The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County met on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Metropolitan Courthouse. The meeting included elections, confirmations, public comment, and action on numerous resolutions and ordinances. 36 members were present, 5 absent.
Of Nashville's. And whereas the impact and the reach of the Nashville Public Library workers extends beyond the library branches to provide access to collection collections, professional development, enriching programs, and vital resources through many meaningful community partnerships with over a hundred and forty children's services. All Metro Nashville Public Schools, over 30 youth development organizations, dozens of senior citizens, and hundreds of community centers and events across Metro Nashville, and whereas whereas it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognize National Library Week and express appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the Nashville Public Library staff. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Section One, that the Metropolitan County Council here bog hereby goes on record as recognizing April 7th through 13th, 2024 as National Library Week, and encourages all residents to visit their their Nashville Public Library branch, explore its offerings, and take advantage of the many resources and services available. Section two that the Metropolitan County Council further goes on record as expressing its appreciation for the dedication of the Nashville Public Library staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to serve the community and promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community connection. Section three, that the Metro Count Metropolitan County Council further goes on record as reaffirming its commitment to supporting Nashville Public Library and ensuring that it remain remains a vibrant and vital resource for the community. Section four. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it. Thank you all for um the complete dedication for this entire Metro Council, um, for the members who are uh returning and guiding so many of us as well uh as investing in our libraries and those of us who are um new here but also are wanting to do our job. We also want to officially give you this resolution, Director Luke, and turn this over to you for a moment. Thank you so much. First off, I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. This is incredible. So thank you, Councilmember Gadd, and thank you to the council members who co-signed and co-sponsored this resolution. It has been a pleasure this evening to spend some time with Vice Mayor Henderson and the council out in the lobby before we came upstairs. And on behalf of the NPL team, I want to thank you for this resolution. It affirms how special Nashville Public Library is to the community that it serves. People from across Davidson County and from all different backgrounds see the value in Nashville Public Library. They take joy in the library and what it offers. This is something I continue to hear as I serve as a library's interim director. It is a privilege, and I can't say that enough, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to do this and to work at an organization that is so embraced by the community and you all. Um, and I personally appreciate you recognizing our dedicated staff who work nights and weekends, our volunteers who do the same. And our library supporters that are here this evening. Um, we couldn't have done this tonight without our library foundation and also Paige Clancy, who organizes our ambassadors. Now it's time for us to thank you. And for this, I'd like to call on Carlos Shivers, who is the branch manager at the Richland Park Library. Councilmember Gadd, Carlos has a bundle a bundle of thank you letters that our customers have written to you and to thank you for supporting Nashville Public Library. Last week was National Library Week, and the Library Foundation hosted a Thank a Thon letter writing campaign at all of our locations so that we could present every council member with letters from our customers. And I'm not a person that cries, but Friday at the end of the day, when I got to read some of the one the from this children that say thank you for being our safe space. Thank you for offering these services that we provide. You realize why you do what you do every day, and to thank you for your support in allowing us to be able to do that because of course we need the funding to provide those services. So each of you does have an envelope of notes on your desk, and we want you to know how much we appreciate you. And again, thank you for supporting Nashville Public Library. I think we'll do just a couple of photos, and then we'll allow uh the business to get back. Thank you. Thank you for your resolution. All right, while they are taking photos, we will move into the announcement period. Are there any announcements? And she's got a hundred. Where's your proclamation? You need to hold so we can get your page. Councilmember Bradford. Thank you. So a reminder for residents, District 13, tomorrow night uh at 6 o'clock at Arlington United Methodist Church will be our quarterly town hall. So I invite all residents to make plans to attend. I'll have representatives from Metro Planning and Metro Way Services to discuss the annexation of the remaining part of the district into the USD. We'll also have representatives from uh the MM MMPS School Board to get some updates on school policies. Uh then also this Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts on Broadley Parkway will be this month's coffee with your councilman. So invite everybody to get those on your calendar and to come out.