for maintenance,
then sent lobbyists to weaken
the limits on how much they can
run them. They said they wanted
to work with the community, but
never held a town hall or
reached out to stakeholders.
This pattern is what happens
when there are no rules to
guide us. Corporations will
always act in their own best
interest. Decade after decade.
Profit over people has been the
backbone of this american
experience. Expecting otherwise
at this point would be willful
ignorance. Council. Your job is
not to makeeasy choices or to
bend to whoever you spoke to
last, nor is it to be some kind
of lone hero in all of this.
But it is to work together
amongst each other, to lay a
path where we, where all of us
can stay in the neighborhoods
we love, near the people we
love, and those that love us in
return. Between now and the
third reading, I urge you to
hold your support for this bill.
Everyone in nashville deserves
to be safe in their homes, and
this bill protects that right.
I hope you won't let clever
words from lobbyists or selfish
ambitions for your own futures
cloud your vision. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Ticket number 67.
Okay. Thanks for sharing. Yeah.
Hi, I'm will thompson. I live
in district 26, specifically
the caldwell neighborhood. I'm
just a dad. In the afternoons,
my son rides his bike up and
down our block with his friends
that, you know, we see every
day. My neighbors and I have
worked really hard to grow
wildflower gardens. All
throughout the neighborhood, we
now see fireflies coming back,
sitting on our porch enjoying
some iced tea. I think we can
all can relate to that. My wife
and I take walks at night
talking about our days. There's
families like mine all around
nashville that are going to be
impacted by this. Families
around fisk and north nashville
that I've never met that will
be affected by this. We're all
just regular people. We're not
experts. We're not billionaire
backed corporations. We're
asking you, please help us.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Thank you.
My name is anna tate. I live on
harding place in district 26.
I'm will's backyard neighbor,
and I'm here to voice support
for this bill. I'm not a
nashville native, but I am so
proud of this city and of my
community, and I'm so happy to
call it home. My husband and I
bought our home ten years ago
in south nashville, 0.8 miles
from the proposed data center
site that's near the zoo. On a
clear day, we can hear the
zoo's gibbons from our backyard.
Community is the heart of this
city, and my neighborhood is a
huge part of my community. Our
six year old can walk to her
friends houses through the gate
we built into our fence, and we
regularly celebrate holidays
and birthdays with the families
on the street behind us,
including, well, my backyard
garden is my favorite spot in
all of nashville. I'm concerned,
like many here tonight, for the
negative effects that data
center could have
on my community and other
communities in nashville, I
believe that neither the
moratorium nor the eminent
domain plan are sustainable
solutions for the many concerns
that have been raised. My
neighbors and fellow
nashvillians deserve
responsible legislation that
adequately protects our
communities and resources like
our universities and the zoo.
We need our leaders to promise
us that the safety and quality
of our neighborhoods will not
be sacrificed for the sake of
corporate profit or
technological advancement. If
larger and more powerful data
centers are now a necessary
part of american life, then so
is legislation that holds
corporations accountable for
how and where these centers are
developed. I'm hopeful that
this city can set an example
for our state and the nation on
how to prioritize the
well-being of its citizens over
the corporations that wish to
profit off of us. Council
members, thank you for your
time and the work that you do
for us.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello. Thank
you all for your time and
consideration for this. My name
is claire campbell, district 21.
I born and raised middle
tennessee. I'm really concerned
about data centers encroaching
on our well-being, especially
in the energy. Everyone knows
that we had several days
without power in JANUARY, and
this would just exacerbate the
already issues in our
infrastructure there. And so
thank you for your time.
Thank
you. All right. Next, go ahead.
And if you could share your
ticket number, please.
Ticket
number 70.
Okay. Thank you. Go
ahead.
My name is kelsey
alexander and I am a south
nashville resident in district
16. And I'm here to support
this bill because I work in
sustainability for real estate
investment funds. I workwith
data centers every single day
tracking their utility usage.
And it is no joke. They use a
wild amount of energy and water,
and I see it every day. And
it's research has shown that
the presence of data centers
increases the likelihood of
rolling blackouts in
neighborhoods. It increases the
utility bills for residences,
for businesses, and it increase
the pollutants in the air and
the water as well. And I, I
think this bill is a great
starting point. I love some of
the ideas I've heard other
people talk about, like
requiring mandating, reporting
on utility usage, looking at
requiring renewable energy that
is not natural gas, or even
investing in our utility grid%
here in nashville. And I do not
trust any of these companies to
think about what's good for
nashville, unless it also
conveniently lines their
pockets. And so I'm looking to
you, my elected representatives,
to think about your neighbors,
think about your neighborhood,
and think about your
constituents. And I'm asking
you here today to protect
nashville from data centers.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi there.
I'm ticket number 71. Thank you.
My name is carter murphy and I
also live in district 16. And I
first off, I just want to say
thank you all for taking the
time to listen to our input. We
really do appreciate it. I'm
primarily concerned about the
manner in which dc blox is
planning its data center
construction. To me, it looks
like that they're trying to
rush the completion of the data
center to get it, to get ahead
of the law and to avoid
regulatory regulatory oversight,
even if that oversight would
protect members of that
surrounding community. I have
read about the ecological
effects of ai data centers.
According to a publication at
tufts university, in average ai
chat session consumes on
average one liter of water and
the amount of energy that's
used to train an ai program
consumes five times as much
energy that an automobile does
in its entire lifetime. Given
what we've witnessed about data
centers around the country, I
am not convinced that dc blox
is taking the welfare of
nashville residents into
consideration with this project,
especially given that a common
response to these issues by
tech authorities is ai is
inevitable. And deal
with it. Official statements of
ai blocks or other major tech
companies are not enough to
ensure the well-being of our
citizens. Regarding this data
center, it's crucial to have
regulations put in place so
that ai companies do not incur
financial and ecological
burdens on nashville citizens.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead
and come forward. You're
recognized.
Hi, I'm zafar, a
proud and lifelong nashvillian
currently living in district 17.
I'm here in support of both the
moratorium and guidelines on
data centers in nashville. In
fact, I would support more
thorough guidelines or more
permanent moratorium, both city
and state wide. We've seen time
and time again that data
centers are built to the
detriment of the communities
that they are built in. They
increase noise pollution and
utility bills at the expense of
a working class people that you
are meant to represent. They
put strain on electrical and
water systems, systems that
we've seen fail in nashville
just in this past year. We can
even look to our neighbors in
memphis as an example of how
harmful they are to the
surrounding community. The
effects of these data centers
haven't been studied nearly
enough for me to be comfortable
living near one, and
and I
don't want or expect that for
my neighbors in south or north
nashville. Any time I've heard
opposition to ai and data
centers expressed, it's shut
down by the suggestion that
these things are. And there's
no point in stopping them all
in the name of progress. I urge
you to reconsider this notion
and to represent your
constituents that actually live
in nashville. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello. My name is
trevor white. I'm from middle
tennessee, chapter of the
democratic socialists of
america. I was born and raised
and live in tennessee,
currently in district 15.
Speaking on 1391 and the
moratorium. I'm here not only
to support the regulations, but
want to press that they do not
go far enough. People behind
this data center have already
shown time and time again, they
are willing to lie and scheme
the public to further their
agenda. Speaking of shout out
to the guy who gave me these ai
generated data center stickers
and wanted me to hand them out
for him and attempt to make
those opposing data centers
look foolish. Boo. Indeed. If
you're watching this, I hope
you got paid up front. To give
you an idea on how much this
community does not want these
centers, we implemented a
ticketing system just to do
this. We know these data
centers draw our power, poison
our air and our water, and
disrupt the peace with their
noise. And that's just by
themselves. Just ask our
neighbors in memphis or any of
the areas across the nation.
These have been built. So who
does want these? The usual
suspects developers, lobbyists,
or tech company handlers led by
oligarchs who tell us to our
face their goals to replace
workers and dismantle our
democracy. At this point, I can
only assume that if any of the
members of the council are for
the building of these centers,
you are either naive or
benefiting from benefiting from
them personally. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized. Go ahead.
Hi. My
name is michelle bukowski and I
live in district four. I
support bill bl 2026 1391, but
I think it's just a start. We
definitely need to do more. We
need to keep data centers away
from our beloved zoo. The
residents around the area and
out of nashville permanently. I
want to thank the council, my
COUNCILMAN, and all the council
members supporting this bill.
Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Thank you.
Number 75. My name is miller
way. I'm in district 11, and I
just wanted to offer my support
for bill 2026 1391 for all the
reasons given around health,
around noise pollution. I
myself am an asthmatic as well.
I don't want this development
for the profit of a few, to the
detriment of the many in my
neighborhood. I don't want the
young people learning at fisk
subjected to this. I don't want
their neighbors subjected to
this. I don't want the
neighbors of the zoo. I don't
want the animals at the zoo
subjected in this. And I
appreciate you all for standing
up and supporting this bill.
Thank you, especially to all
y'all sponsoring it. I
appreciate that we have looks
like three friendly amendments
and two sort of adjacent bills.
Thank you again to the sponsors
and those who brought those
bills forth. As you can see,
nashville is very passionate
about this. And please, please
stay vigilant. We watch D.C.
Blocks repeatedly try to weasel,
cajole, and mock their way out
of public pushback and would not press
trust any promises or
assurances they make. You do
not invite vampires into your
home. Nashville is watching. I
support this legislation. I
hope my council member,
eastlake, can support it on
this reading. Along with lee
and stiles, who I believe were
a no in a an abstain on the
previous reading. Thank you
again.
Thank you. Go ahead. You
recognize. Come on forward.
Hello. I'm number 76 city
council members. My name is
connor shank. I'm here as a
concerned citizen of voting
district number five. I'm here
to show support for the
proposed bill 2026 1391.
Supporter of our zoo, a regular
volunteer at a pet rescue out
in hermitage and founder of
squawk rock music festival that
I have for conservation. Others
have spoken and will speak on
the moral and the environmental
impacts of these centers, but
what I'd like to bring to
everyone's attention is the
consequences of apathy and the
consequences of inaction. Every
detrimental act caused by human
beings throughout history,
whether we think of famous
atrocities or everyday
injustices, are rarely caused
only by individuals with
malintent. No, it has to be
allowed to occur by average
everyday people like you and me.
People with otherwise good
hearts have become complacent
in order for inequity to thrive.
So we're faced today with a
starting prevalent in
our society and our culture. So
it's up to us right now to set
a precedent to make sure it's
used responsibly and mitigate
its negative repercussions. We
need to enact legislation to
prevent those who only care
about profit, to build these
centers without the consent of
their neighbors, and without
proper long term environmental
studies being conducted. But
let's drop ranked guys. I'm
embarrassed to be here,
I'm embarrassed that we've
gotten this far. I'm
embarrassed that me, a piano
bar singer, feels the need to
come down to city council and
preach on responsibility. Like,
come on, I'm embarrassed to
have alicia porterfield as a
representative of nashville who
embodies the inaction that I'm
speaking out against. I'd like
to leave everyone today with a
quote by tolkien that I think
about. Some believe that it's
only great power that can hold
evil in check, but that's not
what I found. I found it as a
small, everyday deeds of
ordinary folk that keep the
darkness at bay. Small acts of
kindness and love. It applies
to people like me, but more
importantly, people like you.
There's a right thing to be
done here today. Please do it.
All right. Thank you. All right.
prior to the next speaker
beginning, I just want to say
that it is 1007. We began this
public hearing at 837, and we
are now on speaker. What is
your ticket, sir? 7777 okay,
everybody, do the math. Go
ahead.
Hello.
My name is owen
mcguire. I'm from springfield,
tennessee, and I'm in support
of bill 1391, which is which
enforces serious ai data center
regulations at least, and
hopefully at best, the
abolition of ai data centers in
nashville. Not only are there
already countless studies on ai
data centers harming the
environment, and I must say it
is simply morally bankrupt to
build one on an animal
conservation facility and
beloved city landmark. We must
not allow the epstein class of
people to come from GOD knows
where into our city and ruin
our way of life for no good
reason other than the greed and
benefit of the rich. While
stepping over the corpses of
half the people in attempt to
control the other half, you can
ask anyone in line behind me.
No one wants a large scale
people and animal killing data
center in our city. Not now,
not ever. I urge the members of
this council to come to their
senses and do what they were
elected to do and protect the
people of our city, and not the
cowards that dc blocks who
didn't even have the nerve to
come and face the people that
they were trying to ruin
together. As the 99%, we must
have the courage to kick the 1%
in the nuts and make them smile
at us and like it. As long as
we as nashvillians stick
together, we will remain the
powers that be in the city and
the rich degenerates who want
to bury us under their data
centers will have no power over
us. I leave you with the final
message of people over profits.
Thank you.
Thank you. All right,
go ahead. Come on. Forward.
My
name is morgan mae. Ilive in
district six, and I'm going to
read human generated lyrics
because original music built
this city and deserves respect.
This is the story of noah and
the lost art. Noah went to
school to be a writer. His
roommate studied graphical
design. He's loving on a
lyricist from georgia who likes
to paint when she can find the
time. Noah's got a friend in
animation. She's married to a
radio dj. Their neighbors
nature shots are really
gorgeous. Who'd have thought
they'd live to see this day,
where they're all in the same
boat and they've got to get
away? Noah had a dream. He had
no readers. His roommate lost
his job to a machine. His lady
couldn't sell a song for
nothing, and nobody had time to
wait for anything. Noah's
inside voice said, save the
planet and gather all the ones
who still can think. Build a
ship for every dreamer and
creator, and hope and pray to
GOD. We don't all sink because
we're all in the same boat, and
we've got to do something one
by one, even two by two, till
almost everybody in the world
forgot what they could do. Till
everything on dry land with the
breath of life inside them died.
Till nearly every living thing
on the face of earth was wiped.
Till the birds and the bees.
Everybody business couldn't eat,
couldn't be me, couldn't be.
You couldn't be. People and
creatures and wild things that
move. Till everything was gone.
Except a walk in the park. Till
only noah was left. And those
he kept with him in the ark.
Because the breath of life came
with noah in the ark. The
breath of life stayed with noah
in the dark. Noah opened a new
window on his macbook pro, his
cursor winking back as if to
say, you don't need to know
everything at once, love. Just
write down what you think about
today. And so he built a life
he could be proud of. Learn to
make the writer's block his
friend and to his other friends,
he paid attention when they let
out all that lives inside their
heads. He knows the value in
what's lived and breathed and
bled because we're all in the
same boat and we've got to make
it through the end.
Thank you,
thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
I'm jennifer
richmond, I live in district
nine and I'm for bl20261391.
Short and sweet.
Thank you. All
right. Come on. Forward your
next.
My name is trevor silva.
I'm district six clay cap and
here to express support for
bl2220261391. Thank you to
everyone who showed up to make
their voices heard tonight.
This is what nashville strong
looks like right here. I know
the majority. If not everyone
has to work a day job tomorrow
and nights like this make for
earlymornings. It does for us
to let tonight be a reminder
that while we would prefer to
be at home, we are willing to
lose sleep and make you all do
the same. If it means our city against
intruders like dc, blocks do
not have our best interests at
heart. As a business owner, I
have to trust those who make with a lot
of people, make a lot of
promises. But I can tell you
one thing if someone lies to
you once, they will do it again,
doug sloane, the lawyer of dc
blocks, told planning
commission the building is
vested. They're going to build
it there. We already have the
permits in hand. That was false.
If that's the level of honesty
we get before companies like
this have their broken ground,
that tells us everything we
needed to know about what
they'll do once they have their
claws in us. We need to protect
ourselves and our community
because they've already proven
they will not only lie, but
their agenda is not the agenda
of the people of nashville. I'm
asking that you support this
bill and always put people
before profit, because we don't
want to you up all night,
but you better believe that we
will, and we'll do more than
that to protect our community.
As we say in our chicken themed
anti-fascist soap company. Look
around and out. Appreciate
y'all.
All right. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is hannah JUNE. I want to
start out by saying thank you
to everyone who is here from
the council. Thank you.
Especially to the people who
are paying really close
attention. I've been watching
all of you, and I know the ones
who are watchingand paying
attention and nodding along and
the ones who maybe aren't. And
I would also like to remind you
that, yes, we've been here for
a long time. You guys have been
here for a long time, but we
have also been here for a very
long time, including well
before this meeting started. I
got here at 5:15 P.M. And I
know a lot of people were here
before me because I am number
83. So I would just like to say
that I live in council district
29. I've been a resident of
nashville for only three years.
So yes, I am a newbie. Prior to
that, I traveled the country
for two years trying to pick a
place to call home, and I
planted roots in nashville
because I love this community.
I love the diversity, the
creativity, and the passion
that I found here. I own my own
occupational therapy practice
that utilizes the outdoors as a
therapy space for children and
adults with special needs and
disabilities. I host a local
trash pickup at percy priest
lake every month, and I'm
currently in the process of
transforming my own yard into
half native garden, half
community farm and pantry. I am
really invested in nashville in
our community and in
environmentalism, and I care so
deeply about the people and the
wildlife of this great state.
the most important point here
is that data centers havean
enormous impact on our
environment, our wellness, and
the delicate habitat that
supports our native wildlife.
Our zoo animals are important,
yes, but the native wildlife
and our community of human
beings is equally, if not more
important. So I agree with my
preceding community members
that are demanding more intense
restrictions to keep all
tennesseans safe from the
impacts of these data centers.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
I am addison gould, a high
school student and resident of
district 35, descended for from
over five generations of
nashville locals. I fervently
believe that bl20261391 could
benefit our city, but also that
data centers have no place in
nashville. For one, the
construction of more parasitic
data centers here would further
strain our infrastructure,
especially our power grid and
the cumberland. Additionally,
the noise pollution produced by
data centers has the potential
to decimate the quality of life
of thousands. The chemical
pollutants left behind have
even more adverse effects on
the people and animals which
inhabit nashville. Power bills
MAY also skyrocket for already
struggling families. No
nashvillian would benefit from
a lack of restriction on data
centers. Is sacrificing the
well-being of our people worth
it? Is it worth letting this
technology that just promotes
laziness take up our land and
resources? I don't think so.
And clearly I'm not the only
one. Bl20261391 would not
permanently save nashville from
the plague of data centers, but
it could greatly aid the
quality of life for the animals
of the nashville zoo, many of
which are endangered species.
The proposed centers by the zoo
would be detrimental to the
sleeping and behavioral
patterns of these beloved
animals because of the immense
noise and light pollution that
would inevitably, inevitably be
produced by such a large data
center. On top of that, the
affordability and quality of
life of the nearby residents of
caldwell hall need to be taken
into account. I urge each of
you to be prudent and
prioritize the people of our
city and our local environment.
Thank you for listening to what
I have to say.
Thank you. Go
ahead and come on forward.
You're recognized, and if you
could share with us your ticket
number, please.
85.
Okay. Thank
you sir. Go ahead.
My name is
henry moses gould. I live on
the outskirts of belle mead,
and I am a grand total of 16
years old. To be quite blunt,
I'm wearing a trash bag right
now. This is due to the fact
that. Well, I should start off
by saying I walked a mile here
in the prime of the rainstorm trash bag,
because when I found a store, I
was not able to afford an
umbrella. And I believe that
billionaires such as donald
trump, elon musk, larry fink
and many others coming into
nashville and say digging holes
and also building a identity
data centers is only allowing
them to continue to make more
profit while letting people
like me not be able to afford
an umbrella due to how high the
prices are. Not only that, I
would like to add on that this
ai data center would be
detrimental to wildlife
surrounding it, and I would
also like to add a very cliche
sort of quote from a character
I look up to quite a lot. And
that is with great power comes
great responsibility. And I
feel like the people with great
power at the current moment are
using their responsibility to
no extent and just constantly
belittling the working class
while only uplifting themselves,
causing more inflation. And I
would like to finish off by
saying a quote from the man my
middle name belongs to. Let my
people go.
Okay, go ahead and
come on forward. You're
recognized.
Good evening. My
name is jacob volker. I'm from
district 19, proudly
represented by charlene oliver,
and I'm in support of bl 2026
1391. There's a lot of hurt
that I have at the fact that
this data center is still being
under consideration after all
the pushback that has been
received after being adversely
affected for so long, the last
thing that this community needs
is a complex that will drain
the power supply, which is
already and upend
decades of work by our life
saving neighbors. That has been
done to preserve the
environment of endangered of
endangered species. It is
simply not worth it if it will
come at the expense of
tennessee's most ethnically
diverse communities and
endangered wildlife. I'm
already appalled at the
willingness of dc blocks to
seemingly ignore the sheer
amount of outrage. 525,000
signatures that should have set
off alarm bells. Although I
believe more work needs to be
done in order to preserve our
environment. I thank you, MR.
Horton, for proposing this
legislation and to let us know
that you hear us. To those of
you who are staying silent
about it, I would take a moment
to question your ability to
serve the interests of your
constituents instead of just
serving the interests of
yourselves. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead and come on
forward. You're recognized and
pull that mic down. There you
go.
My name is ashley karimi
and I live in council district
21, and I am here in support of
bl 2026 1391. I do believe it's
a good start, but I think
there's so much more that can
be done. This is unprecedented.
It's something that a lot of us
are not super familiar with,
and there needs to be more
thoughtful consideration about
what this looks like moving
forward in our communities.
Thank you.
Thank you. Next. Go
ahead.
Hi, my name is nicole
weller. I'm from district 21. I
am in support of 1391. It is a
great start and I am also
asking for stronger
restrictions and legislation
around it as well. Thank you so
much.
Thank you very much. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
my name is matthew palmieri.
I'm a resident of district 17
and I am up here speaking after
nearly 100 people have stated
their opposition to data
centers and their support for
this bill. I hope that there
are 100 people that come after
me and state that same thing.
And, you know, those are the
people that you represent.
These are the people that you
work for, not dc blocks, not
other data center companies and
not tech oligarchs. So I here,
I hope that you hear that
nobody wants data centers. I'm
not hereand not anywhere. So
thank you.
Thank you. And if
could you share your ticket
number please.
Yes, it's number
92.
Okay. Thank you.
Hey y'all.
I'm allison summers and I was
born and raised in nashville,
and I currently live in
district 15. I support this
bill, although it do be weak.
Okay, it be weak. This bill
needs more protections in place
for people and the wildlife in
this city. I would love it. I
would love to see any new data
centers banned. I would love to
see any new data data centers
banned. I urge you to
strengthen this legislation. Dc
blocks does not care about the
people of nashville, and they
do not care about you. I urge
you to strengthen the
legislation. I am so proud of
the city of nashville for
showing up for those who could
not show up today. And the
people nashville are tired
of being pushed around by
billionaires and tech bros. We
are tired. So this is just the
beginning. If you cannot be an
advocate for the people in
these communities that you have
sworn to serve, then we'll be
coming for your seats. Queens.
Okay.
Thank you. Next you are
recognized. Go ahead.
Hey,
y'all. I'm nathan, I'm number
93. It's kind of weird to say
I'm out in district six. Hi. Hi,
clay. Clay cap squad. I support
this bill. I'm here on behalf
of my kids, on my boo. It's a
lot to have one of us stay home
with our three year old and our
six month old. We sacrificed to
be here. Our all of our
children are going through
sleep regressions. I'm here
also on behalf of a law like
just a whole mess of friends
and family who wish they could
be here, but they got to work
because we live in this city.
I'm also here on behalf of a
long line of billies who didn't
get to say like, what went in
their haulers. So this one
feels a little personal to me.
I got four things. I don't want
infrastructure for antisocial
stuff. I don't want
infrastructure for slop, for
speculation, for police
surveillance. Especially not in
music city. Number two. I mean,
look, bald squad doug sloan is
an embarrassment to this
haircut. And I see a number of
other people who share that.
But look, they're these people
are snake oil salesmen. They
really are. We have to live
here. All they've got to do is
make money off of those of us
who live here. And so I would
prefer to work with trustworthy
people. Number three, this bill
could be meaner. I think,
regulating these kinds of
extractive folks is probably
the nicest thing you can do.
It's like when you are told, if
you can't say something nice,
don't say anything at all. Well,
this is kind of like shutting
up this bill could make like my
six month old who once again is
going through a sleep
regression and I'm still here
and who I hope will continue to
live in this city. And it could
get more teeth. And lastly, for
those of you who are like pearl
clutchers and are undecided,
imagine how much porn they're
going to make with this
infrastructure. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead and come on
forward, please. Ma'am. Go
ahead and come on forward. We
can't we can't have kind of the
extended time in between very
humorous comments, which are
fine, but go ahead. You're
recognized.
Glad that the humor
was acknowledged on the floor.
I don't really know how I'm
going to go after that, but
like, proud that I made friends
with him in line. So my name is
lilia. I'm living out west and
kind of the area that would be
affected by the proposed data
center out north. And yes, I am
here to speak not only on the
regulations, but most
importantly, where the two most
discussed and resisted data
center data centers are
proposed. Right now. We can
talk about the fture, but I
think it's more important to
think about the implications.
And that is no small
coincidence. You're talking
about a historically black
community in an overwhelmingly
spanish speaking or immigrant
strong community, each
respectively, in the north and
south, which, might I add, have
grown to be such because
they've been targeted and
basically moved out or pushed
out by transplants. As a
graduate of fisk mentioned
earlier, the community does not
want this, and the
administration might. But I
read an article that said most
of the residents on buchanan
actually didn't even know was
proposed. It's interesting to
think about what would happen
if this were out west or, you
know, out east, like new east
nashville or also in green
hills. But it's impossible to
think of that happening because
we only ever think of black and
brown people taking the brunt
of environmental racism
manufactured. Right. That's
part of the reason why they're
not here. They don't have a
reason to trust that y'all
would maybe listen to them. And
if you think about the spanish
speaking communities in
nashville, a lot of them are
scared because this city has
allowed ice to just kidnap them
off the streets. Right? Yeah.
Thank you. So these people do
not need us to talk for them,
but they do need to feel like
we take part in their struggle.
And when they suffer, we will
suffer because empathy, right?
Nashville. Empathy. We are glad
that you guys listen to our
housing requests. And please
make the decision that you can
stand behind.
All right. Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized. Can you share your
ticket number, please?
Yes, 95.
Thank you. My name is allison
quattlebaum. I'm a resident of
oak hill in district 25. As a
creative professional working
less than a 10th of a mile from
a proposed data center, I
support bl20261391 as a
beginning to stronger data
center regulation.
Thank you,
thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hey, I'm suzanne
fletcher, resident of district
26 and lifelong tennessean. I
support bill 2026 1391. Thanks
for listening.
Thank you. Go
ahead. You're next. Hi,
everyone.
My name is danielle.
Peterson and I live. In
district 25.
I support this
legislation because these data.
Centers are a mistake that we
can't take back.
And I'm.
So
grateful.
To my fellow 245
tennesseans who came out
tonight, and many who could not
come, who don't believe that
reckless pollution and
corruption.
Are inevitable.
To
those who still have hope that
this democracy works for us. I
agree with everything that's
been said this evening, and I'm
so thankful for all of you
voting in support of bl 2026
1391 to protect our land, our
animals, and every single one
of us.
Thank you, thank you. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Hi.
I'm ticket.
Number 99 and my
name is cecelia forbes from
district seven. I'm a 15 year
old high school student who has
been going to the national zoo
since before I could walk or
talk. It has been an essential
part of my growing up and a key
factor in inspiring my career
in zoology. I've been to nearly
half a dozen zoos across the
nation, and our hometown has by
far the best. What sets the
national zoo apart is its clean
facilities, the extensive care
its facilitators have for the
animals, and its ability to
inspire passion in others. Dc
blox is pushing its centers at
both the zoo and at fisk
university. They say the ai is
our future, but why should it
be? Why can't we have a future
free of pollution generators? I
don't know if you're familiar
with the movie the lorax, but
ai is a near perfect replica of
a thneed, a fictional piece of
fabric that can morph to suit
the needs of its owners.
However, its producion turned
a paradise into a wasteland. I
am in full support of not only
bl 2026-1391, as well as bl
2026-1448 and the rule
suspension regarding mayor
o'connell's acquisition and
condemnation. Bill, this is
music city. Let's please keep
it free of ai generated music.
Thank you for your time.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is
renee moore. I have ticket
number 100 and I live in
district seven. I spent my
childhood at nashville zoo and
I've created many memories
there. I, along with these
people, want to protect the
environment and the animals
this data center would
even as a high school student,
I can see the damage the center
would create and I urge you to
as well. I encourage the
council to support these bills.
Thank you. GOD bless you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're next.
Good evening. My name is laura
shumate. I live in district
seven and my ticket number is
101. Thank you. I know that I'm
still a high school student,
but even I know that this data
center has poor impacts on both
the environment and the animals.
I. I have been going to the
national zoo for a very, very
long time, and I know that this
community truly loves this zoo.
And that's why we're all here
tonight. Another thing about
data centers that I do want to
bring attention to, that a few
people have spoken about is the
jobs that it prevents. I'm very
artistic and creative person,
and I want to be able to do
that when I'm older and when I
have a future job. I either
want to be an actor or an
artist or an animator, but with
ai, that MAY not be a
possibility, and it really puts
people at risk. And I want
people to bring that to
attention more because kids
like me might not have a future
doing something fun that we
want to do, that we are very
passionate about. Thank you.
Thank you. All right. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is
madison palazzo. I live in
district 19 and I support bill
2026 1391. I'm not going to
restate why building a data
center would be horrific. We've
had plenty of people here that
have already talked about the
air pollution, noise pollution
and wasted water. What I am
going to tell you is that I
don't care about a lot of
things. Until this issue came
up, I had never been to a
committee meeting or a public
hearing, and until last week, I
had never even been to a
protest. I guess I always
thought that there would be
other people to care about the
things I should care about.
There would be more educated
people to speak on the things
that should be spoken about.
But we needed numbers on this
one, and I realized I could no
longer just watch things happen.
The animals at the zoo were not
asked if they wanted a data
center. The students at fisk
were not asked if they wanted a
data center. Citizens of
davidson county were not asked
if we wanted a data center. But
here we are in record numbers
telling you, imploring you not
to sell the soul of nashville.
i mentioned earlier that I
didn't care about a lot of
things, and that alone should
scare anyone in favor of data
centers. Because if it's gotten
to the point that I'm speaking
in public, which I don't know
if you can tell, but this is
kind of a nightmare scenario
for me. It's gotten to a pretty
critical point. Dc blocks, I am
now speaking directly to you or
whatever lawyer proxy you send
in your place. I will be at
every meeting. I will be at
every protest. I will be the
thorn in your side. You MAY
have money, but we have
something money could never buy,
and that's something worth
fighting for. Thank you.
Thank
you. All right, go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is shakira erica nash, and I am
in the newly gerrymandered
district 31, john rutherford.
Not sure where he. Oh, there
you are. Hi. I alongside I'm.
I'm looking forward to getting
to know you alongside many new
constituents. I have to say we
I, I am in agreement with
everyone else who is here. I
support both bills for the
freezing, the freezing, the the
process so that we can go
through and actually have a
stronger, more strict
regulation. And also, if at all
possible, we can get back the
city, reclaim the city, reclaim
the land around the zoo. I'm
not sure why the fisk admin
would want to consider selling
part of their property to a
company that has questionable
moral and ethical reputation,
that would put thousands of
signatures on petitions and
over 200 people that are here
staying here late. But I want
for you to think about this.
Please remember we are
constituents. Remember, we will
be voting. We will be watching.
We will be looking to see what
will come from this. And thank
you very much for listening to
us.
Thank you, thank you. Go
ahead.
Hello.
My.
Name is.
Isabel rose moore. I live in
district 24 and I am ticket
number 108. I'm speaking today
in strong support of bill 2026
1391. I also am in support of
the moratorium. And after
listening to my neighbors
tonight, I am in strong support
of even stricter restrictions.
I am so tired of hearing that
we have to start somewhere that
fighting is pointless. That
change takes years. Enough. And
I would love to just come in
swinging. It's been my entire
life. I echo the sentiments of
those that are far more
eloquent than I who have been
speaking tonight, and my
message is simple and emotional
for those council members who
have not yet shown support for
this bill, or for those who
remain on the fence about the
ethics of data centers as a
whole. Please take a good long
look at the turnout we have
tonight. We are passionate. We
are concerned, we are angry.
And the most incredible thing
that I've witnessed today is
the fact that we aren't going
anywhere. I beg of you to
consider the health and lives
of your constituents of the
wildlife in nashville. To place
people over profit and to value
the lives of those in my
generation and the next
generation that consists of
nashville's children who will
have to live with the
consequences of your actions
for much longer than you will.
Please don't take your
responsibility lightly. Thank
you to all of those tonight who
have been paying attention. And
thank you to the sponsors of
this bill for your efforts.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello, my name is
dylan caligiuri. I'm a resident
in district 24, and I would
like to speak in support of
bill 2026-1391. And I echo the
same sentiments that others
before me have communicated
specifically that water and air
are non-negotiable. Human
rights and data centers have no
place in or even close to the
surrounding communities of the
zoo and fisk university. Thank
you to the bill, sponsors and
all 245 community members
speaking out in support of this
bill.
Thank you. Thank you so
much and could you please
share your ticket number?
Sure.
Yeah. 110.
Okay. I am a I just
want to share that it is. 1037
so we are two hours into the
public hearing and we are on.
Speaker number 110. We have a
total of 249 ticketed speakers.
Go ahead.
Sure. Hey y'all. My
name is liz clayton fuller. I
live in district 35 and i
strongly support bill 2026 1391.
I'm an artist born and raised
in nashville in a place that
thrives on creativity. We have
seen time and time again our
city prioritize profit. Profit
over people, profit over common
sense, profit over
environmental impact, profit
over public health. Profit over
all. This is a chance to show
the people of nashville that
you do still care about us and
our future. They keep telling
us we have to embrace ai and I
refuse. What I want is to
embrace my community and the
future of the city. I encourage
you all to further strengthen
this legislation. If we don't
get this right, it will not
just be the data centers at
fisk and on the zoo's front
steps. There will be more. No
one is safe from this issue.
Already wealthy people will
rush to line their pockets.
More overriding good practices%
and sustainability for the sake
of profit. I have a one and a
half year old daughter, and I
want to build her a better,%
sustainable world, not an
unlivable one. No new data
centers. We deserve better.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
My name is
mary harris. I'm in district 34
in nashville. That's my
daughter. I'm here for my
children and my grandchildren.
And it's your job to protect
them. I can't do it by myself.
It's your job. Help me protect
them and support this bill.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
My name is linda
gregg, and I'm from south
nashville, and I am in support
of bill 2026 1391. Have y'all
ever had lunch with the tiger?
My four year old granddaughter
and I do. That is her absolute
favorite thing to do at the zoo.
We pack our lunchables. We walk
ourselves to the tiger exhibit,
we say hi to the tiger, and we
go sit on the wall and we eat
our lunch. And she loves it.
And granted, we're ot really
eating lunch with the tiger,
but in her mind we are. And
that makes for really a
priceless memory. Memories that
can't be replaced by technology
or phones or anything. And one
of the things I think is really
cool about the national zoo is
they are up close and personal
with the animals. Oh my GOD.
You can see a tiger on the
other side of the glass and
andean bear. And the first time
she saw the koi fish, they were
face to face. And both of them
eyes were huge. I thought I
would die laughing. And these
are memories we can all make.
But the only way we're going to
be able to make those memories
are if we support the zoo and
say no to the data centers in
dc blox pack and back to
atlanta. So thank you for
hearing me out. I hope y'all
have a good evening and thank
you.
Thank you. All right. And
go ahead and come on forward.
Thank you.
Hi. My name is
kenneth stutz. I live in
district 26. I'm a lawyer and I
support bill 2026 1391. I live
half a mile from the zoo with
my partner and three kids. I'm
also so close to the zoo that i
can hear the gibbons from my
backyard. I don't want that
sound to be drowned out by the
constant buzz of a data center.
More than that, though, I can't
see how a data center helps
nashville in any way. Dc has
already admitted that the
center would create barely any
permanent jobs, and there's a
thousand better uses that I can
think of for that land that
would create more jobs and
wouldn't cause the heat, air,
water, or noise pollution of a
data center. I watched the last
meeting hoping to see blocks
-
lawyer doug sloan provide some
kind of evidence to show any
way the data center would
address pollution and safety
concerns, but I heard nothing.
He dismissed legitimate
community concerns and
attempted to shut down
opposition to the data center
by saying inaccurately that the
permits for the data center
were already in hand. I've been
a lawyer for 20 years. I can't
think of a single time when a
corporate counsel like doug
sloan said, trust me, bro, with
no evidence and it was a good
idea to trust them. I can't
imagine trusting the already
less than truthful information
about this data center from
D.C. Blocks and doug sloan. I
support bill 2026, 1391 and amendments to
strengthen it. I encourage you
to vote this bill into law and
require data centers to follow
the rules that will keep all
nashvillians safe and healthy.
Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is maria weir. I'm a
nashville native living in
district 22. I'm here to
support this legislation both
as myself and on behalf of
several older people who can't
stay up this late, but would
love to yell at you all. We
have already heard so many
amazing comments today and we
will hear many more. So I don't
feel the need to list all the
reasons that I despise data
centers. But I am here because
I am deeply concerned and
frankly, absolutely furious.
And this rage comes from love I
feel toward my city, my state,
and my fellow living beings,
our animals, environment,
resources, and people are worth
protecting. And that is the
task in front of you. Pass this
legislation and continue to%
strengthen it. People over
profits. No new data centers.
Thank you for your time.
Thank
you. Go ahead and could you
share your ticket number,
please?
I'm number 115 and it's
1043 at nights. I've been here
since 530. My name is kristen.
I am speaking today in support
of sb 20261391 with some
reservations. I live in 37208,
less than a half a mile from
the proposed fisk data center
and also work in the same area
in cancer research. I am also a
circus and burlesque performer,
so some of you have probably
seen me in my nighttime persona.
I do want to also say, as a
person who lives on the street,
that will be able to see this
proposed data center, we didn't
know. I found out through
instagram. Okay, great. Thanks.
Today I want to address the
setback requirements. The
current proposal. This bill
defines small as 20,000ft
s or
less and five megawatts
megawatts max. These are
proposed to be 100ft from
residential use. Daycares,
religious institutions,
community education, parks, zoo,
correctional facilities or
other data centers. A large one
is 100,000 to 500,000ft
s. 20 to
100mw and recommended to be
2640ft away. 100ft is a 20 to
30 second mile walk. The length
of a bowling lane. 2640ft is
half a mile. For reference,
chiefs on broadway is a half
mile from here, and that's
about a 12 minute walk. Might
need a drink after this, but
let's contrast that with the
state house cabaret bill that
was so hot earlier this year, a
bill that stated that these
cabaret shows and look that up,
I'm not going to explain it to
you in. Even community centers
and dance studios must be
1000ft away from these
aforementioned residential uses
schools, churches, etc. There
is absolutely no reason why
machinery contributing to
environmental and noise
pollution should be allowed to
be so close to a home. When our
own state government is
terrified of a drag show being
less than 1000ft away. It is
ridiculous. I recommend that
the setbacks be a minimum of
1000ft for small centers and
scaled up for larger. That
scale, large data centers would
be five miles away. Take a
stand for this city.
Thank you.
all right. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello, my name is
emily wilkerson. I'm number 116.
I'm from murfreesboro, and I
would like to speak in support
of both bill 2026 1391 and the
moratorium for the students of
fisk, for every person in
tennessee, for the animals at
the zoo, and for every member
of our amazing local ecosystems.
I support this bill. I am in
agreement with everyone else
who has spoken in favor of even
stronger regulations. Nathan
was right. This bill nearly
mean enough. I support the
strongest possible regulations
because data centers have a
massive toxic impact on both
human beings and the local
ecology, as many others have
already spoken about. And do we
benefit? Hell no. I think all
of us here can think of a
laundry list of ways ai has
affected, or soon will affect
us negatively from having it
forced down our throats in the
workplace to having our art,
music and writing stolen to
train generative ai, to vomit
out cheap and soulless slop, to
seeing our older family members
fall prey to ai generated scams
and misinformation, to the
effects of ai dependance,
especially in our student
population, who deserve to have
every opportunity to learn to
think for themselves as their
brains are in a critical stage
of development, to one of the
most concerning effects
constantly increasing police
surveillance. We must not let
tech companies poison and
parasitize our communities.
They want us to think their
vision of an ai future is
inevitable. They want us to
lose hope and give up. But
every person here tonight is
proof that we will not. We will
fight tooth and nail for the
future we want. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, y'all. My name
is ashley crocker. I live in
district 16 in south nashville.
That's about a seven minute
drive from the zoo and proposed
data center site. At the end of
the day, I'm a southerner. I
love living in nashville. You
love living in nashville?
Everyone here does. We're all
here because we care about the
city so much. And when I say
I'm a southerner, I mean it.
Sweet tea runs through my veins.
I believe we'd be a lot better
off if more people listened to
the words of john prine. I
believe in hollerin the truth.
I believe in standing up for
what you believe in. I believe
in the golden rule and that you
should always speak up for
others, humans and animals
alike. I support bill 1391 as a
means to stop the unprecedented,
unchecked money grab that is
the expansion of unwanted data
centers into our communities,
our universities, our zoos, and
our beloved music city. I'm
disappointed that once again,
nashville leadership is
preparing to pass the buck to
to off to its citizens. Certain
billionaires big dumb hole
comes to mind for all our sakes
now and for the rest of time, I
urge you to pass this
legislation and continue
pushing for strong, bold
regulation of data centers. An
outright ban would be ideal.
Just throwing that out there
give us a reason to believe
this city will no longer be
bought and sold. To borrow the
words from john prine, don't
write this down as the progress
of man. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead. Your next.
Hello, my
name is maxwell rooks. I am in
cultural council district 16 as
well, and I'm in here
supporting the like
many have said before me and
continue to say throughout the
night, I believe that this bill
will defend homeowners and
tenants who are at risk of one
of these data centers being
constructed near their houses,
like the patrons, staff and
animals of the nashville zoo
will defend these local
nashvillians from things like
increased water scarcity, noise
pollution, raised utilities,
and hazardous electronic waste
and disposal. Many other
avoidable drawbacks. Most
importantly, this bill will
attempt to defend nashville
from the increasingly tight
grip of uncaring big tech
companies that show little to
no consideration for the people
they are negatively affecting.
Other southeastern towns are
already feeling this pressure.
In my original home state of
mississippi, six data centers
are being proposed or being
built as we speak, including in
southaven, minutes from memphis,
tennessee. An estimated $20
billion cost of construction
data center is being proposed,
courtesy of a certain social
media grifter and his company,
xii. I do not want nashville to
experience the same treatment.
This is now my home and I
demand that it is protected. I
want to end with the william
faulkner quote. He said once,
never be afraid to raise your
voice for honesty and truth and
compassion against injustice
and lying and greed. If people
all over the world would do
this, it would change the earth.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
Come on. Forward. You're next.
Hi, my name is emily wire. I
live in district 31 and I
support bill 2026 1391. As a
lifelong nashvillian, I'm
concerned about the impact data
centers will have on our city,
specifically pollution in%
multiple forms and the long
term consequences, including
harm to humans, wildlife and
agriculture, just to name a few.
I call on city leaders to take
a stand against the
corporations who want to take
over nashville. Stand with
nashville residents. Support
the first step. Bill 2026 1391.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Could you please share your
ticket number?
I am 122.
Okay.
Thank you.
My name is meg
krause and I live in council
district two metro center,
and I'm here in support of
legislation b2bl2060 gosh. 2026
1391 because I believe allowing
ai data centers to expand,
build and develop without any
kind of regulations or
protections for the communities is not only a
danger to the people and
animals health in the near
vicinity, but is also enabling
a business that is actively
devaluing and exploiting
artists here that live in
nashville. And those are the
people who make music city
music city 21 million
copyrighted songs have been
scraped by companies to train
their ai to mimic the hard work
of these artists. Many of these
artists are here tonight as
well. These artists work, play,
record, sing and write in this
city, bringing business to bars
and arenas alike
around the world to experience
this wonderful, beautiful city
that we have. But if we let
outside influencers devalue our
music, our artists, our
community, to the point where
we can even, we can no longer
hear them due to the dissonant
baseline of processing servers
next zoo or a college. Can
we really even call ourselves
music city? Data centers don't
belong on college campuses next
to zoos in davidson county or
tennessee. Thank you for your
time.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hey, y'all,
I'm jesse baker, I live in
district 16 and I support this
legislation. I appreciate your
patience and your endurance
tonight for the people behind
me. I appreciate it even more.
I know that you all have worked
and raised your kids and come
here and stood here and waited
to say your piece as well, so I
appreciate it. For too long,
nashville has prioritized
growth and profit over
community and sustainability.
nashvillians are exhausted.
We're tired of our
neighborhoods and our voices
being treated as afterthought
to tourism, corporate kickbacks
and billionaire projects,
and cynical opportunists who
prioritize their profits above
all else, no matter the human
or environmental cost. Long
after artificial intelligence
has poisoned its last well and
displaced its last human
employee. When the data centers
of today stand as obsolete,
abandoned monoliths, we will
continue to reap the
consequences of what is sown
here by this council. As a
proud nashvillian who's lived
here since the 1900s, I humbly
ask that your vote for this
bill is an act of goodwill
towards the people who are the
heartbeat of this city the
musicians, the students, the
teachers, the servers, the
bartenders, the cooks, the
tradespeople, the rideshare
drivers, the hospitality
workers, hospitality workers,
and future city council members,
depending on your vote, those
that stand to profit from data
centers do not care about the
people or the soul of nashville.
They weren't here to clean up
after the storm in 94, the
flood in 2010, or the tornado
in 2020. Probably not even for
fern in 2026. They won't be
here to clean up the mess that
they leave in the wake of their
shortsighted technological gold
rush. It's no mistake that they
don't plan to build these data
centers, or it is no mistake
that they plan to build these
data centers in working class,
culturally diverse
neighborhoodsand not their own
backyards. They don't want to
live near one either, and they
don't expect working class
nashvillians to fight back. As
you can see here tonight,
they're wrong. Please vote for
this bill.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Rachel
benner of district 16. I am so
proud of him. I'm very proud of
all the people who have come
before me and the people who
stand behind me. And I really
want to be proud of you all,
too. We can't afford to get
this right or get this wrong.
Bill 2026 1391 is very
important. Make the right
decision.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized. And could
you please share your ticket
number?
Yeah, I am 126.
Okay,
thanks.
My name is melody
cornwell and I am a preschool
teacher, and I am a resident of
district 20. The kids I work
with are two year olds, and
they being outside is the best
part of their day. And they
couldn't go outside all last
week because of the heat wave.
But we were very excited to get
back outside on monday, and I
just worry for their future
being able to go outside as
they grow up, especially with
data centers. So that's why I
support this bill, and I would
support any bill with stronger
regulations for ai data centers.
Thank you, thank you. Go ahead
and come on forward.
Hello. My
name is ainsley golden. I'm a
resident of district 20 and I'm
in support of bill 2026 1391. I
would prefer no data centers
anywhere, ever, but I will take
what I can get. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is
katie hahn and I'm here with my
daughter celestine, who did not
want to go home until she had a
turn to speak. We live in
district six, along with my
husband and my other daughter
in east nashville, and we're
here to support the legislation.
Bill 2026 1391. We are
volunteers at the national zoo,
and we've had a family
membership for a long time. Our
daughters have taken classes
there for years, and my husband
and I were actually married at
the knoxville zoo in 2004. So
you could say that the zoo has
always been a special place for
our family members of our house
church, also whom we love
dearly, live near one of the
neighborhoods in question or in
that neighborhood. Actually,
our daughter's school one tree
tutorial and enrichment is also
in the neighborhood in question.
And I know that all have we
significant places in and
around nashville that evoke a
sense of joy and connection to
ourselves, to nature, to our
loved ones, and to our roots.
And we're asking you to do all
that you can to protect the
future of our cherished places
in nashville. Passing strict,
enforceable legislation will
keep us all protected, and it
and I would argue that it needs
to go even further. But having
a starting point is critical.
if that's not done, then we
will soon be here again.
Defending the next park
historical site, church,
community or neighborhood. And
where does it end? We can
continue to make our voices
heard on this issue, but I know
you'd rather have us out in our
communities, loving our
neighbors, volunteering at the
zoo, or doing other meaningful
work. Please. Thank you for
listening to us and we
appreciate you doing the right
thing. And also thank you for
the number of sponsors on this
bill.
Thank you both for coming
out. Oh, are we going to hear
from you too? Yay. Okay.
I know
your first question is why is a
child speaking, but I'm old
enough to use my voice and.
I
will you welcome your voice?
It's great. Thank you.
Hello.
My name is solstein hahn and I
live in district six, and I
support this legislation. Bl
2026 1391, because all voices
deserve to be heard. And
because I love the zoo, my
school is in that area and
people I love and care about
live in that area. All thrown
aside just for a day to center.
Please protect our zoos,
neighborhoods, parks and
schools. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead.
How am I supposed to
follow that? Oh my GOD. My name
is ali moresco and I live in
district 17. I strongly support
bill 1391 and respectfully ask
the council to strengthen this
bill as we go forward and not
weaken it. Please do not add
any amendments that reduce its
protections or whack back the
safeguards discussed during
this process. I believe that
davidson county deserves strong,
permanent regulations that put
the health, safety and
well-being of our residents
first. So thank you for your
leadership and for protecting
our community.
Thank you. Go
ahead. And can you share your
ticket number, please?
Yes, I'm
134.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm aaron
christie, I live in district 24
and I support bill 1391. I
found myself wondering, does ai
itself recognize the
implications of building data
centers in our communities? So
I typed a simple question why
are ai data centers bad for the
communities? The answer
highlighted concerns. We all
know increased strain of our
power grids, significant water
consumption, noise pollution,
and harmful environmental
impacts. If even the technology
driving this industry
identifies these risks, we
should take this seriously. I
ask you to choose policies that
strengthen our community and
protect our environment, not
policies that benefit a handful
of large corporations, while
leaving our residents to bear
the long term consequences.
Please make decisions that
serve the long term health,
well-being, and future of the
city and the people who call it
home. Thank you.
thank you. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
I, I
am a resident of the 16th
district. I'm a native
nashvillian and have seen a lot
of changes over my life. Some
for the good, some not so much.
And I'm not a spring chicken,
so I've seen a lot. What has
remained steadfast and makes
nashville such a great place to
grow up and live is that at the
heart and soul of nashville has
always been a strong sense of
community. Nashville zoo was
created for that community to
learn about animals on a global
scale, have a beautiful place
to make memories with loved
ones, and provide a serene
place to feel connected to
nature right inside city limits.
We're very fortunate to have
this property. It also has a
very successful conservation
program created through the
years, years long passion and
dedication of countless people.
So to support that purpose, I
urge the passage of 1391 in any
and all additional measures and
stricter regulations to protect
our zoo, this city and this
community against the negative
impacts of outside corporations.
They come in and pillage our
resources, seek to undermine
our resilience and sense of
community, and have a complete
disregard for our places of
respite and sanctuary, for
their sole agenda of profit. In
closing, if you aren't familiar
with the history of the zoo
property and theadjacent
business park, the grassmere
business park where this is set
to be built, I strongly
encourage you to learn it,
which you can also learn at the
zoo, by the way. And it is the
best evidence of the benefits
of choosing conservation over
profit. And I ask each of you
to honor the legacy of the
family that gave this land and
the legacy of this city. By
choosing this community and
your constituents over
corporations. Thank you very
much.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is lauren lot and I live in
district 12. I'm a former
zookeeper from nashville zoo,
and today I work in development.
I am not anti-development and
pays my bills. However, I left
my career, legacy and my work
at the national zoo. I can
speak to the idea that this
data center proposed would be
absolutely detrimental to the
lives of the animals. I've seen
with my eyes the storm water
issues I've personally measured
decibel levels, reaching inside
overnight buildings to protect
the kangaroos, hearing from
environmental impacts. I have
seen firsthand how the
environment around the zoo can
stand in the way of the world
changing work. They do.
Hundreds of the best
nashvillians I have ever known
have poured so much of
themselves into their work
there, and it's a pillar of
pride in our community. I'm
begging our council members to
protect our people and animals.
I have sat in these hearings
and observed people from every
walk of life and political
background, but we can all
agree we are extremely
uncomfortable with data centers
of this scale coming to our
city because of what we are
hearing from around the country,
where these centers have have
been built. Nashville finds
themselves a guinea pig. In
this new world, we can either
be the guinea pig that makes
policy, that protects our
people. As an example for how
other municipalities can remain
safe when they find themselves
this flat footed. Or we can be
the guinea pigs of what happens
to hundreds of different types
of animal species and
vulnerable human demographics
when there is a large data
center nearby. I hope that we
are not to become the data and
statistics that strengthen
future bills in other cities
where we served as a warning.
Maybe data centers are only as
bad as they promise us they are.
Maybe in a few years they will
get better. Maybe eventually
this won't be an issue. But for
now, I would love to see you
pass. Bill 2026 1391 today and
amend and strengthen it
tomorrow. I know how developers
work. They find a way. I'm
still afraid there is room for
large, harmful data centers to
build in phases and clusters to
skirt these regulations that we
adopt today. I also believe
setback distances should be
increased. Thanks.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
my name is jesse banks. I live
in council district four. And I
want to remind all of you that
it is your responsibility to
protect us, and it's your
responsibility to listen to us.
and I hope that you're
listening and not thinking
about what time it is, because
we've all been here for a
really long time, and we all
don't really want to be here
right now. But this is really,
really important to all of us.
And I hope that you'll remember
that those are your
responsibilities when you are
voting on this bill, because
this is just the first step in
protecting the people that you
are supposed to be protecting.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Good evening.
My name is via jimenez. I live
in council district nine. I am
in favor of bill 2026 1391, and
I want to strongly encourage
you all to use your natural
intelligence and human
creativity to find even
stricter legislation to protect
our community. I am an artist.
I am an educator, and I'm a
somatic therapist. So obviously
I share the concerns of my
neighbors about the negative
impacts of artificial
intelligence and its
infrastructure. I moved to
nashville in 2022 to work
specifically on affordable
housing, design, development
and operations. As evidenced by
the many bills that came before
this one. It is incredibly
difficult to construct housing
for real people in nashville.
So why are we allowing
imaginary people like claude
and alexa to build their big,
loud, dirty, ugly houses in our
city with no repercussions and
no oversight? All of y'all
should be just as off as
everybody else in this room,
and I encourage you to tap into
that moving forward to carry
you through the rest of this
hearing. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Well, well, well.
Hello, my
name is rebecca lawson, and I
live 2.3 miles from the zoo. I
support bill 2026-1391. I'm a
preschool teacher here in
nashville. One of our favorite
books is the lorax by doctor
seuss. It teaches children that
caring means protecting those
who cannot protect themselves.
Every day we teach our children
to care for one another, to
care for animals, and to care
for the world around them. I
wish our elected officials and
lawmakers modeled that same
lesson in 2023. I lost a
pregnancy at 18 weeks. For 11
days I lived in fear, knowing I
could hemorrhage or develop a
life threatening infection. I
was told to wait until it
became an emergency, became.
Before anyone could help me, I
experienced firsthand what it
feels like when people in power
claim to value life, but fail
to care for the people living
it. That experience changed how
I hear the phrase pro-life. It.
If tennessee and the cities
within it truly value life,
then that commitment cannot
stop at birth. It has to
include protecting children in
their classrooms. It has to
include listening to families
and making meaningful changes.
After tragedies like covenant
school shooting. It has to
include creating healthy
communities where children can
grow, learn, and thrive. It has
to include protecting the
animals at our zoo and
preserving the natural spaces
that make nashville home.
Instead, we are considering
placing massive industrial data
centers at fisk university near
the zoo. Whether it's children,
neighbors, families or wildlife,
the message feels the same our
voices and our well-being come
second. As a teacher, as a
woman who has experienced
pregnancy loss, and as someone
who loves this city, I'm asking
you to be consistent. If you
say you value life, then prove
it. If protect the lives
already here. Protect our
children, protect our
communities, protect the future
they deserve. And like MR.
Lorax said, unless someone like
you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It's not.
Thank you. Could you
share your ticket number,
please?
I am number 148.
Okay.
We are 2.5 hours in and at
ticket number 148. Thank you.
Go ahead.
Hello, everyone. My
name is stephanie ali. I live
in council district 26,
represented by courtney
johnston. I'm also a teacher in
district five. And like so many
before me, I'm here to speak in
favor of 1391. Now, honestly, I
would prefer no new data
centers, but I'm thrilled that
we are looking to pass data
center regulations, and I want
to urge the council to follow
stand up nashville's data
center recommendations that
would include prohibiting all
large scale data centers,
requiring a 90 day public
notice for all data center
regulations or developments, a
required monthly reporting on
water, electricity, noise and
any change in consumer rate
costs broken down by county
council district. A ban on nds
between any metro council
member and any data center
affiliated parties. And while
the proposal for this data
center near the zoo is what
catapulted this conversation,
there are already several data
centers in nashville and a
proposed one at fisk. If data
centers aren't good for animals,
they are not good for people,
and it is important to. Oh my
gosh, my screen time just
kicked off and it's important
to pass this legislation to
continue to protect those of us
who actually live in this
community, rather than allowing
large corporations like market
street to prioritize profit
over us. Because how do
davidson county residents
benefit from large scale data
centers? We don't. So please
pass. 1391 thank you for your
time and GOD bless.*thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hello, my name is wyatt parks
and I live in district 30 in
south nashville, about five
minutes from the zoo, a
beautiful, beautiful, diverse
part of nashville. And I'm a
tennessee native. I'm a
musician and songwriter, and I
came here to express my
vehement opposition to any new
data centers in our city and my
support for this legislation to
regulate data centers in the
city. As public consciousness
about these centers has grown,
we know now that they are
extremely destructive to our
communities. They provide no
tangible public benefit and in
fact, only take from our
communities our energy, our
water, and our peace of mind.
Their primary purpose is to
continue propping up an
increasingly speculative and
destructive industry, which
parasitically profits from the
work of real human artists, and
which only benefits a tiny
handful of tech companies and
their shareholders while
sucking the life and resources
out of our communities. I plan
to make nashville my home for
many years to come, and as such,
I ask for your support for both
pieces of legislation being
discussed tonight, as well as
your continued continued future
support, continued future
opposition, excuse me, to new
data centers as stopping the
development of these centers is
one of the most critical things
you can do to protect our
beautiful city. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Go ahead.
You're recognized. Would you
share your ticket number as
well?
I'm 150.
Thank you.
Of
course. Hi, my name is liz
bailey. I'm from district seven
and I'm here in favor of 2026
1391. I don't pretend to be
well versed in tech. I'm not an
engineer. But as a lifelong
tennessean, I feel well versed
in the needs of my neighbors.
The growth that nashville's
population faces already leaves
us drastically in need of
resources, public
transportation, and better
infrastructure. Yet while
taking on these data center
development and tunnel deals
with billionaires, we continue
to allocate our resources to
out of state one percenters. I
feel as a nashvillian and as an
american, I've lost all
autonomy and representation to
a technocracy that preys on the
downfall of our agriculture,
working class, our children's
education, and our right to
privacy. I ask you to vote in
favor of tennesseans and meet
their needs, rather than
participating in the creation
of an industry that employs no
one but the elites who invented
it, forced it on us and demand
more. Still, I ask that you go
beyond this, beyond this bill,
and continue to protect
nashvillians with rigorous
environmental evaluations.
Lower noise thresholds, ban a
ban on ndas, require renewable
energy sources, and say no to
the surveillance state. Thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead. Come
on. Orward. You're recognized.
Hi, my name is claire green. I
live in district 16 and I'm
here in support of bill 2026
1391. And if anybody sitting in
front of me is not for that, I
implore you to tell the 150
people behind me and 100 more
that they don't deserve clean
drinking water, clean air, time
outside with their families. So
please do what you're here for.
Thank you.
Thank you. And just
to clarify, there are now 100
people behind you. So thank you
so much. You're recognized.
Hi,
I'm carly mafa, I live in
district 16. I heard the
representative from dc block
say that, quote, the zoo isn't
surrounded by some farm or
pastoral setting, that it's in
the middle of an industrial
park. I personally live less
than a mile from the zoo, and
myself and my neighbors live in
brick homes, modest brick homes,
not industrial buildings. And
there actually so many
families and children who live
in our neighborhoods directly
across the street from the zoo,
that those of us who live
around the zoo avoid. Elysian
fields road when it's bus drop
off and pick up time, because
those busses stop on every
corner. I'm not an expert in
zoning. I'm really nervous to
be up here or realestate, but
I know how to google and I know
how to read. And my
disappointment actually lies
more with this city than the
company that is trying to build
here, because it is this very
city who had the ability to
protect the land and the
communities, and yet did not.
Just over a year ago, my
council member, jenny welsh,
was so focused on passing a
blanket of zoning in my
neighborhood, the same
neighborhood that is less than
a mile from the zoo, that
hundreds of us had to leave,
work early and attend planning
meetings to fight our own
council member, to not pass
restrictions that would
literally determine what plants
I could put in my yard. My
council member focused on
passing stringent rules and
regulations on residents who
are now fighting not to live
near a data center. Regulations
with a d oh, including a set of
rules and regulations that
dictated what plants I could
put in my yard. Yet they can
build an entire data center
less than a mile from my house.
That's a problem. We should be
less focused on my driveway and
porch size and more focused on
protecting children, because
had you been slightly more
focused? I'm sorry. I'm a
little angry. Protecting the
families. I'm protecting the
families in the land rather
than restricting what plants I
can put in my yard, and passing
a udo that resembled an hoa
that I didn't sign up for when
I bought my house, maybe we
wouldn't be in this situation.
Thank you, courtney, for asking
for a pause, because this is
not a strong enough
restrictions in here and we
need it.
All right. And go
ahead and come on forward,
please. You're recognized.
When
I wrote this down it said good
afternoon. But that doesn't
really apply anymore. But hello.
My name is rebecca sale and I
am a member of district 18, and
I have come here to show my
support of bill 2026 1391.
However, I will agree that with
several members that have
already come to speak, that
these regulations could be
stronger and more stringent.
Fortunately, there are still
multiple hearings that this
bill will undergo before being
voted on. So I hope that the
council takes the time to look
into some of the proposed
legislative amendments that
stand up. Nashville has
proposed, and add those as
amendments to this proposed
legislation. However, there's
one more point that I would
like to make as a concerned
citizen of nashville, and that
is if these data centers do end
up being built, I think that we
also need to have additional
legislation to plan for that
possibility. And I think that
one of the issues that arises
with these data centers is that
they could be built, and they
could say that, hey, we're not
going to cause air pollution,
we're not going to cause water
pollution. But then they go
ahead and do those things, and
no amount of fining will hold
these datacenter companies
accountable. And so we need to
consider additional legislation,
legislation that will hold
these data center companies
accountable, that if they do
not meet these quality control
standards, that they will be
shut down. Thank you very much
for your time, and please
support this bill. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
It's a little low.
You can pull that mic up. It
moves. There you go.
Hi. My
name is allison nagle. I'm from
district six. And I support
bill 2026 1391. I'll pass the
baton to my best friend who has
a lot to say on it.
Thank you.
Hi, my name is charlie. I'm a
resident of district 24. That's
my council member, and I'm here
to voice my support for bill
2026 1391. There's a reason ai
data centers are shrouded in
ambiguity, and why there are no
cut and dry answers to simple
questions, even when posed to
our mayor. This type of
infrastructure is contingent
upon developers
overcomplicating it. Otherwise,
they know the public would be
vehement in teir opposition
and their investment would be
at risk. On paper, we already
know the enormous environmental
strain in ai data center puts
on the water supply. We know it
pollutes the air. We know it
makes people sick. We also know
these data centers
disproportionately impact black
and marginalized communities.
The most disenfranchized group
in history. And still, the only
reason we have any kind of
clarity is because of a
grassroots movement started by
a nashville resident. Whether
we're being patronized by
doctor clark fisk university's
own PRESIDENT, about what a
data center is and why it alone
can save fisk university from
falling further into disrepair.
Or we're being given the
runaround by our mayor, who is
desperate to please everybody
but did nothing when he first
heard in FEBRUARY about the
data center proposed for a plot
of land next to the nashville
zoo, one thing is clear the
citizens of davidson county
want regular regulatory
framework. As the nation drags
us, kicking and screaming into
an era of unchecked preemptive
growth. So a few major
corporations can be in a race
to destroy as much of the
planet as possible for a
potential payout. And as a
reminder to everyone here, the
mayor, our king of
contradictions, who sent a
clerk today in his place,
maintains his support for
fiske's quantum leap initiative.
In the coming weeks, he will
seek to weaken this legislation
in order to make accommodations
for fiske's proposed data
center. Please stay vigilant
and please continue to show up
for our community. And 37208
thank you.
Thank you. Could you
please share your ticket number?
My ticket number is 156.
Thank
you.
Good evening all. My name
is sean grimes. I'm a fourth
generation immigrant. Iwas
born and raised in nashville.
And let's just be honest, this
is not good. It will decrease
our water quality, quality. The
water pressure will go down. It
will increase ourutility bills.
We're going to put we're going
to be footing the bill for the
data centers. It's just that
simple. It disrupts animal
breeding habits. It disrupts a
cow production. The animals
have. They're given birth to a
stillborn offspring. And I
don't trust doug sloan. Doug
sloan has lied. He said that
the property is vested and that
the permits are already
approved. I don't know why he
would lie about that, because
when people lie, they either
think you're stupid or they
think you're not smart enough
to know the truth and concern.
Doug stone is probably both.
And to everyone who's watching
at home right now, just know
that the people of nashville,
they don't care about you. They
never did you. Just an obstacle
to be overcome, your nuisance
to be gotten rid of you. Just
someone to foot the bill. Your
money will always there. Money
will always come first and you
will always come second. Thank
you for listening to me.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hello, my name is
christopher hopkins. Hi, olivia.
Let's dive right in. Let's talk
about ai. It's what lazy people
use when they don't have enough
talent to create art music, or
they're too lazy to do research.
We have allowed corporations
for decades, my entire life, to
run this country. No more.
We're done. They have bought
and sold politicians like
trading cards. It ends. There
are record companies. There are
music streaming services that
all use artificial intelligence
to steal ideas. Why? For profit?
The point being, we don't need
this. We never have. What we
need is to get away from it.
It's not just data centers,
it's all of it. Ai is not our
future. And fun fact we are two
and a half years away from the
setting of terminator two. Let
that sink in for a second. The
price we pay for our freedom is
vigilance, and we will be
vigilant. No politician in any
party is safe. A vote for ai is
political suicide. And let's
face it, and let me be very
blunt with the ai companies,
you're just no more than the
jared fogle of the tech
industry. Thank you.
thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
I'm deirdre kelly.
I live in
district six. I'm here not only
to voice my support of 2026
1391 and the moratorium and to
add my voice to the several
people who've spoken before me
who have astutely observed that
this legislation does not go
far enough in giving people
salient protections against
this particular type of
capitalist exploitation of our
communities. I would like to
argue that the sheer number of
people here advocating for
regulation in response to an
attack upon our communities
should give us pause, because
there is going to be another
exploiter. All of these ai is
another iteration of, excuse me,
I should have prepared notes. I
had 2.5 hours to do it. Ai is
another in a line of several
sort of new technological
paradigms, disruptions backed
by astounding amounts of money,
whose practical applications,
in the case of ai in particular,
are most demonstrable in surveillance. And I'm
surprised it hasn't been
brought up already. The killing
of 150 schoolgirls in iran,
maven ai was directly
implicated in that. Its error
killed all of those girls, and
I believe that is directly
relevant because that is what
this technology serves, and
because the imperative to kill
people in foreign countries for
profit is going to remain and
is going to continue to affect
our cities. We need proactive
legislation which prevents
these kinds of predatory
corporations from beginning
this. We cannot react. Thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Good evening.
My name is johanna sestito. I
reside in district six, and I'm
here to support to voice
support for bill 2026 1391, as
well as increasing the
regulations specifically for
minimizing the allowable data
center sizes in davidson county
and limiting and reducing the
amount of allowable energy use
for those regulated for those
data centers. I also just want
to thank you for embodying what
local government is supposed to
do, and that is listen to us
and to listen to all of us who
can come. Prior to moving to
nashville just a few short
three years ago, I lived in a
in a small town in alaska,
where the size of the people
who showed up here was the
entire population. And I can
tell you, they're having the
same conversation today that we
are. So as you think about what
innovation looks like, it is
not data centers. Innovation is
not dehumanizing our neighbors
and our communities in order to
be faster with mediocre
information. Innovation is what
you have the opportunity to do
tonight and tomorrow, and for
the rest of the time that
you're here in nashville's
leadership. So thank you for
supporting a thriving city, and
thank you for helping us
protect what we love with
policy and, and a lot of care.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized. Could you share
your ticket number, please?
sure.
I'm number 162.
Thank you.
Hi, my name is miriam spier. I
live in district six. Thank you
for listening to all of us
tonight. This is so interesting.
I've never done this and I'm
winging it. There's been so
much said tonight. It's been so
brilliant and inspiring. Just
to hear the intelligence and
heart of all these people from
all over nashville. The one
thing I want to say that is
maybe something else. I see us
as like a society at a crisis
of values right now that's
becoming stronger and stronger.
And whether or not this is the
issue that pushes us even
further towards that crisis,
are we going to value human
life, or are we going to value
profit? And I feel like in our
country, we've set this
precedence that you need to
take care of your own, be
really careful, get as much
money as you can and set your
next generation up for success.
But if that's done so at the
detriment of the environment or
other communities or other
ecological systems that need to
thrive in order for us to
thrive as humanity, that's when
I start to really become
baffled by that mentality, and
I do. I wish we could have like
a round table discussion
because I am curious, those who
oppose this what's in it
for you? Like what is truly in
it for you? Maybe some money? I
don't even know how that works,
to be honest. I don't know how
these people bribe you because
it is bribery. We call it
lobbying in this country, but
everywhere else it's called
bribery. So I'm truly confused
as a critical thinking member
of your council district, and I
would implore you to really
think about what you value
going forward in this life.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is alisa sun and I'm a
resident of nashville council
district 35. The construction
of a new data center in
nashville would cause
inevitable harm to communities
already struggling to survive.
The quality of life will lower
further while keeping the rich
safe and in power, creating
unsafe and unhealthy conditions
for vulnerable populations of
both humans and animals. I
strongly support bill 2026 1391
and urge this council to
support even stronger
restrictions on data centers
because, as you can clearly see
by the 250 people here who have
spoken passionately before me
and waited several hours to
have our voices heard, we
simply want to live in a world
where everyone is valued and
taken care of, a world where we
can breathe freely, pay our
bills on time, go to sleep with
a roof over our head, and
on our table. Unfortunately,
many of us aren't even able to
do that in this moment, and the
construction of a gargantuan
data center would cause
irreparable damage to our city
and the folks living in it.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
my name is beth.
Ann and I live
in council district number 26.
Hello, courtney. And thank you
so much to courtney and the
other council people who have
sponsored these bills. I speak
in support of bill 2026, 1391,
13, 92, 1448 and everything and
anything you can do to make all
of these people that have
signed petition petitions,
waited here all night to speak,
without leaving, without giving
up, while you also have been so
attentive. I have watched so
many of you listen because like
myself, I imagine you feel
inspired by the community, by
the wisdom, by the pleas to
maintain some integrity in our
city. I am so lucky to have a
council person who advocates
for us on a regular basis. I
wish that for every citizen of
every part of this country, but
particularly in our city, where
it sometimes feels like we are
under siege. I live in a
beautiful part of this town
that's right. Between radnor
lake, the ellington ag center,
and just a couple miles from
the zoo, it's hard to think of
a prettier part of town, but
it's also a part of town that
has now been beleaguered by
change in flight plans and the
sound of the airplanes alone,
day to day, has caused friends
of mine to put their houses up
for sale because they simply
can't take it. When I magnify
that and multiply it. It's the
accumulation of all the ways in
which we are being attacked
that is problematic. Does it
feel like attack to everyone?
Maybe not, but when you've
lived in a very peaceful
environment and all of a sudden
all you get is noise and the
quiet of the night? I can hear
the train from my house. I can
hear the people racing on
edmondson pike, even though I
don't live on edmondson pike.
Thank you, thank you. All right.
You're recognized. Go ahead.
Hi,
my name is sissy dinkle and I
have lived in various places
around nashville for the last
11 years, and I consider
nashville, davidson county and
tennessee to be my home. I am
one of the many full time
musicians that make up the
thriving music community in
nashville, and we know we've
all seen and heard the effects
that ai has had on the creative,
professional communities around
the world, really. And I am
concerned about the impact that
these data centers will have on
the city, not only the
environmental consequences to
the zoo animals and the
ecosystem surrounding the areas
where these centers will go.
But as well as neighborhoods
and communities surrounding%
these areas as well. I don't
think that it is a coincidence
that these proposed data
centers that are largely being
discussed at this meeting are
at the zoo, which is located in
one of the most racially
diverse areas of nashville, and
also at fisk university, one of
our cherished hbcus and the
home of the fisk jubilee
singers, which the reason why
we're called music city in the
first place. This comes along
with the ethical and
surveillance concerns that come
with ai usage, as well as
spread of misinformation. I
felt compelled to come and
speak to you all today because
it would be so easy to be angry
in my home and to be angry on
the internet and be angry with
my friends. But when I have the
opportunity to come speak to
you face to face, I believe
that to keep my mouth closed
would be as good as apathy. And
we all know that there's no
such thing as a middle ground.
I urge you all to pass.
Bl20261931 and restrict the
data center production in our
city and in our state. Thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, everyone.
And I'm.
Ticket number 168.
Thank you. My name is rita
phifer. I'm from district 23. I
don't haven't heard that as
often. I'm in nashville. Native,
longtime resident, obviously in
support of bill 2026 1391, the
proposed amendments, the
moratorium, the kitchen sink.
Thank you guys so much for your
work on this. But y'all, it's
not enough. We also agree with
stand up nashville's proposed
changes based on policy expert
opinions. It's still not enough
beyond even stricter
regulations. What we truly need
is real accountability from you.
First of all, our
infrastructure is already
strained and outdated. Are we
really prioritizing corporate
profit over updating our
lackluster infrastructure again?
Also, I'm curious to see
metro's legislation supporting
enforcement and holding data
centers accountablewhen data
centers inevitably lie and harm
our communities, what recourse fight this
corporate greed? Oversight is
not enough. Increased taxes and
fines I don't think are enough.
So what are we going to do
about that? And then after all
of that, is the cost worth the
risk? Especially when we don't
really know the full extent of
the long term damage? And
council, I guess I wonder why
we are once again reactively
drafting rushed policy because
of public outrage instead of
proactively planning for our
future, I propose the 90 day
public notice of developments
no ndas and business
development as a baseline
standard because we shouldn't
have channel four news being
the reason we draft this. And I
say this as a city, as a place
I love, I expect so much
because we need you more than
ever. The soul of nashville is
three quarters of the truth.
We're singing the truth loud
and clear. I really hope you
sing along. Thanks so much.
Thank you. Go ahead. Sir. You
recognized.
Hi, I'm jared
harper. I live in metropolitan
nashville, district number 21.
It's the same
a district that
has. Fisk university, where
they proposed a location for a
30 megawatt data center. And
it's right next to my it's my
alma mater, and it's right next
to my alma mater of meharry
medical. In fact, I live in the
same neighborhood as meharry
medical college, and I've lived
in those two neighborhoods for
the last 12 years. I'm here in
support of bill 2026 1391. I've
been a student, a health care
professional, a computer
technician, I.T. Worker, and
I'm currently a teacher. And
I'm coming today as a local
resident concerned for nearby
students and colleges, high
schools, middle schools, and
elementary schools nearby that
aren't really here to speak for
themselves. We've had a history
in nashville where railroads
were split, where split the
city up by race. We've had an
entire highway cut through a
once thriving community of
north nashville, and there's a
data center show that's
proposed in north nashville,
and there needs to be
regulations in place to help
protect those who really hadn't
been made aware. I know you're
probably aware of concerns
about the cost of electricity,
about concerns about the stress
and risks of local water
systems, potential problems
with pollution from diesel.
You're probably aware of
concerns about cardiac and
respiratory issues and concerns
about low frequency emissions,
increased traffic in the area,
and even desires to use the
land for other purposes in and
around davidson county. But
what I hope you're most aware
of is that everybody who's come
here is in general, is in
opposition to data center
expansion, but they have
virtually unanimous consent for
bill 2026 1391. And I hope
you're aware that there are
many fisk student alumni who
want transparency and
accountability. That's why I'm
here in support of this bill
and not to oppose innovation or
fisk, but to support common
sense regulation.
Thank you. Go
ahead. Could you share your
ticket number, please?
Yes. I'm
ticket number 175.
Okay, we're
on ticket number 175 at 1137
ish. We are three hours into
our public hearing. Again, it's
ticket 175. Go ahead please.
Good evening, council members.
My name is emma garrett and I
live in district 19. I'm a
software developer and I'm
excited to demand more from
this bill more from you all
here. And until this bill is
stronger, I support a complete
moratorium on data center
permits. The first thing I can
tell you is that ai companies
do not care about this city.
Open ai lost over $38 billion
last year and is scrambling for
capital. That's why there's a
race to get these data centers
built. They need they need more
cash to deliver a return to
their investors. Tech oligarchs
don't care who gets sacrificed
in the process. So I'd like to
make some suggestions. First,
let's upgrade to a full ban on
large data centers. Facilities
larger than 20mw. A medium data
center is the size of a 7 to 8
floor residential building. Why
would we want anything larger
than that? The proposed fisk
data center is 30mw and the zoo
should be 50. You've heard
tonight that no one wants
either of these, so the fix is
simple ban large data centers
completely. We need penalties
for companies who flout
electricity and water use
restrictions. Let's hit them
with everything we have. That
means fines. That means getting
the water utility to turn off
the tap if they take too much
water. We should also be
deprioritizing data centers,
electricity during heat waves
to make sure that we're never
supporting big tech over an
elder's a c or refrigerated
insulin. More importantly,
nashville needs more time to
decide if we want data centers
at all. How about we extend
that moratorium to a full year?
Ai is not inevitable. We can't
take silicon valley's promise
of prosperity at face value.
When I think of prosperity, I
think of the nashvillians in
this room who braved the rain
and sacrificed sleep to be here,
to look you in the eye and
demand more. I urge you to
listen.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Good evening.
My name is david camp. I'm a
nashville native living in
district 23, and I support bill
2026 1391. First of all, thanks
for taking the time. I know
it's a long night, but this is
crucially important and I think
it's time well spent. I want to
zoom out a little bit. We're
currently living through the
sixth great extinction, a
degradation of biodiversity
unprecedented in human history.
That is the result of a way of
life that is in direct
contradiction with the millions
of other species that call this
planet home. Here in north
america, we've lost 30% of our
bird population since 1970. The
planet is estimated to be
losing 1 to 2% of insects each
year. Insects that pollinate
more than 75% of global crops
annually. We lose an estimated
3.6% of small mammals in north
america. Much of this loss has
been attributed to human
activity, mainly through
overdevelopment and agriculture,
both of which also exacerbate
the climate crisis. But at
least one could argue that
agriculture is a necessity.
Data centers are anything but.
Data centers threaten our
drinking water, our air and our
wildlife. And for what? A
bubble that has already burst.
Adopters of ai such as
microsoft and uber have already
started rolling back its use.
It seems to me we are
sacrificing plots of land that
should be expropriated and
turned into green spaces to
benefit the neighborhood. For a
mirage, a too good to be true
panacea promised to us by
parasitic developers.
Developers who are looking to
make a quick buck while
destroying our city in the
process. I reject the ghastly
future that ai ensures. I
reject this faustian bargain
built lies and deceit. I
reject the subversion of
democracy by moneyed interests.
I embrace a future filled with
songbirds and silkworms. I
embrace a life affirming pact
with the natural world that
birthed us. I embrace a
political system that needs of the working class
at its forefront. I believe
that a better world is possible.
Into the chrysalis we go.
Thanks to everybody who's going
to talk tonight, who has
already talked. I appreciate
your time.
thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
I am ticket
180.
Thank you. Appreciate that.
Okay.
Yeah.
I'm here tonight.
As a resident. These are my
personal views. They're not the
views of my employer. My name
is stephan cange. I've lived in
nashville for 14 years. I am a
resident of district 16. I live
a mile from the zoo. I love my
neighborhood. I love our city.
And I'm here to support both
the council bills before us as
well as the condemnation effort.
I think we have to use every
tool at our disposal. This is a
really good start for us. I
think we can do more, and I
don't want to belabor that too
much. It's late. I think we've
all seen that these data center
people will say and do anything
for a buck. These people are
liars. Do not roll over for
them. This issue is a political
loser. It is radioactive. I
think we've all seen what's
been happening in primary
elections across the country.
Anybody who backs a data center
will not be in office after the
next election. And one more
thing. I just want to thank all
the metro staff for working so
hard tonight. They do a great
job.
Thank you. That's very
kind. Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hey.
My name
is anna. I live in district 22
and I'm here because I support
bill 2026 1391. I'm glad
there's been a lot of people
talking about the zoo, and I'm
right there with them. It's
easy to ignore issues outside
of our own neighborhoods. Y'all
do have an obligation to see
and serve every part of the
city, and nobody wants a data
center in their neighborhood.
This legislation is a nice step,
but it's nowhere near as strict
as it should be. The data
center near fisk was announced
after the students had moved
out for the summer. If it was
that exciting of an
announcement, I would think you
would want the community to
celebrate with. I feel like
it's also worth mentioning that
fisk is right next to meharry
and tsu. These are three of the
most significant institutions
o higher education, and
students and community members
deserve to be involved in the
conversation from the beginning,
especially after everything
that's happened in memphis. The
damage from elon's data center,
the national guard, and
completely overhauling the only
majority black congressional
district in the state. The
message that you would send by
letting corporations have their
way city is more,
please, that you're okay with
the possibility of more
destruction and more culturally
diverse and historical black
communities. The way that
leadership associated with
these data centers is handled.
It has been shady at best and
fascist at worst. We like to
think we're better than this,
so prove it. Thanks.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Could you share your ticket
number?
Yes, I'm 183.
Thank you.
First of all, thank you, vice
mayor. And all the council men
and women for hosting this. My
name is jess heartland and I
live in city sorry, city
council, district 17 with
COUNCILWOMAN Vo. I was born in
what was formerly known as
baptist hospital, and I spent
every year of my 21 living in
and around nashville, tennessee.
I am also opening a startup in
the construction materials
industry. And I would be a liar
if I told you that accepting a
contract to be building those
data centers would be bigger
than anything that I have ever
earned in my entire year and a
half of working on it, probably
to the point where I would
stand to benefit from this bill
failing more than anybody in
this room, even the most
corrupt of yourselves included.
But none of you are, because
you're all awesome. Yet I am
still here in support of bill
2026, 1391 and all of its add
ons and amendments. I would
choose to decline those offers
privately, even if it meant the
permanent closure of my
business to nashville business
owners and operators. There is
no price big enough that is
worth putting any facility like
this in davidson county, let
alone in our national urban
services district. You've
already heard 182 around their
curated reasons why. So here's
mine thrown in the ring. Given
preliminary reports from
farmers and families living
around presently, operating
data centers, caution and pause
are indeed the wise takeaways.
This is a really big reference
to what rick schwartz was
talking about, especially with
the farmers in west texas.
After the data center was built,
their cows are struggling to be
bearing livestock as well as
their milk production. And it's
low frequency that's coming
from these data centers means
it can't be dampened. So even
if they say that there's
countermeasures that they can
put in place, they're lying.
Once again, tennessee state
university is, of course, a
major host of agricultural
research in tennessee, which
would also be affected by the
data center and then the
clouded leopards at national
zoo. Their adorable little
faces speak for themselves.
These projects are strongly
opposed by nationals top and
bottom, 1% blue and white
collar workers and all other
sorts. And so I hope you vote
against it.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
I'm megan,
I'm a resident of city district
26. I am a nashville native and
just wanted to be here to voice
my support for bill 2026. And
sorry, 1391. I can't really say
anything better than what my
beautiful neighbors have said.
I do want to add, I'm
I've been working in emergency
rooms and hospitals for most of
my career. I've watched as
we've not been able to provide
timely and appropriate care to
the nashville population. And I
do recognizethat allowing
these data centers is going to
add significant physical and
mental health issues, and put
further strain on our system
and our ability to care for our
community. Thanks.
Thank you.
Welcome. Could you share your
ticket number?
Yes, my ticket
number is 185.
Thank you. Go
ahead.
Hey y'all, my name is
maria miller. You've seen me
before. You've heard me before.
Tonight, I think I won't take
up too much of your time. I
usually go over time, but I am
here in support of bill
2026-1391. I live in district
21. Shout out north nashville
and I have pretty much been
born and raised in north
nashville, and that is why I
have the stance that I have. I
do not believe that there
should be any data centers in
nashville. However, with the
proposed one at fisk and the
zoo, I do believe that
nashvillians deserve more
transparency, truth, and just
honesty. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like
I go to church and. 37208 and I
don't remember any of like my
leadership saying anything
about the fisk data center,
which I think is pretty weird.
Oh, shucks. Yeah. And I just,
we don't need this. There's
other things that need to be
done, y'all. So yeah, do what's
right. Thank you.
Thank you. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Paul
williams out of district 21. I
stand before you as a man who
has come to love and fight for
north nashville as a community
ambassador. I've seen what has
happened. When progress forgets
people, I've seen highways
divide neighborhoods, black
businesses disappear. I've seen
family families displaced while
someone else called it
development. Now history is
knocking again. This time it
wears the face of technology.
And I have one question. Who
pays the price? I'm not against
innovation. I'm against
repeating history. Because
progress without justice isn't
progress. If the fisk project
project is truly good for
nashville, then don't fear
transparency. Don't fear
independent review. Don't fear
community voices require an
environmental justice impact
assessment. Measure not only
what this project brings, but
what it could take away,
require independent experts
selected by metro, not by the
developer. Because trust cannot
be built on self evaluation,
require meaningful community
engagement. Don't say that you
did it when you didn't, becuse
nobody got anything in the mail
before. Decisions are made, not
after communities are told to
accept them. Our neighborhoods
are more than parcels on a
zoning map. They are homes,
churches, schools, history.
They are people and people
deserve to be protected.
Tonight I'm asking you to
strengthen this ordinance, not
to stop progress, but to ensure
that progress includes justice.
Because the measure of a great
city is not how many data
centers it can build in. It's
whether the people who have
carried this city for
generations are still standing
when the building is done. Our
neighborhoods are not sacrifice
zones. They are living,
breathing communities whose
survival depends on the choices
you make tonight. So make the
right one.
Thank you. All right.
You're recognized. Go ahead.
Let's see.
Hello, my name is
tony davidson. I am a singer,
songwriter, producer and serve
as vice PRESIDENT Of glencliff
neighborhood group in district
16. What's up, jenny courtney?
First, I would like to applaud
the 246 nashvillians who showed
up and showed out tonight. All
the people who submitted public
comments and the over half a
million people who signed the
grassmere park and fisk
university data center
petitions. I would also like to
thank the council members who
sponsored these bills. To those
of you who are not at 11:52
P.M. Right now in support of
these bills, think about the
record attendance tonight made
up of people who have never
been involved, the soon to be
eligible voters who have been
here for hours. This is us
fighting back against the
out-of-state corporations,
buying and destroying our land,
depleting our natural, national
natural resources, and
polluting our ecosystems.
Lastly, I have a message to the
folks attempting to build these
data centers in davidson county.
Clearly, we are a persistent
bunch and this hearing still
isn't over. We aren't going
anywhere, and we will continue
to resist these data centers
being built. And if it isn't
obvious, I support bill 2026,
1391 and 1392. Thank you and
everybody, have a great morning.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
On 95. I'm doctor
stacy elliott from district 16.
I apologize. Did you say ticket
195. Yes ma'am. Thank you for
clarifying that. Thank you.
Go
ahead doctor stacy elliott from
district 16. And I'm a member
of the party for socialism and
liberation. The people have
spoken. Nobody in nashville,
memphis or anywhere else wants
a new data center coming to
town and poisoning their air
and water. Dc blocks go kick
rocks. Aside from the policy
questions and debates about ai,
this threat raises serious
questions for metro and the
entire corporate ruling class
of nashville. Questions like
will you again insist on
trampling over the popular will
of the people, then make us
foot the bill for enriching
some lazy, entitled capitalists?
Will you again hand our city
over to corporate elites so
they can sponge up profits and
have the public dime absorb the
costs? Will you once again ante
up our public dollars to
bankroll corporate cash grab
projects while forcing us to
foot the bill for their
gambling addiction? We, the
working class, create the
city's prosperity. And yet you
force us to play the role of
the only casino in history
where the house always loses
when it comes to any sort of
corporate gamble or financial
speculation. Riding the waves
of booms and busts, the powers
that be in nashville, the
chamber of commerce, the
nashville downtown partnership,
the mpd, the mayor's office.
Y'all cannot wait to be an easy
mark and get us ripped off once
again, despite all public
opposition and evidence against
them, you fell for scams like
license plate readers and flock
surveillance that have never
made anyone safer, but do make
it possible for cops to spy on
their ex wives and other
targets instead of listening to
workers in the unions that
helped many of you get into
office, you keep funneling our
public dollars to consulting
firms to do whatever it is that
consultants supposedly do. You
refuse to grant workers a cola
that actually keeps pace with
inflation. You made us the city
that has only one fewer nfl
stadium than it has nfl regular
season wins, and you made us
taxpayers subsidize that sort
of billionaire vanity project.
We're tired of metro leadership
bowing down to the whims of
capitalist elites instead of
serving the people. We say no
to data centers and no to any
other extractive scams free
palestine.
All right. Next, go
ahead. You're recognized.
Hi.
My name is seth campbell. I
live in district nine and I'm
here to support this
legislation legislation. This
is my first time attending any
sort of hearing like this. I've
been a tennessee resident my
entire life in nashville,
resident for six years, and I
plan to be in the city for a
long time because I love the
people. In the spirit of this
community, time and time again,
the people of nashville and
tennessee show their resilience.
And when confronted with
adversity on nights like
tonight, this city, I think
it's at its best. While the
community of nashville is made
up of some of the most generous
and resilient people in the
world. At the same time, this
city seems to be full of power
brokers and local politicians,
some of which are in this room,
who show us over and over again
that they are hell bent on
selling the city out to the
highest bidder. And this seems
to be just another chapter.
While I am in full support of
bill 2026 1391, and I'm
thankful for all the council
members that are co-sponsoring
this bill. These are kid gloves
restrictions and should be only
a starting point. Like others
have stated, these data centers
do not meet a simple cost
benefit analysis that any
community would or should
accept. You should be able to
answer simple questions like
what are the benefit of these
data centers? Who is benefiting?
What? How are these
monstrosities that use as much
water and electricity as a
small city going to be used to
benefit our local communities?
How are we supposed to accept
these in our towns, when the
billionaire owners of these
companies can't even say
loud what their defined end
goal is, I urge any member of
this council or any other
elected official who is still
deciding or not in full support
of this legislation and further
restrictive legislation, to
take a look at how long we've
all been here and take a look
around the country and how
united people are against
projects like these. This issue
will not go away, and it will
define you as council members
and politicians if you let it.
We do not and will not accept
these billionaire pet projects
at the zoo, at fisk university,
or anywhere else in our city or
state. Thank you.
Thank you.
Welcome. Can you please share
your ticket number?
I am ticket
number 200.
Okay. You.
Hello, my name is emily summers.
I'm a resident of district 31
and I'm here to express my
support for legislation 139192
and 1448. Here is thesimple
truth about ai data centers. We
don't know what we don't know.
Data centers present serious
quality of life risks that
cannot be mitigated because
they are not yet fully
understood. Dc blocks and those
who stand to benefit from these
projects are hoping that we
will turn a blind eye as they
use college students, families
and even endangered animals as
the canaries in their coal
mines. But the people of
nashville are not blind and we
are not powerless. So, council
members, you have an
opportunity in front of you.
You have the opportunity to
show the people of nashville
that your loyalty is firmly
planted here with your
neighbors, not with the
financial interests of out of
state developers. Each of you
individually has the
opportunity tonight to prove to
us that you deserve to be
sitting where you are. It is in
your best interest to serve the
people who you were elected to
serve. Because if you haven't
noticed, my ticket number is
200. The people are showing up
and we are paying attention to
you. Thank you for your time.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized. Hi.
My name.
Is
hayden exley. I am from
murfreesboro, tennessee. I
support the bill 2026 1391, and
I support even stronger
regulation here and across our
beloved state. In wendell
berry's poem manifesto the mad
farmer liberation front, he
says things I hope you consider
in light of the question before
us. It begins love the quick
profit, the annual raise.
Vacation with pay. Want more of
everything ready made? Be
afraid to know your neighbors
and to die. And you will have a
window in your head. Not even
your own future will be a
mystery to you anymore. Your
mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little
drawer. When they want you to
buy something, they will tell
you. When they want you to die
for profit, they will let you
know. In the interest of time,
I'll paraphrase the rest. He
continues, so friends, every
day do something that won't
compute. Love the lord, love
the world. Give your approval
to all that you cannot
understand. Praise, ignorance
for what man has not
encountered, he has not
destroyed. Say that your main
crop is the forest that you did
not plant, and that you will
not live to harvest. Ask
yourself, will this satisfy a
woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep of
a woman near to giving birth?
So let nashville be remembered
how we chose the care of our
home over the profit of
strangers who cannot care or
keep our home for us. I hope
data centers can be regulated
or stopped, not only here in
nashville, but in my home of
rutherford county and in
tennessee as a whole. I love my
home. Please, please protect it.
Do unto those downstream as you
would have those upstream do
unto you. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Hi,
my name is emily short. I have
been a resident of the 16th
district for more than ten
years. I'm here in support of
bl 2026 1391. And I guess
further moratoriums on it. I
believe the most important a community is to protect
the people and the animals who
already live there. Nashville
needs to ensure that its growth
and its progress does not come
at the expense of our health
and our safety through the
sacrifice of our neighborhoods.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is landon caswell. I'm
from franklin, tennessee county
district ten. I'm here to
support bl20261391. But most of
all, I am here to support the
nashville zoo. I am a card
carrying zoo member. My family
and I have been visiting the
zoo for as long as I can
remember. Over the years, I've
seen it grow from a humble,
modest family zoo to an award
winning aza accredited facility
from their state of the art vet
hospital to their new clouded
leopard exhibit, their leopard
forest exhibit, which opened
last year. The national zoo has
grown to become a leader in
animal husbandry and wildlife
conservation. They are
literally writing the books on
the breeding and caring for
rare and endangered species
such as giant anteaters,
rhinoceros hornbills, sumatran
tigers and especially clouded
leopards. My concern is that
this data center will severely
degrade this beloved nashville
destination, as well as
jeopardize all the dedication,
research and hard work from the
zoo staff. I want the nashville
zoo to continue to grow into
the best zoo in america, and I
don't see how a data center
will make that possible. Thank
you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is dave dohrmann and I'm a
resident of district 24. My
neighbors have already said
everything I've thought of over
the last few hours and days
before coming in here. So just
one second. Everything has been
said before. And yeah, thank
you for addressing this matter
for all of us. Have a good
night.
Thank you so much. Can
you please share your ticket?
Number? 215 yeah.
215 okay.
thank you. Go ahead.
My name is
emily hines. I live in district
24. What's up brenda, thanks
for supporting this bill. I do
support this bill, but like
most of the people that came
before me said, I'd like I'd
like to see no data centers in
nashville. And we already have
plenty in the works. And that's
frankly a shame. It's also a
shame that I'm standing before
you at midnight to beg for my
life and for the lives of the
people that I love in the city,
because clearly these death
centers are not going to help
us. I work as a musician and as
a farmer, and in both of those
industries, ai is catastrophic,
especially feeling that right
now because I was out in the
heat all last week and my brain
is fried, I'm exhausted, and
I'm overwhelmed by the heat
that we are staring down the
barrel right now with el nino,
we are on the brink of massive
crop failure and ecological
extinction that we will not
recover from, and we will live
to see the consequences of the
choices that y'all make tonight.
So I'm asking you to please
pass this legislation and pass
amendments that are much more
stringent. 100ft is nothing,
especially when y'all have
passed legislation that bans.
Trans folks and drag shows at
way more stringent codes. So
yeah, I'd really appreciate it
if you would follow your hearts
or if your hearts are dead.
Listen to us. Thank you.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is
christa wells. I'm a mother and
a musician and a resident of
district five. I'm here in
support of bill 1391 as a
minimum, because once we
collectively lose our health
and well-being, nothing else is
going to matter at all. And I
think we all know that we're
already collectively losing our
health and well-being for all
kinds of reasons. And it
appears that the health of our
immediate community members and
the environment that our
children and our grandchildren
and great grandchildren depend
on depends in part on the
decision that you all get to
make tonight on our behalf. Our
descendants are going to look
back on all these decisions
we're making around technology,
and we've never done it before.
It's hard. They're going to
look back on all these
decisions, and they're going to
either thank us or hate us for
them putting strong safeguards
in place before a stranger
comes into the house with your
kids. It's not a big ask. It's
wisdom. And wisdom is what we
count on. You guys to exercise.
So I want to thank you in
advance because I am choosing
to believe that you are here to
uphold the duties of your
office. I trust you will
prioritize the needs and
reflect the expressed desires
of your people, which is
nashville people. So thank you
so much for your time.
Thank
you. As you step to the podium,
I just want to share. It's 1207.
So we're 3.5 hours into our
hearing. And for purposes of
just kind of every half hour
where we are, could you please
share your ticket number 217
thank you so much. Go ahead.
My
name is madeline beyer. I am
from council district three. I
struggle to feel like I deserve
to be up here speaking to you
all. But I believe that I do. I
sincerely hope that each and
every one of you believe that
you deserve to be in these
seats. And if you don't, you
should spend some time with
that. There is a long list of
evidence that these data
centers negatively impact and
are already negatively
impacting communities of real
people vulnerable,
under-resourced and targeted
groups, environments and
ecosystems. Et cetera. Et
cetera. Properly functioning
data centers should not need
this amount of resource at this
insane and unsustainable scale,
especially not at the expense
of people getting their most
basic met. I do not care
what companies are doing to
minimize the use of these
resources, because under these
circumstances, it does not
matter and it should not matter.
This is, in my opinion,
absolutely stupid and violence
against humanity. I am here
today in support of bill 2026
1391. But I want to reiterate,
as so many before me have said,
that it needs changes to
restrictions and protections
that actually legitimately
protect the land, the animals
and the people. Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Thank you. Hold on
one moment, please. My name is
catherine richtmyer. I am a
district 20 resident, and I'm
here this evening to support my
council member's bill. Council
member ron haughton's. Bill,
bill 2026 1391. A lot of people
are here tonight because of the
zoo or fisk, but this bill is
about is bigger than either of
those projects. It's about of davidson
county from the dangers of data
centers. Every corner of
davidson county deserves to be
protected. Unlike other data
center related bills, this bill
was not born under public
pressure or for pr. It's not
about a single project. It's
the only proactive piece of
legislation. Ron saw the
devastation that data centers
have inflicted on other
communities and has worked for
months on this bill, long
before the zoo or fisk were
announced. But the best part
about this bill isn't that it's
rollins bill. He's made it our
bill, the community's bills.
He's worked with us and taken
feedback on it for amendments
and implemented them in real
time. Please do not let poison
pill amendments over the next
two weeks be added on to this
bill. We heard representatives
on our metro planning
commission asking for
flexibility in trying to weaken
bill 2026 1391. I urge council
to not delay, but to pass bill
2026 1391 in its strongest form
because, as council member
horton says, we shouldn't be in
a race to become a leader in ai,
to become a leader and health
and safety for our people.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized. Thank you
for your time.
This is my
second time seeing you guys. I
spoke at the first council,
which is my very first time
public speaking, and my heart
beats in my ears. But it's fine.
I support bl 2026 1391 and any
legislation that is going to
put more restrictions on ai
data centers. I drove two hours
about to get here, and I am a
licensed massage therapist. I
forgot to mention that last
time. So my special interest is
in infrasound. We know very
much about how much music
affects humans. Music therapy
won't go into that. So I just
wanted to say I support strong
legislation that protects every
neighborhood in nashville from
the dangers of data centers. I
waited hours to say this, that
I had misspoke at my first
speech because I was so nervous.
So I had cited ben jordan for
the infrasound information. I
mispronounced his last name. I
was so nervous. So ben jordan
was who I cited my information
from. He records infrasound
across all of the ai data
centers across the U.S. And his
findings were just disgusting,
if I MAY be so frank, there was
a six year old girl in 2025 in
the summer of 2025, who
developed very intense seizures
by living next to the ai data
center elon musk. Elon musk put
up after the family took out a
just another mortgage for their
house and walked away and moved
so their daughter could have
better opportunity to be away
from the ai data center they
thought was causing the
seizures. All of her symptoms
immediately stopped upon
leaving. So I just want to say
that the movie good luck, have
fun, don't die. I feel like
maybe has the vibes of what's
going on where everyone cares
so much, and if it's bad for
animals, it is bad for humans.
Please understand that I know
that y'all are in for a long
time and lobbyists have. I
don't have the money for that,
but I brought you a bag of
candy to lobby for you guys to
be sweet and do the right thing.
Councilmember benedict is
coming. Alrighty. Next. Next
speaker please. Next speaker.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Thank you. Hello, everybody.
Thank you so much for your time.
My name is olivia and I'm from
williamson county and I support
the bill. Bl 2020 261391.
Having that said, I do support
technological innovation and
progress, especially in terms
of economic growth and human
flourishing. However,
innovation and technology
should not come before humans,
animals or the environment
until data centers are
environmentally friendly and
work for everyone, I will not
be supporting them, and I'm
certain the animals that live
in the zoo and the humans that
live near thezoo do not want
their air, water or soil
polluted from a proposed data
center. I believe what is owed
to humans, animals and the
environment is a sustainable,
eco friendly future. And I
believe that starts with all of
us. I don't believe we deserve
a lifeless, ai controlled
corporate corporate
surveillance state with the
likes of pixar's wall-e, in
which corporations have the
final say in humans and the
planet were just another
disposable resource to give
away and destroy. So I want to
leave you with this. We don't
take anything from this world
other than our memories and our
own conscience. So please do
the right thing and please vote
for the bill. Thank you very
much.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is trina. I live in district
six. I'm number 222. Everything
in this poem is sourced from
data map wpln and n s
own after action review. But it
was written before freddie
finally came out in support of
this. So sorry freddie, we're
in the middle of a heat wave,
but I still remember being cold
and now n s is verified. At
least one outside crew was told
that we had everything we
needed, and now they asked for
help. Too late. They've
conducted a review and
recommended 58 listed ways they
could be better, ways they
could take better care, but I
can't imagine adding data
centers was in there. They're
building one right now. Brick
church pike, 12mw. More power
than my zip code. Y'all connect
the dots. The data center by
the zoo would put 40 more on
lock, equivalent to the power
used by all of antioch. Both
doug sloan and community
pointed to the other 26. But no
one can say the load on any s
because no real info exists. We
need the bill for zoning and
the moratorium. We need the the
mayor to join our fight. We
need him to stop playing dumb,
but he won't even stand for
benches. And so we ask that he
sit down and follow the leaders
of the city who put benches all
over town. The super bowl is
coming at the same time of year
as fern, and if we don't get
this right, we'll have another
freezer burn. So I am asking
you guys to pass the zoning
bill and support the moratorium.
But write each one of these
data centers on one piece of
land, adds another zip code of
power being consumed. Like, I
don't think we just went
through fern and like we I just
don't understand hw any of
these places are attracted to
this grid. This grid is not
good. So right. We need to
shore up what we've got here
and reject these outsiders.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hey, all. My
name.
Is jake grayson. I'm a
resident of district two. I
don't think I can say really
anything that's not already
been said tonight, especially as creatively or eloquently.
But perhaps I'll add that I'm a
phd student at vanderbilt, and
in my role as a teacher, I've
seen how the technologies that
these data centers fuel have
really poisoned the critical
thinking and work ethic of
ostensibly some of our
brightest students. And so I
just wanted to voice my support
for bill to 2026, 1391 and any
stricter further legislation
that would prohibit
corporations from, you know,
wreaking havoc on our our
communities. I think at this
point, you guys know the right
thing to do. It's just a
question, a question of, you
know, whether you are willing
to prioritize your fellow
nashvillians and your own, I
think, moral character and
dignity above whatever
kickbacks you MAY stand to gain.
So thank you. Good night.
Okay.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is matt day. I'm number 225.
So
thank you.
Pretty close to the
end here. So I'm speaking my
private capacity as a resident
of district 18 in support of
bill 2026 1391 and proposed
amendments with some
suggestions. While the planning
committee's map showed that
proposed setbacks would
preclude the construction of
most data center projects in
davidson county as a whole, I
would request stronger setback
requirements and anti
clustering language in the
final reading of this bill.
Besides that, I only have two
small things to add to the 224
people who preceded me. First,
if you look at the dc blocks
website, the front page is
plastered with news about
identical projects across the
nation. Their own marketing
material makes it clear that
they do not care about
nashville and the communities
into which they parachute. This
is a special place, and I know
that the council and my fellow
residents feel that in their
ownway. I therefore hope that
you all will support this bill.
Second, there has been no
public good articulated by any
major official or executive as
to the purpose of not just the
dc blocks data center near the
zoo, but data center
infrastructure writ large.
Their transparent interest is
to use our community, its power
grid and its people without
much return. I therefore think
that this bill and subsequent
amendments are a simple start
to protecting the special place.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi, my name
is susan lamoureux. I'm a
resident of district 18, and I
wanted to voice my support for
the bill. 2026 1391. I also
support stricter legislation
around this issue. No
clustering and a more permanent
moratorium. And I just wanted
to mention, you know, one thing
that hasn't really been brought
up tonight is the heat island
effect that data centers also
bring, in addition to the
myriad other pollution and, you
know, effects that they have on
the local environment. Were
these two data centers to be
built in downtown nashville.
That heat island effect would
also impact the area of the
city that I live in, which is
not really that close to the
proposed locations. It would
affect the entirety of downtown.
I think, you know, that is
reason in and of itself, given
the heat waves we've been
seeing just in this past week
alone, to not allow further
warming of the city. And and
recently, a lot of companies
have begun scaling back ai
applications. Other people have
mentioned this tonight. Ai is
more expensive than human
workers. It is not more
efficient or more effective,
and it's certainly not more
creative. So as an artist
myself and recently moved to
nashville, I would encourage
you to support this legislation
and strengthen it. Furthermore,
going forward into the future,
we do not need or want these
data centers here or anywhere.
As has been mentioned over and
over tonight. Thank you for
your time.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hello, my
name is ginger rose creek. I
live in the watkins park
neighborhood, district 21, just
a short walk from fisk
university and one block from
mlk high school, where I have
an 11th grade student. I
support bill 2026 1391. I have
lived in nashville for 20 years,
and I lead a local
environmental nonprofit that is
working to save a collapsing
urban forest at two rivers
regional park in donelson. I
have spent countless hours over
the last decade in the trenches
of sustainable land management,
while inviting others to come
into an active living
relationship with our local
ecosystem and wildlife. Both
are under immense pressure from
rapid urban development. I know
from firsthand experience that
when it comes to our
relationship with the earth,
human activity can lead to ruin
or recovery. It is our
responsibility to consider the
impacts of our actions on the
next seven generations. I'm
here to encourage the council
to choose people and planet
over profit. The people have
not asked for data centers next
to our zoo, on our educational
campuses, or in any of our
neighborhoods. The planet
cannot withstand our continual
overconsumption of resources.
We are nashville, and we are
all here to witness you in
fulfilling your duty to protect
the land that we all share.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized. Could you
share your ticket number,
please?
I am ticket number 231.
Thank you. Go ahead.
My name is
janessa riley creek. I've lived
heremy whole life. Most of
what I wanted to say has
already been said. So all I
have left to say is that the
reason I am still here past
midnight is. I am afraid that
if I am not this bill
won't happen. And I'm very
nervous. I'm sorry. I love my
home and I have a lot of
personal stake in this.
Thanks
for coming out. Thank you. All
right. Next. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
What up guys. Good
morning. That's okay. I can see
all your eyes are glazed over.
And you know side conversations
are starting. But you're almost
there, I promise. All right.
Hello. My name is judas peace,
and I'm a resident of district
five, and I vehemently support
bill 2026-1391. And I would
also love to see further
restrictions placed on the
building of data centers in
nashville, preferably so that
they cannot be built at all.
But we can get to that. I mean,
we've all heard the facts
stated all night long, but as
we draw close to the end of our
public comment section, I'm
going to repeat them again,
because these aren't just
talking points, they're
people's lives. Data centers
are one stop pollution shops,
air pollution from fossil fuels,
water pollution from cooling
systems. Light pollution, even
in small amounts, can be
incredibly detrimental to local
wildlife. And GOD knows we
don't need more light pollution
in nashville. And the big one
that poses the greatest risk
for our zoo is noise pollution,
specifically low frequencies
that can get up to 80 to 100db,
which is way over the legal
limit. But I digress. Also, the
audacity from dc blocks to try
to put this thing right next to
our beloved zoo. It's it's
disrespectful is what it
you know, we already have a
dozen. We have dozens of these
things in our state. So, you
know, why don't we just put it
right next to our lovely aza
accredited zoo? You know, that
could be a great idea. With
multiple breeding programs for
endangered species, such as the
clouded leopard, puertorican
crested toad, and eastern
eastern hellbender, animals
that have become endangered
because of the actions of
humans, specifically
corporations seeking expansion
and profit with no
consideration for the only
planet that we have to live on.
This legislation needs to pass
for the future of the zoo and
for the future of our for the
future of our community. And we
will never stop pushing for
stronger and stronger
restrictions on data centers
until we erase the stain on our
planet that is, data centers.
All right, all right, that's
pretty much it. Thank you guys.
Free palestine.
All right. You
are recognized. Go ahead sir.
Good evening, council members.
My name is nick mansfield.
Ticket number 237. I live in
antioch, tennessee currently
and have lived in nashville my
whole entire life for over
three decades. I have been at
this meeting now for several
hours. I was at the meeting on
the 11th of last month, and the
response from the public
reminds me frankly of the
response that I remember from
people in my neighborhood
cleaning up after the flood in
2010. However, people now are
afraid and have said multiple
times that they fear that
nashville and america as a
whole has become government of
the dollar by the dollar for
the dollar. The lawyers
representative of D.C. Blocks
have come in and lied about the
state of the permits that they
have filed for, claiming that
they are in hand when they are
still pending. At the meeting
at the 11th, their lawyer
bulldozed through his two
minute time slot and had to be
only stopping when he was
called on it by the other
people present at the time. I
believe in nashville, I love
nashville, I've lived here my
whole entire life, and I think
that if you can't trust the
representatives of
representatives of these
corporations to be honest and
respect the small things, why
would we expect them to be
honest and respectful of the
health and well-being of our
communities? I ask you all
tonight to vote yes on 2026,
1391 and all relevant
amendments and moratoriums, and
prove to the people of
nashville and america that
government of the people, by
the people, for the people, has
not yet perished from this
earth. Thank you so much for
your time. I hope you all are
able to get coffee soon.
Thank
you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Hi, my name is maya.
Bundy and I live in east
nashville. I'm speaking in
support of bill 2026 1391. I
work in tech and I am disturbed
by the effects ai is having on
my industry. People's jobs are
already being replaced. Their
livelihoods are being stripped
away because of corporate greed.
Additionally, we have seen and
heard how local environments
are devastated by these data
centers. We deserve better than
that. If I lose my job, that's
a hurdle I will overcome. But
how will we recover if we lose
nashville to data centers? Well,
I hope that data centers will
be banned completely. In the
meantime, I ask for city
council to stand with nashville
residents by passing this bill.
Thank you.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
My name is
kara harris. I live in district
six. 248.
Pardon?
What's your
ticket?
248 okay.
Do I get to
start my time over since.
Yes,
you can, we can restart your
time.
D.C. Blocks is here
because they believe it will be
easy. They believe the back
door deals and the good old boy
politics of the south will make
for an easy process with little
resistance. And they have,
frankly, every reason to
believe that. Right? We've seen
it happen before. We are here,
right? All of us, because we
refuse to let that be the case.
We're tired of seeing big money
do whatever they want in our
city with no regard for us. You,
all of you have the power to
change that narrative. Let's do
more than just create some
broad regulations. Let's create
strong ones that truly protect
our land and our people. The
distance, as you've heard,
needs to increase. It's not
enough. Regular checks need to
be established. This is an
ongoing, evolving thing. And if
we don't build that in, we're
setting ourselves up for
failure over and over. Right?
And then we need to establish
establish actual consequences
for failure to comply. This is
something we haven't done well
at all in this city. Fines are
not going to do it. They need
to be clear and they need to be
real and actionable. Consider
whether you want to be part of
the status quo, or if you want
to be part of the change.
Established nashville as
different and be an example for
other southern cities. Make
nashville history for a reason
that you can actually be proud
of.
Thank you. Go ahead. You're
recognized.
Thank you. It's 249.
I'm ross benford. I live in
district 19. I support bill
2026-1391. I'll keep it simple
because everyone in front of me
and so many other members of
the community have laid out the
numerous negative effects and
lack of really any positive
effects that these data centers
have. The community has shown
up and demanded no data centers
at fisk or the zoo, and we've
also demanded stronger
regulations than this bill
provides as well. No one wants
this, and we will remember how
you vote on this bill. We will
be furious if there's a data
center built by fisk, the zoo,
or anywhere else in the city,
the community, as well as over
520,000 petition signers,
people who came here tonight
and so many others across the
city have all made it clear
that they do not want this
again. We will remember how
this goes and your seats are
not safe. Thank you.
Thank you.
Go ahead. You're recognized.
Good. Wednesday morning,
council members. I'm natalie
montalvo, a local realtor in
the greater nashville area.
I've resided in tennessee in
district two for 45 years, and
bill 1391 is something, but I
think it's a band aid for what
we really need to happen. I
prefer to not have data centers
near our community. I realize
we are evolving into a new era,
the same as we did with
computers and the internet. But
my major concern with data
centers is the vast amount of
land use and resources that is
required. I was on a call with
ali finn, who is the co owner
of ai now, who spoke to
realtors on the importance of
advocating for our communities.
She stated that even a five
megawatt data center uses the
equivalent energy of 300
households. Even with the
implementation of this loop
cooling method, which utilizes
less water but uses more energy,
I ask you to give strong
consideration to homeowners and
residents because we have a
right to clean living without
worrying about pollution,
increase asthma cases and other
health concerns. We have a
right to advocate to adequate
resources without competing for
energy and water, not just from
the massive data centers, but
also the backup diesel
generators that come along with
it. These generators also cause
more pollution and are very
loud. As homeowners, we have a
right to the quiet enjoyment of
our properties. I ask you to.
Give consideration to the data
centers impending impact on
rising electricity.
Thank you.
Your time is concluded. Thank
you. Right. This looks to be
our last speaker. Go ahead
please.
Did it.
Okay, MISS
Glapion, I guess you're
standing up to speak. Go ahead,
ma'am, I apologize. Please go
ahead.
Yes. My name is tina
chamberlain. I am in favor of
bl 2026 1391 and the moratorium.
When I was a little girl, I
longed with all of my heart for
nashville to have a zoo one day.
And grassmere started up and
they had two turtles and an emu.
And I thought, well, that is so
different from memphis, so
jealous of memphis. But through
the years I've watched them
just very slowly, with great
care and intentionality, build
up the zoo with with so much
research and so much thought
put into it. And same
way the communities have been
raising their families with,
with great care and great
intentionality, fragile animals,
fragile communities. And in
this day and age, I see so much
has been happening, especially
in the past ten years. That has
not been done with a lot of
thought behind it. And some of
the consequences have been
really rough. So I just I want
to thank you all today for, for
just really being here. And,
and so many of you have
listened so attentively to all
of us. And I want to thank you
for that and ask that moving
forward, you'll consider this
with deep care and
intentionality. Thank you so
much.
Thank you. All right. Go
ahead. You're recognized.
Sorry,
y'all. My number was 121, but
here I am. And I thank you for,
you know, y'all do look rather
engaged tonight. So I just want
to commend you there. You heard
from the community. I mean,
everybody gave their feelings
on everything, right? As many
sponsors, co-sponsors that are
on the bill, I feel confident
that it will pass. But I want
to talk about is it enough? And
that's a determination that I
need you all to look into, do
some research on, is this
enough? Why do they want to
build so many data centers in
this city? What is the. What is
the need for them? If we. What
is the innovation that we are
looking for? Ai. Are we looking
to take metro jobs? What is
metro's push for innovation?
Right. And I know there is a
need for innovation. I'm not
anti innovation. I believe in
community housing. I think
that's very innovative. So I
want the innovation. But I want
innovation for the people. I
need innovation for the people.
That's what we need, right? So
we need to make sure that we
are putting restrictive
measures on to ensure that the
right things are being built in
our community. Data centers are
not them. Everybody has told
y'all that you can't. You y'all
don't feel comfortable banning
them. Okay, how can we get
stricter with our bill? It's a
good bill. I do want to say
it's a good bill. It can be
better. So do the work. Let's
figure out how we can make it
as impactful as possible. I
believe in you all. And then
I'm gonna let the other ones go
so y'all can get out of here.
All right? Go ahead. This will
be our final speaker.
Good
morning.
Well, no, I apologize.
You've got the moratorium
ticket there. Go ahead. Not you.
Iapologize. The woman behind
you a little confused, I
apologize. Go ahead.
I was also
confused. Hi. Good morning. I
bet y'all are longing for the
days when it was mostly
threatening your seats.
We have
a whole host of new people
threatening seats now. In the
six years I've been coming to
council, this is the first
piece of legislation I have
ever been in favor of. And
while I'm in favor of it, I
think that's a big deal. For me
personally. It's current
amendments strengthen it some,
but there's still a lot to be
done to further strengthen it.
The details of which many have
before me. I think we've heard
from multiple people over the
past few weeks or months like
this just caught us by surprise.
Well, a lot of us have done our
research on it. And so it is
incumbent all to do
your research as well. I
appreciate council member
horton's efforts, but I would
also add that it is not enough
for you all to just support
this legislation, because these
people are pulling receipts and
election time. We're going to
be looking at who brought what
amendments. So you all need to
be doing your work, too. Just
supporting this is not enough.
I think it would be great if
people would do their own
research and bring forth
stronger and stronger
amendments. I think shauni
stand up. Lots of people who
are experts have given
excellent ideas, and it's not
enough to just sit on your
hands and say, you support this
or make some campaign season
speech. These people are smart
and these people are
researching even more than me,
some of them, the secondary
effects of data centers are
already horrifying. We don't
even have robust long term
studies on what the damage
looks like years down the road.
But what do we need data
centers for? We need data
centers to keep track of our
every move that is tracked
through surveillance technology,
that is tracked through
websites we go to online. Our
data is constantly being
scraped. Every time one of you
makes a questionable ai flier
for a community event that is
using computing power, which is
what we need these data centers
for. These are not an
inevitability. And we see
through any attempts by the
mayor and others to do
performative things like
executive orders that don't
actually protect us. So just
supporting this isn't enough.
You all need to get to work
these next two weeks. Thank you.
Hey, guys. Let's ban data
centers down to five megawatts.
Why not? We can do that. I want
to see this become the
strongest legislation in the
country. I want everyone to
look towards nashville. Today.
I was speaking to someone
fighting data centers in
indianapolis and across indiana,
and they were like, wow, I wish
freddie was our mayor. And man,
I wish, I wish I felt that way
every day. But this is the
opportunity for council, for
people. When you go to your
your conferences across the
country, for them to come up to
you and be like, oh, what was
that amendment you put up that
prevented, you know, data
centers from being built in
your neighborhoods? What was
that amendment that you put up
that required public hearings
at metro council, that required
processes that that focused on
the community? What this
legislation is about is about
giving nashvillians a voice.
It's about remembering that
zoning impacts humans, impacts
our lives, it impacts our
housing, and now it's impacting
our ability to live well. Let's
not get cancer. Let's get, you
know, let's like make music
city, music city again. I don't
want to be a tourist hellhole.
I want to be a fisk jubilee
singers on the news everywhere.
Let's, let's, let's tighten the
restrictions. Let's move medium.
Let's make large medium. Let's
make small. Medium. Let's let's.
Require reporting. That is
third party that is funded by
applicants. Let's build data
centers in nashville. Thank you.
All right. Does anyone else
seek to berecognized on 1391?
Okay. I declare the public
hearing for 1391 closed. All
right. With that, MR. Horton
sponsor, it is back to you for
a motion, sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. I'd like to move for
approval so I can.
Okay. Just
to clarify, it's a motion to
approve both 1391 and 1392.
Correct, sir.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay.
properly seconded. Is there any.
Oh, special council is
reminding me that you have.
While I understand maybe for
your substitutes and other
amendments, you're going to
wait till the next reading. But
the proposed amendment on 1392.
No, I moved to substitute this
evening. Please. Going to do all those
things.
Just the substitute.
Okay. All right. So because we
are amending and substituting
the bill, we cannot take them
together. So if you would
please restate your motion and
let's start with 1391 please
sir.
Move for approval.
1391
second okay. Go ahead sir.
I'd
like to move approval of the
substitute, please.
Okay. There
is a motion to substitute. It's
properly seconded. Anything you
want to share about the
substitute?
The substitute
aligns the bill with the
planning commission.
Recommendation includes
technical improvements such as
how to measure distance. It
also incorporates some of the
improvements suggested at the
planning commission public
hearing to highlight just one
success by district 20 resident.
It adds presence of sensitive
uses that data centers can't be
located by, so includes both
technical improvements as well
as substantive amendments to
the bill. Okay. The substitute.
Is there any additional
discussion? I see some folks in
the queue, but on the motion to
substitute specifically, do you
seek to be recognized on the
motion to substitute MR. Cortez?
Okay. MISS Benedict, on the okay.
Seeing no one else seeking to
be recognized on the motion to
substitute. All in favor,
please say I any voting? No or
abstaining. Okay. If you would
please renew your motion, sir.
Like to move approval
substitute, please.
Okay, so
discussion continues. Anything
else that you want to say, MR.
Horton, while you have the
floor? No. Okay. Next in the
queue is council member cortez.
You're recognized, sir.
Thank
you.Vice mayor. With the
county wide attention and
concern over this issue, I felt
it was appropriate to introduce
these amendments on second
reading, to give legal time to
work through any potential
state and federal preemptions,
and also give our neighbors the
opportunity to review and
potentially strengthen them.
I'd like to move these these
amendments for committee review
and just give context to the
amendment regarding the
decommissioning bond. So I
don't want to move for a vote.
I just want I want them to go
through the committee process.
But I want to give context to
the.
You don't have to make
such a motion, sir. It will
travel with the. They will
travel with the bill.
Okay,
ma'am. MAY I make a brief
comment?
You MAY.
Sure.
thank
you. We're on discussion.
This
amendment is about a simple
principle. If a private company
stands to profit from a project,
it should be responsible for
cleaning it up. If a data
center shuts down, goes
bankrupt, or gets abandoned,
taxpayers should not be left
holding the bag. The amendment
requires developers to provide
financial assurance up front.
Resources to remove equipment,
remediate contamination, safely
dispose of hazardous hazardous
materials and restore the
property to the condition they%
found it in. It's not a radical
idea. It is basic risk
management. I want to tell you
what working on this amendment
has taught me, and it speaks
directly to the frustrations we
heard tonight during public
hearing. Over the last several
months, I've authored
legislation to protect our
neighbors, bringing
transparency to algorithmic
pricing, educating families
about extremist networks,
targeting children online, and
making sure taxpayers are not
left paying for abandoned
industrial sites. Again and
again, I found the same pattern.
When ordinary people need
protection, we are told the law
does not allow it. But when
powerful interests want fewer
safeguards, there is always a
path forward. Consider what
just happened at the united
states supreme court. The court
overturned a 1.25 million jury
verdict for john darnell, a man
diagnosed with non-hodgkin's
lymphoma. After years of
exposure to roundup. They sided
with bayer. Monsanto, a foreign
based pesticide company, over
an american farmer with cancer.
The current administration in
washington filed on the company
side. The question in court was
really answering the same
question we nswer every time
we vote on an amendment like
this when something goes wrong,
who bears the cost, the company
that profited, or the people
who have to live with the
consequences? We're approaching
a moment where local
communities MAY not even be
permitted to require private
developer to set money aside to
restore property and
contaminants, leaving
neighboring homeowners and
local taxpayers to pay the bill
and bear the health
consequences. That's a threat
to every one of us, regardless
of party. When a state and
federal government leaves gaps
in the law, local government
has a responsibility to fill
them. COUNCILMAN Haughton's
legislation. This amendment
helped to fill those gaps. My
job is not to protect corporate
balance sheets. It's to protect
to protect the people who
elected me. Private profit
should not become a public
liability after committee
deliberations. I hope my
colleagues will support this
amendment and send a clear
message. Nashville believes the
company should stand behind the
projects they believe and keep
the promises they make. Thank
you.
All right, MISS Benedict,
we are on a motion to approve
as substituted. Go ahead. Ma'am,
there's.
A previous question.
Okay. There's only one more
person in the queue, but you
want to.
Yep. Previous question.
Okay, okay. Okay. We're going
to call the previous question
that requires. Second, we have
that. It's not debatable. It
requires two thirds of those
voting. We can do it by voice.
All those in favor of the
previous question, which means
you want to end debate, please
say I any voting against the
previous question. Okay, the
ayes have it. The question is
called and we will move to the
vote on 1391 on its second
reading, a motion to approve as
substituted. I guess we can
also do this by voice. MR. Pepe,
do you seek to be recognized?
Okay. All in favor, please say
aye. Any voting? No. Any
abstaining? All right. This has
passed its second reading as
substituted. Next is 13. Oh.
Point of order, sir. Go ahead.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
We've been at it for about six
hours now, though members have
been able to to leave the room.
I know staff and members of the
public MAY not have been able
to. So just to provide an
opportunity for a bio break for
everybody at this juncture, I'm
going to make a motion for a.
And I know we've got a lot to
get through. I'm going to make
a motion for a brief ten minute
recess.
Second.
Are we on the
verge of losing quorum here or
something?
I mean. Are we going
to use the restroom?
i mean, if
anyone needs to use the
restroom, they're very welcome
to go. If we can maintain
quorum. Respectfully, MR. T can
we just keep rolling? And
anybody wants to use the
restroom can use the restroom.
Can we just keep moving?
Understandable. Vice vice mayor.
I just want also wanted to
provide an opportunity for, for
staff to be able to use the
restroom as well.
But okay, I
appreciate that staff is very
welcome to do so as well.
Please everyone, feel free to
use the restroom. Okay. Thank
you sir. All right. I
appreciate your consideration
of your colleagues and our
staff. Genuinely, I do, but I
would like us to keep
proceeding. And obviously
anyone is welcome to use the
restroom whenever they need or
a bio break, as you so
eloquently put it. Okay. Where
were we? We were on right?
Okay. 1392 has already been
read into the record ahead of
the hearing. So it's back to
you, MR. Horton, for a motion
to get 1392 in front of us,
please, sir.
Move for approval.
Okay. All right. We're onto
discussion. You still have the
floor. Would you ike to make a
motion to amend? No.
No.
Yes. Sorry. Move, move.
Approval of the amendment,
please.
Okay. So there is a
motion to amend. Is there a
second?
Second.
okay. Is there
anything you want to share
about this amendment to 1392?
No.
Okay. Is there any
discussion on the motion to
amend seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. Okay. That's on
the motion to amend. I presume
you want to renew your motion
to approve as amended. Yes.
Okay. Any discussion on that?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining. Okay. So this
has also passed its second of
three readings, as amended.
Okay. So agenda item 46 is our
last matter on public hearing.
It's ordinance bl2026-1448.
Sponsors. Johnston, bradford.
Koopman. Wiener. Evans. Hoffman.
Stiles, spain, cortez, ellis,
nash, hill, drawful and
rutherford. This is an
ordinance declaring a temporary
moratorium upon the acceptance,
processing, approval and
issuance of zoning, building
grading permits for data center
developments on property within
nashville and davidson county.
This matter requires a public
hearing. I will just make the
point that we did not preclude
anyone prior to speaking on the
moratorium in the context of
the earlier public hearing, but
we do have some people that
secured tickets specifically on
this. But if you have had a
previous opportunity to speak
or otherwise, or you feel your
piece has been said at this
juncture, you know, feel free
to decide as you will. And with
that, MISS Johnston, you have
the floor. You're recognized.
Public hearing, please.
okay. I
declare the public hearing open
for council member johnston's
bill 1448, also known as the
data center moratorium. Would
all members of the public here
in support of this please raise
your hand? Okay. Would all
members of the public here in
opposition please raise your
hand? Okay, everyone here in
support. Seeing here, no one
here in opposition. Does anyone
here in support seek to be
recognized and speak? Okay. If
you would please line up in
ticketed order then please MISS
Shacklett, can could you
confirm your your ticket for
those wanting to speak so that
those will remain in the
ticketed order? MISS Shacklett,
who is our first
person among these folks? All
right, go ahead. You are
recognized.
Thank you. Well,
once again. Hello, danielle
caron.
If you would pull the
mic a little bit closer to.
My
name is danielle caron. Lots of
letters after my name. Hi,
berkeley. Also good to see you.
Hopefully I won't forget to
breathe this time. I'm speaking
in strong support of 1448. This
bill is essential because give us time to establish
firm guidelines for data
centers. And as the bill states,
enhance bill 2026 1391, like
that all renewable energy idea.
If we can build giant data
centers, we can build giant
renewable energy plants or ways
to reduce peak loads like
minimum ups and server
efficiencies, it will give us
time to learn from the mistakes
of established data centers,
research their effects on
humans, animals, and plants,
and hone in on exactly what we
need to do to place, operate
and maintain them safely. As
many speakers have mentioned,
we have more to discuss, to
regulate and to communicate,
hopefully in collaboration with
data centers in their proposed
locations. Eyes hear data
centers are here and they won't
just go away. This bill will
take a pause and send a message
to future data centers that
nashville takes them seriously
and will be watching their
development closely. No more
flimsy truths about their
impacts from their developers.
As I said before, data centers
are a meaningful part of modern
infrastructure. And who isn't
satisfied when you can type a
question into google and get a
meaningful answer, but they
must be scrutinized at a
significantly more granular
level level, we need more time
to consider the impacts, more
time for data centers and
people to work together. Data
centers don't need to be bad.
We just need to come together
to make them good. Please vote
yes to give us the time the
community deserves. Thank you.
All right. Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Hi again.
Wendy timmons, district 23. And
just to keep it short and sweet,
I would be even more in favor
of a an indefinite moratorium.
However, a temporary one is
really a good start, as was the
previous bill. It's a really
good start to a much longer
conversation and a lot more
work that needs to be done.
Yeah. Thanks again. Good night.
All right. Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized. Hi, carly.
District 16. Like I mentioned
earlier, I live within a mile
of the zoo, and when I bought
my home, I bought it in my 20s.
Single within my means. So that
meant there were mice. There
were holes in the wall, holes
in the ceiling. I have replaced
appliances. Didn't work. I've
replaced hot water heaters. I
grew up, my parents worked two
jobs, but we worked on houses
after school every day. And so
I learned to spackle cut in at
a very young age. My
neighborhood has the largest
population of like percentage
of with of hispanic of the
hispanic population than all
the other areas in nashville.
My neighbors are kind and
they're hard working. They are
caring enough to literally come
over. I've drilled my hand to
the sheathing and stuck on a
ladder. They'll run over. And
all that to say is like, I can
hear the monkeys in my backyard.
And I also have a garden where
I plant whatever I want in my
backyard. And there are were
more restrictions and
regulations in the, the
whatever. Like the thing that
our council member was trying
to pass last year that are in
the 1391. And so this
moratorium is really important
because we need a pause to
protect the people who live
there and the, and the small
houses and properties that they
work their entire lives to, to
have. And so I'm really
grateful. I know it's been late.
I also get up at 5 A.M. Just
like I'm sure most of you do,
which is how I was able to work
on my home, which it does not
have all that. It was
disgusting. It's not disgusting
anymore. It's really nice. But
I did that by getting up before
work and staying up till I fell
asleep and working on my home.
And I'm so proud of where I
live, and I really want you to
protect it. And that's selfish,
but also for my neighbors. So
thanks.
Thank you. Go ahead.
You're recognized.
Thank you.
My name is kelly and I live in
district 16. Jenny and I work
at an mmps school in my
neighborhood. I'm speaking in
favor of bill 2026 1448 to
issue a moratorium on data
centers and urge city council
to make decisions that protect
current residents rather,
rather than benefit a small
gaggle of big tech profiteers.
When I walk to work, I see more
empty waymo's than I see fellow
pedestrians. There are no bus
stops, few sidewalks, and due
to unsustainable development,
my road is regularly flooded by
stormwater. I've worked in.
I've worked as an educator in
nashville for eight years and
have seen how big tech has
increased surveillance in our
classrooms as out of state
corporations feed videos of our
students into their ai programs,
while local teachers jobs are
being to be professionalized by
the very same programs. I want
a nashville where my students
can look forward to dignified
careers where they can think
for themselves. I've used the
songs of threatened and
endangered birds of tennessee
to teach hundreds of students
about sound waves and start
conversations about habitat
loss. I want a nashville where
my students can hear these bird
calls, where my students are
not overstimulated by noise
pollution when they step
outside their homes. A data set.
A data center in washington
county, tennessee, had to be
shut down by court order due to
noise. It had a max energy draw
of 25mw. This is less than both
proposed data centers and also
science studies show that noise
pollution influences bird
behavior drastically. Over 75%
of birds species that were
studied, the birds that migrate
through tennessee migrate
across our country and into
venezuela as protect us,
protect our birds, protect our
kids. Thank you.
Thank you.
Does anyone else seek to be
recognized as specifically on
the moratorium bill 1448?
Seeing none, I will declare the
public hearing closed. And it's
back to you, MISS Johnston, for
a motion on your bill.
Thank
you. And I'd like to move the
substitute, please.
If you
could please just move the bill
and get it before us first.
Move, move for approval, please.
Okay. All right. Now you can
move the substitute.
Move the
substitute, please.
Is there a
second? All right. Anything you
want to share about the
substitute?
So the substitute
just adds some clarification
about removing small, like,
computer rooms and ancillary
things that that's not subject
to, to this moratorium. That's
not what we're worried about
here. And I did want to say
that I filed this, this, this
moratorium in order to give us
the time that we MAY need in
order to get this bill right.
It's incredibly important that
we get it right, not just get
it done. I did vet it. There's
been some talk about possible
litigation because of this
moratorium. I vetted this
before I filed it, which is
what I do with all of my
legislation. There are two
criteria that the state of
tennessee requires for
moratoriums. We meet that
criteria. It's also extremely
temporary in nature. By the
time someone would file a
lawsuit, the moratorium would
be over. It is just until bill
2020, 2026, 1391 passes or
NOVEMBER the 1st three months,
whatever comes first, it's
extremely temporary, and so we
MAY not need it at all. But if
we do need it, I would like to
have it and not need it than to
need it and not have it. And so
that was the purpose of this
moratorium. And I hope to have
your support and not a whole
lot of discussion.
Okay. So
we're we're on a motion to
substitute is any is anyone in
the queue specifically seeking
to speak on the substitute or
is everybody in the queue
wanting to speak on the bill as
substituted afterwards? You
want to speak on the substitute
specifically, raise your hand.
anyone know? All in favor of
the motion to substitute please
say aye. Any voting no or
abstaining. Okay. And MISS
Johnson, do you seek to renew
your motion to approve as
substituted?
Yes. Renew my.
Yes.
All right. Okay. So now we're
on to discussion on that. And
first in the queue is council
member styles. You're
recognized ma'am.
Thank you.
I
just want to thank the sponsor
for putting this bill forth. I
think a moratorium makes sense
so that we have a moment
collectively to make sure that
we can create a bill that we
can all be proud of that
doesn't have pieces here and
there that we're trying to
cobble together, or putting the
cart before the horse. I think
this allows for that
opportunity, and I hope that we
will all approve this so we can
have that time. Thank you.
Thank you. Next in the queue,
councilmember benedict, you're
recognized.
Previous question.
Oh, you keep doing this when
there's only one more person in
the queue.
Non-debatable motion
vice mayor.
I got it, I got it.
Hey, I'm not debating. Okay,
there's a second. It requires
two thirds of those voting. We
can do it by voice. All in
favor of the previous question?
Meaning you want to end debate,
please say I those against the
previous question. You want to
keep talking, please say no.
the ayes have it. We will move
to the vote of approval of 1448
on its second of three readings,
as substituted. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting? No.
Any abstaining? Okay. MISS
Porterfield is an abstention.
So this has passed its second
reading as substituted. All
right, hang in everybody. We're
going to go real fast now as we
move into our consolidated
consent agenda section k of our
agenda. And thank you again to
everyone who came out for our
public hearings this evening.
We we appreciate you and we
thank you. Okay. 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 ordinance number of
the items on the consent agenda
will be read by me. Members of
the council MAY remove any item
from the consent agenda by
request before the consent
agenda vote is taken. All right.
First item proposed for the
consolidated consent agenda is
agenda item 47. Resolution
2026-2071. Council members are
we? Hang on. Colleagues, are we
at risk of losing quorum?
Yeah.
Hey, MISS Johnson and MISS
Stiles, can you all just, like,
hang in we can at least get
through first reading items and
our late bills, and then we can.
Speak further. Is he did he go
to. MISS Stiles? Went to the
mezzanine.
okay.
What are we at,
sean? On quorum. Okay, we're
going to continue.
I think
that's good. Yeah. Okay.
Okay.
Agenda item 48. Resolution
2026-2072. Yeah. Agenda item 49.
Resolution 2026-2073. Agenda
item 50. Resolution 2026-2074.
Agenda item 51. Resolution
2026-2075. Agenda item 52.
Resolution 2026-2076. Agenda
item 60. Resolution 2026-2084.
Agenda item 61. Resolution
2026-2085. Agenda item 62.
Resolution 2026-2086. Agenda
item 64. Resolution 2026-2088.
Agenda item 66. Resolution
2026-2090. Agenda item 68.
Resolution 2026-2092. Agenda
item 69. Resolution 2026-2093.
Agenda item 70. Resolution
2026-2094. Agenda item 71.
Resolution 2026-2095. Agenda
item 72. Resolution 2026-2096.
Agenda item 73. Resolution
2026-2095 or rather nine seven.
Agenda item 74. Resolution
2026-2098. Agenda item 75.
Resolution 2026-2099. Agenda
item 76. Resolution 2026-2100.
Agenda item 77. Resolution
2026-2101. Agenda item 78.
Resolution 2026-2102. Agenda
item 79. Resolution 2026-2103.
Agenda item 80. Resolution
2026-2104. Agenda item 81.
Resolution 2026-2105. Agenda
item 82. Resolution 2026-2106.
Agenda item 83. Resolution
2026-2107. Agenda item 84.
Resolution 2026-2108. Agenda
item 85. Resolution 2026-2109.
Agenda item 86. Resolution
2026-2110. Agenda item 87.
Resolution 2026-2111. Agenda
item 88. Resolution 2026-2112.
Agenda item 89. Resolution
2026-2113. Now for second
reading items proposed for the
consolidated consent agenda.
First among those is agenda
item 135. Ordinance bl2026-1435.
Agenda item 138 ordinance
bl2026-1439. Agenda item 139
ordinance bl2026-1440. Agenda
item 140 ordinance bl2026-1441.
Agenda item 142 ordinance
bl2026-1443. Agenda item 143
ordinance bl2026-1444. Now for
items on third reading proposed
for the consent agenda, there
are just two one agenda item
144 ordinance bl2026-1393 and
agenda item 145, ordinance
bl2026-1394. Do any items need
to be removed from the consent
agenda? If members would please
join the queue to request that.
Okay. Council member parker,
you're recognized sir. I'm
sorry sir. Hang on a second. Go
ahead. Sir.
If you could remove
item 70, please.
Okay. Agenda
item 70.
Resolution 2094.
Resolution 2094 will be removed
from consent. Is that it for
you, MR. Parker? Okay. Council
member porterfield, MADAM Pro
tem, you're recognized.
Thank
you. Vice mayor, can you remove
item 73 hours 2026-2097.
Okay.
Agenda item 73rs. Resolution
2097 will be removed. Council
member gadd, you're recognized.
I'm sorry ma'am. Go ahead.
Thank you. If you could remove
item number 672026-2091 for the
purpose of an abstention.
It is
already not on consent.
Well,
then I removed that emotion.
no.
Okay.
Our motion, not emotion.
You're good. We got a motions
and motions and all the things.
Council member kimbrough, you
are recognized, ma'am.
She
already did it.
Okay. Thank you,
council member greg. You're
recognized. Sir. I'm sorry sir.
Go ahead.
Thank you, vice mayor.
Item number 88rs20262112.
Okay.
Agenda item 88, resolution 2112
will be removed from consent.
All right. Do any other items
need to be removed from consent?
Seeing none, MR. Clark, are all
committee reports in for the
items on the consent agenda?
Yes. All committee reports are
in.
Okay. Thank you, MR. Clark.
Members, is there a motion for
approval of the consent agenda?
Okay. All in favor, say I
council has passed all items
the consent agenda. All right.
I'm going to go back into our
resolutions, quite a few of
which will be deferred. So fear
not. In fact, we're going to
have seven of them. We're going
to just defer in a big tranche.
Right. MISS Tombs and I think
those are coming up. First.
Okay. So agenda items 53, 54,
55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 can be
taken up together, MISS Tombs,
for purposes of a one meeting
deferral as they are all
related. Special counsel, do I
need to read these into the
record? Yes. Okay. I do need to
read them into the record. So
again, this is agenda item 53,
resolution 2026-2077. Sponsors,
tombs and allen. This is
resolution authorizing the
metropolitan mayor to submit
the 2026-2027 annual update to
the 2023 to 2028 consolidated
plan for housing and community
development to the U.S.
Department of housing and urban
development. Agenda item 54 is
resolution 2026-2078. Sonsors
vo, tombs, horton, allen and
suara. This is resolution
approving the activities and
improvements eligible for tax
increment financing in the arts
center redevelopment plan
agenda item 55. Resolution
2026-2079. Sponsors tombs,
horton, allen and suara. This
is a resolution approving the
activities and improvements
eligible for tax increment
financing in the redevelopment
plan. Next is agenda item 56,
resolution 2026-2080. Sponsors
bradford tombs, horton, allen
and suara. A resolution
approving the activities and
improvements eligible for tax
increment financing in the
central state redevelopment
plan. Next agenda item 57.
Resolution 2026-2081. Sponsors
kupin, tombs, horton, allen and
suara. A resolution approving
the activities and improvements
eligible for tax increment
financing in the phillips
jackson redevelopment plan
agenda item 58, resolution
2026-2082 sponsors coupon tombs,
horton, allen and suara.
Resolution approving the
activities and improvements
eligible for tax increment
financing in the rutledge hill
redevelopment plan. And then
lastly, agenda item 59,
resolution 2026-2083 sponsors
tombs, horton, allen and suara.
a resolution approving the
activities and improvements
eligible for tax increment
financing in the skyline
redevelopment plan. Without
objection. Recognizing that
there are multiple different
sponsors, but all these bills
are going to be deferred one
meeting and they are all
pertaining to mdha. Thus,
that's why we are taking them
together relative to these
redevelopment plans. Without
objection, I will acknowledge.
MADAM Tombs so that she can
make a consolidated motion on
all seven of these bills. Is
there any objection to that?
Seeing none, MISS Tombs, you're
recognized on bill 53, 54, 55,
56, 57, 58, and 59. Go ahead
ma'am.
Thank you, MADAM Vice
mayor, committee report, budget
and finance voted to recommend
a one meeting deferral for
items 53 through 59, nine in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
Special counsel. Yeah.
Right. Okay. And for the report
of the planning and zoning
committee on all these bills,
vice chair harrell, do you have
MR. Horton's committee report?
Oh, you are still there, sir?
Yeah. You they they brought you
back. So this is on 53, 54, 55,
56, 57, 58 and 59. If you could
please give a consolidated
planning and zoning committee
report, please, sir. I'm sorry.
Thank you. Vice mayor
recommended approval. Ten in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
And that was true for
all those bills. Yes, ma'am.
Okay. All right. So it's back
to you, MISS Tombs.
Thank you
for items 53 through 59. Move
for one meeting deferral.
Oh,
I'm sorry, it's a deferral. I
apologize. It's rule 8.1. It is
a deferral by rule having
gotten in all the committee
reports. Okay. Thank you. Okay.
So all those items are deferred
by rule 8.1. That is a one
meeting deferral. And all those reports are now in.
Okay. Next is agenda item 63.
Resolution 2026-2087. Sponsors,
tombs, horton, gad, welch,
campbell and ewing. This is a
resolution to approve the first
amendment to a grant contract
for constructing affordable
housing approved by r.
S2024-709 between the
metropolitan government, acting
by and through the metropolitan
housing trust fund commission
and habitat for humanity of
greater nashville samaritan
recovery community, inc. Living
development concepts, inc.
Rebuilding nashville,
rebuilding together nashville
and tennessee prison outreach
ministry, inc. Councilmember
tombs, sponsor. Your recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Committee report. Budget and
finance voted to recommend
approval. Eight in favor, zero
against one not voting.
Okay.
And for the report of the
planning and zoning committee,
MR. Horton on agenda item 63,
sir. Chair. Agenda item 632087.
Your committee report, please,
sir.
Thank you, vice mayor. We
recommended approval eight in
favor, zero against two not
voting.
okay. All right. And so
with that, if you would make a
motion, please MISS Tombs.
Move
for approval.
Okay. Is there a
second? Okay. I think this was
taken off consent for purposes
of an abstention. And so we can
acknowledge those when we take
the vote. Is that correct? Okay.
All right. All in favor, please
say aye. Any any voting no. Any
abstaining. Okay. So MISS Allen
and MR. Parker are abstaining.
MR. Clark on 2087. This
resolution has been adopted.
Okay. Next is agenda item 65.
Resolution 2026-2089. Sponsors,
tombs, huffman, gamble and
wiener. This is a resolution
appropriating a total of
$233,900 from the metropolitan
government, acting by and
through the metropolitan board
of health to street works doing as today's hope to
expand an existing syringe
service program by providing
comprehensive educational
services focused on opioid
misuse, harm reduction
strategies and safe practices
for youth age 16 to 25 in
nashville and davidson county
council member tombs, you're
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
Vice mayor. Committee report.
Budget and finance voted to
recommend approval. Nine in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
All right. And chair
huffman for the report of the
public health and safety
committee, sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. Public health and safety
recommended approval. Six in
favor, zero against one not
voting.
Okay. All right. And
with those reports and a motion,
please MISS Tombs.
Move for
approval.
All right. There's a
motion to approve. It's
properly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No. Any abstaining?
Okay, MR. Nash, you'll be
recorded as an abstention. All
right. Council has adopted that
resolution. Next is agenda item
67, a resolution 2026-2091.
Sponsors gad tombs, bo allen,
welsh hill and ewing. This is a
resolution accepting a grant
from the national parks
foundation to the metro
government, acting by and
through the metro board of
parks and recreation to fund
improvements at the elmington
park playground. MISS Gad, you
are recognized.
Yeah, I'll move
for committee reports.
Okay,
MISS Voe, for the report of the
parks and libraries committee.
Thank you.
I'm sorry MISS. Go
ahead, ma'am.
Thank you.Vice
mayor. The parks, libraries and
entertainment committee voted
six in favor. Zero against one
not voting.
Okay. And MISS
Tombs for the report of the
budget and finance committee,
MR. Chair. Thank you.
Budget
and finance voted to recommend
approval. Eight in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
Okay,
so it's back to you, MISS Gad,
for a motion on this resolution.
Thank you. I will move this
with a brief comment. Thank you.
Okay. Go ahead.
Okay, so I am
completely supportive of this,
but I will be just want to make
a note that I will need to because I sit on the
national parks foundation on
its advisory board, its
non-voting member of that board,
but want to make sure I'm not
in conflict. So.
Okay.
Appreciate that. Thank you
ma'am. So there is a motion to
approve. It is properly
seconded. Is there any
discussion on this resolution?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
and any abstaining. And MISS
Gad, you'll be recorded as an
abstention. Council has adopted
this resolution. Next is agenda
item 70. Resolution 2026-2094.
Sponsors tombs vo, alan gad,
welsh, hill, gamble and ewing.
This resolution, accepting a
grant from habitat for humanity
of greater nashville to the
metro government acting by and
through the metropolitan board
of parks and recreation to fund
the construction phase of
trinity hills park. MISS Tombs,
you're recognized, ma'am.
Thank
you, MADAM Vice mayor.
Committee report. Budget and
finance voted to ecommend
approval. Eight in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
All
right. And further report of
the arts, parks, libraries and
entertainment committee chair.
Vote. This is on 2094. It's
agenda item 70, a habitat grant
to parks.
Okay. Thank you.
Sorry about that. Arts parks,%
library and entertainment
committee voted six in favor.
Zero against one not voting.
Okay.
All right. And with that
comes back to you for a motion.
Move for approval.
Okay.
There's a motion to approve
properly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Seeing none. All in
favor, please say aye. Any
voting? No. Any abstaining?
Who's. Who's our abstention? No
worries. That's all good. MR.
Clerk, if you would record,
please, an abstention for MR.
Parker. Council has adopted
this resolution. Next agenda
item 73, resolution 2026-2097.
Sponsors. Tombs, evans, siegel,
hoffman, hill, ewing, spain and
wiener. This is a resolution
approving a memorandum of
understanding entered into, by
and between the metropolitan
nashville police department,
the metropolitan transit
authority and the regional
transportation authority to
formalize the operations of
dedicated law enforcement
services within the public
transit system. Council member
tombs. You are recognized,
ma'am.
Thank you, MADAM Vice
mayor. Committee report, budget
and finance voted to recommend
approval. Not in favor. Zero
against zero not voting.
Okay.
Andfurther report of the
transportation and
infrastructure committee. Vice
chair ewing, you're recognized.
Transportation infrastructure
committee voted eight in favor.
Zero against zero not voting.
All right. And for the report
of the public health and safety
committee chair huffman, you're
recognized.
Thank you, vice
mayor. Public health and safety
recommended approval seven in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
Okay. And all right. So
it's back to you, MISS Tombs,
for a motion to get the bill
before.
Us move for approval.
Okay. And we're on to
discussion. First in the queue
is council member porterfield.
You are recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Move for one
meeting deferral.
Okay. There
is a motion to defer one
meeting. It is properly
seconded. Is there any
discussion on the one meeting
deferral motion?
Can I say why
wanted deferral. I would like
to discuss.
Oh sure. Yeah. Go
ahead man. Yeah.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Really briefly. It
is 125 in the morning. There's
some I think, some discussion
that needs to be had around
this legislation. I do think
that it is not in our best
interest to have that
discussion at this hour, with
many of us wanting to be the
best versions of ourselves and
the sharpest version of
ourselves to be able to have
this conversation. I do have
several questions for both the
administration, mta as well as
mmpd, and I would like the
opportunity to have some of
those conversations. So I would
appreciate my colleagues
support that one meeting
deferral in order to have some
additional conversation.
Thank
you.
I appreciate that. And
okay, we are on a one meeting
deferral motion. MR. Huffman,
do you seek to be recognized on
the deferral? Go ahead, sir.
Thank you. And I'll keep my
comments extremely short. It is
late. I rise to object against
the one meeting deferral.
Colleagues, it's it's
imperative to us that we keep
our riders on our transit
systems safe. We've been in
this chamber before during a
meeting, and we've heard the
sirens from shootings from the
bus station. Thank you.
Okay.
Council member nash on the
deferral, sir. To go ahead.
Yes.
I too would like to speak
against the deferral. We've had
lots of opportunity to speak to
at committee, to the
administration and to chief
gilder. I it's not a
complicated issue. A few
officers that are going to be
paid for to help start the
security for busses. This is
just kind of the initial first
step as we move forward.
All
right, MISS Benedict, on the
deferral motion, you're
recognized ma'am.
Previous
question.
There is no one else
in the queue. Can you? No one
else in the queue?
I will, as
long as there remains nobody in
the queue. I'll remove that
motion.
Okay. All right. Seeing
no one else seeking discussion
on the one meeting deferral
motion, we will move to the
vote. All in favor of a one
meeting deferral again, please.
Number, not volume. Please say
I. I those against the deferral
please say no. Okay. MR. Clark,
if you would please put this on
the boards. Please. I can't I
can't tell if the eyes or the
nose have it. So we are on a
one meeting deferral motion for
2097, please, sir.
All votes in.
MR. Clerk, please show the vote.
Okay. The deferral motion has
failed with 14 votes in favor,
17 against zero abstentions.
Okay, so we continue with
discussion. Is there any
further discussion on this
resolution at this time? MR.
Cortez? You're recognized, sir.
Okay. Is anyone else seeking
discussion on this before we
move to the vote? Okay. I. MR.
Clerk, if you would just please
load the vote on this one.
Please, sir. Seeing no one else
seeking discussion, we will
move to the vote. Because I
guess the deferral motion,
having failed what was before
us previouslywas an approval
motion on the motion to approve.
Please, sir.
All votes in. MR.
Clerk, please show the vote.
Okay. This resolution has been
approved. You have adopted it
with 23 votes in favor, four
against and three abstentions.
All right. Last among
resolutions is agenda item 88.
Resolution 2026-2112. Sponsors.
Greg johnson, spain. Welsh,
nash, huffman, weiner. Evans.
Evans. Siegel. Stiles. Suarez,
ellis. Bow cap, eastlick
truffle, rutherford, koopman
and allen. This is a resolution
honoring the life and legacy of
grand ole opry announcer bill
cody. Council member greg,
you're recognized.
Thank you,
vice mayor. Committee reports.
Please.
Council member. Cash.
MR. Chair, for the report of
the rules, confirmations and
public elections committee. Sir.
We voted to approve five in
favor, zero against. You're not
voting.
Okay. Back to you, MR.
Greg, for a motion.
Thank you.
I'd like to move for approval
with a brief comment.
Okay. Go
ahead. Sir.
I know it's late,
colleagues, and we're all tired,
but I want to take just a
moment to honor the life of
bill cody for more than 30
years. Bill, welcome listeners
on wsm and welcome to artists
and audiences to the grand ole
opry. Bill made everyone feel
like they belonged from country
music legends to first time
performers, and every person in
the audience. Bill was more
than a broadcaster. He was an
historian, a storyteller, a
mentor, and an ambassador for
nashville and country music.
His passing is not only a loss
to the grand ole opry and wsm,
but to nashville. So tonight,
with this resolution, we simply
say thank you to bill. Thank
you, bill cody, for your voice,
your kindness, and your
unwavering love for nashville
and country music. And your
legacy will live on every time
the opry curtain rises. And
with that, I renew my motion to
approve.
Thank you. MR. Greg,
is there any further discussion
on this resolution? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining?
All right. Council has adopted
this resolution. Next agenda
section em bills on
introduction and first reading.
By rule, all items on first
reading shall be voted on at
the same time, unless requested
otherwise, by a primary sponsor
or by two other members. Do any
items need to be removed from
the collective first reading
vote? MR. Parker, do you seek
to be recognized, sir? No. Okay.
No worries, I get it. Is there
a motion for approval? Seeing
none, is there a motion for
approval of all items on first
consideration? Okay. Properly
seconded. Without objection.
You have approved all items on
first reading. Okay, now we're
in agenda section in late bills.
First among them is in one. It
is not yet numbered. It is an
ordinance. It has sponsors
horton, porterfield, kupin
parker, spain, gadd, benedict,
ewing, cortez and wiener. This
is an ordinance authorizing the
metro government to acquire the
fee interest in a parcel of
property. Parcel id number
13300013500. Through
negotiation or condemnation for
office warehouse training and
other uses. Council member
horton, you are recognized. If
we. You need to. Please request
a suspension of the rules, sir.
Thank you, vice mayor. Do I
need to request committee
reports for suspension of the
rules.
First you just request
to suspend the rules. Then I
will go to.
Suspend the rules.
Please. Okay. Council member
cash, can you please share your
committee report on the nature
of the rule suspension? Sir.
On
the nature of the rules
suspension. We approved five in
favor, zero against. They were
not voting.
All right.
Colleagues, having heard the
report of chair cash, is there
any objection to a suspension
of the rules? Seeing only one.
The rules are suspended. And so
you can take up your bill now,
MR. Horton.
Thank you, vice
mayor. Move for approval.
Okay.
There's a motion to approve
this ordinance on first reading.
Properly seconded. Is there any
discussion? Council member
allen, you are recognized.
Thank you, MADAM PRESIDENT. I
just need to be recorded as
abstaining.
Okay. We will for
sure do that. MR. Clark, is
there any further discussion on
this item on first reading?
Okay. Seeing none. All in favor,
please say I any voting? No.
Okay. We have no meaning. We
have we can still move forward
because it has three readings
and the ayes have it. And then
as well the abstentions. So
we've heard our nose or no
singular any other abstentions
other than MISS Allen. Any
abstentions? Okay. So MISS Webb
is an abstention. MISS Allen is
an abstention. Anyone else
seeking to abstain? Okay. Webb
and allen. All right. Okay.
This has passed its first of
three readings. Next is agenda
item n two. Another ordinance
as of yet unnumbered sponsor
parker. An ordinance amending
chapter 6.75 of the metro code
of laws relative to pedicabs
and pedal carriages. MR. Parker,
you need to request to suspend
the rules. Please, sir.
Request
suspension of the rules.
Okay.
Council member, cash chair, can
you please give us our rather.
Your committee report.
Approved
five in favor, zero against.
They were not voting.
Okay.
Colleagues, having heard the
report of chair cash relative
to the rule suspension, is
there any objection to a
suspension of the rules? Seeing
none, the rules are suspended.
Go ahead sir.
Thank you, vice
mayor. Move approval.
All right.
Properly moved and seconded. Is
there any discussion on this
matter that is on first reading?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say aye. Any voting no
or abstaining? Okay. This has
passed its first of three
readings. O k. Looking ahead at
second reading, which is pretty
short. Colleagues, we have a
whole lot of rule 8.1 deferrals
one, two three, four. We've got
12345678 items, four of which
are rule 8.1 and then just two
items on third. So I just want
to lean in and get this done.
Okay. All right. Here we go.
Agenda section o bills on
second reading that were not on
consent. First among those is
agenda item 130, ordinance
bl2026-1362. Sponsors allen
ellis, evan siegel, spencer
hoffman and wiener. This is an
ordinance requiring an annual
review and an annual
presentation to the budget and
finance committee of the
metropolitan council from all
boards, commissions,
departments and authorities
that are offering tax abatement
incentives. Council member
allen, you are recognized.
Thank you, MADAM Chair.
Committee reports, please.
For
the report of the budget and
finance committee. Chair, tombs.
Thank you, MADAM Vice mayor,
budget and finance voted to
recommend approval as amended.
Nine in favor, zero against
zero not voting.
Okay, it's
back to MISS Allen for a motion
to get the bill before us. Go
ahead.
Ma'am, I would like to
move with a move for approval
with a brief explanation.
Okay.
Go ahead, ma'am.
Thank you.
This is just a result of a long
process that we went through to
look at all the different tax
abatement systems that that
metro currently has in place.
And it was a recommendation of
that committee to have this
annual review. And so therefore,
we put this together. And then
with that I would like to move
the amendment.
All right. Is
there a second to the motion to
amend? Okay. Go ahead ma'am.
Thank you. And the amendment
simply changes the date of this
to SEPTEMBER, because that
aligns better with when all the
other appropriate departments
have already gotten their
reports together. And also
specifies, thanks to input from
council members, that the staff
can do this rather than the
commission volunteer
commissioners having to do that.
So with that, I would move for
approval of the amendment,
please.
Okay. There is a motion
to amend. It was properly
seconded. And you've heard a
description of that amendment
by MISS Allen. Is there any
discussion on the motion to
amend seeing none. All in favor
of the amendment, please say
aye. Any voting no or
abstaining? Okay. And if you
would please renew your motion
to approve, as amended.
I'd
like to move the bill as
amended.
Okay. Is there any
discussion on that? Seeing none.
All in favor, please say aye.
Any voting no or abstaining.
All right. This has passed its
second of three readings, as
amended. Next is agenda item
131. Ordinance bl 2026-1430.
Sponsors. Bradford, ellis,
johnson, evans, siegel, welsh,
bowe, evans, hoffman and wiener.
This is an ordinance amending
section 2.08.030 of the metro
code of laws, relative to the
publication of the annual
operating budget and the
capital improvements budget.
Councilmember
recognized, sir.
Committee
reports, please.
For the report,
the budget and finance
committee chair, tombs.
Thank
you, MADAM Vice mayor, budget
and finance voted to recommend
a one meeting deferral nine in
favor, zero against zero not
voting.
All right. And with
that, that is rule 8.1, a
mandatory deferral that will be
taken up on second reading at
the next meeting. Next is
agenda item 132, ordinance
bl2026-1431. Sponsors vrbo,
horton, cap, benedict, bradford.
Ellis. Gad. Porterfield. Cash.
Hancock. Parker. Weiner.
Rutherford, harrell, spain,
hoffman, nash and sepulveda.
This is an ordinance to amend
chapter 2.147 of the metro code
of laws regarding the nashville
entertainment commission.
Council member vo, you are
recognized.
Thank you. Vice
mayor. Committee reports.
You
have your own committee report.
If you want to start with that
one.
Sure, yes.
And I think
that's the only one. Go ahead.
Yes. Arts parks, library and
entertainment committee voted
for a one meeting deferral,
four in favor, three against
zero not voting.
Okay. And with
that rule 8.1 applies. It's a
mandatory deferral. And this
will be taken up on its second
reading at the next meeting.
Next is agenda item 133,
ordinance bl2026-1432. Sponsor
styles welsh, evans, cuban,
cortez hill and suara. This is
ordinance amending chapter
2.147 of the metro code of laws
relative to the nashville
entertainment commission.
Council member styles, you are
recognized.
Thank you.
Committee reports.
For the
report of your committee. MISS
Vo. Go ahead ma'am.
Thank you
so much. Vice mayor. The arts,
parks,
entertainment committee voted
seven in favor, zero against
zero not voting for for one
meeting deferral. All right.
And with that's rule 8.1
applies. That's a mandatory
deferral. By rule. This item
will be taken up again on its
second reading at the next
meeting. Next is agenda item
134. Ordinance bl 2026-1434.
Sponsors lee and coupon an
ordinance to amend section
13.20.020 of the metro code of
laws relative torequired
notice and permission for
excavations in the right of way.
Council member koopman, you are
recognized, sir.
Thank you,
MADAM PRESIDENT. Committee
reports please. For the report
of the transportation
infrastructure committee. Vice
chair. Ewing.
Yes.
It's late
and I'm tired.
And your mic
sticks. I remember it does that
on that desk.
Yes. Could have
warned me. Okay. Transportation
and infrastructure committee
voted for a one meeting
deferral, eight in favor, zero
against zero zero.
Thank you
ma'am. And with that, MR.
Koopman, rule 8.1 applies. It's
a mandatory one meeting
deferral. This will be taken up
on its second reading at the
next meeting of the council.
Next is agenda item 136,
ordinance bl 2026-1436.
Sponsors tombs, horton, welch,
allen, ellis, ewing, koopman
and suara. This is an ordinance
approving a lease agreement by
and between the metro
government, acting by and
through the metro nashville
board of public education and
the pencil foundation.
Councilmember tombs, you are
recognized.
Thank you, MADAM
Vice mayor. Committee report,
budget and finance voted to
recommend approval. Eight in
favor, zero against one not
voting.
And further report of
the planning and zoning
committee. Chair horton.
Thank
you, vice mayor. We recommended
approval ten in favor, zero
against. You're not voting.
Okay. Let's see any others?
Okay. It's back to you, MISS
Tombs. For a motion.
Move for
approval with a brief comment.
Okay. Is there a second? Go
ahead ma'am.
Thank you. I know
that everyone is familiar with
the excellent work that the
pencil foundation does. They
are a welcome partner in the
board of community at the
robert lillard school. I know
there was some concern in
committee about the length of
the lease agreement, the the
length of the agreement was
important to pencils ability to
fundraise for the needed
capital improvements at the
school, both inside the
building as well as outside
with the playground area making
it a true community hub.
Funders don't want to invest
millions of dollars when they
don't believe that the
organization is going to space for a long time, so
the length of the lease is
important to their funding
capabilities. I am a strong
supporter of this agreement and
welcome them to the board of
community. The ceo, MISS
Christian books. Frazier is a
daughter of north nashville and
bordeaux, so I know her
commitment to that community.
And so as for my colleagues to
support this and I renew my
motion for approval.
Alrighty.
Is there any further discussion?
Councilmember evans, you're
recognized.
Thank you. I just
want to be marked as an
abstention, please.
Okay. And I
think it's off consent for that
purpose. And so with that,
anyone else seeking discussion?
Seeing none. All in favor,
please say I any voting? No.
Any voting no. Okay. Any
abstentions? We have MR. Greg,
and we have MISS Evans. Are
there any additional
abstentions? Seeing none,
council has passed this bill on
its second of three readings
with two abstentions. All right.
Hang in there. We just have two
more agenda item 137. Ordinance
bl 2026-1437 sponsors web
coupon. Evans, bradford, allen
and ellis. This is an ordinance
requiring that all boards,
commissions, committees and
authorities of the metro
government with financial
authority or a fiduciary duty.
Record a record and make
publicly available the
proceedings of their meetings.
Council member webb, you're
recognized, ma'am.
I'd like to
have a one meeting deferral,
please.
We need to get our
committee reports, please.
First, ma'am. Committee for.
Committee reports, please.
For
the report of the budget and
finance committee. Chair, tombs.
Budget and finance voted to
recommend a one meeting
deferral. Nine in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
Okay.
And for the report of the
government operations and
regulations committee chair
hill.
We recommend one meeting
deferral six in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
Okay.
And with that, that is a
mandatory deferral by rule,
MISS Webb, that will be taken
up at the next meeting. Last.
Lee, agenda item 141. Ordinance
bl2026-1442. Sponsors tombs,
evans, siegel and allen. An
ordinance approving amendment
two to a contract between the
metro government and waste
management inc. Of tennessee
for the provisionof solid
waste collection and collection
of carts. Council member tombs,
you are recognized.
Thank you,
MADAM Vice mayor. Committee
report. Budget finance voted to
recommend a one meeting
deferral nine in favor, zero
against zero not voting.
Okay.
And for the report of the
transportation and
infrastructure committee with
your mic looking good, vice
chair ewing, you're recognized.
Now I am ready. The
transportation and
infrastructure committee voted
for one meeting deferral eight
in favor, zero against zero not
voting.
Okay with that. That is
a rule 8.1 mandatory deferral
by rule 1442 will be deferred
to our next meeting. That is
the last item on our agenda.
Our next council meeting will
be on tuesday, JULY 21st. Is
there a motion to adjourn? We
are adjourned.
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